7 Alignment Stick Drills Every Golfer Should Know
Having alignment sticks with you at the driving range is a great benefit. However, most golfers don’t know how to use them.
Sure, you can put one down on the ground to help you aim, but alignment sticks are great for various golf drills.
If you want to make your driving range sessions more successful, start incorporating alignment sticks.
Here are 7 easy drills you can do with alignment sticks that will quickly impact your golf game.
Key Takeaways
If you don’t have time to go through all the alignment stick drills right now, here are a few key takeaways to remember:
- Using more than one alignment stick at a time can help with both the feel and visualization of a shot.
- Not all alignment stick drills need to be done at the driving range; it’s possible to do many of these at home and just work on positions and feedback.
- Use alignment sticks to help with your alignment and pre-shot routine; you’ll be much more accurate when you get to the course.
- Gripping an alignment stick and a golf club simultaneously extends the club’s length, making it easier to see the proper impact position and swing plane.
- Don’t forget to use alignment sticks in the short game; they are helpful for both chipping and putting practice.
Contents
7 Alignment Stick Drills for Better Golf
Death Drill
The death drill is not as scary as it sounds. While you’ll see most alignment stick drills deal with putting the sticks on the ground or placing them in the ground at certain angles, the death drill is more about holding the stick while you swing.
You’ll place the alignment stick under your trail arm and then grip with both hands and let the alignment stick run through the fingers of the lead hand. This position ensures that you won’t be able to flip your wrists through impact.
Take some chip shots before you start the death drill and record your HackMotion data. Then, record again while you are doing the death drill.
You should notice your wrist action stays more consistent and more towards flexion vs extension.
Shallow the Club Drill
The shallow the club drill or two stick drill is a great option if you need to work on your swing plane.
Getting the club a little too steep can affect your impact position and the direction of your golf shots.
For this drill, you will need two alignment sticks. It’s also best to have a grass driving range to work on so you can set the alignment stick in the ground at the right angle. As you work through the steps of the shallow the club drill, you’ll quickly realize the impact your takeaway has on the rest of the golf swing.
If the club starts on the inside, you’ll struggle to get it on track. Those first few seconds of your backswing can make all the difference.
Belt Loop Coil Drill
Some golfers excel at engaging their lower body and building up additional power. However, many amateur players try to swing their arms.
If you are a golfer who struggles with coiling the lower body, the belt loop coil drill is a good option. For this one you will need to be wearing pants that have a belt loop.
Simply thread the alignment stick into the pants and take your traditional setup. If you turn back and forget to incorporate the lower body, it will be very obvious. The turn will show the alignment stick is still pointed straight down the target line.
The goal is to get the alignment stick pointed more towards the ball.
Alignment Drill
The alignment drill from Scratch Golf Academy is sort of the obvious alignment stick drill, but it still deserves a spot on this list. With the alignment drill, you will use two alignment sticks.
Set the sticks up on the ground so you have plenty of room to strike the ball between them. The key is ensuring this alignment stick is aimed directly at your target.
You’ll step into each shot, align the clubface, and then get your body lined up. Many players try aligning their bodies first and then clubhead, but it doesn’t work. With the alignment drill, you can simply set yourself up parallel to the sticks and be right on track.
Even if you are just hitting balls on the range, this is a good setup to have.
Keep Your Head Still when Chipping
Do you struggle with staying over the ball when you chip?
By moving your head and peeking to see what happens, you don’t give the club and the ball enough time to interact.
Not only do some of these shots end up as skulls or thinned shots that run across the green, but you are also missing your full potential for spin and control.
To keep your head still when chipping, try this alignment stick drill that incorporates two sticks. The interesting thing about this one is that it’s just a visual aid, but it really works.
Keep your head over the stick, make clean contact, and you’ll finally feel what it’s like not to peak at your shots; you just need to bring it to the course.
Hands Ahead at Impact Drill
To make solid contact with the golf ball your hands should be ahead of the ball at impact. With your hands ahead, the lead wrist should be flat or even slightly flexed, and the clubface square.
However, many amateur players struggle with this feeling.
Luckily, with an alignment stick in your hands, you can feel exactly what it takes to get your hands ahead at impact and make clean contact with the ball.
You can practice this one without hitting golf balls.
Alignment Stick Putting Motion Drill
The alignment sticks can be used to help you feel the pendulum style motion you need to be a great putter. However, golf alignment sticks are also one of the most versatile putting tools you can use to train.
For this drill, make an X with two alignment sticks. Then, get into your normal setup position and grip the alignment sticks at the X. When you practice your putting stroke, you’ll feel the way your upper body has to move and how your wrists and hands stay more controlled.
You can further enhance this learning by incorporating a HackMotion wrist analyzer into your practice routine. The HackMotion will help you pinpoint any inaccuracies in your putting stroke. It’s like having a coach with you while you practice.
Final Thoughts
Every golfer needs alignment sticks. If you want to take your game to the next level, this is one of the most affordable and best ways to do it.
Use these helpful training aids to work on drills and make progress. Drills will help you with feedback, feel, and consistency in your golf game.
We suggest having at least two alignment sticks because the number of drills you can do while having two sticks in the bag is significantly increased.
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