being able to hit it both ways.

[owens251109]

i have been playing golf now for a little over 3 years now. ever since i started playing i was more comfortable hitting a fade. but someone told me that the "right way" to hit the golf ball is playing a draw but not a fade. but everytime i try to put a draw in my bag i dont feel like i have controll over it like i do with my fade. what do you guys think? is it wrong only being able to hit it one way?

[Pushy]

I would say the answer is whatever works for you.  If I'm not mistaken, there are plenty of pros whose natural shot is a fade.

[Golfingdad]

i have been playing golf now for a little over 3 years now. ever since i started playing i was more comfortable hitting a fade. but someone told me that the "right way" to hit the golf ball is playing a draw but not a fade. but everytime i try to put a draw in my bag i dont feel like i have controll over it like i do with my fade. what do you guys think? is it wrong only being able to hit it one way?

Nope.  In fact, it's wrong to think that it's really that necessary to be able to hit it both ways.  You'll find it written all over this site that the top players in the world hit their "stock shot" over 95% of the time.  And there are a good number of them for which the "stock shot" is a fade.  Jack Nicklaus, just to name one.

Stay with your fade and own it, and you'll be fine.

[turtleback]

i have been playing golf now for a little over 3 years now. ever since i started playing i was more comfortable hitting a fade. but someone told me that the "right way" to hit the golf ball is playing a draw but not a fade. but everytime i try to put a draw in my bag i dont feel like i have controll over it like i do with my fade. what do you guys think? is it wrong only being able to hit it one way?

Some of the greatest players in the world played the fade.  My sense is that really good players prefer the fade because it keeps them from having to fight a hook.  Nicklaus played a fade and I think Hogan did as well.

[dfreuter415]

i have been playing golf now for a little over 3 years now. ever since i started playing i was more comfortable hitting a fade. but someone told me that the "right way" to hit the golf ball is playing a draw but not a fade. but everytime i try to put a draw in my bag i dont feel like i have controll over it like i do with my fade. what do you guys think? is it wrong only being able to hit it one way?

As far as what shot to hit most of the time, I would say to hit the shot that you have most control. But, you are early into your golfing experience and have an excellent handicap, so it is worth your while to learn and hit the ball both ways.

Example: On a dogleg right, a right-handed golfer who can hit a fade will more easily shape the flight of the ball around the corner. Likewise, on a dogleg left, a draw would be advantageous.

I coached JV golf for more than 10 years, and when we went to the range, I made the guys at least try to hit shots both left-to-right and right-to-left. They had a lot of fun see to what level they could control their shots, and occasionally had a need for it.

A great example was this summer on an uphill dogleg left, I hit the ball a little too close to the trees on the left and had 150 yards to the green, but had no chance to hit the green unless I played a draw. Well, I normally hit a fade or straight shot, but I knew the fundamentals of executing the shot, and decided to give it a go. As you can guess, I hit the ball in the middle of the clubface, and as the high right-to-left shot settled gently on the green, I had the biggest smile on my face, and my playing partners had a new level of respect for my shotmaking ability.

Remember golf is not always about the destination, and while you are on the journey, take some chances and try different things. You'll find it's a lot of fun.

[owens251109]

As far as what shot to hit most of the time, I would say to hit the shot that you have most control. But, you are early into your golfing experience and have an excellent handicap, so it is worth your while to learn and hit the ball both ways. Example: On a dogleg right, a right-handed golfer who can hit a fade will more easily shape the flight of the ball around the corner. Likewise, on a dogleg left, a draw would be advantageous. I coached JV golf for more than 10 years, and when we went to the range, I made the guys at least try to hit shots both left-to-right and right-to-left. They had a lot of fun see to what level they could control their shots, and occasionally had a need for it. A great example was this summer on an uphill dogleg left, I hit the ball a little too close to the trees on the left and had 150 yards to the green, but had no chance to hit the green unless I played a draw. Well, I normally hit a fade or straight shot, but I knew the fundamentals of executing the shot, and decided to give it a go. As you can guess, I hit the ball in the middle of the clubface, and as the high right-to-left shot settled gently on the green, I had the biggest smile on my face, and my playing partners had a new level of respect for my shotmaking ability. Remember golf is not always about the destination, and while you are on the journey, take some chances and try different things. You'll find it's a lot of fun.

Thanks for all the good advice.

[3iron]

Don't be ashamed of that fade.  It can help you keep the ball on the green, shape the ball around trees etc.  Control it and own it.  On the other hand, if you have a draw and a fade you have one more trick in your arsenal.

Make the fade your go to shot, but don't turn you back on the draw.

[iacas]

1. Go here: http://thesandtrap.com/t/61391/shaping-the-ball .
2. Scroll down.
3. Keep scrolling down.
4. Stop when you see " A Quick Word on Shaping the Ball "
5. Read that section.

---

Or, read it here:

A Quick Word on Shaping the Ball

95% of the shots a pro plays (Tiger Woods may be one of a group of very small exceptions, and even he isn't as different as many think) are their stock shot. They don't curve much, but if a player is a drawer of the golf ball, 95% of their shots draw. It's the most reliable, dependable way to play - with a pattern.

Kenny Perry (a pronounced drawer) was playing at Doral a few years ago and someone asked him what he does with a pin on the right side of the green. He said he aimed at the flag and if his ball didn't draw, he got lucky, but otherwise he was content to have a 25-footer for birdie.

Then the person asked him what he did when the pin was on the left side of the green. "I make birdie" he said. :)

You'll get better, faster if you develop a pattern. Shaping the ball is over-rated - not even the pros do it all that often. Shaping the ball can get you out of trouble. It can be a good shot when the ball needs to be worked around an obstacle (reaching a par five in two, the tee shot on a dogleg, etc.). But if you've got a look at the flag, take the Kenny Perry approach: aim for your shot cone and play your pattern.

[Golfingdad]

Thanks for all the good advice.

And @turtleback , @Pushy , and I are what?  Chopped liver?

As far as what shot to hit most of the time, I would say to hit the shot that you have most control. But, you are early into your golfing experience and have an excellent handicap, so it is worth your while to learn and hit the ball both ways.

Example: On a dogleg right, a right-handed golfer who can hit a fade will more easily shape the flight of the ball around the corner. Likewise, on a dogleg left, a draw would be advantageous.

I coached JV golf for more than 10 years, and when we went to the range, I made the guys at least try to hit shots both left-to-right and right-to-left. They had a lot of fun see to what level they could control their shots, and occasionally had a need for it.

A great example was this summer on an uphill dogleg left, I hit the ball a little too close to the trees on the left and had 150 yards to the green, but had no chance to hit the green unless I played a draw. Well, I normally hit a fade or straight shot, but I knew the fundamentals of executing the shot, and decided to give it a go. As you can guess, I hit the ball in the middle of the clubface, and as the high right-to-left shot settled gently on the green, I had the biggest smile on my face, and my playing partners had a new level of respect for my shotmaking ability.

Remember golf is not always about the destination, and while you are on the journey, take some chances and try different things. You'll find it's a lot of fun.

I disagree with the part about flip flopping your shot just because a hole doglegs a bit.  Attempting to go both ways when it's not necessary brings in the possibility of a two-way miss or a doublecross.  You don't want that.  If you play a fade and a hole doglegs to the left ... the most you are possibly gaining from a good draw vs. a good fade is maybe one club shorter into the green?  The risk isn't really worth it.

I agree with the rest though.  By all means, learn how to hit hooks and slices because they can occasionally save strokes in unique situations.

[dfreuter415]

I agree with the possibility of a doublecross, but in my posting I clearly said, "As far as what shot to hit most of the time, I would say to hit the shot that you have most control."  I also took note that owens251109 has "an excellent handicap" (8), and just suggested that he might be able to develop his game by learning to hit the ball both ways. Then I used the example of doglegs as being a case where shaping the shot can be beneficial.

Golfingdad, I love you postings, and notice that you have a 5.4 index, so I know you have a great golf game.  Therefore, I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't try to shape your shots at times based on the layout of the hole you are playing. My handicap fluctuates between 7 and 9, and I really enjoy trying different shots on the course, whether it be intentional draws and fades, knockdown shots, flop shots, tee it high when downwind or low when into the wind, half-wedge shots, chip-putts (Dave Pelz), and more. Are these shots for everyone? Probably not, but they sure are a lot of fun when you execute them correctly.

I reiterate that golf is not always about the destination, the journey is where I get the most satisfaction.

[iacas]

Golfingdad, I love you postings, and notice that you have a 5.4 index, so I know you have a great golf game.  Therefore, I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't try to shape your shots at times based on the layout of the hole you are playing. My handicap fluctuates between 7 and 9, and I really enjoy trying different shots on the course, whether it be intentional draws and fades, knockdown shots, flop shots, tee it high when downwind or low when into the wind, half-wedge shots, chip-putts (Dave Pelz), and more. Are these shots for everyone? Probably not, but they sure are a lot of fun when you execute them correctly.

I am more with @Golfingdad . Pros "shape" the ball far less often than amateurs.

Hit your stock shot 95% of the time (stock curve, that is - varying height is okay). Only hit a different shape when absolutely forced to.

If your goal is to have fun and you have fun hitting draws and cuts and whatnot, go for it. But if your goal is to shoot good scores… develop a stock shot shape and play it as often as you can. The benefits of fitting your stock shot into a dogleg going the other way typically outweigh the slight advantage of hitting a shot that you aren't nearly as comfortable playing.

[Jakester23]

I agree with the possibility of a doublecross, but in my posting I clearly said, "As far as what shot to hit most of the time, I would say to hit the shot that you have most control."  I also took note that owens251109 has "an excellent handicap" (8), and just suggested that he might be able to develop his game by learning to hit the ball both ways. Then I used the example of doglegs as being a case where shaping the shot can be beneficial. Golfingdad, I love you postings, and notice that you have a 5.4 index, so I know you have a great golf game.  Therefore, I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't try to shape your shots at times based on the layout of the hole you are playing. My handicap fluctuates between 7 and 9, and I really enjoy trying different shots on the course, whether it be intentional draws and fades, knockdown shots, flop shots, tee it high when downwind or low when into the wind, half-wedge shots, chip-putts (Dave Pelz), and more. Are these shots for everyone? Probably not, but they sure are a lot of fun when you execute them correctly. I reiterate that golf is not always about the destination, the journey is where I get the most satisfaction.

For some people golf is about one thing and one thing only score. If you want to learn how to shape shots that's not a bad thing but a repeatable swing is what we are all working for. I had the situation you described above last year. I was playing a fade (some might call it a baby slice) especially with my driver. So I got to a dogleg left par 4 with trees on the left and bunkers at the end of the dogleg. My driver without a draw would have had a great chance of hitting the bunkers so instead of fighting my shape I hit a 4w up the left and it faded right into the middle of the fairway short of the bunkers. If you know where your shot zones are and how to use them you only really need the other shape when your hitting a recovery shot.

[mvmac]

I am more with @Golfingdad. Pros "shape" the ball far less often than amateurs.

Hit your stock shot 95% of the time (stock curve, that is - varying height is okay). Only hit a different shape when absolutely forced to.

If your goal is to have fun and you have fun hitting draws and cuts and whatnot, go for it. But if your goal is to shoot good scores… develop a stock shot shape and play it as often as you can. The benefits of fitting your stock shot into a dogleg going the other way typically outweigh the slight advantage of hitting a shot that you aren't nearly as comfortable playing.

Very much agree with this and what @Golfingdad has said. Only thing I can really add is that I've gotten to see the pros up close the past several years and they spend most of their time practicing and playing their stock shot.

[BuckeyeNut]

Most any golfer worth a darn can hit it both ways................ most favor a direction, but they can go the other way when the shot dictates.   Even Bruce Lietzke could do it....even though he rarely did because he never thought he needed to because he had so much trust in his 'go-to' shot.

[Golfingdad]

Golfingdad, I love you postings, and notice that you have a 5.4 index, so I know you have a great golf game.  Therefore, I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't try to shape your shots at times based on the layout of the hole you are playing. My handicap fluctuates between 7 and 9, and I really enjoy trying different shots on the course, whether it be intentional draws and fades, knockdown shots, flop shots, tee it high when downwind or low when into the wind, half-wedge shots, chip-putts (Dave Pelz), and more. Are these shots for everyone? Probably not, but they sure are a lot of fun when you execute them correctly.

The shot that I've been working on for the past few years is a draw.  A very subtle draw.  Most shots I hit well go very nearly straight.  I don't have the precision to even bother trying to hit a slight fade instead just because the hole goes that way.  My last two rounds, at two different courses, I never once tried to shape a shot.

Now, that said, I have no disagreements whatsoever with the idea that it's beneficial to know how to curve it.  If you threw 10 balls down on the range and asked me to hook them, I could probably achieve some amount of curve with 5 or 6 of them.  The others might curve only a little, or might just go straight.  10 balls to intentionally slice and I'm much better.  7 or 8 out of 10, I'd venture.  But in neither of those cases I'm I good enough and precise enough to try and work the ball unless it's absolutely necessary.  Which usually only comes about when I'm behind a tree.  I could pitch out to the fairway and have a 150 yard 3rd, or I could try a hero slice and get it up close to the green leaving myself a pitch for my third.  If there isn't too much trouble across the fairway (the place where my ball might end up if it accidentally goes straight) then I'll go ahead and try that.

And, yes, there are a few holes I can think of where I will try and work a tee shot, but they are A) few and far between, and B) on the type of courses where there's other holes bordering the one I'm playing and no hazards anywhere around.  That way, a poor shot isn't going to really cost me that much.

I reiterate that golf is not always about the destination, the journey is where I get the most satisfaction.

I have no qualms with this whatsoever.  Not everybody is 100% focused on score, so for those people, by all means, do what's most fun!!

[mvmac]

Most any golfer worth a darn can hit it both ways................ most favor a direction, but they can go the other way when the shot dictates.   Even Bruce Lietzke could do it....even though he rarely did because he never thought he needed to because he had so much trust in his 'go-to' shot.

Agree, good golfers can shape it both ways but 95% of the time they play their stock shot.

[Spitfisher]

years ago I read an article that Sergio Garcia was a contributing to, to paraphrase him he said that amateurs and weekend players biggest mistake is to not embrace their natural swing that they have and think it has to be something else. If you hit a fade, then hit a fade and commit to it & learn how to love it.

The principal worked for me. and at the same time I understand the physics of ball flight, left and right when needed.

[Dave2512]

The natural/stock shot for most amateur golfers is a miss . Anything between the weeds that lands on maintained grass is good for me. If I am trying to shape it there's a tree or something in the way.