Great detailed explanation. Really good 101 basics that people forget. I always think of Jack Nicklaus in his “golf my way” he talks about the 5 fundementals. Grip Posture Stance Alignment Ball position “The more things you do right before you swing the club the more things you will do better when you do swing. Golden Bear 🐻
Brilliant presentation! You're right that this is often overlooked. Of all the times that I've gotten lessons, none of my instructors covered this skill. Not being confident in my aim is what makes me hesitant on the course. One thing that I wish you can cover in a future video is that a spot that's far away actually appears to converge to a point between the ball and the feet like a triangle. On a different topic, I was listening intently to your presentation about the aiming drill and the haunting loud music starting at the 13:33 mark drowned out your instructions. I think your presentation stands brilliantly by itself without any music.
A truly master class. I'm surprised not enough coaches emphasize this important skill for the students' development. Many thanks Coach Moss!! Now back to the range to check my understanding of this technique. 😂
I kept dancing around the ball trying to figure out how to get aligned. Thanks for making me understand that I can find the answer and reason for going around the ball. The ball position was always off too. This video was so helpful!
Absolutely great video. I have always had a hard time lining up correctly on a dog leg especially dog leg left. I always seem to miss it right and when I check myself it was exactly where I was aiming.
Thanks Jonathan for another in-depth and educational display I've been trying to tell my son this for some time and this video will definitely clarify my point thanks again you're valued 💯
U got ur self a customer for wat ever you're selling man. I learned everything I now know about golf from ur videos. Starting golfing 7 months ago. Starting watching your how to grip videos. I broke 90 yesterday. Shot an 88. Thanks
Thank you, Jonathan! You described exactly what I do all the time. This is one of the most informative golf videos I have ever seen. Thank you so much.
i always knew that aiming itself was a challenge for me but the way you explained it made a ton of sense. gonna be thinking about this next time im out for sure
This falls in line with the statement that 80% of everything that is wrong with your golf swing happens before you move the club. Eye opener for sure..
Alignment - grip - stance - weight at address - eye alignment - fitted clubs are all static before you move the club away from the ball. I see the golf swing as a Rubic's Cube. All those listed factors can be adjusted infinitely but in what order and in what combination. Hogan said if you make a change in your swing and you are comfortable with it you didn't make a change. Jonathon's video brings home all of these issues. All of those factors if perfectly fitted can still result in a poor shot because you are not properly aimed at your target. It can result in a vicious circle of swing changes. I sometime state that I am a six handicap on the range and a 16 handicap on the golf course because of what Jonathon presented in the video. I put all of this under one umbrella statement - The Six P's: Proper planning( alignment) prevents pitifully poor performance. @@Satrria1
100%. great tips. I started to video my trackman sessions and trying to swing from inside thought aiming right would cure me. not the case... I see the cast and I see the club path and basically trying to fool trackman with club path numbers. excellent video and very pertinent information. bravo
Great video. I like the different camera angles that clearly show the effect on the ball position. Also, I like how you show the flaws and then how to do it correctly. Thanks!
Excellent. This is just great information and detailed explanation of why, for instance, I seem to strike the ball well but miss certain greens (or fairways!) to the right way too often. Thanks for the enlightenment and new perspective. I will have renewed focus at the range and on the course moving forward! Great lesson, JKM!!!
Great video! i can hear how passionate you are about this. Its the conviction in your voice, compared to other vids. good stuff. def going to work on this tonight.
Wow great insight to what I assume was aligning correctly. Once you used the alignment stick perpendicular to the ball and to moving my foot and not body around the ball it makes sense now. Keep up the good work!
Candidly I'm shocked how little I consider my alignment on the course. I do align myself, but don't double check it. Before my last round I killed it on the range only to have wheels come off on the course and never considered it could have something to do with alignment. Thanks
This is a very good video, I am a right-handed player, and now understand some of my mistakes made on a real course. Not to be critical but to help more in this video would be to provide a checklist of how to properly align or orient to the target line. That would be a nice take away from this video. Thanks, and this may help me.
Great content mate! Thanks! Totally agree about alignment causing all sorts swings issues… however, my understanding is that shoulder alignment more closely correlates to proper alignment over feet.., Many like myself have trail foot a bit further back (back issues)…. However, my shoulders are square to target… would love to hear your thoughts on this… thanks
You’re dead right mate. I’ve spent a large fortune on lessons (relatively) and nobody ever addressed positioning in this way. I was told, more than once, to pull the rear foot back for a draw and forward for a fade, but nobody ever explained how doing this changed the ball position. I would do both, move the ball back or forward and my foot position. No wonder I could draw or fade some days and not others. Probably depended on whether I did both things or just one and accidentally got it right. Thanks heaps.
I know JKM kept saying no joke but when he said you’re aiming 30-50 yards right I had to laugh because it’s me - me in the woods. Also the moving around the golf ball is genius - that’s even how your character moves in Wii golf
Hi Jonathan, like your channel and your golf tips. I totally understood what you meant in this ball position and aiming. Years ago accidentally I saw one chart of Nicklaus's ball position with his shot. He puts his ball aligned with his foot heel all the time but placing his right foot according to the club he chooses. May you share with me what is different from yours?
Can you please do a video on keeping your head behind the ball at impact?? I’m really struggling with moving my head way in front of the ball on the downswing. Love the videos
Hi Jonathan, really informative and revealing video. Someone else raised the matter of attempting to draw the ball (right handed). Perhaps you can address this in a future video. It seems that, in attempting to draw the ball right to left, golfers (right-handed) often move their right foot back to encourage a swing path out to the right while their body (shoulders, hips, etc.) remains aligned to the target. It would seem that using this right foot back slightly may result in the teed-up ball positioned more forward in our stance that can produce pull/hooks or other misaligned strikes. Your thoughts? Thanks!
The part that I say is so often missed in these videos...is mental aiming. Having a target in the distance....on every single shot. That can so often help one correct the swing to hit the target....even when feet are not perfectly aligned. Yes, it can result in a bit of side spin....but that also depends on the dynamics of the actual downswing and follow-through. There is always a certain amount of intuitive adjustment that can happen....if one has a clear mental target through the swing process. It works so often for me. I hit so much better when my mind is focussed in on the target I am going to hit. Aiming sticks have their place....but they also become a real crutch for many....who think it replaces using their mind for aiming in the swing. So much can go wrong if one is not aiming with their mind.
JKM, Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons Of Golf", has a famous illustration on alignment. Basically, the 6 Iron down to wedges he has his right foot ahead of the left; while Driver and long Irons the right foot is behind the left. Your thoughts on this alignment would be much appreciated. Thank You.
I don't know how many times after I hit a shot my golf partner will say that I was lined up way left or right of my target! Actually I have been thinking about this a lot. When I was marking my ball with a line for putting, I started wondering if when I tee off I should aim the line to the target & then line up to the line. Does that make any sense? I also use a closed stance & it seems like you are saying that this could cause problems with alignment too. So should we avoid open or closed stances?
I am not a golfer but a youtube learner. Without using the stick, is it easier to pick two points of reference to aim to the target. One is in (2ft) front and (2ft) back of the ball as a imaginary guide for your feet?
ok so i understand the arc concept, but for your initial aim is using a small object/spot in front sufficient? i struggle with alignment sometimes where i feel my feet/line are completely off, but i commit and swing anyways and then i get upset because i completely miss my target. i know i should have taken a step back and realigned my body/club, but what's the best way to align yourself from the start?
you must get your feet parallel to your target line. This is crucial to being able to have the right perception of the target line and to be able to apply the things you learn in the swing. If you are aiming your feet too much to the right then you must practice setting yourself up with a more open stance for a period of time get adjusted
Most amatereus doesn't realise how foot orientation in contrast to your upper body affect club path. Very often they move right foot back when trying to hit draw thinking it makes them hit more from inside out when it just opposite. Then they hit just push or big slice. I myself always think how ball is positioned relatively to my upper body and then move my feet accordingly to what ever shot shape I want to hit.
Just want to say you’re one of the best people at explaining things golf that I’ve listened to. Simple clean and straight to the point.
This entire channel is nothing but gold.
This was insanely useful. I was one of these people
"alignment in itself is a skill" spoken as someone who knows. great quote! nicely done jkm! 😊
This is pure gold!! Such an overlooked skill. I realized I was doing this last week!! Great video!
Jonathan, you are a F'n mind reader. I was looking for a vid talking about this exactly. You are awesome!
Great detailed explanation. Really good 101 basics that people forget. I always think of Jack Nicklaus in his “golf my way” he talks about the 5 fundementals.
Grip
Posture
Stance
Alignment
Ball position
“The more things you do right before you swing the club the more things you will do better when you do swing.
Golden Bear 🐻
Im trying this in 3 hours. This is definitely a major issue! Keep the great videos coming!
What a great video. I constantly move one foot forward or back constantly never realized that affected my ball position so much.
This is golden, thanks!
Brilliant presentation! You're right that this is often overlooked. Of all the times that I've gotten lessons, none of my instructors covered this skill. Not being confident in my aim is what makes me hesitant on the course. One thing that I wish you can cover in a future video is that a spot that's far away actually appears to converge to a point between the ball and the feet like a triangle.
On a different topic, I was listening intently to your presentation about the aiming drill and the haunting loud music starting at the 13:33 mark drowned out your instructions. I think your presentation stands brilliantly by itself without any music.
A truly master class. I'm surprised not enough coaches emphasize this important skill for the students' development. Many thanks Coach Moss!! Now back to the range to check my understanding of this technique. 😂
Kim I really love your videos 👍
You pick out the basics and explain them real good
Astonished how far right I was aiming! Jaw dropping. This is why I follow JKM.
this is so important im glad you saw it! haha
I kept dancing around the ball trying to figure out how to get aligned. Thanks for making me understand that I can find the answer and reason for going around the ball. The ball position was always off too. This video was so helpful!
Absolutely great video. I have always had a hard time lining up correctly on a dog leg especially dog leg left. I always seem to miss it right and when I check myself it was exactly where I was aiming.
Thanks Jonathan for another in-depth and educational display I've been trying to tell my son this for some time and this video will definitely clarify my point thanks again you're valued 💯
This is one of the best advice available. Thank you👍
This is why everyone is a pro on the range 🔥
😄😄😄
U got ur self a customer for wat ever you're selling man.
I learned everything I now know about golf from ur videos. Starting golfing 7 months ago. Starting watching your how to grip videos. I broke 90 yesterday. Shot an 88. Thanks
wow that is great! I am currently working on something so stay tuned haha
I did not know that! 10 years of golf. Not that I struggle with alignment, yet very interesting and helpful.
Incredibly useful!!!
Thank you, Jonathan! You described exactly what I do all the time. This is one of the most informative golf videos I have ever seen. Thank you so much.
Jonathan,
Where were you 30 years ago! You are a very ski8lled instructor. Thanks for helping my game..
i always knew that aiming itself was a challenge for me but the way you explained it made a ton of sense. gonna be thinking about this next time im out for sure
Jeeze I am aimed WAAAAAYYYYYY right thanks for the video
This falls in line with the statement that 80% of everything that is wrong with your golf swing happens before you move the club. Eye opener for sure..
Can you elaborate more?
Alignment - grip - stance - weight at address - eye alignment - fitted clubs are all static before you move the club away from the ball. I see the golf swing as a Rubic's Cube. All those listed factors can be adjusted infinitely but in what order and in what combination. Hogan said if you make a change in your swing and you are comfortable with it you didn't make a change. Jonathon's video brings home all of these issues. All of those factors if perfectly fitted can still result in a poor shot because you are not properly aimed at your target. It can result in a vicious circle of swing changes. I sometime state that I am a six handicap on the range and a 16 handicap on the golf course because of what Jonathon presented in the video. I put all of this under one umbrella statement - The Six P's: Proper planning( alignment) prevents pitifully poor performance. @@Satrria1
test@@Satrria1
Good video definitely needed this
What an eye opener! Thanks!🤙🏽
100%. great tips. I started to video my trackman sessions and trying to swing from inside thought aiming right would cure me. not the case... I see the cast and I see the club path and basically trying to fool trackman with club path numbers. excellent video and very pertinent information. bravo
Great video. I like the different camera angles that clearly show the effect on the ball position. Also, I like how you show the flaws and then how to do it correctly. Thanks!
Great point explained so we all can understand , Thanks
Excellent. This is just great information and detailed explanation of why, for instance, I seem to strike the ball well but miss certain greens (or fairways!) to the right way too often. Thanks for the enlightenment and new perspective. I will have renewed focus at the range and on the course moving forward! Great lesson, JKM!!!
I already knew about this, but as i think back to the session i had at the range today, i realise i set myself up wrongly! Thank you
Great video! i can hear how passionate you are about this. Its the conviction in your voice, compared to other vids. good stuff. def going to work on this tonight.
Masterful instruction, thank you
Wow great insight to what I assume was aligning correctly. Once you used the alignment stick perpendicular to the ball and to moving my foot and not body around the ball it makes sense now. Keep up the good work!
Very usefull video. Thanks!
Great info. Thanks
Thank you, for years I couldn't figure out why I was hitting it fat. Even with lessons it wasn't explained as well.
Candidly I'm shocked how little I consider my alignment on the course. I do align myself, but don't double check it. Before my last round I killed it on the range only to have wheels come off on the course and never considered it could have something to do with alignment. Thanks
Cool vid. Never really thought about this
This is a very good video, I am a right-handed player, and now understand some of my mistakes made on a real course. Not to be critical but to help more in this video would be to provide a checklist of how to properly align or orient to the target line. That would be a nice take away from this video. Thanks, and this may help me.
Great video, I will try this out, Thanks!!
Always great instruction
Great content mate! Thanks! Totally agree about alignment causing all sorts swings issues… however, my understanding is that shoulder alignment more closely correlates to proper alignment over feet.., Many like myself have trail foot a bit further back (back issues)…. However, my shoulders are square to target… would love to hear your thoughts on this… thanks
Very interesting. Great explanation.
You’re dead right mate. I’ve spent a large fortune on lessons (relatively) and nobody ever addressed positioning in this way.
I was told, more than once, to pull the rear foot back for a draw and forward for a fade, but nobody ever explained how doing this changed the ball position.
I would do both, move the ball back or forward and my foot position. No wonder I could draw or fade some days and not others. Probably depended on whether I did both things or just one and accidentally got it right.
Thanks heaps.
I know JKM kept saying no joke but when he said you’re aiming 30-50 yards right I had to laugh because it’s me - me in the woods. Also the moving around the golf ball is genius - that’s even how your character moves in Wii golf
Master class
Hi Jonathan, like your channel and your golf tips. I totally understood what you meant in this ball position and aiming. Years ago accidentally I saw one chart of Nicklaus's ball position with his shot. He puts his ball aligned with his foot heel all the time but placing his right foot according to the club he chooses. May you share with me what is different from yours?
Can you please do a video on keeping your head behind the ball at impact?? I’m really struggling with moving my head way in front of the ball on the downswing. Love the videos
Hi Jonathan, really informative and revealing video. Someone else raised the matter of attempting to draw the ball (right handed). Perhaps you can address this in a future video.
It seems that, in attempting to draw the ball right to left, golfers (right-handed) often move their right foot back to encourage a swing path out to the right while their body (shoulders, hips, etc.) remains aligned to the target. It would seem that using this right foot back slightly may result in the teed-up ball positioned more forward in our stance that can produce pull/hooks or other misaligned strikes. Your thoughts? Thanks!
This is amazing
I move my rear foot back to help get a full shoulder turn. Can you share a tip to get shoulder turn while staying square to the ball? Thank you.
Thanks!
Thank you !
Good Video!😅 guilty of that too
The part that I say is so often missed in these videos...is mental aiming. Having a target in the distance....on every single shot. That can so often help one correct the swing to hit the target....even when feet are not perfectly aligned. Yes, it can result in a bit of side spin....but that also depends on the dynamics of the actual downswing and follow-through. There is always a certain amount of intuitive adjustment that can happen....if one has a clear mental target through the swing process. It works so often for me. I hit so much better when my mind is focussed in on the target I am going to hit. Aiming sticks have their place....but they also become a real crutch for many....who think it replaces using their mind for aiming in the swing. So much can go wrong if one is not aiming with their mind.
youre a genius
JKM, Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons Of Golf", has a famous illustration on alignment. Basically, the 6 Iron down to wedges he has his right foot ahead of the left; while Driver and long Irons the right foot is behind the left. Your thoughts on this alignment would be much appreciated. Thank You.
I don't know how many times after I hit a shot my golf partner will say that I was lined up way left or right of my target! Actually I have been thinking about this a lot. When I was marking my ball with a line for putting, I started wondering if when I tee off I should aim the line to the target & then line up to the line. Does that make any sense? I also use a closed stance & it seems like you are saying that this could cause problems with alignment too. So should we avoid open or closed stances?
😊 more on-course video's of you Golfing with your friend's 😊
I am not a golfer but a youtube learner. Without using the stick, is it easier to pick two points of reference to aim to the target. One is in (2ft) front and (2ft) back of the ball as a imaginary guide for your feet?
My buddy wont listen to me😢
ok so i understand the arc concept, but for your initial aim is using a small object/spot in front sufficient? i struggle with alignment sometimes where i feel my feet/line are completely off, but i commit and swing anyways and then i get upset because i completely miss my target. i know i should have taken a step back and realigned my body/club, but what's the best way to align yourself from the start?
you must get your feet parallel to your target line. This is crucial to being able to have the right perception of the target line and to be able to apply the things you learn in the swing. If you are aiming your feet too much to the right then you must practice setting yourself up with a more open stance for a period of time get adjusted
Most amatereus doesn't realise how foot orientation in contrast to your upper body affect club path. Very often they move right foot back when trying to hit draw thinking it makes them hit more from inside out when it just opposite. Then they hit just push or big slice. I myself always think how ball is positioned relatively to my upper body and then move my feet accordingly to what ever shot shape I want to hit.
Had not played a real course for the first time in Bangkok. A lot to work for the first time out. A great reminder !
I am always told I am aiming left but hit it right ..lol
great video...but you don't need the music😋
😀 "Promosm"
n
I wish I could give you 20 likes--thank you....
Amazing as always brother. Thank you @tone_da_sparky
Really good. I have a problem with one hole at my course on winter mats and move ONE foot. Never get it right funny enough. Cheers, appreciate 💥🏌🏻