The Best Free Golf Video Lessons565 Free Golf Lessons from the Best ProsOver 120,000,000 views
565 lessons from professionals, selected and summarizedOver 120,000,000 views across all videos
AlignmentClub Position Relative to the Ball All clubs Beginner ⏱ 7 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Aiming Using an Intermediate Point: The Simple Method

Aiming at a distant target is difficult on the course. Rick Shiels brings the target down to a small mark on the ground, right in front of the ball, and shows how to adjust your aim based on your ball’s spin, the wind, or the flag’s position.

▶
Rick Shiels
Rick Shiels · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

4 minNext Level UpReading Greens with Your Feet, Justin Rose's WayJustin Rose · Intermediate10 minNext Level UpBrooks Koepka's Fairway Finder: The Safe FadeBrooks Koepka · Intermediate / Expert3 minFrom the same proThree-Zone Pre-Shot Routine: Rick ShielsRick Shiels · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

What makes aiming difficult is the distance to the target. Rick Shiels stands 5 to 7 feet behind the ball, perfectly aligned, and chooses a target as small as possible: a flag, the edge of the green, or, in this case, a tree 600 yards away. With the edge of the club held straight out in front of him, he draws an imaginary line and locates a point 1.2 or 5 feet in front of the ball: a broken tee, a blade of grass, an old divot, a bit of mud. He’s no longer aiming at the tree; he’s aiming at that spot.

When the ball comes his way, he first directs it the face toward the point, then position your feet parallel to that line (rather than pointing toward the target) for a straight shot. He clarifies: aiming well doesn’t guarantee a straight shot, but at least you know where you’re aiming. The method is adaptable: if your ball curves from left to right, choose a target to the left; do the same depending on the wind, or to avoid the wrong side of a flag. It applies to all clubs, from the driver to the putter.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Stand 5 to 7 feet behind the ball, in line with the target.
  2. Choose a small, specific target in the distance.
  3. Hold the club in front of you and follow its right edge toward the target.
  4. Find a point on the ground 1.2 or 5 feet in front of the ball along this line.
  5. When hitting the ball, aim the clubface at that spot.
  6. Place your feet parallel to the ball-to-pin line.
  7. For a fade, a draw, or wind, choose an off-center target and repeat the same pre-shot routine.

Key Takeaways

A distant target is almost impossible to aim at directly.
We choose the smallest possible target.
The midpoint is located 1.2 or 5 feet in front of the ball.
The face is aimed at the target, and the feet remain parallel to the line.
Whether it's due to an effect or the wind, we adjust the target, not the method.
This method applies to all clubs, from the driver to the putter.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Aim directly at a very distant target.
  • Choosing a target that's too broad, such as “the fairway.”.
  • Point your feet toward the target instead of keeping them parallel.
  • Marking the ground with your club: this is not allowed; choose an existing marker.
  • Do not take bullet drop or wind into account.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A complete pre-shot routine behind the ball on every shot
  2. Intermediate anchor at 1.2–1.5 m, first the face, then the feet
  3. A series aimed to the left for your fade, or to the right for your draw
  4. Same pre-shot routine on the putting green

Your Questions

How far from the ball should the midpoint be?

Rick Shiels positions it 1.2 or 5 feet in front of the ball, along the line leading to the target. Close enough to aim at it easily.

What should you choose as a landmark on the ground?

What’s already there: a broken tee, a blade of grass, an old divot, a bit of mud. He points out that you can’t leave a mark on the ground with the club.

How can I aim if my ball always curves from left to right?

Choose a target to the left of where you want to end up, then a point along that line. Your curve will bring the ball back toward the target. The same logic applies to the wind.

Learn More

All “Alignment” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Club Position Relative to the Ball” →Find the lesson that's right for you Justin Rose's putting session with Phil KenyonBefore a tournament, Rose and his coach check his setup, the ball's line matched to the top of the putter, a start-line gate and the slope in percent. Reading Greens with Your Feet, Justin Rose's WayRose walks in a semicircle to feel where the slope changes direction, then adjusts his stance until a stick on the ground points to the center of the hole. Brooks Koepka's Fairway Finder: The Safe FadeKoepka breaks down the drive into alignment and ball position, then demonstrates his “fairway finder”: ball set back, open stance, and a downward swing. Rick ShielsAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Rick Shiels). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros