Set Up Alignment Board

The 'double sided' self teaching board.

Side One: (Colour coded for swing path)

1. Set up: First, aim the pointed end of the board toward your target. Stand squarely, facing the board as you would when addressing the ball. Imagine the board extending vertically upward as if it were a wall. With this image you'll find it easier to square your feet, hips and shoulders to the board which parallels your flight line.

2. Face Position: Take your grip and set the face of the club against the back of the board until you feel it is square. If you want the face open or closed to play a curving shot, use the lines located farther forward on the board. Match your club face's leading edge for a slice or hook.

3. Swing Path: The terms 'inside out' and 'outside in' (to describe a swing path) are sometimes difficult to visualise. But swinging red to yellow for a slice and green to blue for a hook makes it easier for the student to understand.

Stand one driver's length away from the board. Grip the club, then elevate it approximately one foot above the board so when you swing the sight line from your eyes sees the clubhead crossing the colour zones. The objective is to develop a swing path that travels across the green toward the blue in your sightline. In fact this is a bit of an optical illusion as the club will actually be travelling more toward the pointed end (the arrow end)of the board and onward to the target.

Side Two: (Numbered for setup & ball position)

Flip the board onto the opposite side and you'll see the side that can help you with stance width and ball position. The boxes indicating left and right foot positions are good general locations, allowing for variation between individuals. Use the numbers on the top part of the board for more exact foot placement. This you can determine with your professional ore from trial and error practice.

When hitting shots on the range, put the ball opposite the spot on the board marked 'Ball Position'. Then place your feet according to the kind of shot you are hitting: wood, short iron, pitch, etc. Correct ball position is found by locating the ball just to the right or the lowest part of the forward swing arc. the club should take a divot or scrape of grass just forward (left) of the balls resting position. On the tee shot the ball position is more forward than this. The most desirable location for a teed drive is at the bottom of the swing arc or slightly beyond it.