If you’ve taken golf lessons lately, you may have used alignment sticks. They are among the hottest golf training aids out there. Alignment sticks resemble the driveway markers homeowners use to keep snowplows from destroying their curbs. But don’t be fooled by the easy-to-use, brightly colored sticks. These powerful training aids can help you cut your golf handicap down to size.
Alignment sticks are versatile. You can use them during golf instruction sessions to im-prove your swing or ensure that you’re hitting the ball where you’re aiming. And they’re cost-effective. You can buy a package of two for about $20 from many golf stores, sport-ing goods retailers, or proshops. You can even buy them online from Websites like golfalign.com and toursticks.com. Below are several drills that’ll help you improve your game using alignment sticks.
Cross Drill
This drill used in many golf lessons employs alignment sticks as reference tools: Lay a stick across your toe line to check your alignment. Then lay another stick in the middle of your stance and perpendicular to the target line, forming a cross. Now address the ball with a club. Use the cross to monitor ball and hand position. Play the ball about in the middle for hitting shorter irons, slightly forward for hitting longer irons. Keep your hands slightly closer to the target. At impact your hands should be even closer to the target. This is a good setup for hitting crisp irons.
On-plane Drill
This is another drill used in golf instructions sessions. The object of this drill is to perfect your ability to take the club back on plane and then approach the ball from the inside. Place an alignment stick in the ground right behind the ball, pointing back at a 45-degree angle to a second stick across your toes. Make sure the stick is at roughly the same angle as your clubshaft’s lie angle. With a 5-iron make slow swings, swinging the shaft slightly above the rod going back and slightly under it coming down, so it passes under the bottom of the rod. Don’t hit the ball.
Shot Shaping Drill
This drill helps you visualize the shot’s shape in your mind: Stick two sticks in the ground parallel to each about 10 yards in front of you. Place the sticks about two feet or so apart. Address a ball with a 7-iron or an 8-iron. When you hit, try to start the ball on one side of the stick and curve it to the other. Your body will naturally adjust to your swing to do this. The sticks serve as immediate targets and remind you to pick your line from behind the ball and trust it.
Straight Back And Through Drill
This simple drill will help you improve your putting. Lay two sticks on the ground slightly wider than the width of the putterhead and parallel to the target line. The objective is to place the ball in the center of the sticks and make a putting stroke without hitting the sticks.
Aim Point Putting Drill
Alignment sticks are also great tools for practicing breaking putts. Stand one stick in the ground an inch below the breaking point of the putt and use your second stick to align your feet and body parallel to the intended target line. The goal is to hit the putt just outside of the standing stick at the correct pace.
Alignment sticks are easy-to-use, yet powerful practice aids. Use them on the range or the practice green whenever you can. Used correctly, they can help you chop stokes off your golf handicap.