How to aim in golf is an issue many players struggle with. But, as it turns out, the technique is so simple, you’ll be amazed. Even those who are pretty darn good on the links watch videos and seek help from pros.
Golf has been around for a long time, and historians trace the roots of this modern game back to Scotland in 1457. But they also describe similar games in the time of Julius Ceasar in 100 BC. And back in 960-1279, a version of the game was in vogue with China’s Song Dynasty. That’s right. For thousands of years, we’ve enjoyed getting royally pissed off at a small ball and hitting it with a stick.
Conventional wisdom holds that where you aim your club-face determines where your ball goes. But, there’s a lot more to getting that club to go the way you want it to. When your swing, your hands, your club and your brain all work in concert, it can be a beautiful thing. Especially when they combine to create that magical moment when you hit a hole in one.
When it doesn’t, well, it can still be epic – just not in the way we want:
How to Aim in Golf: Classical Wisdom to Motion Capture Cameras
How to aim in golf used to be more of an art than a science. Old-school golf pros once relied on body position, hands, and a “solid feel” to analyze your swing. Now they’ve got high-speed motion capture footage to tell us if we really got that club face where we want it.
But don’t worry if you don’t have a high-paid professional to film and watch your swing. You can still learn how to aim in golf in just a few simple steps. Plus, you can watch the videos for the latest and greatest golf moves.
How to Aim in Golf to Get Your Best Shot Every Time
There are many schools of thought out there, but in essence, golf is a goal and aim-oriented sport. From the tee, where you start each hole, your goal is first the fairway. Not just any point, but the place that will most likely give you a great shot at your next goal: the green. From the green, where you want to be as close to the flag as possible, your final aim is to sink your putt in the cup.
Simple steps to aim your golf shot where you want it to go:
1. To ensure proper alignment, both your body and the club face must be aimed at your target. Stand behind your ball and look at your target, just like with a car, where we are looking is often where we end up.
2. Golf Info Guides‘ tips for beginners, says you should then, “draw an imaginary line between yourself and the target.”
- Choose a spot on that line, in the grass, that is about a foot in front of your ball.
- Try to find something identifiable, like a previous divot.
- Aim your clubface at that spot while aligning your body and club along the line.
- Place your feet parallel to your line of trajectory. To help you get your feet in the right place, picture a train track, one rail going from the ball to the goal, with your feet on the other rail.)
- Use your best-practiced swing to make contact with your ball, keeping your club face open to your target, and follow through all the way.
While that seems oversimplified, these are the basics of the proper way to aim in golf. Getting back to basics and really paying attention to the fundamentals of the game is the best way to get the results you want.
But don’t take our word for it, here is another professional take on “how to aim correctly” when playing golf:
Proper aim and a good swing are the essentials of golf
Practice makes perfect, as they say. But that only works when we practice correctly and consistently. Golf can be both one of the most frustrating and one of the most exhilarating games you can play. We’re fascinated with that tiny ball, as it lofts perfectly from a bunker and sinks solidly into the cup. From golf pros to golf amateurs, aim is and always will be a skill without which no one can succeed.
Here’s a video that celebrates some of the greatest golf moments and shots of all time.
Featured image via Pixabay
