The One Thing Amateur Golfers Always Get Wrong About Alignment

You walk up to your ball, confident. The target’s in sight. You shuffle your feet, square up your shoulders, and fire away. Then… the ball sails right. Again. Sound familiar?

Here’s the kicker: your swing isn’t always the problem. In fact, for a lot of mid-handicap golfers, the real issue happens before the club even moves. It’s alignment — and almost everyone gets it wrong in the exact same way.

Stop Lining Up Like a Human Compass

Let’s get something straight: your clubface should be aligned to the target. Not your feet. Not your hips. Not your shoulders.

Yet, according to PGA professionals, this is the most common mistake amateurs make. Most players instinctively line up their body with the target, which unintentionally sends the clubface way off line — often aimed right for right-handed golfers.

As Chris Ryan put it in a recent lesson: “What I often see is golfers walking in too much from the side… and they’re already closed off to the target before the swing even begins.”

And from there, things spiral fast.

According to Golf.com, clubface-first alignment is one of the fastest ways to reduce wayward shots — no swing change required.

Misalignment = Swing Compensations = Inconsistent Golf

If your stance is aiming right, your backswing starts to shift inside. From that position, you’re stuck — either come over the top (slice city), or drop the club way inside (hello, push-hook combo platter).

Here’s the math: bad alignment = compensatory moves = messy ball flights.

A HackMotion breakdown explains it like this: “If you struggle with an in-to-out swing path… your feet and shoulders are likely aimed too far right, encouraging that inside path from the start.”

So if you’re fighting hooks, pushes, or unpredictable curves — check your setup. It might not be your mechanics at all.

Why It Gets Worse with Longer Clubs

It’s not your imagination: alignment mistakes actually amplify the farther out you go.

A 2024 study showed alignment errors nearly doubled between shots from 70 yards and 190 yards. That means your hybrid or 3-wood misses aren’t just user error — they’re often setup mistakes showing up more clearly at longer distances.

It’s like shooting a Nerf gun two inches off line from two feet away — not a big deal. Do it from 30 feet, and suddenly you’ve dented the neighbor’s car.

The Four Parallel Lines You Should Be Using

Visualize railroad tracks. That’s what your alignment should look like.

1. Target Line: clubface to the target
2. Feet Line: parallel left of the target (for righties)
3. Hip Line: same as feet
4. Shoulder Line: same as hips

The only line that goes to the flag is your clubface. The rest should run alongside it — not pointing at the pin.

Simple, right? But here’s where it gets tricky.

Your Setup Sequence Is Probably Backwards

Most players place their feet first, then wiggle the clubface into position. That’s the wrong order.

Instead, try this 3-step process:

1. Set the clubface behind the ball, aimed directly at your target.
2. Place your trail foot — being careful not to bump the club.
3. Place your lead foot to complete the stance.

You’re building your body around the clubface — not forcing the clubface to match your body. Subtle shift. Huge difference.

The Intermediate Target Trick (Yes, It Works)

Hannah Green (four-time LPGA winner) recommends picking a tiny intermediate target 2–3 yards in front of your ball — like a leaf, divot, or blade of grass that’s perfectly in line with your real target.

“Line yourself up to match everything up, and then trust that. Don’t shuffle around before hitting,” she says.

It’s a confidence booster — especially if you’re someone who overthinks and second-guesses at setup (so… most of us).

Two Drills That Actually Help

1. The Alignment Stick Channel
Place two alignment sticks on the ground about 4 inches apart, both pointing at your target. Stand so your toes are along the inside stick.

Swing slowly, making sure your club travels between the sticks. Instant feedback.

Cheap. Effective.

2. The Scheffler Drill
Inspired by Scottie Scheffler: one stick along your toe line, and another behind your hips angled like a backswing path. It stops you from yanking the club too far inside.

Prevents “getting stuck” on the takeaway — a classic result of poor alignment.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Lift Your Head to Check Alignment

Chris Ryan suggests lifting your left ear up (right-handed golfers), dropping the right ear, and using your body line to check instead of your eye line.

Translation: don’t twist around like a pretzel to double-check. Stay in position. Trust the process.

Final Thought: It’s Not Sexy, But It Works

Alignment isn’t flashy. It won’t make you look cool on the range. But it will save you strokes without touching your swing.

It’s the quiet killer in your game — and fixing it is embarrassingly simple once you know what to look for.

Misalignment also feeds doubt, especially on the tee. If that sounds familiar, you might want to check out this post on building confidence from the tee box — it pairs perfectly with what we covered here.