Without a doubt the most common fault I see on a daily basis with my students is a poor alignment. Starting out your golf swing with a bad aim is never going produce a shot that will fly straight at the target. The shame in it is that anyone can stand to the ball as well as a tour professional. Many of us will never have the shoulder turn or power of Tiger Woods but we can all stand there as well.
Most lefties tend to aim well left of their intended target line, while most righties aim off to the right. The photo shows a right hander. The best way to practice your alignment is to lay an extra club down at your feet while you practice. Notice in the photo that one club is on the line that the ball will fly on, and the other is parallel to it, like two train tracks. You don't want to aim your feet at the target you want to aim them parallel to it. The ball flies down one train track and your feet are on the other. Practicing with these clubs at your feet every time you hit range balls will get you to stand properly to the ball.
