Work it!

HawkeyeMS said:
Learning to shape the ball off of 14 is flawed if you ask me. Learn to hit one consistent shot and a short game will be much more benefit to your improvement
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The reason he is having me do this is to get an understanding of ball flight, club path, face control, I knew "if I grip like that, stand like that, aim like that" the ball will tend to go in a particular direction, what I didn't understand properly was how it all came together and influenced each other. One of my faults is when I hit a bad shot I don't fully understand were I have gone wrong when I think I have done it correct. Both he and I are not expecting me to suddenly shape the ball at will, but if I understand how to do it, like LiverpoolPhil said I'll play my "stock shot" but if needed I could at least attempt a shaped shot.
 
There's a difference between working the ball and working the ball effectively, I.E Exactly how you want.

My stock shot is a small draw.

I can set-up to hit a bigger draw, or a fade and can get the ball to shape but often it's more than I need or not enough. Very rarely does it go exactly as planned.

What'll also happen is I'll set up right of the target for a draw and hit the ball straight along that line with no curve back to the left and vice versa for a fade.

I know how to adjust my set up to help influence the shot, but doing it both consistently and accurately is something different all together.

Nice when it comes off though :thup:
 
There's a further subtle declaration that needs to be made by those that claim to shape the ball....Can you do it the correct amount! It's all well and good knowing how to do it - as Bobmac states, if you can hit it straight, then it's only a case of knowing what's required. However, part of the requirement is to get amount of shape correct!

Imo, anyone off the 14 sort of level, that has been mentioned, who is capable of shaping shots to order - and the right amount - would seem to have some serious deficiencies in other parts of their game. It would seem far more worthwhile to address those than practicing the subtle differences between 5, 10 and 15 yard Draws! That's where 'Straight' - or at least 'Stock' is a much simpler shape!
 
Foxholer said:
There's a further subtle declaration that needs to be made by those that claim to shape the ball....Can you do it the correct amount! It's all well and good knowing how to do it - as Bobmac states, if you can hit it straight, then it's only a case of knowing what's required. However, part of the requirement is to get amount of shape correct!

Imo, anyone off the 14 sort of level, that has been mentioned, who is capable of shaping shots to order - and the right amount - would seem to have some serious deficiencies in other parts of their game. It would seem far more worthwhile to address those than practicing the subtle differences between 5, 10 and 15 yard Draws! That's where 'Straight' - or at least 'Stock' is a much simpler shape!
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Exactly as per my post :D
 
I take guys saying they they shape the ball both ways exactly how much they want with a pinch of salt TBH. I hit a draw and then degrees of that depending on the situation, though not always with the correct results. The only club i can hit a fade with is the driver, but usually not with the amount or shape i want or too much.

I would just try and hit it straight if possible, you can't go wrong with that;)
 
Foxholer said:
There's a further subtle declaration that needs to be made by those that claim to shape the ball....Can you do it the correct amount! It's all well and good knowing how to do it - as Bobmac states, if you can hit it straight, then it's only a case of knowing what's required. However, part of the requirement is to get amount of shape correct!

Imo, anyone off the 14 sort of level, that has been mentioned, who is capable of shaping shots to order - and the right amount - would seem to have some serious deficiencies in other parts of their game. It would seem far more worthwhile to address those than practicing the subtle differences between 5, 10 and 15 yard Draws! That's where 'Straight' - or at least 'Stock' is a much simpler shape!
Click to expand...
Nobody off the 14 sort of level has claimed or said they are capable of shaping shots to order.
Suggest you read the thread again and comment what has been put and not what you think you've read.
 
I'm another who would only attempt to shape a shot if it had to go round a tree or something. I have mixed success at that, can do it but also sometimes nail it laser straight.....

Currently, however, I only hit one shot and the only question is how far left is it going..... :(
 
Slightly off topic on topic, working the ball is as much to do with height/flight as shape.

I think anyone who can work the ball can do it with most any clubs. The modern ball wants to be worked less than in the past and its offset that makes it a little harder I understand.
 
pauldj42 said:
Nobody off the 14 sort of level has claimed or said they are capable of shaping shots to order.
Suggest you read the thread again and comment what has been put and not what you think you've read.
Click to expand...

14 was mentioned twice (once in jest), not just by you. It was not directed at you, merely a convenient number that had been mentioned!

Try applying your own suggestion to my post! :rolleyes:
 
I used to play with a bloke who regularly tried to draw the ball. Problem was, a/ he wasn't very good and b/ he couldn't control it. After one particularly nightmarish round he stood on a tee, around the 16th, and proclaimed proudly "I am now going to draw this tee shot" My playing partner leaned over to me and whispered, "don't you think you would learn to hit it straight before you move on to the draw". Cue giggles, nods of heads all round and a duck hook.

That seemed very sound advice to me so when I have cracked a consistent straight shot I will move onto the draw and fade.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I used to play with a bloke who regularly tried to draw the ball. Problem was, a/ he wasn't very good and b/ he couldn't control it. After one particularly nightmarish round he stood on a tee, around the 16th, and proclaimed proudly "I am now going to draw this tee shot" My playing partner leaned over to me and whispered, "don't you think you would learn to hit it straight before you move on to the draw". Cue giggles, nods of heads all round and a duck hook.

That seemed very sound advice to me so when I have cracked a consistent straight shot I will move onto the draw and fade.
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Can you learn to hit the ball straight? I have never had a lesson where the pro or coach set out to have me hit the ball straight?
 
I don't ever remember a pro telling me to draw or fade the ball. He was trying to get me to hit it cleanly, consistently and from memory, as straight as I could. Maybe there is a slight draw or fade on it but basically he wants it straight or within a very narrow V. Once you have that stock shot you can then move on. The question is about a deliberate and significant draw or fade, as was my story.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I don't ever remember a pro telling me to draw or fade the ball. He was trying to get me to hit it cleanly, consistently and from memory, as straight as I could. Maybe there is a slight draw or fade on it but basically he wants it straight or within a very narrow V. Once you have that stock shot you can then move on. The question is about a deliberate and significant draw or fade, as was my story.
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In your story your playing partner was trying to learn something. The way you tell it you all just laughed at him. You cant really consistently hit the ball with no tilt so he was trying to learn a shape that he maybe could learn to control. He duck hooked it so he got the tilt he was looking for. He deliberately played for draw spin and got it.... Lots of it.
 
My playing partner was not trying to learn something, he was trying to show off and fell on his backside. He had no control over any shot that day, or many other days in reality. Had he wandered up to the ball, suggested nothing else has worked today so I'm going to try this, we would have encouraged him. However it was the pompous nature that he was now going to give a lesson in the art of drawing the ball, a lesson best given during or after a round when you are in control of your golf. Best not to offer advice when you haven't contributed a single winning hole for your playing partner, nor when you haven't even got close to putting out on more than 50% of the holes taken part in.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
My playing partner was not trying to learn something, he was trying to show off and fell on his backside. He had no control over any shot that day, or many other days in reality. Had he wandered up to the ball, suggested nothing else has worked today so I'm going to try this, we would have encouraged him. However it was the pompous nature that he was now going to give a lesson in the art of drawing the ball, a lesson best given during or after a round when you are in control of your golf. Best not to offer advice when you haven't contributed a single winning hole for your playing partner, nor when you haven't even got close to putting out on more than 50% of the holes taken part in.
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Despite all that, did you enjoy playing with Smiffy?
 
I always try and shape the flight one way or the other.

I find it much more repeatable that attempting to hit it straight.

If I could hit a stock 5 yard fade I would. But what I can do is make sure I manipulate the ball once way or the other.

Strengthening and weakening the grip play a big part as does the type of looped backswing ill put on it.

Being self taught has alot to do with it. It's unlikely if I've ever made an on plane swing in my life. Flat flippy and reactionary to how I want the ball to move.

It's fun,requires a lot of timing so when it's on its good but can lead to lots of days where I make the most simple shots more difficult than they need to be.

For the minute I will stick with it. anyone who thinks all pros can hit 5, 10, 15, 20 yard draws on demand then flip it and play the same in fades all day long are delusional. They are good but there only one Bubba. He can spray it around with the best of them too.
 
Foxholer said:
There's a further subtle declaration that needs to be made by those that claim to shape the ball....Can you do it the correct amount! It's all well and good knowing how to do it - as Bobmac states, if you can hit it straight, then it's only a case of knowing what's required. However, part of the requirement is to get amount of shape correct!

Imo, anyone off the 14 sort of level, that has been mentioned, who is capable of shaping shots to order - and the right amount - would seem to have some serious deficiencies in other parts of their game. It would seem far more worthwhile to address those than practicing the subtle differences between 5, 10 and 15 yard Draws! That's where 'Straight' - or at least 'Stock' is a much simpler shape!
Click to expand...

Gareth said:
There's a difference between working the ball and working the ball effectively, I.E Exactly how you want.

My stock shot is a small draw.

I can set-up to hit a bigger draw, or a fade and can get the ball to shape but often it's more than I need or not enough. Very rarely does it go exactly as planned.

What'll also happen is I'll set up right of the target for a draw and hit the ball straight along that line with no curve back to the left and vice versa for a fade.

I know how to adjust my set up to help influence the shot, but doing it both consistently and accurately is something different all together.

Nice when it comes off though :thup:
Click to expand...


Guy's ye have it in a nutshell, i can draw and fade the ball , i know how to set up and swing in order to do both and it looks great when it works ..
Control is the issue ,
 
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