Alignment Sticks
A simple way to check your aim, setup and practice lines.
Alignment sticks give you a visible reference for where you're aiming and how your body is lined up. Use them during range sessions to check your starting position, practise a consistent setup and explore swing direction without having to guess what you're doing. They won't fix a swing on their own, but they can make your practice more purposeful by giving you clearer feedback.
Set a line.
Practise with purpose.
Choose a clear target
Pick a specific target on the range, such as a flag, marker or distant tree. Choose a club and decide where you want the ball to start. A clear target gives your alignment stick a meaningful reference.
Place one stick along your target line
Lay an alignment stick on the ground, just outside the ball line, pointing towards your chosen target. Keep it safely clear of the ball and your clubhead. This gives you a visible reference for the direction you're trying to start the ball.
Check your body alignment
If you have a second stick, place it along your toe line, parallel to the target line. Set your feet, hips and shoulders in a comfortable position parallel to the target line, rather than pointing your body directly at the target. Make a few practice swings, then hit shots while keeping the setup simple.
Hit a few shots, then check
Make several swings without changing your setup after every shot. Notice where the ball starts and how it curves. Step back and reset your alignment when needed. Once the setup feels familiar, try a few shots without the sticks and see whether you can recreate the same routine.
Check your setup.
Then watch the ball.
Where your body is pointing
Your feet, hips and shoulders can feel aligned even when they're pointing in a different direction from your intended target line. Use the sticks to check your setup, rather than relying on how it looks or feels from above the ball.
Where the ball starts
Notice the ball's initial direction before judging the whole shot. The start line and the later curve tell you different things. A ball that starts on line can still curve away from the target, so don't assume alignment explains every miss.
Whether you can repeat the setup
The sticks are there to help you build a reliable routine, not to become something you need for every shot. After a few repetitions, remove them and see whether you can set yourself up to the same target without the visual guide.
Use the sticks to make your aim and setup easier to check, then learn to recreate that setup without them.
Useful when your
practice needs a reference.
You're unsure of your aim
If you often discover that you're aiming left or right of your intended target, use a stick to establish a clear reference before you hit. This helps separate an alignment issue from a ball-flight issue.
Your setup changes from shot to shot
If your stance and body alignment feel different every time, a second stick along your toe line can help you practise setting up consistently before each shot.
You're working on swing direction
A ground stick can give you a reference for the direction of your setup and intended shot. Use it alongside ball-flight feedback, rather than assuming the stick alone tells you the exact path of the club.
You want more purposeful range sessions
Instead of hitting a bucket of balls without a clear plan, choose one target, establish your alignment and check your results. Work in small groups of shots, then remove the sticks and test whether the routine holds up.
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