Admit it. You try to swing your club straight along the target line. Seems logical enough. Sorry but that’s not effective in golf! Here’s some new-to-you information that will have you considering a different view, literally! You forgot to consider that your “view” is from the side of the ball, because you stand 3 to 4 feet to the side of the little golf ball to launch it. You may do a decent enough job aiming your clubface down the target line. But then what? You probably try to swing the club down that same line. Hmmmm. DON’T! You are NOT like the croquet player who sends his mallet straight into the back of the ball and down the target line. You cannot choose the same road as he does to deliver his mallet and expect your ball to go straight like his!
You must consider what the delivery path looks like from YOUR PERSPECTIVE! Do you remember how they used to kick field goals in football? The kicker stepped straight back so he could run straight into the football. Today’s kickers step back and to the left, so they can approach the ball from the side! Their approach is on a diagonal path. And that’s what your new view will look like, too! That diagonal line comes into the inside back quadrant of the golf ball! This is how it will APPEAR to you because of where you stand to play golf!
Look at the beach ball panels. The orange panel goes through to the target. You’ll still be aiming your clubhead down this line. But don’t mistake it for the path to send your club down! Your new view…is through the blue!!
That’s the diagonal pathway I want you to “see.” To “groove” this new delivery path on the range, turn the lines on the range ball, diagonally, matching the blue panel. It will appear as if it’s at 7 o’clock for right handers, where the target line runs 12 to 6, facing you. Hit some small pitch shots off a low tee and enjoy how straight the ball flies, even though it feels like you are swinging to your right. On the golf course, take a few golf balls and color that inside quadrant blue. Then place the colored part of the ball as a visual reminder for your tee shots. Your picture and the desired path to success will appear as a diagonal line coming into the blue panel of the beach ball… NOT the orange panel. The target line is NOT the same as the desired path of delivery!
So next time you step up to the tee, channel your happy inner beach bum. Swing on what seems like a diagonal path and watch your ball get airborne, soaring straight into the wild BLUE yonder.
