Do alignment sticks work?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 07, 2026
They ensure you are aligned to your target correctly when practicing, which is vital for grooving a solid, consistent golf swing. In a nutshell, alignment sticks are extremely useful and should be a key component of any practice session.
Do pros use alignment sticks?
Many touring professionals use alignment sticks, including Phil Mickelson, who is featured in a video on Tour Sticks' Web site ().
How do alignment sticks stop coming over the top?
One of the best drills to use to fix an over-the-top swing is by taking an alignment stick and placing it in the ground about three feet behind your ball and in line with your target. Then, line the angle of the alignment stick up with your club shaft at address (you may need a friend to help you with this part).
How do you use an alignment stick on a driver?
Lay an alignment stick down on the ground about 1 inch behind the ball and perpendicular to the target line. Then, simply hit balls and work on hitting the ball first and then the ground. If you make solid impact, you won't hit the stick.
How many golf alignment sticks do you need?
To check your ball position, you need one alignment stick but two is preferable. With one stick, place the rod between your feet pointed at the ball. If you have two sticks, place one along your toe line, aimed just left of your target.
36 related questions foundHow long is a golf alignment stick?
The golf alignment sticks are typically a little longer than your driver. Most options will be around 45-48 inches in length.
Why do I slice with my driver but not my irons?
Honestly, it all comes down to one simple concept: You can't use the exact same swing for both your irons and your driver. Those two types of clubs are designed differently, with different shaft lengths and different lofts. They are made to achieve different goals.
How do I stop my shoulder from going over the top?
Keep your knees -- especially your right knee -- flexed. When players come over the top, they usually straighten their right knee. That pushes their right hip upward, which also pushes their right shoulder upward. Keeping that right knee flexed will help keep your right shoulder on the correct plane.
Why can't I stop coming over the top?
One of the most common causes of the over-the-top move is when golfers fail to transfer their weight properly. This can lead to what's known as a reverse pivot where the weight stays on the left leg throughout the backswing and then shifts onto the right side coming down into impact.
Which alignment sticks do pros use?
What is this? The 44″ microfiber sticks are those that touring professionals use, and you'll have the chance to practice the same drills of the pro players. This means you can exercise your stance, swing plane, ball alignment, ball flight, and short game shots like chipping, pitching or putting.
Who makes the best golf alignment sticks?
Below we have described and reviewed 10 of the 2022 best golf alignment sticks on the market today.
- Alignment Sticks by Callaway.
- Tour Sticks Alignment Sticks.
- Elixir Golf Alignment Sticks.
- PrideSports Alignment Sticks.
- MVP Sport Alignment Sticks.
- A99 Golf Alignment Sticks.
- Frogger Golf Alignment Sticks.
Where should shoulders be impacted?
For a golfer whose left arm is deeper and more across the chest and right arm stays bent longer, the shoulders should be more open at impact. This will help the golfer's swing move in the direction of the target. For this golfer, the arms are moving slower, or closer to the same speed as the right shoulder.
How do I get my right shoulder back?
To feel like you're keeping your right shoulder back, make a mini waggle of your arms moving down until your left arm is level to the ground. While the arms are moving down, you also want to feel that your weight has shifted forward. If done correctly, the butt of the grip will be on your target line behind the ball.
How do I stop my shoulder from dropping in the downswing?
To correct this you need to focus on moving forward onto your front foot sooner through impact. Try finishing with your chest leaning outside your front foot for a while as opposed to leaning back (a reverse C finish).
Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?
Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots.
Why do I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver?
Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.
Does higher loft reduce slice?
Although many slicers want to hit the ball lower, remember the additional loft provides backspin that will reduce the amount a golf ball slices through the air.
Can you carry alignment sticks in golf bag?
The caddie proceeded to take out Steele's alignment stick, which is legal to carry during competition. However, Rule 4-3 states that players are prohibited from using golf training or swing aids during a round.
How do you properly align in golf?
There are three key steps to correctly aligning yourself to your target in golf: first, aim the clubface so that it's pointed down your intended target line; second, align your feet parallel to your target line; and third, make sure your shoulders are square or slightly open, not closed, to your target line.
Are golf alignment sticks worth it?
They ensure you are aligned to your target correctly when practicing, which is vital for grooving a solid, consistent golf swing. In a nutshell, alignment sticks are extremely useful and should be a key component of any practice session.
What types of golf clubs are there?
In fact, today, there are five categories of clubs: woods (including the driver), irons, hybrids, wedges and putters.