Alignment: Pull Shots and Slices

It is widely known that a vast number of golfers battle a fade that often turns in to a slice and occasionally becomes a pull hook. The worst is high right. Second worst is low left. Often the root of the problem is the same. Their set up at address is open to the target. For a right handed golfer this is aiming left and for a left handed golfer this is aiming right. Alignment and the relationship of the entire body to the target is at the core of any chance of hitting a ball on line. There is a saying in golf that to a novice seems very contradicting. "If you want to hit the ball left, aim right. And if you want to hit the ball right, aim left." Alignment affects the curve of the ball. Because the golf swing is so dynamic and we are forced to stand to the side of our target line, the chances are high that the ball is going to curve.

Proper alignment begins with the basic fundamental of aligning the body parallel to the target line. After placing the hands on the club and slightly bending the knees, simply bending forward and setting the club behind the ball should round out the proper alignment.  However, the average golfer will already be positioned for a slice or fade. For a right handed golfer the reason lies in the fact that the right hand is lower than the left as the grip is positioned on the club. A large percentage of golfers will naturally move the right shoulder forward or toward the ball. This creates a line aiming left of the target which in turn promotes a swing plane that is on the same line.

To align the body requires that we understand the relationship between our upper body and lower body. Adjusting such a large portion of our body (the shoulders) requires that our lower body (mainly the hips) make some adjustment as well. In order to square up the shoulders requires that the hips move with the adjustment. By realigning the shoulders, in effect moving the right shoulder back away from the ball and ensuring that it is down relative to the left shoulder, has the affect of slightly tilting the spine away from the target. In turn, the right hip is also slightly lower which forces pressure into the left side. The face on view reveals a sort of reverse "K" as the right side of the golfer is indented while the left is solid and straight.