Shaping Shots.....

[Macster]

Was just recollecting some of my shots last night, and thought this may help some perhaps.

We read a lot either on here or in the Mags about 'shaping your shots', and Ive seen many that say its simply hard enough to play a straight shot to even contemplate trying to shape it differently !
Most will play with a fade, some a draw, but in my experience, not many hit a dead straight ball consistently.

My own course is a tight track, with some very tall trees lining the fairways and even the greens, so find yourself at the wrong side of a fairway that cambers away, and you're stuffed for your 2nd shot.
So being able to play a fade or draw when required is a huge help, and despite what a lot of people think, in my experience is simpler than many would imagine.
There was actually a section on exactly this in the Irons supplement in GM a few months back, and is exactly how I play the required shot.

My natural shot with an iron is a draw, but .....

Always aiming the Clubface to the target first, be it centre of green/fairway/pin,........

If I need to ensure a Draw, simply move your right foot 3/4 inches, closing your stance.
Then swing normally, whereby the club will come back to the ball with a closed face and an in to out swingpath, turning the ball from right to left.

Similarly, if I need a fade, its exactly the opposite, and I move my left foot back the same 3/4 inches, opening my stance, meaning an out to in swingpath, and left to right spin put on the ball.

Its important to
1. Always align your clubface at the target,
2. Swing normallly, trust the stance to do the work, and dont force the shot.

In my experience, it really is that simple, and with a bit of practice to prove it to yourself, can be of huge advantage to you when you need it.

Sure a lot of chaps on here know the drill, but just thought it may help someone somewhere .

 

[KeefG]

This is something i've been trying to do myself lately, as I do normally hit my irons with a slight fade and when I dont hit a fade I hit straight as a dye, which again is fairly often.

Anyway, Bob posted a graphic a while back on how to hit a draw and its something i've been trying to practice with my driver with limited success.

Last week I tried to hit a draw firstly with my hybrid, and i've got to be honest it was a doddle, attempted 10 balls and I got a nice draw with 9 of them, as such I felt fairly confident with this shot when I was behind a tree at Blankney last week, with a right to left dogleg fairway and I hit a beautiful draw around the tree.

I then progressed to trying with my irons with, again, very limited success. But my irons are very much game improvement irons and are not the best clubs to be trying to shape shots with....so I think i'll leave it for now!

One thing I will say though, is that Bob's graphic he posted to hit a draw, was to aim right of the target and close the clubface, and it is this method that i've been trying, I will have a go of your method later on when I go to the range though and see what happens with that.

Cheers!

 

[USER1999]

The danger in doing all this stuff, is that eventually you could end up standing closed all the time, which will promote a pull hook, and also may lead to the point at which you haven't got a clue where you are aiming.

Most golfers that I play with have such poor alignment anyway that their attempts to move the ball are pathetic.

One guy stands 30 degrees closed minimum, and then attempts to fade it by standing 20 degrees closed. Not going to work.

How many times have people said to you 'that went exactly where you were aiming' as the ball shoots into the deep stuff.

Before trying to shape shots etc, you need to make sure you have a sound repeatable swing, with a good set up. Otherwise you are only messing about, and it could have detrimental effects on your game.

 

[Macster]

KeefG: Bobs & mine are same method

By moving your right foot back you are closing your stance, hence aiming right, but keeping your clubface pointed at the target.

Murph: Sure, everyone will have limited success, but I feel its something worth practising, as it can prove invaluable out on the course, particularly when you need to keep a good score going.

 

[Robobum]

Before trying to shape shots etc, you need to make sure you have a sound repeatable swing, with a good set up. Otherwise you are only messing about, and it could have detrimental effects on your game.

Amen.

Although reading about guys who struggle to break 80 wax lyrical about their ability to "easily" shape shots is highly amusing.

 

[Macster]

Why the sarcasm ?

I'm not sure if the 'who struggle to break 80' is aimed at me or not, but it doesnt matter a jot what you shoot, there are times when you need to shape the ball left or right, although yes, it may only be once or twice a round.

Our 5th is a dogleg left, downhill all the way, with a fairway that slopes to the right.
Even after drilling a 4 iron around the corner last night, the ball ran right across the fairway leaving me slightly blocked out, needing a slightly faded 8 iron to the green.
Thankfully, it all went to plan.

Anyways, I arent trying to be clever or anything, just trying to help those on here that perhaps struggle to have a clue about how to shape a shot.

If you already know, as clearly you do Robo, then just move on.

*shakes head*

 

[Bunker]

I'm trying to get my head round shaping shots,

When hitting a draw do you follow through down your target line ? or do you follow through at say a 1'o'clock ? (12 o'clock being the target line) I dont really try and shape shots unless I have to , but when i try and draw the ball, i tend to inadvertantly hood the clubface on the way back and end up pulling the ball 20 yards left of target !

 

[KeefG]

Before trying to shape shots etc, you need to make sure you have a sound repeatable swing, with a good set up. Otherwise you are only messing about, and it could have detrimental effects on your game.

Amen.

Although reading about guys who struggle to break 80 wax lyrical about their ability to "easily" shape shots is highly amusing.

I also hope it wasnt aimed at me, as if it was i'd be more than willing to meet you for a game somewhere and show you that, although not at your lofty heights of h/c, I can shape the ball. I have already admitted I am unable to draw the ball with my driver or irons.

I also know a lad who plays off 19 who can shape the ball left & right at will. The reason he has such a high h/c is his short game is pants.

You really should engage your brain before you open your mouth fella

 

[Macster]

Bunker: You're thinking about it too much - just do as I describe, with the clubface always aiming at the target.

Right foot back for a Draw,
left foot back for a Fade.

and simply swing as you normally try to, dont force it.

If you start trying to think about what the Clubface is doing at any given point, its a highway to hell for sure.

 

[Robobum]

No sarcasm at all Chris, Murph's advice regarding learning to have a repeatable swing first rather than think about shaping shots is better advice in my book.

Your posts always make me smile (in a good way) and you remind me of a lot of the juniors at our club. Every shot is "nailed", "drilled", "smoked" etc but you are always shooting over par.

I have said to them that it's better to shoot the good scores and let everybody see them and talk about how good a golfer they are rather than talk themselves up all the time and the scores not reflect all these "wonderful" shots.

It's just my opinion Chris, but apolgies if you thought I was being sarcastic.

 

[Macster]

Well, I like to make people smile.
However, Ive never used the term 'smoked', or 'nailed', and dont think i'm one of the posters who describes his round/s in great detail ?
Sure, I may share some good experiences, as in my few holes last night, but thats hardly talking my own game up too much ?

I'm off 10, you're off 4, which is 6 shots.
Who's to say you if you came to my course you may struggle to play to 10, and I come to yours and shoot a 74 ? Despite your 'Im better than yow' inferences etc, we may not be much different eh ?

A 4 H/C is still +4.

Oh, and in case your thinking Brough Golf Club cant be that 'hard', at our recent Pro Am, only 3 Pro's were under Par after 36holes, winner on -2.
I think the worst was +15.

 

[Robobum]

Obviously struck a little chord with you here Chris.

At no time have I ever said that "I am better then yow" and you are absolutely right I am quite capable of coming to your course, and many others, to shoot 85 and more.

However, I still stand by the fact that learning to hit one repeatable stock shot is more beneficial to trying to shape the ball this way & that for all handicap golfers.

Anyway, who's to say that you'd come to my track and be able to break 90 or 100?? Although surely that wouldn't happen with all those "sweet" "drilled" shots now would it??

 

[roccokj]

I was once told an interesting technique for shaping shots...

Most people would think that a weak grip promotes a fade and a stong grip promotes a draw.
I was told by taking a weak grip and trying to manipulate the clubface to a closed position makes a draw (or a slight hook...you may have to aim right to accomodate it). The weak grip limits the amount of rotation you can do.
To hit a fade it's simply vice versa: take a strong grip and manipulate the club face into an open position.
So to shape shots it can be all to do with your release.

 

[Brendan]

However, I still stand by the fact that learning to hit one repeatable stock shot is more beneficial to trying to shape the ball this way & that for all handicap golfers.

My sentiments exactly.

FUNNY STORY.
I played 9 holes the other night playing lovely little shots fades and draws.
Played a four ball sunday, setup to hit a draw off the first tee, Farted on my downswing and topped the ball into the water and the other 3 roared laughing.

 

[JustOne]

Played a four ball sunday, setup to hit a draw off the first tee, Farted on my downswing and topped the ball into the water and the other 3 roared laughing.

Brendan, That's the WRONG KIND of 'repeatable'

Someone at the range did that the other day, spent ages getting comfy over a driver (for obvious reasons), let loose a huge pant ripping fart on the way down and topped the ball down the range about 50 feet. I thought it was hilarious.... SHE didn't!

 

[vig]

I've been nagged by a repeatable Sh*** for a couple of months now and it's been doing my nut in.

Had a lesson with the new assistant pro a week last Sunday and I have since played 2x 18 without one.
Not counting my chickens just yet but hopefully things are on the up.

As for shaping shots, clubface aimed at where you want to finish and close or open stance to suit.