"working the ball"

[fishit]

I am new to "working the ball." I golf with players who work draws and fades etc.. but up till now I have just played straight balls. I feel like my swing is consistent enough to start adding some shots to my game. I went to the range and was swinging through the ball and either closing or opening the club head more or less throughout my swing which resulted in a fade or a draw respectivly. Basically the only thing I was changing was my hand movement as i swung through the ball. How much of "working the ball" is supposed to be in the hands versus stance and address etc... Should i be adjusting the openness of the club face as i swing or are you supposed to make adjustments at address and swing normal.

[iacas]

I am new to "working the ball." I golf with players who work draws and fades etc.. but up till now I have just played straight balls. I feel like my swing is consistent enough to start adding some shots to my game. I went to the range and was swinging through the ball and either closing or opening the club head more or less throughout my swing which resulted in a fade or a draw respectivly. Basically the only thing I was changing was my hand movement as i swung through the ball. How much of "working the ball" is supposed to be in the hands versus stance and address etc... Should i be adjusting the openness of the club face as i swing or are you supposed to make adjustments at address and swing normal.

Most better golfers, I've found, change something in the setup position to shape their shots. For a draw, I close my stance more. For a cut, I open it more. And the only reason I do those things are to change the alignment of my shoulders.

Other people open or close the clubface (which is basically the same thing - your stance is "open" or "closed" relative to the clubface, after all). It's more a matter of which method you find more consistent and which "makes sense" to your mind (which has to agree with your alignment). Concentrating on holding off or rotating the wrists faster or slower will get you into more trouble than not, I've found. If you hit the ball pretty straight, typically, adjusting something in the setup and then simply making "the same old swing" at it will let you work the ball. If you can begin working the ball consistently, you probably want to start changing the trajectory/height of your shots next. See if you can hit a 90-yard low bleeder (cut) with your pitching wedge, then see how high you can hit your pitching wedge... etc.

[niblick]

It's my understanding (mind you I don't do this) that when a pro wants to work it left to right, they align slightly left and open the clubface a touch, and just swing normally along their body line. The ball will start left because of the alignment, and the open face will impart cut spin which will bring the ball back to the right. Opposite for a draw. It's not really a manipulation of the club during the swing.

[niblick]

Dang, iacas types faster than I do. :)

[fishit]

I think i put myself at an advantage by sticking to a consistent straight shot for so long because now that I am trying to work it, the results are super fun and consistent. I even put my g5's on ebay today and am looking at a worker friedly set of clubs like some 735's.