How to Use Alignment Sticks

Golf training aids can be vital for beginner players who want to perfect their swing form. Joey Sindelar gives tips and tricks on how to use alignment sticks.

There’s so much that goes into a golf swing that sometimes we drift, which could cause you to hit the ball wrong. So, it’s important to get grounded in your alignment.

Alignment sticks, or aiming sticks, are designed to do just that. They also help improve your swing path and aim, making them a great golf training aid.

THE BASICS

Lay your stick down so that it’s pointing in the direction you want the ball to end up. At a distance, avoid perfectionism — if you’re off a yard or two it’s okay, but it’s when you’re off 15 degrees in either direction of your goal that it turns into a problem you have to fix.

The stick should be halfway between your feet and the ball, positioned close enough to you that you can square your toes with it but far enough that you can see the line, which will act as your guide through the swing.

USING ALIGNMENT STICKS

A few tips from Joey for beginners:

It’s not a bad idea to anchor your alignment stick with tees to keep it firmly in place.

If you want to be more specific, you might want to form a “railroad track,” which is when two aiming sticks lay parallel on the ground. The point of swinging between these tracks is so that you can really visualize the path of your swing.

One of the surest ways to get your ball position correct is to have a club perpendicular to the aiming line you’ve set up. If you straddle the club and put the ball at its end, that’ll put the ball in the middle of your stance.

Make sure that you are parallel to your alignment stick and always point it toward your target. Practicing your shot with this training aid could help improve your aim and work toward consistent results.