One of the most important fundamentals of playing a golf shot is setting your alignment. Each and every shot you play will have a different target requiring careful and precise aim. Good alignment takes work. Unfortunately, many players fail to realize this. They think about alignment once or twice during a round and just walk into position without any thought…and swing away. Accurate alignment is a demanding and sometimes elusive quality you need to try to simplify as much as possible.

When aligning your shot to the target, the biggest mistake most golfers make is aligning their body to the target instead of aligning the clubface to the target. This in turn will result in swings that are not on target and will not produce solid golf shots. Remember, when setting up for your shot, align your clubface to the target first and your body should always be “parallel left”. You will hear a lot of golfers refer to “parallel left”, what does that actually mean? The old image of the railroad tracks is a good one, where the outside track is the clubface-to-target line and the inside track is the line along which you align your body.

I recommend using an intermediate target within a foot of the golf ball to help line up the clubface properly. An intermediate target can be anything, a divot, old grass or discolored spot.  Once you establish the intermediate target, it should be easier to set your clubface.

Here is one way to set up for your golf shot:
Stand behind the ball and look at your target 
•  Draw a visual line from the target to the ball and pick out an intermediate target to line up your clubface 
•  Grip the club and focus on the intermediate target 
•  Approach the ball (with good posture), set your clubface behind the ball and in line with the intermediate target 
•  Set your feet, shoulders and hips parallel (left) to the target line 
•  Once set, rotate your head to check your target one more time 
•  Hit your shot

It is a good idea to have a friend, caddie or better yet a PGA golf professional check your alignment from time to time. You will see on television many of the caddies are lining up their players on every shot, that tells me this is one of the most difficult and most important fundamentals. You need to have correct alignment before each shot. If you feel confident you are lined up properly, the percentage of hitting a good shot to your target is pretty good!

Note: A quick process to remember: 
1. Set your clubface 
2. Set your body 
3. Trust your swing

Lori Griffey is a PGA life member instructing at John Jacobs’ Golf Schools & Academies (Orange Tree Resort location). To inquire about lessons, email Lori at lgriffey@jacobsgolf.com or call her cell at 440.289.5740 or company at 800.472.5007.

Note: This is the 10th of a series of instructional columns that will be presented each month by a different John Jacobs’ Golf Schools and Academies’ Instructor.