Alignment Mistakes in Golf: Jean-Marc Espelt
Many swing flaws are compensations for poor alignment. Jean-Marc Espelt explains why aiming at the target with your body sends the ball to the right, then offers three tips for aligning yourself correctly, using chopsticks as a prop.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Jean-Marc Espelt, alignment is one of the The Three Fundamentals of the Swing, along with grip and posture. The most common mistake: turn your body toward the target. The body is then aligned to the right; with a normal swing, the ball goes to the right. Without realizing it, the player compensates by a shoulder bump to bring the ball back toward the target. A good visual cue is to feel 15 to 20 degrees to the left of the target: Feet parallel to the line of play, like two parallel sticks. Pros who align themselves to the right do so intentionally for a specific effect: don't copy them.
His three points. One, position yourself behind the ball and take a reference point about 50 cm in front of the ball, a leaf, a twig, a spot—something you turn your face toward. Two, body alignment: Keep your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the line of play, keeping in mind that your right shoulder is naturally a little lower since your right hand is below your left hand. Poor alignment causes the swing to start off crooked and results in a glancing blow to the ball, with unintended effects. Three, the clubface: the club resting on its sole, with the clubface perpendicular to the line of play, as checked with the sticks.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Stand behind the ball and visualize the path to the target.
- Choose a reference point about 50 cm in front of the ball along this line.
- Point the clubface toward that spot, with the club resting on its sole.
- Place your right foot, then your left foot, parallel to the line of play.
- Make sure your hips and shoulders are parallel, without trying to keep your shoulders perfectly horizontal.
- Look at your midpoint, then swing.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Align your body directly toward the target, which turns it to the right.
- Compensate for misalignment with a shoulder push.
- Keep your feet properly aligned, but have your hips and shoulders turned to the right or left.
- Place the club with the grip facing the clubhead instead of leaving it resting on its sole.
- Copy the deliberately off-center stance of a professional player.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- A row of two parallel rods pointing toward a target
- A reference point 50 cm in front of the ball on every shot
- Checking the feet, hips, and shoulders with a stick
- Checking the face perpendicular to the line of play
Your Questions
Why does my ball go to the right even though I'm aiming correctly?
According to Jean-Marc Espelt, if you turn your body toward the target, it is actually aligned to the right: with a normal swing, the ball goes to the right, and many players then compensate by shifting their shoulders.
How should you position your body?
Parallel to the line of play, not toward the target. It describes the visual sensation of being 15 to 20 degrees to the left of the target.
What is the purpose of the reference point in front of the ball?
He picks a reference point about 50 cm in front of the ball—a leaf or a twig—to align the clubface; the target becomes the final point.
Do my shoulders have to be perfectly parallel to the floor?
No: Since the right hand is under the left hand, the right shoulder is naturally a little lower. The important thing is that the feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned with the line of play.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean-Marc Espelt). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.