| The way you align yourself for every golf shot | | | | analyzing, aren't you?" |
| has a huge affect on whether each shot is going | | | | "I'm just asking," Dr. Coop replied. "When are you |
| to be a success or not. | | | | picking your spots?" |
| Now there is a sure-fire way of improving your | | | | Payne said nothing -- but he went back to picking |
| alignment and consequently this improves your | | | | his spots. If you look at a tape of Payne's win, |
| chances of success for each golf shot. To do this | | | | you'll see him doing this before each shot. It was |
| here is what you need to do. | | | | a point well taken. |
| Before each and every golf shot you play I | | | | So to improve your lining up I suggest you pick |
| suggest you pick an intermediate target and the | | | | intermediate targets before every shot as well. |
| importance of doing this should never, ever be | | | | Make this a part of your pre-shot routine. |
| underestimated. A while back I read an interesting | | | | To do this, simply stand behind your ball and |
| story about the late, Payne Stewart and what | | | | imagine a line from the ball to your target. Then |
| happened just before he won the 1999 U.S. Open. | | | | along this line pick out an easily identifiable object |
| This story relates to alignment so please read it | | | | about 2-3 feet in front of your ball. And this |
| carefully. | | | | identifiable object can be anything that you |
| During our Tuesday practice round, Dr. Richard | | | | can easily identify, like a divot, a leaf, a dark |
| Coop, a sports psychologist who has worked with | | | | colored piece of grass, anything that can be easily |
| Payne for a number of years, walked with us. As | | | | identified and used. |
| he watched Payne play the course, he noticed | | | | Then when youre setting up to your ball use |
| something vital. "When are you picking your | | | | this identifiable object in front of your ball to |
| spots?" he asked. | | | | line up your clubface and then line your body up |
| They had been working on a way to improve | | | | with the clubface. After you've made this a habit |
| Payne's set-up and alignment. Payne would pick a | | | | you'll find that you are more consistent from one |
| spot in front of the ball and align the club and his | | | | game to the next, and that's got to help your |
| body to that spot. Apparently, he was neglecting | | | | enjoyment. Try it, it works, as the late great |
| this important part of his pre-shot routine. | | | | Payne Stewart showed in his 1999 U.S. Open win. |
| "That's right, Coop," Payne shot back. "Always | | | | |