I am in the pro column for using alignment sticks. I have practiced with them for years. However, prior to buying a set six years ago, I used clubs to facilitate the same thing. So, Why did I buy a set of alignment sticks, that is a great question!
The simple answer is that they were on sale at the time and work the price of five dollars. But, before that I had been looking for this training aid because I needed something that produce a perfect right angle. The right angle was the key to improving my alignment and ball position. Additionally, I stepped on my clubs a few times over the years and I figured it was cheaper to replace the alignment sticks than a new club.
The other day I was hitting balls in my garage and felt that my ball position was a little off. So I dug out the alignment sticks to check things out. As it turned out, I was out of position and quickly fixed this challenge.
The alignment sticks provided a perfect solution and I started hitting balls better and on line. It really was a simple fix and I will keep them handy moving forward. Interestingly, I found another usage for my alignment sticks that I think is important to share.
This training aid also helps work on hand position. If you have wandering hands a setup, you will find that alignment sticks offer a visual reference that help ensure your hands are in the same position over and over again. This specific piece of information is critical if you want to hit consistent, solid shots. Take a look at what I mean:
My visual cue is I just start to see the orange alignment stick at the base of my grip. By doing this, I know that my club head and club face are in the position I need to hit my 7 iron where I want to. Of course, this visual cue will change depending on the club in your hand. But I think you get the point. I find this piece of information very helpful and use it routinely.
Alignment sticks have many uses. They are a great tool for my golf game and I plan to use them more often in the future. Any process that helps me develop a solid pre-shot and swing routine has great value to reaching my goal as a scratch golfer.
Do you use alignment sticks?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
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Hi Jim,
I have never used alignment sticks, mainly because if your swing goes wrong out on the course, you need to find a routine that puts it right out there.
Pete
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Pete
Fair enough, but they do help develop a process you can use out on the course.
Cheers Jim
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Jim, I always have my alignment sticks in the bag for practice and for warmup prior to play. I use on the range and the putting green. I must admit I’m shocked at the early results of your Twitter poll and that how many people do not use. On the other hand, when you watch how badly some playing partners are aligned on all their shots, it’s not a total surprise.
Thanks!
Brian
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Brian
Like all training aids, there needs to be a focused intent to improve. Unfortunately, I am not surprised at the poll results.
Cheers Jim
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Question: I may have understood you wrong, but you mention the alignment sticks are aligned “to hit” the red marker. Does that mean the sticks are aligned directly at the red marker? If so, that’s a trap. If the alignment rods are pointing directly at the red marker, and you are setting up your feet parallel to the alignment rods and still hitting the red marker when you swing, then you are training a pull. With the ball two inches outside of the rods, if the face squares to the rods as it should, the aim point of the ball would be two inches right of the aim point of the rods. With the net so close, two inches there is a very big difference 100 yards down the fairway. To aim correctly, with the ball 2 inches in front of the rods, the rods should be aligned two inches left of the target you want the ball to hit.
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Kevin
I see your point. However I was hitting just right of the aim point. Additionally, I took the picture a left of the stick pointing to the marker. This causes a bit of parallax error. So, your are correct that I do not have things lined up perfectly. Will try to be better in the future. The main point was to use the alignment sticks for a hand visualization. Thanks for keeping me honest.
Cheers Jim
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