Placing the club head in the correct position at address will ensure the club face is aligned with your shot intended target line. Alignment of the club head is very important, as if the club face is not aimed directly down the target line your shot direction will be off. Your subconscious also reads this misaligned direction and adjusts your swing plane, further compounding the error.

Aligning Your Golf Club for Accurate Shots

Putters

Most golfers find putters the easiest as they have reliable alignment markings such as lines and bars. In addition, the shot distance is less, meaning the eye can more accurately pick up the shot line. In spite of this, you must always get your shot line from behind the ball first. Then address the ball using the alignment features.

Drivers, Hybrids and Fairway Woods

Some fairway woods have a marking on the crown of the club head. Depending on the shape and levelness of the marking it can be used to set up the club head to the target line. A straight line marking, level with the ground is most accurate. Since your target is further away from the club than when putting, it is better to find an intermediate target along your shot line, when standing behind the ball. Then use your club crown marking to line up the club face.

Irons

Irons are the most difficult to aim since the toe of the head is higher than the heal, making the top edge open to the target line at address. This has a significant mental impact to lining up your target line. Having a marking level to the ground is most helpful, but very few irons are manufactured with this. Follow the same set up procedure as with your fairway woods.

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