Poor posture and alignment is one of the most common reasons for
shots flying in the wrong direction. Many times we check our
alignment by placing a golf club along our feet to see if we are
aimed in the right direction, but that isn’t enough.
Although our feet are aligned, sometimes the rest of our body is
twisted. Most of this body twisting comes when we reach down to
grip the club.
Shoulders can turn when placing the bottom hand below the top
hand on our grip, so we need to check our entire body
alignment.
Poor posture and alignment is one of the most common reasons for shots flying in the wrong direction. Many times we check our alignment by placing a golf club along our feet to see if we are aimed in the right direction, but that isn’t enough.
Although our feet are aligned, sometimes the rest of our body is twisted. Most of this body twisting comes when we reach down to grip the club.
Shoulders can turn when placing the bottom hand below the top hand on our grip, so we need to check our entire body alignment.
Using your peripheral vision, you should see both of your shoulders equally. If you see more of your front shoulder, your shot will hook or sky. If you see more of your back shoulder, here comes the slice with a big divot.
Finally, check to see if your hips line up with your feet. Your feet should line up with your pants’ pockets.
Bad to worse
It was bad enough for Max Sweet to be in a bunker but things got worse after he attempted to hit out of the sand trap. His ball caught the lip of the trap and roll back at him. As a final insult, Sweet’s ball rolled and hit his foot.
Now Sweet must try the shot again, but was he penalized after the ball struck him? The answer is at the bottom of the column.
Souza scores hole-in-one
The day after Christmas, John Souza found a present in the bottom of the 8th hole at the Diablo Course at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club. Souza’s hole-in-one as witnessed by John Ceglia, Bill Avila and Al Avila.
Watch us on television
Starting next week, Swing by Ridgemark golf tips will air during the late Thursday newscasts on KCBA 35 FOX News – 10 p.m. – and KION 46 News –11 p.m. Teaching professionals Pat Larkin, Jason Sims and Alex Rodriguez will join me to bring golf tips each week. Please tune in, we would love to help you with your game.
Warming up
Remember, a bucket of range balls before playing will loosen and warm you up. But do not try and work on your swing before you play, because practice, and working on your swing, is for after you play.
Also, the best time to take a lesson is after you play instead of before.
Just keeps getting worse
Sorry Sweet, not only are you still in the bunker, but you also received a two-stroke penalty, according to Rule 19-2b.
