It was recently pointed out to me that I tend to aim right, especially off the tee. Sounds like this is pretty common for hacks like me. I never bought into the intermediate target thing, but now, all of a sudden, I'm really into it. Getting my aim right has not only helped my pushes, but even my slice as well (I've read that lots of hacks aim right inadvertantly, then compensate in their swing, causing a slice -- evidently true for me).

So now I'm way into the intermediate target thing. I stand behind the shot, line up with club outstretched, pick a solid intermediate target, and then at address, don't even look up at the actual target, just line up with the intermediate (2-3 feet in front of me). I've even started finding the intermediate before placing a tee, then, lining it up carefully, place my tee so it's in line perfectly.

But sometimes there is no good "thing" to line up with, especially after the tee, out on the fairway (or out in the weeds, as the case may be).

So, the question is: is it legal to place an intermedate target? Is plopping a leaf in place acceptable? How about a tee?

If it is legal, is it considered poor form? Already feel enough of a wanker out there sometimes, don't want to compound that.

Not legal. I had a friend who would line up behind his ball using his club to find a straight line, then taking the heel of his club put a dent in the Earth 2 feet in front of his ball. Still illegal. Even let it be known it was illegal, but he said he never did it in tourneys.

Your method of alignment is a really good one. I do the same thing, and this also helps get me into a nice repeatable preshot routine. As you do this more and more, you will find it easier to find a spot a foot or two in front of you. Just takes a slight discolored blade of grass, a leaf, etc. Also try to do this on the range. I promise you that if you keep at this, you will find it pretty easy to always find a spot. Even in sand / hazards.

Ok, kind of thought so. But I wondered...since you can move a leaf out of the way to get a clean shot, why wouldn't you be able to move one "into" the way, to create a gunsight?

But I believe you. Certainly, it can't possibly be illegal to choose tee placement based on the location of an existing intermediate targe (odd blade of grass, divot, busted tee sitting there, etc.). Right? Or not?

Yeah, I went from complete skeptic to completely sold, after about two tee shots.

I find it works everywhere except putting. I thought it might be good go isolate my green-read from behind the ball from my read at address, and force me to take a stance based solely on my intended trajectory, and not on the hole location. But it seems to NOT work very well for putting. Have you had any luck there? Or do things get too fishy/exacting once on the green?

You can use something that's already on the ground, but you can't move something to create a gunsight. Trust me, I do the same thing to get my line up correct, but you have to pick something that's already on the ground. That's why two tees tied together is illegal and those arrows that you punch your tee through are illegal.

I don't know the exact rule but it has to do with making a point of reference on the course. It can not be done. If there is a trick to a course that you know of, for example a small copse of trees that lines up with a good approach that is one thing, but I'm pretty sure one can not place a mark and line up to it. Even if their is rubbish in the tee box one can line up to that, but you can not move rubbinsh to make the line.

THe more you use a secondary target to line up to, the easier it is to find them.

8-2. Indicating Line of Play

a. Other Than on Putting Green

Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

On the green the simplest thing to do is just line up the name or arrow or self-drawn line with the starting path of the ball. You will see a good proportion of the pros doing it this way also.

What does this mean? Why would I tie two tees together, and what do you mean by "those arrows that you punch your tee through?"

"Rules Guy" strikes again!

Thanks.

I have a question those guys that put the putter in front of the ball when putting isn't that touching the line was also wondering if you up your ball up to putt and then take your putter and line the sight aid right up directly behind it is that illegal?

16-1. General

a. Touching Line of Putt

The line of putt must not be touched except:

(i) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
(ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
(iii) in measuring - Rule 18-6;
(iv) in lifting or replacing the ball - Rule 16-1b;
(v) in pressing down a ball-marker;
(vi) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green - Rule 16-1c; and
(vii) in removing movable obstructions - Rule 24-1.

20-3a/2 Trademark Aimed Along Line of Putt When Ball Replaced
Q. When a player is replacing his ball, is it permissible for him to position the ball so that the trademark is aimed along the line of putt to indicate the line of play?

A. Yes.

That's exactly what I do as well. If there is nothing on the ground to line up to, I just keep my eyes focused on the intermediate target until I take my stance. It doesn't work as well as when you have something like a divot to line up to, but it seems to help.

Even though there might be nothing roughly on-line to line your tee shot up, don't forget you can insert your tee at a position that aligns up with some obvious, existing mark.

I have used this method as part of my pre-shot routine for many years. Once you get used to it it becomes very easy to find something to line up with.

Same here...
I even do it for every shot on the range. That keeps my pre-shot routine in shape, even when not on the course.

greetings
michi

You use one tee to tee the ball, and the other on the string to make a line to the target. The other is a flat yellow arrow looking thing where you punch your tee through the base, then have the arrow point to your target.

If we're talking about poor form, I feel that having your caddy align you for every single shot, as JB Holmes and a lot of the LPGA pro's do, even though it's legal to do so, is just as bad as making your own intermediate target.

+1