How To Use An Alignment Stick
Today, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on one of golf’s most basic yet highly effective training devices. With all the amazing gadgets, gizmos, and technological advancements that have evolved over recent years to help golfers improve, one very simple item still stands alone as a go-to for countless golfers.
What is this ultimate yet simplistic training aid?
It is none other than the Alignment Stick.
Alignment sticks are super helpful tools for golfers looking to improve their game. These straight rods are made of lightweight materials like fiberglass or plastic and come in various colors and lengths.
The most basic use of alignment sticks is, you guessed it, to align your body and clubface correctly during practice or warm-up sessions. By placing the sticks on the ground, golfers can ensure their feet, hips, and shoulders are in the correct position relative to the target. They can also use the sticks to check the alignment of their clubface and swing path.
Overall, alignment sticks are a simple yet effective training aid that can help golfers improve their accuracy and consistency on the course.
How Can Alignment Sticks Be Used…Let Me Count the Ways (Or at Least Four)
There are several ways you can use alignment sticks in golf practice to improve your game, including:
Alignment: The most obvious use of alignment sticks is to help you align your body and clubface correctly during practice or warm-up sessions. By placing the sticks on the ground, you can ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are in the correct position relative to the target.
Swing Plane: To work on swing plane using alignment sticks, you can place one stick on the ground parallel to your target line and another stick perpendicular to it at the point where the ball would be. With the alignment sticks set in this way, you can practice swinging the club along the path created by the two sticks, giving you a better sense of the proper swing plane and helping you improve your consistency. By using alignment sticks in this way, you can also identify and correct any swing flaws that might be affecting your game.
Ball Position: Alignment sticks can also be used to check your ball position. By placing a stick perpendicular to your target line and another parallel to it at the point where the ball would be, you can ensure it is in the correct position relative to your stance.
Chipping and Putting: Alignment sticks can help improve your chipping and putting. Much like they would be used to work on path and ball position in the full swing, alignment sticks can provide the same feedback needed in chipping and putting, as well as other short-game shots like pitches and bunker shots.
My Best Advice In Using Alignment Sticks
Beyond what I listed above, there are countless other ways to use these basic yet versatile training aids. I saved my best advice for last, no matter how you use them; doing so in conjunction with video analysis apps or software, such as one of my go-to’s, V1 GOLF, is a must!
Having alignment sticks in use in real-time can only enhance what you can see when you review and analyze the videos you take during a practice session.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is a multiple award-winning Golf Professional based in Central Florida. He is the 2017 PGA of America’s National Youth Player Development Award Winner and is the recipient of more than 25 other industry awards with a focus on Coaching & Education. He is considered by his peers as an industry expert on topics ranging from Jr. Golf Development to Operations to Industry Sustainability. He is the founder of the Little Linksters Golf Academies and the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, a 501c3 nonprofit also based out of Central Florida. Brendon is also a freelance golf writer for PGA.com, Golf Range Magazine and several other golf websites and blogs. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America. You can learn more about Brendon at BrendonElliott.com and Little Linksters at littlelinksters.com.