Author: WhyGolf WhysGuy
We want to preface this guide with the acknowledgment that neither WhysGuy nor anyone from the WhyGolf team claims to know everything about the golf swing. We don’t want anyone to treat what we say here as gospel. While much of what we’ll say is a reflection of decades of dialogue with PGA instructors and players, we’re always learning and we understand that knowledge about the sport of golf will continue to evolve over time.
In this post, WhysGuy will cover:
- Traditional use cases for golf alignment sticks (checking alignment and ball position).
- Additional ways you can use golf alignment sticks to make your practice sessions more productive (train your swing path, stop swaying, keep your head still, etc.)
- How the WhyGolf Alignment Disc paired with the Padded Alignment Rods can add significant value and efficiency to your practice sessions.
How to Use Golf Alignment Sticks to Your Benefit
1. Check Your Alignment
- It probably goes without saying, but alignment in golf is critical. There's no path to consistent golf without knowing where you're aiming.
- Using golf alignment sticks consistently in practice can help you bridge the gap between where you feel you're aiming and where you're actually aiming.
- It's best practice to check your alignment every time you go to the range - it only takes two minutes!
2. Check Ball Position
- Ball position is one of the most overlooked elements to a fundamental golf swing. Golfers tend to attribute mis-hits to a faulty golf swing, when really their ball position is out of place.
- Checking your ball position with alignment sticks before every round of golf is an incredibly low-hanging fruit for most golfers.
- To learn more about a few signs your ball position is faulty, click here.
Additional Ways to Use Golf Alignment Sticks
3. Swing Plane Trainer
- You can stick golf alignment sticks in the ground or use our Alignment Disc to set your alignment rods at specific angles. The Alignment Disc is particularly useful if you like to train indoors and don't have an easy way to stand alignment sticks upright.
- To learn more about how to use golf alignment sticks to emphasize a draw vs. fade swing path, learn how to hit a draw here or how to hit a fade here.
4. Learn How to Stop Swaying
- Place an alignment rod vertically an inch or two outside your trail hip.
- When you swing, try not to slide your hips into the rod.
- Find more info on how to stop swaying here.
5. Keeping Your Head Still
- With our Padded Alignment Rod couplings, you can stack two of our alignment rods together and use the Alignment Disc to work on keeping your head stable throughout your swing.
- You'll likely want to use the 65 degree setting on the Alignment Disc and line up the rod just outside your ear closest to your target.
- Your extended padded golf alignment stick should provide a useful reference point to help you keep your head still.
How to Use Golf Alignment Sticks - Key Takeaways:
- Golf alignment sticks are useful tools that can help you monitor and make key changes to your golf swing.
- You can check your alignment, fix your swing plane, learn how to stop swaying, and more with golf alignment sticks.
- The WhyGolf Alignment Disc paired with the Padded Alignment Rods can add significant value and productivity to your practice sessions.
Ready to make an investment in your golf swing? Learn more about how the Alignment Disc can help you with your swing plane here.
What are golf alignment sticks?
Golf alignment sticks are long, thin, flexible rods that golfers use during practice swings to help align their bodies and clubs to the target. They can be placed parallel to each other on the ground, usually on either side of the feet, to give the golfer visual cues on proper stance and aim. Golf alignment sticks can also be used to check the swing plane and other golf swing elements.
Why use Padded Alignment Rods?
Padded golf alignment sticks are useful because they have a few advantages over non-padded sticks. Among these benefits are the following:
Increased Durability: The padding protects the sticks from damage, extending their life and reducing the need for replacements.
Increased Safety: The padding reduces the risk of injury to golfers or other players on the course if the sticks are accidentally struck.
Increased Visibility: Generally a golfer will be looking at the golf ball when making a full-speed golf swing. Padded golf alignment sticks are easier to see with one's peripheral vision, which ultimately will allow them to swing more confidently during practice.
In summary, padded golf alignment sticks provide improved durability, safety, feel, and noise reduction, making them an excellent investment for golfers looking to improve their game.
Why use golf alignment sticks?
Golf alignment sticks are used by golfers for a variety of reasons, including:
Improving Alignment: Golf alignment sticks assist golfers in aligning their body and club to the target, resulting in more accurate shots and overall performance improvement.
Golf alignment sticks can be used to check a golfer's swing plane and help them make adjustments to achieve a more consistent and effective swing.
Building Muscle Memory: By using golf alignment sticks on a regular basis, golfers can develop muscle memory and good swing habits, leading to improved results over time.
Increased Practice Efficiency: Golf alignment sticks enable golfers to more effectively and efficiently practice specific elements of their swing, such as alignment and swing plane.
Overall, golf alignment sticks can help golfers of all skill levels improve their performance and make the most of their practice time.
How do I use golf alignment sticks for swing plane?
To set up golf alignment sticks for swing plane practice, our Alignment Discs offerf a precise and effective solution. Here's how to do it:
Place the WhyGolf Alignment Discs: Start by positioning the WhyGolf alignment discs on the ground where you want to set up your alignment sticks. These discs are specifically designed to hold the sticks at the correct angles, ensuring they remain stable throughout your practice.
Insert the Alignment Sticks: Insert the alignment sticks into the WhyGolf Alignment Discs, angling them to match your desired swing plane. The angle should typically reflect the natural shaft angle of your club at address, providing a visual guide for your swing path.
Position the Sticks for Swing Plane: Place one stick on the target side, just outside the ball, angled back towards your stance. This setup will help you ensure that your clubhead follows the correct swing plane during both the backswing and downswing. The second stick can be positioned parallel or at a slightly different angle, depending on your specific practice focus.
Practice Swinging Around the Sticks: As you swing, aim to keep your clubhead close to the alignment sticks, allowing the WhyGolf Alignment Discs to guide your club along the correct swing plane. This setup is ideal for refining your swing path, leading to more consistent and accurate shots.
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