How do I fade and draw - intentionally!

[viscount17]

At my last lesson my pro was trying to teach me how to do this and, at the time, it seemed to work. Unfortunately I've either lost the knack (already!) or plain forgotten how (age does that to the mind).

It involved no change to my set-up just a 'simple' pressure with the left thumb - his tip was to remember how the left thumb felt then repeat it; easier said then done.

Can anyone please remind me what I should be doing?

 

[USER1999]

No idea, but my question would be why? There is no need to do this until you get to very low single figures, and may be not even then. To get a precise amount of curve on it, such that it is useful and predictable is so difficult that it should not be attempted by handicapped golfers. Just hit it with your normal shape, and learn to play consistently.

 

[viscount17]

murph, on the day that we did it there was a strong crosswind, not an uncommon occurrence recently. He had me working the ball upwind and downwind and straight shots were better too.
This was one of those 'don't use it on the course yet but practice it on the range' that you get from lessons. His idea was that instead of standing in the range hitting ball after ball straight, and getting nowhere, I should hit say 5 left, 5 right and 5 straight mixing them up and learning to control the club instead of it controlling me.

 

[USER1999]

Still not convinced. I have always found that a well hit straight ball is pretty unaffected by the wind, but on a windy day it can help to hit it low. This is a more useful shot to have and to practice.

I would have thought that time spent practicing should be spend practicing something you would use on the course, rather than just having fun banana-ing (if that's a word) the ball.

I can't see that hitting it straight would 'get you nowhere'.

 

[Nico]

Very reluctant to comment on what a pro says but this sounds extremely dubious.

Not extremely low single figures but I am 5 and in the wind I tend to try to hit it straight and use the wind to move the ball.

By that I mean I aim either right or left of the target and allow the wind to shape the shot so that it falls where I need it. I am nowhere near competent enough to have enough command of the ball to shape it at will.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I was always told it was down to set-up, pressure of the thumb has never been mentioned to my recollection.

Address: closed for a draw, and, open for a fade.

I only do this if I have an obstacle between me and the target, however.

 

[viscount17]

murph, by getting nowhere I meant that I am not consistently straight and a session can often be a waste of balls. I agree that learning to do this is the ultimate goal - his thinking may have been that if I understand how to move the ball I will also understand how not to - and I was hitting really well in that wind.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

This is the best site I've seen for showing you how to shape a ball.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/skills/4245518.stm

 

[USER1999]

Viscount - May be you need to medal on a windy day.

You don't need to stand closed to draw, or open to fade, it can all be done from a neutral stance. It is just a question of altering the swing plane and either holding off the hands, or rolling over.

Very few golfers hit straight. It is the hardest shot in golf. Also, if you fade, you aim down the left and fade it back, if you draw you aim down the right. The worst that happens is that it stays where you aimed, and you are on the edge of the fairway. If you hit it straight, there is no margin for error, and the ball could go anywhere. you will never be on the fairway.
If the fairway is 20 yards wide, and you hit 250 off the tee, with a straight shot you have to be within 2.3° left or right. Not easy.

I still think for 99% of the time, whatever your shape, draw or fade, stay with what is natural, and play consitently.

Olazabal has wasted most of his best playing years trying to draw his driver, to no effect, when his gentle fade was far more predictable.

 

[viscount17]

looks like tomorrow's the wrong day for the medal then. I tee off just after 7.00 and the wind is predicted to be only about 5 or 6 mph.

murph, A-F thanks. oh, and I won't be trying it out tomorrow - that might be too risky and I have enough to contend with as it is.

 

[fairmorn308]

really non of you above should be trying to shape the ball both ways and just try play consistent. then once your really low single figures then you will learn how to shape the ball both ways as you will need it to improve any further tho.

 

[haplesshacker]

Most of us naturally draw (hook) or fade (slice) the ball with our normal swing. Personally I think it's more about working with what you have. Yes it would be ideal to be able to hit bolt straight every time, but it's unlikely.

Learn to play consistently with whatever you've been blessed with, and get your h'cap down to low single figures. Then worry about intentional draws / fades.

However by all means, if it meant having a bit of fun on the range go ahead. But, be aware that you may be changing more than you realise with your set up and swing, which in the long run may not be good for your consistency on the course.

Mind you, if you're a single figure player that can hit a set of MP 60s well, then it's probably about time to start learning the shot shapers.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[fairmorn308]

shaping the Titleist AP2 irons are good

 

[TonyN]

Sorry guys but am throwing a spanner in the works here.

Playing to about 12-15 at the moment and I can shape the ball both ways with little struggle. I did it today. Mainly on the dog legs.

Easiest to do it with my driver but my irons not so much.

I juts watched thesde two video's and practiced on the range for a few weeks.

Fade

draw

 

[RGuk]

I don't know anything about the thumb thing....sounds like a personal style/technique to me.

I have a simple method, which is the same as everyone (I thought!), only in a different order/manner most probably.

I set up to the ball as normal. then....

for a fade, I shuffle my feet an inch to the right (ball forward), loosen my left hand grip a tad, then pull back my left foot a couple of inches.....realigning my shoulders OPEN

for a draw, I shuffle my feet an inch to the left (ball back), strengthen my grip a tad, then pull back my right foot a couple of inches........realigning my shoulders CLOSED.

WITH BOTH OF THESE, THE CLUBFACE IS STILL AT THE TARGET.

With the swing, I hold off the face for the fade, and whip my right hand over my left for a draw.

The hardest one to hit is the one that goes against my natural shape. If I want a tiny shape, I'll often just open or close my shoulders and forget the feet!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

That's just what I do RGUK.

BTW - Fairmorn in what way does a handicap stop you playing different shots? We all have different handicaps for different reasons, I've got a good long game but am poor on the greens. Some people are deadly on the greens but can't get the ball in the air from the fairway!

 

[fairmorn308]

its got alot to do with your handicap cause you need to learn to hit the ball consistent to get better shots. instead of trying to shape shots. learn how to play one shape until you can get consistent then learn how to shape shots.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Only on the assumption that someone has a high handicap due to a poor long game. What if someone hits nearly all greens in regulation but 3 putts them all - why shouldn't that excellent hitter of a ball try these shaped shots?
They must be accurate and consistant off tee and fairway!

 

[TonyN]

I am not a low handicapper. Mid teens.

However I can shape the ball at will and If I want it to draw, I can. If I want it to fade, I can. If I want it to go straight, I can(ish) a slight fade normally at worst.

I dont see how you have to be a low handicapper to be able to shape the ball. Its not difficult to play a shaped shot, it really is as simple as opening or closing ya stance. The lower hamdicappers will more than likely be able to put the ball closer to where they want it than a high handicapper. But it certainly doesn't mean anyone above single figures can't or shouldn't try.

 

[RGuk]

I don't see how you have to be a low handicapper to be able to shape the ball.

Totally agree. I hit a good few more greens than my average (as suggested by SS2)...not every time out, but quite frequently. I also believe (maybe I'm fooling myself) that I hit more fairways because of my game-plan off the tee. I use my 3 wood a great deal and there are 7 (?) holes at my course where I play a deliberate shot one way or another because it increases my chances......sure, sometimes it goes wrong, but a definitive thought to hit it one way can protect me from the "bad" sides of the fairways.