Discovering the other side of the course

HawkeyeMS

HawkeyeMS

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A few weeks ago I had a good lesson with our pro but work comittments have meant I've not been able to get down the range to bed the little changes in. I've played a couple of rounds and have struggled somewhat to allow myself to trust the changes - understandable since I haven't practiced. One thing I have noticed however is my fade has gone and I'm now hitting shots with drawspin. I couple of times on Saturday I hit lovely softly drawing drives but most other shots were bordering on hook.

Yesterday I finally found some time to hit the range and spent a couple of hours hitting balls and there is absolutely no doubt that I now hit a draw, 200 balls and maybe a handful that went left to right. It's a very very strange feeling.

I'm playing a society day at the Buckinghamshire tomorrow and I'm rather looking forward to finding out what it's like on the left hand side of a golf course.

Has anyone else had a drastic change of shot shape and how long did it take to get used to seeing shots the other way?
 
I used to be a constant fader of the ball...and was quite happy playing with it. Had a lesson in early December and workedon a few bits...but its a bit remarkable how I can hit a draw consistently now. No a massive amount...but enough. There are the occasional fades thrown in when I am a little quick through impact, but out of what seems like nowhere, the ball likes to draw. I'm not complaining.
 
I've deliberatley chosen to fade my Driver after years of drawing with some disastrous hooks in there, its very nice to see it land softly instead of shoot further left on first bounce. Still like a draw from my eyes perspective but I'm hoping to be on more fairways now and only slightly shorter
 
the answer for me is yes, used to hit a nice gentle left to right everwhere i went, then i messed up my back nad the swing came back alot flatter and my shape is now a draw, 7-10 yards on a good drive so pretty useful for length and roll.

the mentality of it however is the tough one, aiming up the right and knowing it will come back took alot of time and practice, its my default position now but i remember the problems when i started doing it originally.
 
I started playing competitively last year after 10 years or so of social golf. My normal shot was high and left to right, which annoyed me as I wasn't trying to hit a fade. I had one lesson, the pro moved my grip a little, and hey presto! I was hitting a consistent draw. It didn't take me long to get used to it, as it came with a much more solid and consistent ball strike. It finally felt like I was in control of my shots and it gave me the confidence to go out and play in competitions and get my first ever handicap.

Now if only I could get the same feeling with my short game...
 
A good 2 years for me to get comfortable with it, although I never played a lot as I always played cricket at weekends.

I had 3 years out of the game whilst at uni and I went from playing a fade to a draw. It took me a fair bit of time to give up trying to play my fade and then I had to learn to start trusting the draw, controlling the draw, understanding my misses and adjusting my play accordingly. Then a bit longer until I was able to hit it both ways.

Figured out why my shot shape changed many years later when chatting with a pro. My right hand sits in a strong position (it's a source of a lot of unsolicited advice / comments). It's very noticeable, very awkward to change and I'd learnt to play with it. Chatting with the pro about the grip and how my shot shape had cahnged drasticallya fter 3 years out and it got linked to a dislocated shoulder suffered whilst at uni, he suggested I go checked out by a phsio. It had led to a neck issue (knew about that, painful), which in turn presents itself further down the kinetic chain in my right forearm. I found it interesting to know why my shot shape had changed even though that was nearly 10 years later and have some exercises that may improve it a little over time. I felt I'd benefitted from the chat, questions and thinking about things differently.
 
I wrote a post with almost the same title a while back. As with you I have changed my shot shape from a fade to a draw (I should say am changing as I can be known to hit any shape you can think of). I find the left side of the fairway a welcome change of pace now and LOVE to see the ball heading that way.


The draw shot is so much less defensive feeling to me.
 
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Like mcbroon my pro altered my grip slightly and eliminated my fade. It is mostly striagy(ish) now but occasional very gentle draw.
 
Trying to go the opposite way myself, trying to get rid of the draw and hit a high cut. It so hard to learn after so many years of drawing the ball, my bad shot is now straight left, opposite to a push, but not a pull, or maybe that is a pull, who knows :rolleyes:
 
harvey4banger said:
Trying to go the opposite way myself, trying to get rid of the draw and hit a high cut. It so hard to learn after so many years of drawing the ball, my bad shot is now straight left, opposite to a push, but not a pull, or maybe that is a pull, who knows :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


All I have to do to hit a high cut is stop thinking and rip the ball... my shoulder will come over the top and the rest of my body will do everything it can to make the ball safe and it will fade with the club head open hence the hight.
 
HawkeyeMS said:
A few weeks ago I had a good lesson with our pro but work comittments have meant I've not been able to get down the range to bed the little changes in. I've played a couple of rounds and have struggled somewhat to allow myself to trust the changes....
Click to expand...

You're beginning to type like Homer! :p
 
HawkeyeMS said:
Has anyone else had a drastic change of shot shape and how long did it take to get used to seeing shots the other way?
Click to expand...

I think you know the answer to that. My swing changes has lost that big nasty sliced shot right a lot of the time and so everything is straight or turning over right to left. Not ideal and a work in progress but it makes a world of difference knowing which way it will go and taking a whole side of the course out of play
 
Well that didn't go too badly. I took my new draw to the Buckinghamshire yesterday and it was a bit of a mixed bag but with definate positive signs. It still doesn't feel completely right but that will come with time. 32pts was a fair return with 19pts on the back nine with a blob on 12. Hit some great shots with some rubbish mixed in. Managed to 3 stab from about 12ft on 2 after a picture book drive and a nice wedge but birdied the 424yd 4th after another cracking drive and a great 7i to 15ft. Should have birdied 17 but left a 6 footer on the lip but birdied the last for good measure. There were a few shockers too, including a top into a stream with an 8i on 12 after another good drive and a virtual shank into the river on 9 but all in all I'm feeling pretty good about things.
 
Glad to hear it went well. Was the draw predictable all the way round, and can you still hit a fade if you need to?

I'm playing in the TT there so any tips gratefully received. :)
 
Region3 said:
Glad to hear it went well. Was the draw predictable all the way round, and can you still hit a fade if you need to?

I'm playing in the TT there so any tips gratefully received. :)
Click to expand...

Best tip for playing the Bucks is to go home before the security man does.

Other than that, get some one else to buy the round, as the Asahi comes in a bit pricey. Nice though.

Course is good. I used to run round it most mornings. Have played it about 10 times, but oddly only in winter.

There is a tree on 18 which is bang in the way.
 
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