November 10, 2019 11:55 am

Many amateur golfers fret about the importance of taking aim. If they don’t get it exactly right, then that’s why their shots are misdirected. I’m not convinced. Sure, you should aim where you want the ball to go, but it’s a little like firing a rifle. I am by no means a marksman, but if I take aim the bullet won’t be that far away from the target when it lands. I have seen enough people hitting golf balls to know that their aim may not be perfect, but it’s generally not something they need worry about too much.

Taking aim is a subject that I never cover on the golf range, for this simple reason: you are in a netted range bay on a mat, there are straight lines guiding you, both from the mat and the bay edges, so it would be very rare for anyone to be far off aiming in a range bay. But when I am on the golf course, those lines don’t exist. One of the things that people often miss is a situation where maybe the tee box points in the wrong direction, and this can be off putting.  To avoid this, always walk behind the ball and look down the intended direction of the shot. You will soon see if the tee box is misaligned.

Here is the best tip for getting your aim correct. Stand behind the ball looking down towards the target. Look for a point that is on the line of the target, but within 10 yards of the ball, like a stone, twig, different coloured piece of grass, anything that stands out and is visible. I call this an intermediary target. Then walk round to set up to the golf ball. Place the golf club head behind the ball and aim that towards the intermediary target. It is easier aiming the club head at a target ten yards in front of you than one 400 yards in front of you. When you have done that, set your feet up and aim them parallel to the club head and you will find, more often than not, you will now be aiming pretty much at the target in the distance.

Again, I must stress, you may not be the marksman of the golf course, but if the ball doesn’t go towards the hole, you may have to look elsewhere for the cause.

Jon Woodroffe – Master Professional, World of Golf London

Categorised in: Tip of the month, World of Golf London