Shaping the ball

**holeinon3** · July 1, 2010

How important is it to learn to shape the ball consistently? (this question is more for lower hdcps) I play a little draw that normally looks pretty, but sometimes I would like to be able to hit a high cut, do I need this shot and if so how would I hit it?

**TourSpoon** · July 1, 2010

The difference for me is that when I played to a 5 (before the equipment revolution) and now at a 7.5 (quite a few years later) is that my shot shape was more predictable and therefore allowed me a greater chance to hit the fairway. For instance with a slight draw off the tee, I could play for the right side of the fairway and if I hit the old reliable I was in great shape, and if I missed the draw and hit it straight I was on the right side, and if I hooked it a bit I was still on the fairway. This allowed me to use the entire fairway and to be more consistent as opposed to now where I occasionally will cut the ball so I have to be more careful and aim more middle thus making the fairway even smaller.

Hitting the high fade is nice to have and will let you get to the pins on the right side of the green more often by aiming middle and letting the cut take it towards the hole. The easiest way for me to hit a cut is to open my stance away from the target with the club face square to the target and then to swing down my stance line which will help to fade the ball. You can experiment with having the ball a little forward in your stance for the trajectory, but sometimes the open face is enough to give you the desired shot. I learned to hit this shot from being in jail on the right side (think slight dog leg right) and having to hit over or around medium sized trees with a high short iron to get in position. I will still use it to get out of trouble or to bend it around a tree, but currently it is not a staple that I will hit into the green.

Good luck and have fun.

**saevel25** · July 1, 2010

Fade, finish hands high, draw finish hands low... Practice this at the range until you get accustom to the amount of curve han you just offset it by aiming more right. I never open the clubface and my stance, i use the finish of my swing to either delay the clubface from squaring up or closing it more through impact.

Though i tend not to do this unless i really need to shape one. Right now i got this 5-10 yard fade going, trying to get that straightened out and towards a draw. So i just play that all day.

**brgolf** · July 1, 2010

I am a similar HC and get by with just one type of iron shot. It has just recently crossed my mind again that being able to draw or cut on demand would add something to my game.

Amofada · July 1, 2010

You can easily be a scratch golfer hitting it straight, never working the ball. I find it amusing when high hcp'ers talk about their shot shaping. (The same guys that can't ever hit a straight one) Before you're at least in single digits you shouldn't pay much attention to shaping shots. It's a lot easier swinging the same way, trying to repeat the same motion every time.

**JML22** · July 1, 2010

As long as what you do is consistent really
Some styles arent optimal but if you consistently hit a fade draw or straight the same way and dont miss rididculously when you miss you can do pretty wel

**SpringBokVol** · July 1, 2010

It comes in to play when you play a lot of different golf courses and they require certain shots.

I play a straight ball. However, my old reliable if the wheels are coming off or I just need to get it in the fair is a slight fade.

And when I have to I can hit a draw, but normally the only reason for me to do this is to get out of trouble.

**Blades4me** · July 2, 2010

How important is it to learn to shape the ball consistently? (this question is more for lower hdcps) I play a little draw that normally looks pretty, but sometimes I would like to be able to hit a high cut, do I need this shot and if so how would I hit it?

IMO it is more important to find out what your usual shot is, which sounds like a little draw and to know that you can hit it consistently and/or on command. It also sounds like you normally hit a high ball, which again IMO, is a good thing. I've found it easier to control a draw than a cut.

It is easier to stick a green with a high ball, which you already have. It wouldn't behoove you to learn a cut, but I don't think that it is of paramont importance to you. Another way to possibly go about it would be to see how many times during a round do you REALLY need to work the ball? Again, IMO its not of paramont importance, but certainly wouldn't behoove you to learn how.

**Saig55** · July 2, 2010

I used to slice but worked it out and started drawing the ball. Now, I'm actually swinging slightly harder at the ball and I hit it straight or a very slight fade. As long as I am in the fairway, I'm pretty happy.

**Harmonious** · July 2, 2010

How important is it to learn to shape the ball consistently? (this question is more for lower hdcps) I play a little draw that normally looks pretty, but sometimes I would like to be able to hit a high cut, do I need this shot and if so how would I hit it?

I think you have to answer that question yourself. I think it is important to be able to work the ball when necessary, but that doesn't mean you can't play well without doing it.

Ask yourself whether there are shots that you would like to make that you currently can't. If there's a dogleg right that sets up perfectly for a fade, do you end up drawing it to the left side of the fairway, leaving a much longer 2nd shot? If the pin is front right behind a large bunker, do you have a shot (that you can trust) that you can get within 20 feet of the hole? If you are stuck behind a tree and need to make a low punch that moves 20 yards right, can you do it? These are shots that you don't necessarily need, but they are the shots that will make you a shotmaker. As a 7.9, you have a consistent game. If you want to take it to the "next level", I think you need to be able to shape shots when necessary. You may only need it once or twice a round, but just having the knowledge will make you a better player. As far as how to do it, I have my way, which works consistently well for me. Others here will give you opposing ideas. I suggest you spend some quality range time and find what works for you. Good luck.

**sean_miller** · July 2, 2010

How important is it to learn to shape the ball consistently? (this question is more for lower hdcps) I play a little draw that normally looks pretty, but sometimes I would like to be able to hit a high cut, do I need this shot and if so how would I hit it?

I think knowing how to shape the ball helps me reliably hit my stock shot shape. I can hit the ball more in control with a straight or slight draw flight. From the fairway though, my 3 and 4 irons tend to be a very slight fade, so I always aim left of the pin with them.

**$2 Nassau** · July 2, 2010

Something I'm workng on, but still a long way from having a good grasp on. Normal flight is a draw, that likes to hook on occasion. Been able to work a fade in with the low - mid irons. But driver and 3 wood, which are the clubs I think that the fade can be most useful (depending on the course) I just can't seem to get it down...sort of afriad to commit to "swinging to the left down my stance line with an open face" and usually put a poor swing on the ball.

**MMouse** · July 2, 2010

I have to agree with sean. Knowing how to adjust myself to shape it has helped me to hit a VERY consistent draw over my last 3-4 rounds.

I think the biggest advantage comes from knowing what your stock shot is and being able to do it consistently. My driver has a nice draw on it now. However, my 3 wood always has a VERY reliable fade to it.

I played a round on wednesday at a different course. THere was a drastic dog leg right that would be perfect for a fade. I lined myself up to straight for the green over the corner, took my shot and let my draw bring it back from over the trees and ended up 3 yards off the left side of the fairway with 45 yards left to play. A fade would have been nice but I know I hit a draw and by playing it I allowed myself a fairly good place. If I would have messed with my swing and tried to fade it I might have and it might have worked better. It could have been a whole lot worse too tho.

For now I PLAY the shot I know and PRACTICE the shot shaping I don't. Once I am comfortable with being able to shape a fade when I want, I'll add it to the bag of tricks on the course. Until then, it stays on the driving range.

**Gerald** · July 5, 2010

I find it amusing when high hcp'ers talk about their shot shaping. (The same guys that can't ever hit a straight one) Before you're at least in single digits you shouldn't pay much attention to shaping shots.

The OP is 7.1 !!! Allthough most of my shots 20 orso years ago were slight fades, today I hit most straight or with a slight draw ...... my swing improved over the years ... I guess. Whenever I need a real fade ..... it just sometimes doesn't fade anymore, but it is more like a pull today ..... it can be hard to change swings and I don't want to swing outside-in anymore.

Even double handicappers need shaped shots now and then, it might well be so they need them more than single handicappers ..... so I think learning how to shape shots is a PLUS, even for mid and high cappers.

**nevets88** · July 5, 2010

Just curious, what is the shortest club most people hit a fade with? I find if easier to hit a fade with the longer clubs obviously, but find it harder to hit fades with 8I or shorter.

**sean_miller** · July 5, 2010

Just curious, what is the shortest club most people hit a fade with? I find if easier to hit a fade with the longer clubs obviously, but find it harder to hit fades with 8I or shorter.

When I hit a cut with a short iron it typically affects the trajectory more than the flight, but the ball doesn't stop fading until it stops moving - I don't like a really spinny ball because it can spin off line even after it hits the ground. Try putting cut spin on pitch shots at a practice green and you'll see what I mean - you have to play the ball to break right.

**James_Black** · July 5, 2010

It's useful if your behind a tree and need to draw/fade it or if it's windy.
I find it hard to control how much of a shape I get so I don't bother unless I really have to.

**Deryck Griffith** · July 5, 2010

I think shaping the ball is the absolute last thing an amateur should think about when playing golf. There are so many requirements to playing good golf at our level that does not include shaping. An important requriement is however knowing what your "normal" shot shape is rather than trying to hit draws and fades...

The only time shaping the golf ball becomes very necessary is at the professional level in scenarios where you have to ie. drive and draw a ball 280+ yards over a bunker to the left side of the fairway to have a better angle and shorter club into a green that rolls at 12 on the stimp. In those scenarios, yes, you need to shape the golf ball!

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