"Workability"...How many people really "Work" the ball?

[duffer888]

Case in point for workability:

My local course has a dogleg left par 5 that is about 490 yrds. It is *really* difficult to cut the corner because of a huge fence protecting the baseball diamonds on the left side of the hole.

If you can work your tee shot right to left by about 20-30 yds, you can get on in 2 with a ~210 2nd shot.

If your only shot is a straight shot, you lay up with a ~210yd tee shot. Now, you have a ~250yd 2nd shot. Problem is that the green is protected by a ravine in front, so you have to fly that 250yds. The percentage shot is to lay up.

[mdl]

I think that's a pretty good question. Once you understand the fundamentals of a draw or fade, it's really very simple to hit one. Learning to

Yeah I'm a mid handicapper and I've only recently sort of happened upon working the ball a bit just while at the range, but I'm still at a point where I'd rather take my stock swing every time out on the course cause I don't have the ball striking consistency to mix things up. I keep saying that I'll move back to the blues/blacks and worry about working the ball when I start breaking 80 regularly...

[BallStriker]

I am fairly consistent mid to high 70s player, and hit primarily a draw. Starting with about my 8 iron, I play for a sligh draw and a little more with each club through the 3 iron.

I fukkin can't hit a fade with an iron to save my life, and I never try.

I can hit a fade with a Driver, but that it about it and sometimes pull a PMick and "overcut" it (meaning I push the living hell out of it and it fades more).

That said, I rarely, rarely actually try and do something with the ball that is not my normal shot shape.....If I am facing a hard dog-leg right and will run through the fairway with a straight or drawing tee ball, I just suck it up and hit 3 wood or trouble club to stay in the fairway....Some days I feel like I have great control, I will hit the fade...but probably less than 50% of the time.

But I am working on it......

[bogeyhitter25]

I hit most of my irons as straight as I can, but if I need to I can hit a slight draw or fade.

And I hit a tiny draw with my driver.

[LaPuzza]

I am a high-to-off-the-charts handicap, so I almost never try and work a shot. However, for some reason, I can with my 3 iron hybrid. My shot flight is generally low, so on a second shot on a long par 4, or from the rough, I attempt a sharp draw or fade at least once a round, and I've got about an 80% chance of it working.

This is out of my Nike Ignite iron set, so game improvment and workability are not mutually exclusive all the time.

[Ben]

I hear a lot of people here talk about "workability"...& "working" the ball. Especially when they talk about clubs...etc.

The golfers I play with play at a pretty high level. I can't speak for them, but I'm trying to "work" every shot. From hitting the tee shot from the right angle to my intended landing area, to approach shots. I want to make sure I'm avoiding trouble. Be it a bunker, water hazard or any other penalizing area to avoid. Draws, fades or straight shots. Personally, I try to hit as many straight shots as possible. Less of a chance to over-cook a draw or fade. If I miss straight, it won't be terribly far off the target.

[michaeljames92]

occassionaly, only when I really need to. My irons fade anyway so that is usally good for my clubs super fast greens. Right now driver is all over the place so I really just want to hit that straight. To see something cool, type 'protracer' in youtube. It's great to see the pros shape their shots

[Alohaed]

Thanks all. That's why I love this forum. I guess I'll just have to get the best GI or SGI irons for me. Then if I do happen to be behind a tree, suck it up and punch out, or take a drop. Then simply worry about improving my game, before worrying about shaping shots. However, teeing off on a dogleg, can one learn to draw or fade, since there are really no GI drivers? Using the new R9, Diablo or FT9, having your drive go around the bend?

[lumpuckeroo]

I don't try to work the ball, it just always works right, so I play it.

[billm408]

Thanks all. That's why I love this forum. I guess I'll just have to get the best GI or SGI irons for me. Then if I do happen to be behind a tree, suck it up and punch out, or take a drop. Then simply worry about improving my game, before worrying about shaping shots. However, teeing off on a dogleg, can one learn to draw or fade, since there are really no GI drivers? Using the new R9, Diablo or FT9, having your drive go around the bend?

Just keep in mind that Game Improvement clubs make it

harder to manipulate ball flight or work the ball. They are designed specifically to correct the things you're trying to do by making the ball turn left or right and change trajectory. Just sayin'....