working the ball

[jeardley]

How many of you intentionally try to shape you approach shots or tee shots depending on the layout of the hole, weather, hazzards etc?

Do you see the shot in your mind and try to pull it off or just happy to hit it straight and get it up there?

Just wondering as im reading faldo's book at the moment (swing for life) and just about to read the bit on 'working the ball'

Myself, i only do it if i'm blocked (by a trees or whatever) and have half a chance of moving it around.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[Robobum]

This should be an interesting thread.

I hit everything 5yds left of my target, my natural shot is either straight or with a little cut.

I only ever try to move it intentionally if I'm blocked out.

 

[brendy]

I try to shape the ball a little, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Straightish seems easier to judge than slinging hooks and slices when you try to manufacture them.

 

[USER1999]

I try to draw everything. I don't aim right though, as I am trying to hit a push draw, so it naturally goes right and then curves left, whilst I am aiming straight. Sometimes it even works.

I will only try to fade it if there is something in the way, like a tree, and even then would rather go for a bigger draw if possible.

I pretty much never try to control the height.

I would never try to fade my driver. Not pretty.

 

[fundy]

stock shot is a soft draw though can hit a fade if needed though tend to need a decent reason to change the shape of shot. tend to go to 3 wood off the tee if a fade is needed as have far better control than trying it with driver

 

[Region3]

I 'try' to hit nearly every shot straight.

I sometimes try to fade my driver off the tee on a close dogleg or away from trouble, but never a draw because I can't (on purpose).

I will only try to move the ball with irons if there's something in the way of a straight shot.
I'm happy fading with my irons, but I'll only try the draw/hook if I won't be in trouble if it goes straight.

I used to be awful for trying things like that and ending up with double or worse.

Now I think if I move the ball forwards onto the fairway as far as is safe, the worst I should end up with is a bogey.

 

[patricks148]

My stock shot is a draw and until recently could only hit a draw. Had a lesson with the club pro at Tain the beginning of November and since then I have been able to hit a nice soft fade to order. Only try to work the ball if blocked by something or to ride the wind.

 

[hopeful]

Only if I'm forced to try.... in order to get out of the trouble I'm in as a result of my 'consistently inconsistent' ballstriking But I'm almost overcome with joy when I do try a shaped shot and it works

 

[stevek1969]

Just try to keep the ball in play to be honest don't think i'm good enough to say i'll hit a draw here or a fade.If anything my pro has had me trying to hit a soft draw in the lessond i've been getting.

 

[john0]

If im having a social game then I try to hit both fades and draws with my irons depending on the hole layout etc. However, if playing a comp I will just play my natural shot which is a slight draw, only hitting a fade if it's necessary. Am not confident enough with the fade's yet to use it regularly in comps.

Will only ever hit a draw with my driver, as the only other shot I can do with it is a huge slice!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not good enough to try and intentionally move it in the air. Take dead aim and hope it's straight. I'll take on a hook or slice if I am blocked out and it's either a match, social game or the card has already gone to pot but normally I'll look for the quickest and safest route back onto the fairway and go from there

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not good enough to try and intentionally move it in the air. Take dead aim and hope it's straight. I'll take on a hook or slice if I am blocked out and it's either a match and I'm in trouble, social game or the card has already gone to pot but normally if it is a competition I'll look for the quickest and safest route back onto the fairway and go from there

 

[USER1999]

Was it the same cat?

 

[JustOne]

I can hit whatever shape I want, but not necessarily WHEN I want.

 

[goldenbare]

reminds me of the Ben Hogan quote when asked by an amateur about putting backspin on the ball. Ben asked him how many times he actually hit the ball past the pin to need the shot.


I for one would like to master the consistent straight one first

 

[Macster]

Generally only try and 'deliberately' shape the ball if I'm blocked out, or away from trouble etc.

 

[jammydodger]

I like to hit my driver straight or with a little fade , although I do like to hit a nice power fade on left to right doglegs. I sometimes try the drawn driver but for some reason it doesnt work anymore so its pointless trying.

If its a 3-wood tee shot then its going to be a draw without question , if I try to hit it staight I tend to block it so just go with the draw.

Iron approaches I just go for straight at it unless its a longer iron with the flag left in which case i've been known to hit a nice draw in there. I dont go for faded iron shots unless i'm blocked out though.

 

[beggsy]

i play with a slight fade i dont even know how i do it and as for a draw well i can snap hook it if that what you mean i would really like a draw but wouldnt know where to start so ill settle for what i have its got me down to 10 from 19 this year so cant be that bad

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As I was told once, I've got all the shots - I just don't know what order I'm going to hit them in!

 

[Split_Fairway]

at he moment i naturally hit a draw but that can sometimes become a full blown hook (not fun at my club where nearly all the OOB is on the left) so im trying to restrict the release a little to get a fade. sadly its not working