shot shaping preferences?

[gus orviston]

I am pretty new to the game so far,, mabye 10 full rounds and 15 or so 9 hole outings. So far I have been very fortunate with my driver, now I am swinging a G5 10.5 stiff shaft w/ club head speed of 110. On the range and course I can get a hold of the ball enough to get 220-240, and recently one 250 during my last round. It feels like about 30% are unpredictable in distance, and the other average about 200. I mostly square up and hit with basic form and get a straight flight with good loft, all the while not yet coiling up all the way cuz that is when it gets more unpredictable (seeking lessons on that)... I am swinging about 3/4 with the big stick.

Anyway after 3 hours of chipping practic I stopped at the range for some big fun. I decided to try some shot shaping, instigated by a magazine column. So I wanted to learn a draw but my body told me to try the fade first.. it just felt more comfortable.

so I aimed off to the left with my body, maybe 10:30 (if straight out is 12) and made sure the club head was square to 12:00, And then I let it rip. Full swing... AND OMG did it take off. WoW, i thought. Nice treat. so I tee up again.. and again.. and again.. grinning from ear to ear.. about 20 shots back to back carrying 220+. don't know the roll from where I was at of course.

Then I tried to square up, thinking maybe my straights will be outstanding.. well.. nope. they were what they were before.. most good, a couple of clunkers. then back to the fade and another 20 balls..

So what gives.. I thought spin was bad, and here I whipped that ball as hard as I could and it took off straight and veered right about 70 yards and took off.

I think maybe I learned something to use in my future , so what gives.

I tried to shoot some fades but got NADA,, which was a shock

help with my edumacation on ball flight.

Xiexie from Shanghai, Dennis

[iacas]

Those distances in yards or meters?

First off, 10:30 would be like 45 degrees open, and that's insane. Secondly, if you've played so little, most likely there are some swing flaws. I don't recommend fixing them by intentionally standing 45 degrees open to your intended line - I recommend a lesson.

Without seeing your swing, it's tough to guess at what those problems may be, but... I suspect there are some problems. Ball position may be one of them.

[gus orviston]

well, mabye 10:30 is too strong of a statement... and sure there are swing issues, 11:00ish. The toe on my left foot is in line with my right heel.. so that is probably not that far.. just feels strange compared with standing perfectly in line.
Distance in yards,,, most courses here and around Asia are in yards.. found a couple that were in meters though.

Question: Is there any reason a fade would carry farther than a straight hit? Given all things being equal. I thought spin was evil.

gus

[iacas]

well, mabye 10:30 is too strong of a statement... and sure there are swing issues, 11:00ish. The toe on my left foot is in line with my right heel.. so that is probably not that far.. just feels strange compared with standing perfectly in line.

Fades hit the ball higher (because the effective loft of the driver is increased when you "open" the face), so a ball will go further with a fade if you're hitting the ball lower than optimal and if the fade and open face get you closer to the ideal launch conditions (angle, spin) for your launch ball speed.