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Suzy’s Cues
by Suzy Whaley
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHARLES BUBB
Proper alignment is tricky for all of us. It’s about getting the clubhead and body aligned with the target. Most golfers suffer alignment problems. I know I do. I’ve played many a tournament round aimed twenty yards to the right of my target. That’s a poor aiming day. But when I get to the range, I don’t question my vision; I check my routine and often find I’m too relaxed, too casual about it. I’m looking at the target without focus. I’m taking my routine for granted when I cannot picture the ball landing on target. I’ve gotten routine with my routine. If my caddie’s along, I ask him to check my aim and body alignment. If I am alone, I fix myself with a practice checklist.
When a golfer’s body is out of alignment, or when her clubface is aimed incorrectly, swing faults multiply. Once the setup mistake is made, the brain signals the body to make a swing adjustment to accommodate the error. The mind knows the real target objective, so it signals the body to execute a push, a pull, or an incomplete swing. The body will do whatever it must to put the ball on target. When your aim or body position is wrong at setup, even your best swing isn’t likely to find the target.
When practicing, work on your alignment to improve your direction and your score. Alignment aliments respond to simple cures and long-term monitoring.
THE DETAILS:
A correct setup uses two imaginary lines, a target-line and a body-line. A target line helps you in two ways: aiming and focusing.
You stand on the body-line to square your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders, at address. This line is parallel to the target-line and a few feet behind it.
At setup, countless golfers aim their clubface correctly on their intended target line, and then err when setting their feet in, that is, putting their feet down on their target line.
Here’s an experiment to convince you of the importance of paying attention to both lines at setup. Stand on the range and face your body toward a target. Focus on both lines: target and body. Hold your right arm up in the air and point it at the target; this arm represents your target line, the line you aim on. Then lift you left arm up and hold it parallel to your right arm without letting your hands meet. Your left arm represents your body-line, the line you must stand on. Note how the body-line is behind but parallel (meaning these two lines never meet) to the target line.
Here’s a practice technique designed to help you line up. Look around and you will see good amateurs and professionals use this assist all the time. When you practice, select two clubs and place them on the ground as guides. Align one club in front of your ball on your intended line of flight; this club represents your target line. Position the second club in front of your feet, parallel to the first club; this club represents your body-line. The clubs on the ground mimic the two parallel rails of a train’s track. Once you adjust to seeing the difference between these two lines on the range or at the short-game practice area, you will feel comfortable setting up left of your target.
Suzy Whaley was the first woman to qualify and participate in a PGA Tour event in 58 years and was the first woman to win a PGA individual professional tournament 2003. She is currently recognized by Golf for Women as a top 50 female instructor and is a Board Member and Advisor for numerous organizations including Golfer Girl Magazine.
http://www.suzywhaleygolf.com/
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