Do you "shape" the ball?

[BTatHome]

Having read numerous times people saying they shape the ball, drawing it/fading it at will, I'm feeling rather inadequate at not being able to do this.

My game consists of playing whatever the day brings to me, if its fading all shots then I'll be aiming a little more left and let the ball do the work. Now I'm not saying that the occasional shot doesn't go the wrong way because they do leak out now and again but I certainly couldn't name a draw and then hit one ... I could probably name a fade and hit it because that's my normal shot. I can also hit a hook when I need to get out of trouble (again with the odd one going dead straight instead of hooking), and I do hit the draw on a few holes when I hit it right, but I probably hit just as many dead straight or a pull on those same holes.

So having read some of the draw/fade setting thread and seen comments like " I'd rather learn to swing correctly and move the ball", I'm a little worried now that I'm missing out on something here and that I really should capable of controlling my swing by now.

Is there really a growing group of players that are drawing/fading all the time ? Are they literally doing this at will and consistently, or is it pot luck? Are they doing it for difficult pins or other uses?

Yours,
Mr Fade !

 

[Keeno]

I cannot set out to play a draw or fade. My natural shapes are as follows.
Driver 3w move left to right
Hybrids right to left.
5 6 7 irons left to right
Rest go straightish

With all of these, id rather they went straight

 

[lyden]

I can do it with my irons but lack any reliability. Which in my opinion is worse than not being able to do it at all. Sending it right when your trying to get it left causes bigger problems than if you just set up for a straight shot.

 

[USER1999]

I hit a slight draw with most of my clubs, if I'm playing ok.

I can hit a slight fade on an off day, or by accident.

I can fade, slice, draw, hook to order, if I set up for it. I rarely if ever need to do this during a round though.

I can't hit it low though. My stock shot is a high draw.

For most of the golf we play there is no real need to be able to work the ball. Just hit fairways, and greens. Simples.

 

[Jay Gee]

My putter goes quite straight, but most other clubs go wherever they fancy

 

[Keeno]

My putter goes quite straight, but most other clubs go wherever they fancy

I wish my putter would go straight

 

[Bucket92]

I can hit them both on demand but very rarely do they actually end up where I want them

 

[upsidedown]

Play pretty much with a fade but have my three stock shots with the driver where I try to shape the ball to give me an advantage with my second shot.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Used to be able to, nowadays I just follow the ball.

My faither could shape every shot in the book except a straight one.

 

[Imurg]

There's rarely a need to shape the ball at my place.
If you hit it reasonably straight you're going to be fine.
There are a couple of holes, especially our dogleg left 9th, where being able to hit a draw will put you in a better position
I can hit draws and fades if I need to - currently that's on most holes...

 

[virtuocity]

I'm getting there.

Since starting stack and tilt, I could fade/draw my SW to order.

As I get better, I'm starting to find it easier with longer clubs. Probably down to 7 iron now consistently.

 

[Jay Gee]

I wish my putter would go straight

I said fairly straight, and by that I mean within a few yards, from a few feet away

 

[Jon321]

I can hit both. Just struggle with it being a consistent amount of movement. Some may draw/fade 5 yards then the next maybe 10 yards. Driver, 3 wood and irons are pretty straight naturally, hybrids fade abit which is nice as they land nice and soft.

 

[Pin-seeker]

My natural shot is left to right,not through skill may I add. I prefer to try and keep it straight. I don't even attempt to draw it. I'd be surprised if all the claims people make on here are gospel tbh.

 

[virtuocity]

My natural shot is left to right,not through skill may I add. I prefer to try and keep it straight. I don't even attempt to draw it. I'd be surprised if all the claims people make on here are gospel tbh.

Happy to back up my post with swing vids over the next couple of days. Why lie?

 

[Wayman]

At the moment it's a draw happy with it

 

[duncan mackie]

I'd be surprised if all the claims people make on here are gospel tbh.

wtg - call everyone a liar up front :thup:

 

[Five&One]

I said on the other thread that I learnt to draw the ball watching 2 YouTube videos and hitting 50 balls (not range balls though)

i haven't perfected it yet in terms of being to put the ball exactly where I want it, but the mechanics are very easy and it works a treat.

i learnt because we have 3 dog leg lefts in our back 9 and hitting a draw to them is hugely advantageous. You get a bit of extra distance hitting a draw and it looks pretty magnificent if you can bend a ball round a line of trees and plank it on the fairway 95 yards from the pin whilst other are catching the straight hitters bunkers to the right.

its a work in progress but a skill worth learning.

 

[Neddy]

I pick a target and try to hit the ball straight at it. If it draws/fades a touch then so be it.

Honestly, I think any mid/high handicapper who says they can shape it "at will" is a liar. Even pros struggle to do it consistently.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Happy to back up my post with swing vids over the next couple of days. Why lie?

Easy tiger!!!!! I never called you a liar.