Tips

<h2>🏌️♂️ 5 Alignment Stick Drills to Break 80</h2>
<p><em>Sharpen your setup, strike it cleaner, and score lower — all with a pair of handcrafted sticks.</em></p>

<p>If you’re chasing that elusive sub-80 round, you don’t need a simulator or a swing coach on standby. What you <strong>do</strong> need is consistency — and few tools help with that more than a solid set of alignment sticks.</p>

<p>Here are 5 essential drills to help you build a reliable setup, pure your strikes, and shave strokes — whether you're practicing at the range or warming up before a round.</p>

<h3>1. 🎯 Railroad Track Drill (for Alignment)</h3>
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Fix your feet, hips, and shoulders</p>
<ul>
  <li>Lay two sticks parallel to each other on the ground — one pointing at your target, one for your foot line</li>
  <li>Align your feet, hips, and shoulders with the inner stick</li>
  <li>Your clubface should aim along the outer stick (your true target line)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why it works:</strong> Most amateurs aim too far right or left without realizing it. This drill locks you in visually so your brain and body start speaking the same language.</p>
<p>✅ Try it with our <a href="https://hazygolf.com/products/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing" target="_blank">Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Alignment Sticks</a> — 45” of handcrafted hickory class.</p>

<h3>2. 💥 Gate Drill (for Ball Striking)</h3>
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Center up your contact</p>
<ul>
  <li>Stick one alignment stick in the ground vertically behind your ball</li>
  <li>Angle it slightly forward to encourage forward shaft lean</li>
  <li>Take slow ¾ swings and avoid hitting the stick on the way down</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why it works:</strong> This helps fix early release and forces you to compress the ball instead of flipping the clubhead.</p>
<p>🔨 Bonus: You can add a second stick just outside the ball to act as a club path gate.</p>

<h3>3. 🦶 Foot Width Check (for Consistency)</h3>
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Ensure proper stance width per club</p>
<ul>
  <li>Drop a stick behind your heels as you set up</li>
  <li>Step into your iron setup and mark foot width with tees</li>
  <li>Repeat for driver, wedges, and hybrids — find what works best for your swing</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why it works:</strong> Inconsistent stance width leads to inconsistent posture, weight shift, and contact. This simple visual helps standardize your setup.</p>
<p>👜 Keep your setup locked in with our <a href="https://hazygolf.com/products/hg-leather-see-through-alignment-sticks-cover" target="_blank">HG See-Through Stick Cover</a> — built to hold two sets, no scratches.</p>

<h3>4. 🎯 Putting Path Drill</h3>
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Train a consistent stroke path</p>
<ul>
  <li>Lay two sticks on the putting green, just slightly wider than your putter head</li>
  <li>Hit 5–10 putts without touching either stick</li>
  <li>Narrow the gap as you improve</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why it works:</strong> This creates a repeatable, square-to-square putting path that improves both direction and speed control.</p>
<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Use a tee gate at your target distance for added feedback.</p>

<h3>5. 🛤 Tempo Trainer Drill</h3>
<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Smooth out your swing tempo</p>
<ul>
  <li>Place one stick behind the ball, angled away from target at 45°</li>
  <li>Swing back along that angle and through the ball with slow, even rhythm</li>
  <li>Count “1...2” on backswing and “3” on downswing</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Why it works:</strong> Most players rush the top. This visual and rhythm check slows you down and promotes balance.</p>
<p>⏱️ Do this as part of your pre-round warmup to eliminate that first-tee snap hook.</p>

<hr>

<h3>⛳️ Ready to Break 80?</h3>
<p>You don’t need fancy gear. You need consistency. And the best way to build that is with a quality set of sticks and a few drills that stick.</p>
<ul>
  <li>🎯 <a href="https://hazygolf.com/products/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing" target="_blank">Shop handcrafted alignment sticks</a></li>
  <li>🎁 <a href="https://hazygolf.com/products/hg-leather-see-through-alignment-sticks-cover" target="_blank">Grab the matching stick cover</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Stick with it — you’ve got 79 in you.</strong></p>