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How You Stand Shapes Your Aim and Your Swing

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How you stand behind the ball dictates your alignment to a target. The average right-handed golfer stands behind the ball with their left foot in front of their right. Then they approach the ball from a shallow angle on the left side. If this describes you, your stance behind the ball and your shallow approach to the ball sets you up right of your target. Keep in mind that your alignment will shape your golf swing.

Your eyes take in the information and you read your lines and angles based upon your body lines behind the ball. Once you set your body lines behind the ball, it is imperative that you walk at a broad (w)right angle to your target line. Try the following and you will understand why your stance behind the ball is so important.

Set up to a precise target and check your alignment. Be sure to have somebody place a club on your shoulder line to check your aim. Your shoulders should be parallel to your target line. Notice how far left or right of your target you are aimed.

Next, set up behind the ball and put your right foot well out in front of your left. Let your arms hang and allow your body lines to go left of your target. From that stance line walk into the ball and set up. Check your alignment again. Notice how much further left you are set up. Now repeat this exercise except this time put your left foot well out in front of your right and allow your body lines to go to the right.

Finally, aim your feet at your target through the ball. Hold the club in the hand tht pronates (rotates in toward your thigh) most. Placing the club in this hand will square your shoulders. Placing the club in your other hand will open your shoulders. Place your feet shoulder width apart and look at your target. My research shows that a set up behind the ball with any other positions creates a perception of lines to your target that is inaccurate.

Walk at a wide (w)right angle ninety degrees to your target line. Set up and check your aim again. You will be much better aligned using the (w)right angle techniques if you have preset your body square behind the ball. Practice your alignment routine on the range independent of hitting balls varying your target and club on each set up.

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