instruction
Can you truly hit a straight shot?
Randall Hollands Smith
[email protected]
T
his month we would like to discuss
a topic most commonly asked by
golfers: “How do I hit the ball straight?”
The answer to this question is simple. It
is virtually impossible to hit the ball dead
straight. In actual fact, the ball has what
is referred to as a “Start Line” and a “Finish
Point” and even for the best golfers, these
two points are never the same, no matter
how skilful you are.
What we would like to discuss this month is
how you can improve your overall game and
scores on the golf course simply by varying
your set up position and alignment to reflect
the shape of shot you are trying to execute.
By this we mean that we see a lot of players
out there trying to hit the ball straight,
however they are taking a series of practice
swings that “do not match” the intended shot
that they are trying to produce.
Our advice to you is to forget that the
“Straight Shot” exists. Focus your attention
particularly with your practice swings, on
creating the type of shot that you require.
Picture in your mind either a small draw
(right to left shape) or small fade (left to right
shape) by creating the correct sequence of
movements with your body and hands to
assist you in achieving the shot.
In the photos, we have Rachel in three
separate set up positions, each one producing
a different shot type and shot shape. There
is a Fade alignment (open and to the left
Target
Target
Straight alignment
Draw alignment
Fade alignment
of target), a M