Please see my results below, I did 3 rounds of the process you listed above, using alignment sticks as you noted. All shots were with an 8 iron. All reported shots were solidly struck. Unfortunately, it rained heavily last night, so mats only and no divots to report data on.
I don’t normally hit fades on the range, so this was interesting.
Round 1
Shot 1-ball middle of stance, started on flight line, slight fade, and landed slightly to right of flight line
Shot 2- one ball forward, started on flight line, slight fade but higher launch and landed slightly to right of flight line
Shot 3- 2 balls forward, started slightly left of flight line, flew straight
Shot 4- 3 balls forward, started slightly left of flight line, faded, and landed slightly to right of flight line
Shot 5- 4 balls forward, started a little more left of stick, bigger fade to the right
Round 2
Shot 1-ball middle of stance, started at flight line, flew straight
Shot 2- one ball forward- started at flight line, slight fade and landed right of flight line
Shot 3- 2 balls forward, started just slightly left of flight line and landed to right of flight line with a small fade
Shot 4- 3 balls forward, started just slightly left of flight line and landed to right of flight line with a bigger fade
Shot 5- 4 balls forward, started to left of flight line and faded significantly to the right
Round 3
Shot 1-ball middle of stance, ball middle of stance, started on flight line, slight fade, and landed slightly to right of flight line
Shot 2- one ball forward, started just right of stick, bigger fade this time
Shot 3- 2 balls forward, started a hair left of flight line, slight draw
Shot 4- 3 balls forward, started left of flight line, big fade
Shot 5- 4 balls forward, started left of flight line, big high fade
I can probably get to the range again tomorrow and I have 18 scheduled for Friday.
@Russell Hogue, PhD You always have fantastic insight, any thoughts by chance, sir?