Do you "work" the ball or have a consistent shot pattern?

[beung]

Even with your wedges? I've always aimed right at the stick with a PW on down. Do you fade/draw your wedges?

If I can, I try and trap-spin the ball on my wedges, I like to bring it in low, land and hop a couple times then stop. I don't like to fly it right to the flag and have it stop. Some front pin placements don't allow this so with these I usually try and go left of the pin and get it to spin back or a little left to right after it lands.

I usually stand open but swing in line to my target, which usually produces a little left to right spin. So although the ball flight might not go very left to right the spin will usually still take the ball left to right once it lands.

[CodeRed657]

i've actually been working on drawing and fading the ball at the range, but never on the course yet (i dont have enough confidence in it quite yet). trying to draw the ball has reduced my slice greatly though (even though i tend to hook it now)

[kfowler]

Some of the Blade vs. CB threads have got me thinking about how many people actually try to work the ball on their approach shot to the green. I'm talking strictly irons here. And by "work", I mean draw, fade, spin back, release, etc. Post your HCP too if it's not in your avatar. I'm really interested in how the responses vary by HCP.

For me, I'm firmly in the "I just want to get it on the green" group. I generally aim for the flag stick unless there's trouble. If so, I aim for the center of the green. I'm no where consistent enough with my irons to even think of working the ball. I want solid contact and a chance to two putt at worst.

Another interesting thought, my dad is a 7 HCP. At one point in his life, he was pretty close to scratch. I've never heard him say "I'm going to work the ball on an approach shot". He pretty much goes right after the flag.

[shades9323]

I don't see the poll. Now it shows up after I post.

I don't work the ball unless I need to go around a tree!

I also play a combo set 7-pw muscle backs, 3-6 cavity back.

[max power]

I usually hit a draw-whether I want to or not. So I aim a little right, though I occasionally fade the ball on purpose, off the tee or because of a tree.

[zrlaegel]

i rarley try and "work" the ball. i try and hit my standard shot which is a fade most of the time. the nly time i try and work it is when im in a crappy position that wont allow my normal shot

[wubskis]

As with the similar poll recently on "what is your preferred shot shape?" my answer comes down to the fact I'm not yet really sure how to work the ball. So I just go for the green and cross my fingers~

[kpaulhus]

I when Im within 100 yards I try to spin the ball so it will check on the green, but most of the time Im just aiming for a easy 2 putt for par.

[Williamevanl]

I always try to work the ball. Have you ever played a cheesy golf video game where there is the slider that moves left right or up and down and the point is to get it as close to the center as possible. A lot of video games have these anyway, you realize that it is silly to try to time those perfectly in the middle at some point and that it is more effective to error on one side and play to it.

I think real life is the same way, unless you double cross. I try to play a draw mostly but my natural shot is a fade. I don't know what my handicap is, I shot scratch once but more commonly 39 or 40 on nine. Then again, I played a championship course at the end of the year and shot 104.

[ks8829]

I also hit a slight draw on all my shots, so I try to compensate for this and aim right of the target and let it naturally come back to the flag.

I tried to hit a fade once in a while but it required more work for me, so I am not trying to work the ball but play for my natural ball flight.

My drives are the same, natural draw, straight or tiny fade when I need it.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

I voted for sometimes. My swing produces a fade on its own and I don't go against that if I can help it.

If there's a tight left side pin though and trouble left of the green I will try to draw it. Im better with a draw off a tee, but I'm never scared to try it out of a decent fairway lie or hanging lie in the rough. And more often than not an attempted draw just ends up pretty straight. Worst case, I double cross and have the whole green to work with for up/down, right?

I do however change trajectory to control distance/spin often. I don't have as consistent a full swing wedge game as I would like, and If I do catch it flush I spin the shit out of it because I play the ProV1. If I can play a safe 3/4 9-iron or 8, I will. I think this is something I should've started doing a long time ago.

[ronnie15]

I'd say for the most part I play my natural ball flight, which is a fade w/ the driver and hybrid, draw w/ the irons, and straight w/ the wedges. Only if the shot really demands working it do I actually try to work it. Like around a tree or to a tight pin.

[chilly]

At this point, I'm just happy to hit a green so I really don't try to work the ball. I hit a draw so I will use that where appropriate, but it's not done very often.

[wedstuntpuller]

I'm with the OP in "wanting to just hit the green" approach. I only try to draw the ball (as i hit a natural fade) if there is an obstacle in the way (usually a tree because i am in the woods, LOL).

[kleraudio]

Ive just started working balls into greens and it has helped HUGE! I basically align my clubhead at the pin and my body line toward the center of the green... and swing down my body line.

If I miss, it hits middle green, if I catch it flush, it takes off toward the center of the green and works right into the pin....

I read this approach on here somewhere and it has worked very well.....

My misses are usually on the green as opposed to pin high left or right and 20 yards off the green. It has helped my scores!

Jim

[Fourputt]

I will try to work it only when necessary, and then I'm usually only successful when I play a deliberate fade. Once in a long while I can actually play an intentional draw, but I generally only try it if there is simply no other option.

[DaSportsGuy]

I go for the pin. Unless their's water or trees of course. As well as I hit it out of bunkers, I just see them the same as being just off the green in the rough. Just get it near the pin and tap it in.

[wedge player]

i work it constantly
high,low,left,right its fun