For a long time, I thought I was aiming straight at the target until a playing partner told me, “you’re set up to the right of the target.”
After I hit the shot and the ball landed to the right of target, he told me, “the ball flew exactly how you were set up.”
So my golf swing was correct but my aiming was off. Later at a practice range, I confirmed my fault at address by standing directly behind the club head after doing my usual setup for a golf shot. To my surprise, the club head was pointing to the right of target!
I thought, “how can this be?” and I repeated the setup and checking behind the club head several times and each time my set up was constantly off to the right of target.
Now I know that when I look at the target sideways at address, my vision tricks me and although I believe I’m set up parallel to the target line, I am not.
So all this time, I’ve been trying to hit the ball to the left of what it should be and whenever the ball landed to the right of the target (which was too often), I thought I pushed the ball to the right and there was something wrong with my swing.
This revelation has lifted so much pressure off of me trying to hit the ball straight. Now I can afford to push the ball to the right and when that happens I know my swing is correct.
So when you hit the golf range next time, do your setup for a golf shot and without moving the club, stand directly behind the club and check the aim. Most likely you will find you’re set up to the right of the target.
Solution:
When you set up for a shot, put your club head behind the ball and lean forward to position your head straight up and slightly behind of the club head, and adjust club head so that it points straight at the target. This way your vision does not trick you as when you stand far off from the ball.
Once you align the club head straight to the target, you can do your setup around the club head.
Chances are, when you look at the target after setting up this way, you will feel that your target is to the right of where it should be and your fear of pushing the ball to the right will have been greatly reduced.
Setting up for a shot correctly is the first step toward a sound golf swing, and the above method will give you great confidence out on the golf course when setting up for a shot.
Hope this helps your game and feel free to leave a comment about your experience using the above method.
