Golf Alignment: The Simple Setup Mistake That Creates a Slice

Why Better Aim Can Immediately Improve Your Ball Flight

Most golfers who slice the ball think the problem is only in the swing.

Sometimes it is.

But very often, the slice begins before the club even moves.

One of the most common causes of a slice is poor alignment. If your body is aimed incorrectly, your swing will usually make adjustments to compensate. Those compensations often create the classic out-to-in swing path that cuts across the golf ball and produces a slice.

At Mark Chambers Golf, we often remind golfers that improvement does not always begin with a complicated swing change. Sometimes, it begins with a better setup.

Why Alignment Matters

Golf is a target game.

Before we think about swing mechanics, speed, power, or launch monitor numbers, we must first understand where the golfer is aiming.

Good players and golf professionals do not simply walk up to the ball and hope their body is aligned correctly. They follow a consistent routine.

That routine helps them set the clubface, feet, body, and swing direction in a way that gives the shot the best chance to start online.

For many amateur golfers, poor alignment becomes a hidden problem. They feel like they are aiming at the target, but their feet, hips, shoulders, and swing path may be pointing somewhere completely different.

The Common Mistake

The average golfer often walks up to the ball, takes their stance, then looks over their shoulder at the target.

This sounds normal, but it can create a serious problem.

When a golfer sets up this way, the body often ends up aiming to the right of the target. The golfer then senses the target is more to the left and tries to swing the club toward it.

This usually causes the club to move across the target line from outside to inside.

The result?

A cut shot, a weak fade, or the classic slice.

The golfer may then try to fix the swing, when the first problem was actually the setup.

How Better Players Aim

Better players use a simple and repeatable alignment process.

They do not guess.

They build their setup around a clear target line.

A good alignment routine usually follows this order:

1. Stand behind the ball and look directly at the target.

2. Choose an intermediate target on the ground.

3. Aim the clubface at that intermediate target.

4. Set the feet parallel to the target line.

5. Check that the body is also parallel to the target line.

This process gives the golfer a much better chance of setting up correctly before the swing begins.

What Is an Intermediate Target?

An intermediate target is a small point on the ground between the ball and the final target.

It could be:

• A blade of grass

• A small mark on the ground

• A broken tee

• A leaf

• A discolored patch of turf

Ideally, it should be around half a meter in front of the ball and directly on the target line.

Why does this help?

Because it is much easier to aim the clubface at something close to the ball than something 150 meters away.

This is one of the simplest habits golfers can build, and it can make a major difference to shot direction.

Clubface First, Body Second

A common mistake is setting the feet first and then trying to adjust the clubface.

The better approach is:

Aim the clubface first. Then build the body around it.

The clubface controls the starting direction of the ball. If the face is not aimed properly, even a good swing may produce a poor result.

Once the clubface is aimed at the intermediate target, the golfer can then set the feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and forearms parallel to the target line.

The body should not point directly at the target. It should sit parallel to the target line, like railway tracks.

The ball-to-target line is one rail. The body alignment line is the other rail.

What Should Be Parallel?

For good alignment, the following should generally be parallel to the target line:

• Feet

• Knees

• Hips

• Shoulders

• Forearms

If the shoulders are open, the swing may cut across the ball. If the hips are closed, the body may restrict rotation. If the feet are poorly aligned, the golfer may feel uncomfortable and make compensations.

Good alignment gives the swing a better chance to work naturally.

Alignment and the Slice

Many golfers slice because their setup encourages the wrong swing path.

A golfer may aim the body to the right, then try to swing the club back toward the target. This creates an out-to-in path. If the clubface is also open relative to that path, the ball curves strongly to the right.

This is why alignment is not just about where you are pointing.

It directly affects:

• Swing path

• Clubface control

• Contact quality

• Shot shape

• Confidence

A golfer who improves alignment may immediately see a straighter ball flight without making a major technical swing change.

Practice With Purpose

Many golfers go to the driving range and simply hit balls.

That is not practice.

That is exercise.

Practice should have a purpose.

If you are working on alignment, every ball should involve a target, a routine, and a way to measure your result.

Do not just hit balls as far as possible. Instead, take time to aim correctly and evaluate the shot.

A Simple Alignment Practice Drill

Here is a simple way to practice alignment properly.

Step 1: Choose a target

Pick a clear target on the range.

This could be a flag, post, distance marker, or specific area.

Step 2: Stand behind the ball

Look from behind the ball toward the target.

This gives you the best view of the target line.

Step 3: Pick an intermediate target

Choose a small spot on the ground around half a meter in front of the ball.

This should sit directly on your target line.

Step 4: Aim the clubface

Set the clubface square to the intermediate target.

Step 5: Set your body

Place your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and forearms parallel to the target line.

Step 6: Hit 10 balls

Hit 10 balls using the same alignment routine every time.

Step 7: Record your result

Count how many shots finish within 5 to 10 meters of your intended target.

After 100 balls, you will have a clear average.

This gives you something valuable: measurable practice.

Why This Drill Works

This drill helps golfers move away from random practice.

Instead of asking, “Did I hit that one well?” you start asking better questions:

• Did I aim correctly?

• Did I follow my routine?

• Did the ball start on my intended line?

• How many shots finished close to my target?

• Is my alignment improving over time?

This is how structured practice creates real improvement.

The goal is not to hit one good shot.

The goal is to build a repeatable process.

The Big Message

Alignment is one of the simplest parts of golf to practice, but it is also one of the most overlooked.

If you aim poorly, your swing will often compensate.

If your swing compensates, the ball flight becomes harder to control.

Before making a major swing change, check the basics:

• Target line

• Intermediate target

• Clubface alignment

• Body alignment

• Practice routine

A better setup creates a better chance of a better swing.

Structured Coaching. Real Results.

At Mark Chambers Golf, we help golfers build practical habits that transfer from the lesson tee to the golf course.

Good alignment is not glamorous, but it is essential.

It gives the golfer structure, clarity, and a better chance of producing consistent ball flight.

If you slice the ball, do not only look at the swing. Look at how you aim, how you set up, and how you practice.

Small changes in alignment can create big improvements in direction and confidence.

Want to understand why your shots are missing the target?

Book a coaching session with Mark Chambers Golf and learn how better alignment, structured practice, and clear coaching can help you improve your ball flight.