The amount of variables that you can remove from your golf swings the easier the game becomes.

There are a lot of funny looking golf swings around, that probably work quite good for a while for that person.

However when things go wrong, if you have learnt to have the right golf swing speed and grip, stance and alignment, then it is hard for them to mend their golf swings.

Your alignment can get lost fairly quickly if you have not been checking it.

When your alignment is out your golf swing plane will also be out. A lot of players tend to slowly inch their back foot back each time they set up.

This will result in an out to in swing plane, causing a slice, while others tend to let their front foot inch backwards, causing an in to out swing plane resulting in a hook.

If you are having a hard day controlling the flight of the ball, it could be your alignment.

An easy way to check your alignment is to setup for a shot, not necessarily at the flag. Put your club down across the front of both feet, then step back and see where your club is aiming.

 If it is facing square to where you thought you were aiming, then good.

However if it is pointing a long way to the left or right, then now is the time to start sorting it out. It may take a while to start getting used to standing square, but it will all be worth it !

When you grip the club, try not to strangle it.

 A lot of my clubs died that way. They say if should not be any tighter than if you held a tube of toothpaste it would not squeeze out. With the top off of course.

Keeping your knees slightly bent will take a lot of tension out of your bottom half. You should be able to pretend you are sitting on a stool, with the weight balanced evenly on your feet. Not all on the heel or not all on the toes – balanced.

Keeping your chin tucked into your chest and a little bit to the right or left if you are a left hander, gives you a better chance of keeping your eye on the ball.

You can look at a spot at the back of the ball, as that is where you want to hit the ball.

This does help a bit to stop your head moving up then down, which can ruin any shot.

If your backswing is very quick and jerky, then you have little chance of timing your shot.

Your backswing should be started by your hips turning to the right, and your arms and shoulders following closely behind.

That way everything is in a fluid type of motion. Shoulders, arms, hands,legs and torso all working together as one.

This is how to improve your timing.

Your downswing must also be started by your hips and legs,followed by the shoulders and arms. This is how you can get them out of the way so you can get right in behind the ball with your arms and hands.

It takes a fair bit of practice because it feels unnatural.

So you now know how to check your alignment. When you practice a good tip is to lay a club you are not using on the ground as a sighter. You set up with your ball in the correct position and then put the front of each foot just in front of the club on the ground.

At first you will hit the ball all over the place.

You have taught your brain how to stand the wrong way and now you have to convince it that this is the right way.

Soon you will be hitting the ball much more solidly and straighter.