How do I fade and draw - intentionally!

[USER1999]

It is easy to get a fade. Most golfers do it without thinking. How many times do you play with people who fire it into the trees on the right and then say it shouldn't have done that, as I set up for a draw.

If you aren't going to get it consistently, ie: 95% of the time, there is no point, as you can't trust it, it will let you down, and cost you shots.

Not for high handicappers.

 

[TonyN]

Thing is though, Golf is a game, and its all about having fun. I have fun shaping the ball and more often than not, if I play for a draw or fade I normally hit them better compared to straight shots. I wouldn't try land it on a sixpence around a blind corner on a S.I 1 but then again I wouldn't take a driver and try to carry 250 yards over a pond with a headwind. Situation dicates and everyone knows there own capabilities. My point is... as long as you know you can pull the shot off, or not get into too much trouble if its not perfect then its fine!

No reason why people shouldn't have a go at these shots, there not that difficult to play. Just like saying to a high handicapper, 'dont play with a driver mate, you may slice it and loose shots'

Risk reward is a lovely thing. Its like being 150 from the green, pin at front, bunker on guard. Do you take a 6 and play safe to the back??? or do you go 7 and attack the pin, risking sand in the shoes??? You'll never lower the scores if you play everyhole safe. Sometimes you just have o have a go.

If you were playing in a comp and you had a choice then yeah, I would agree, high handicappers who can't shape that well (or low handicappers who can't shape well for that matter) should be reserved about it.

I have a pal who played off 7 a few years ago, hits the ball consistently well. Drives a good 250, hits most fairways and has a short game to die for. He has never been able to move the ball at will! only reason he no longer plays off 7 is because he can't put for toffee!

For anyone thinking about trying out the draw or fade, watch the vids, have a go at the range and once you have the knack, let rip on the course, you might be surprised! Don't worry about the handicapp!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Well said Tony, that's just how I feel.

I like high risk golf, it adds excitement, and I love the rewards you get when it comes off. But I also accept the consequesnces of it going wrong with good cheer because I enjoyed the challenge.

The things I enjoy most in golf are:

Hitting drives a long way, Cutting doglegs, going for par5s in two, hitting over bunkers and water.

They're so much more thrilling than safe and steady down the middle.

 

[USER1999]

I agree that moving the ball is fun, along with all the rest of the shots that require imagination. I love having a go, and am normally quite good at it.

The point I am trying to make is that there seems this perception among higher h/caps that to advance your game, lower your h/cap, etc, that moving the ball at will is a necessary skill (as is playing blades).

Sorry, for a teen handicapped golfer, it isn't, and time spent practicing it would be better spent on something else, IF you want to reduce your h/cap.

 

[USER1999]

I also get completely fed up playing with people in roll ups who have rubbish golf swings, rubbish handicaps, can't chip, putt, drive, get out of bunkers, or anything else you would assume someone who has been playing the game for 20 years should have, telling me how they are going to draw the ball round a dog leg on their next shot, when their drive only went 50 yards, and that was sideways, and I have just spent 4 minutes of my life looking for it, and the most likely outcome for their next shot is me having to look for it again.

rant over (temporarily).

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Some very good points murph and I agree with most of them. I do think that having the ability to move the ball abit is important for saving shots, bending the ball around the trunk of a tree for example. I only really do it when it's necessary.

For your second post I think one thing is more annoying about those people: When they try to advise you on your game.

 

[USER1999]

Yep, you're right, that is what comes next. In great detail.

I love roll ups. There is always at least one tw*t who ruins a good draw.

 

[TonyN]

The point I am trying to make is that there seems this perception among higher h/caps that to advance your game, lower your h/cap, etc, that moving the ball at will is a necessary skill (as is playing blades).

Sorry, for a teen handicapped golfer, it isn't, and time spent practicing it would be better spent on something else, IF you want to reduce your h/cap.

I wasn't trying to make the point that drawing or fading will lower the handicap, Sorry if this is how it sounded. The point I was making is, you dont have to be a low handicap to be able to do so. And I for one don't spend anymore than my last few balls practicing draw or fades.

And your dead on, I know that the only way I will get down to single figures is by tightening up from within 150, and on the dance floor.

I'm not sure if you rant was aimed at me or weather it was just somethin this subject unearthed but, as a mid teen handicapper, I am pretty good off the tee, and around the green, the only reason I am not into single figures is because I dont stick it close enough to the pin to convert birdie chances! I certainly dont bang on about how I am gonna fade the ball after duffing it 50 yards because if I did that, the driver would prob stay in the bag!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

A guy I played with the other week was telling me to flatten my swing. The problem was my last couple of lessons had been working on steepening it.

Problem is that even though you try not to listen, knowing the guy is a fool, it slips into your sub-conscious and ruins your game.

The ultimate gamesmanship!!

 

[USER1999]

Tony - not having a pop at you, just a general rant on idiots I play with sometimes. My rant is vaguely connected to the thread, but only just.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I think mine & Tony's main point is the assumtion that a mid-handicapper has to be less able at the long game than a single figure handicapper.

I dispute this based entirely on my own game. For example, in recent months I've been hitting the ball really well but chipped and putted poorly. In fact in a recent medal I played to 7 despite 3 putting 5 times.

Based on this I am capable of good play tee to green but am cack on the putting surface.

So why does poor putting mean I can't shape shots?

I think handicaps bring out terrible snobbery in some people and assumptions.

 

[USER1999]

Gil, I am not saying you shouldn't if you can, or that they can only be done by low h/caps. Just saying that it is perceived as a need or must (which is wrong)in order to reduce a h/cap.

To reduce your h/cap, you need to be able to putt, you need to be able to get out of bunkers, you need to be able to chip and pitch, you need to be able to get off the tee, in a forward direction, ideally where you can find it.

Fading, drawing, stingering (nice verbalising there) etc are all luxuries that can be put on a wish list for later. The opportunities to truly benefit from these shots is rare (may be one shot per round), and so unless they come naturally, there is no point in learning to master these until other more essential shots (like putting) are in the bag.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Agreed!

 

[TonyN]

Agreed!

 

[viscount17]

Gil, I am not saying you shouldn't if you can, or that they can only be done by low h/caps. Just saying that it is perceived as a need or must (which is wrong)in order to reduce a h/cap.

To reduce your h/cap, you need to be able to putt, you need to be able to get out of bunkers, you need to be able to chip and pitch, you need to be able to get off the tee, in a forward direction, ideally where you can find it.

Fading, drawing, stingering (nice verbalising there) etc are all luxuries that can be put on a wish list for later. The opportunities to truly benefit from these shots is rare (may be one shot per round), and so unless they come naturally, there is no point in learning to master these until other more essential shots (like putting) are in the bag.

murph, having started this can I say that I agree completely with your second paragraph.

I can honestly say that I don't see this as a short cut to lower scores, I know I have to hit more consistently. I will say though that I think that knowing that you can, even if only on the range, would help to achieve consistency as you would then feel that you are in charge of the club (or at least in a partnership not just hanging on the handle!)

I used to hit a draw more often than not, lately it's more likely to be a fade and the draw has all but disappeared - I want to know why and I think knowing how will help me.