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Target Focus All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 9 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Five Alignment Mistakes in Golf: Chris Ryan

Do you swing well but the ball always goes to the same side? Instructor Chris Ryan addresses golfers of all skill levels: he reviews the five most common alignment mistakes—from choosing your target to how you look at it—and offers a simple fix for each one.

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Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

12 minSame problemDriver: Build a Fairway on the Range Like MorikawaCollin Morikawa · Beginner / Intermediate23 minNext Level UpHitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real DifferencesJérémy Goergen · Intermediate7 minFrom the same proCheck Your Low Point at Home: Four StepsChris Ryan · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

The first mistake, according to Chris Ryan: aim directly at the flag. At 120, 220, or 400 yards, it's hard to align the clubface with a target that far away. Good players choose an intermediate marker on the line, about a foot in front of the ball: a spot, a blade of grass that stands out. Second mistake: approaching from the side with your body already closed; as you compensate, you shift your ball position and your shoulders. You have to approach from behind, with your body open, set the clubface on the marker, then build your stance around it.

Third mistake: checking by looking up, which doesn't tell you anything. Instead, turning your head, left ear up, right ear down, so that your eyes follow the line of the body: the first object you see indicates where you’re aiming. Fourth mistake: aiming for the perfect shot rather than your usual shot pattern; if your irons drift to the right, aim, for example, at a clubhouse window 20 feet to the left of the flag and commit to it. The final mistake: not even looking at the target. It affects golfers who are too wrapped up in their technique; stay focused on the shot you're about to hit.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. From behind the ball, choose your final target based on today's shot pattern.
  2. Trace the line back to the ball and pick a spot about a foot in front of it.
  3. Approach from behind, with your body open.
  4. Set the clubface square to that marker.
  5. Build your stance around the clubface.
  6. Rotate your head along the line of your body to check.
  7. If your aim is off, step back from your position and start over.

Key Takeaways

Aim for an intermediate landmark, not the flag in the distance.
Approach from behind, body open, clubface set down first.
Check by turning your head, not by tilting it back.
Choose the target based on your usual spread.
Stay focused on the shot, not on your technique.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Aiming the clubface directly at a distant flag.
  • Approaching from the side, with your body already closed.
  • Looking up to check your alignment.
  • Aiming for the perfect shot you imagine.
  • No longer looking at the target, absorbed in technique.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A tee placed about a foot in front of the ball, on the target line
  2. Approach from behind, setting the clubface down first for every ball
  3. Head pivot: Note the first object you see

Your Questions

Why not aim directly at the flag?

Because it's too far away to aim the clubface precisely at it. Chris Ryan recommends using an intermediate reference point on the line, about a foot in front of the ball.

How do you get to the ball?

From behind, with your body open, first set the clubface behind the marker, then build your stance around it. Approaching from the side closes your stance.

How do you check your alignment?

Rotate your head so that your eyes follow the line of your body. The first object you see indicates where you are aligned; looking up does not provide any information.

Where should I aim if my shots are going to the right?

Depending on your usual tendency: if your irons tend to drift to the right, aim to the left of the flag, and then commit fully to that choice.

Learn More

All “Target Intention” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Driver: Build a Fairway on the Range Like MorikawaA fairway winding between two driving range markers, a gentle rise up to waist height, and an outer target in sight: Morikawa’s driver. Hitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real DifferencesCompare the swing of someone who hits the ball with someone who throws it to the target: intent changes the setup, the move, the release and the finish; change the start and the end. Predicting Ball Contact: Edouard Montaz’s DrillContact is a prediction, not an action: lower your stance in stages (swing at the air, top, clean ball, ball-grass-ground) while aiming at the target. Chris RyanAll of his lessons

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

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