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Crossing Lines and Clubface Aim  Email this Article to a Friend
The concept of shot visualization has been part of golf for a long time. Recently, we have discovered that your ability to visualize is directly related to your physical balance. When your shoulders and hips are parallel to each other at address and your clubface is aimed at the target, you are in balance and you will visually perceive points on your target line as connected by a straight line. The following pictures appeared in the May tip on alignment. (If you click on any of these pictures, they will enlarge.) These pictures show the target line represented by a line of balls. My shoulders and hips are parallel to each other in both pictures. In the picture on the left my hips and shoulders are parallel to each other and to the target line. In the picture on the right, my shoulders and hips are parallel to each other but open (left) to the target line. Both of these alignment positions are correct. Your hips and shoulders do not have to be parallel to the target line to have proper alignment. Your hips and shoulders, not your feet, do need to be parallel to each other and your clubface aimed at your target for proper alignment. Those two statements contradict. decades of a primary teaching principle: "When you set up, your feet, hips and shoulders should be set parallel to each other and parallel to your target line." This month's tip is about the importance of your clubface aim and how that aim is related to both parallel and "crossing lines." The following pictures show "crossing lines." In the picture on the left, notice that my shoulders cross my hip line in front. In the picture on the right is PGA and Nationwide Tours player, Kevin Stadler. Notice that Kevin’s shoulders cross his hips behind. When your hips and shoulders cross, your clubface will not be aimed at your target. Your body sets your clubface. The article that follows shows how parallel lines and clubface aim applies through your bag. Follow this article to putting and see how Tour players like Bob E. Smith and Kevin Stadler produce parallel lines on the green. Notice in this picture that my clubface is aimed down my target line as illustrated by the white indicator post attached to my clubface. (click on the picture to enlarge) Also notice that my hips and shoulders are parallel to each other as you look "down the line." Remember, every tip you read in these newsletters is either about balance, rotation (turn) or some measurement of one of those factors. In the pictures above, I am in balance when my shoulders and hips are parallel to each other and my clubface is aimed at the target. When my hips and shoulders cross in front or behind, I am out of balance. Notice the orientation of my clubface as illustrated by the white post attached to my clubface when my hips and shoulders cross in front or behind. All I have to do is move one of my feet closer to or away from the target line and my clubface aim changes. Once aimed at my target, my clubface is set by my body as I assume my set up. The key is to recognize that all you need to do to get your hips and shoulders parallel to each other is to aim the clubface at a precise target and continue to visually draw an "imaginary" straight line from your clubface to your target as you spread your feet and assume your set up. Allow your clubface and your body to work in concert. If your body moves "out of position," your clubface aim will change. Every player's set up is different. The one constant is that your hips and shoulders should be parallel to each other and your clubface aimed at your target. In the picture on the left, I aim my clubface at a precise target. Notice that my hips and shoulders start from a parallel position and the white post attached to my clubface is aimed down my target line. The post remains on my target line in the picture on the right as I assume my set up and will remain so as long as my hips and shoulders are parallel to each other. Putting When players talk about "seeing a line" on the putting green, they are describing exactly the same process. If they aim the putter head at a precise target and continue to adjust their set up until they "see the line," their hips and shoulders will become parallel to each other but not necessarily to the target line. I check aim on the putting green with my students using this aluminum triangle. The triangle is placed flush against the putter face and a string line shows exactly where a putter is aimed in reference to a precise target. I use a toothpick as a target in my golf schools. When hip and shoulder lines are crossing, the putter blade is aimed left or right of a toothpick at 4 feet. I have used a tee instead of a toothpick as the toothpick is too small to see clearly in these pictures. There are 4 set up positions that set your hip lines and 5 that set your shoulders. If you attended the golf school you have seen and experienced these positions. Once you know and understand each of the set up positions that changes the orientation of your hips and shoulders, it is relatively simple to get the clubface aimed at a precise target and your hips and shoulders parallel to each other. Remember, when your hips and shoulders are parallel to each other, you are in balance, your hands and arms hang under your shoulders and you are able to visualize "accurate" lines. When I set a student's hips and shoulders parallel to each other by making the necessary changes in their set up, they always say it feels much better. They also describe their visual perception of points on their target line as a straight line. PGA and Champion's Tours Veteran Bob E Smith sets up on the putting green during a lesson in the following picture. Notice that his hips and shoulders are parallel to each other as you look down the line but not parallel to the target line. He was aimed precisely at a toothpick at 4 feet when we checked his aim with the aluminum triangle immediately following this picture. As I already noted, there are 5 set up positions that set your shoulder lines at address with the putter. If you came through the golf school you experienced all 5 positions and saw and felt the effect of each. Kevin has always said that he putts his best when he feels like he is "almost" going to hit his right shoe during his stroke. In the picture on the left, as the putter head gets further from his right foot, the position of his right hand rises on the putter shaft causing his shoulders to close (rotate right and cross his hip line behind.) His left hand position on the grip never changes. When Kevin gets the putter head closer to his right foot, his right hand moves down the shaft and his shoulders rotate left (setting his hips and shoulders parallel to each other) and the clubhead is aimed at his target. His left hand position on the grip never changes. The distance Kevin is from the ball with the long putter changes his hand position and, thus, his shoulder line. Take your putter and assume your set up. I have set up with my putter and my hips and shoulders parallel to each other. Even if you don't use a long putter like Kevin, try the following. From your set up position, move your right hand lower (down the putter shaft.) Notice what happens to your shoulders with just a slight change in your hand position. Your shoulders will rotate left or open to your target line as your right hand moves further down the shaft. In this picture I have moved my right hand down the shaft. Notice my hips and shoulders cross in front. Next, bring your right hand up the shaft so that it is even with your left hand on the putter. Notice what happens to your shoulders. You will notice that the slightest change in your hand position on the putter grip at address changes the orientation of your shoulders. In this picture, I brought my hands together as my right hand moves up the shaft causing my shoulders to close and my hips and shoulders to cross behind. Remember, draw a line from your clubface to the target (if you use an intermediate target, it must be blade of grass precise-See March, 2004 tip) Players who don't use an intermediate target describe an imaginary "line" or path they see to their primary target. Players who use an intermediate target, aim the club face at that intermediate target and then begin to visually draw an imaginary line to their primary target as they settle into their set up. The full swing "line" they see is a straight path along the ground or in the air. This "line" image is true for driver to pitches to bunker play. The line is drawn to the point where the player wants the ball to land. In the following pictures, PGA Tour Veteran, Pat Burke demonstrates how to draw lines to a precise target out of a greenside bunker during one of our golf schools and Kevin Stadler practices drawing lines and hitting bunker shots during a lesson with me. Notice Kevin's full finish in the bunker. A finish like this will give you the correct line. On the putting green, the line players see is not straight unless the putt is a straight putt. They see an image of the the entire path the ball will take into the hole. Try these line images on the range, on the putting green and out of hazards. Don't worry about the orientation of your hips and shoulders. In order to "see the line," your hips and shoulders must be parallel to each other (you will be in balance.) The last thing you want to do is to be preoccupied with your hips and shoulders at address. You will develop a "feeling" of the orientation of your hips and shoulders with practice. Join me next month when I cover the effect of "flaring" your feet in your set up. Flare is frequently taught to produce a greater hip turn and ease a player's move to their finish position. Is a flared foot a position that truly builds power or increases the depth of your turn? I will show you how to answer that question and teach you how to check the effect of "flare" on your set up. Would you like to make a comment or ask a question? Click Here. Announcement: If you are a current or past tour player who is participating in the biomechanics lab study, please email the golf school office from the "contact us" icon on the web site. We are in the process of scheduling participants. If you are a sponsor, we will be contacting you regarding the dates that are available for you to visit and observe the study in progress.
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