The Perfect Golf Shot - Getting the Line Right

By Joe Krarup -

Lining up for any golf shot must become routine in order for you to consistently hit the target. In most ball sports, the players will be passing or kicking a ball anywhere from 3-10m (10-30ft) away to 15m (60ft). In golf you aim at a target 150-500m (450-1,500ft) away. And you’ve got to aim with a stick in your hands, while standing sideways on to the target! A big difference, which is why lining up your shot is so important.

The first thing a golfer must do is reduce the target distance. A straight line can be made using any two points; in our example, the points are the golf ball and the flag.

Golf Shot Tip.

Some golf instructors call it psychological vision, training your vision to see only the straight line that is necessary for the perfect shot. If your eyes spend time sizing up the bunker on the left, or the stream along the right, or out of bounds, you can guess which direction the ball is least likely to go. The great golfer Jack Nicklaus refers to this as going to the movies.

To do this with best effect, stand several strides behind your golf ball and on line with the target. You become the first point on the line, with your golf ball now along the line between you and the flag. Now go to the movies and visualise your golf shot going through the air, on your target line. With your site along this line, pick a point on the line 1-2m (3-6ft) out in front of the golf ball, such as a broken golf tee or a blade of grass.

Walk back to the ball, place the head of your golf club on the ground behind the golf ball, and line the club head up, square to the new nearer target. Set your feet and assume your golf stance. Now your ready to hit the ball.

Golf Shot Tip.

Keep both eyes on the ball: An old adage that anyone who has ever played sports has heard is ‘Keep your eye on the ball’. The truth is it’s best to keep both eyes on the ball in golf.

Both eyes should remain on the ball throughout the entire golf shot. With your club in your hands, draw the club back from the ball, and stop at the top of your back swing. Now close your left eye, can you still see the ball? Now close your right eye, can you still see the ball? If not, your shots will lack consistency. You should still see the ball with either eye closed, practice this to help you maintain good vision on the ball, this drill will also stop your head from rotating through your golf swing.

The best way to practice lining up your golf shot is at the driving range, as you have more time to do certain things you cannot (and are not allowed to do) on the golf course. For instance, when on the driving range, take 2 clubs and line them up parallel to the tee, facing down the driving range like an imaginary railway track, stand between the 2 clubs and address the ball. This will help you line up in a straight line down the fairway. Most golfers practice this drill, even the pros do it. You can then mentally use the imaginary railway tracks out on the golf course. This drill is also great for lining up your putts. Place the golf ball between the 2 golf clubs, keeping the clubs close to the ball, about 2 inches either side of the ball, then putt through the tracks. Practise this drill often, so you will develop muscle memory, and keep a nice straight putting stroke.

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