Shot Shape

[ButterCuts4Dayz]

Hey everyone, I am new to this site but I love golf and talking about golf. I am currently at a 10 handicap, usually shoot low to mid 80s and have shot in the 70s once. I am now struggling with shot shape and am double crossing myself atleast 10 times per round. What do you guys feel is the best shot shape? Off the tee I usually play a bleeding fade, with long irons I like to play a power fade, and with short irons and wedges I like to play a baby draw. This leads me to constantly double crossing myself and turns easy shots into shots that go OB. Please help me

[saevel25]

19 minutes ago, ButterCuts4Dayz said:

I am now struggling with shot shape and am double crossing myself atleast 10 times per round. What do you guys feel is the best shot shape? Off the tee I usually play a bleeding fade, with long irons I like to play a power fade, and with short irons and wedges I like to play a baby draw. This leads me to constantly double crossing myself

and turns easy shots into shots that go OB. Please help me

Stick to one shot shape. Now if your fade for the driver is because of ball position, not a swing change than that is fine. Majority of PGA Tour players hit one shot shape majority of the time. 

As for which one is the best. I prefer a draw for a few reasons. 

-It keeps the club from getting too steep. Such that I find the mishits to be more slightly thin than fatted shots. Slightly thin is playable. 
-Draws feel more dynamic to me.
-I find draws produce better launch conditions to optimize distance.
-I think it's harder to hit a hook than it is to develop a slice. I think draws are a tad safer in that regard. 
-Draw are way cooler than fades 

[DaveP043]

5 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Stick to one shot shape. Now if your fade for the driver is because of ball position, not a swing change than that is fine. Majority of PGA Tour players hit one shot shape majority of the time. 

As for which one is the best. I prefer a draw for a few reasons. 

-It keeps the club from getting too steep. Such that I find the mishits to be more slightly thin than fatted shots. Slightly thin is playable. 
-Draws feel more dynamic to me.
-I find draws produce better launch conditions to optimize distance.
-I think it's harder to hit a hook than it is to develop a slice. I think draws are a tad safer in that regard. 
-Draw are way cooler than fades 

I agree completely.  As long as you are hitting the ball solidly, the best shot shape is the one that you can reproduce consistently.  I also prefer a draw with my irons, but that's a personal preference.  

[imsys0042]

I agree as well.   I am a little below you at an 8 handicap and my focus has been to hit the ball consistently and not try to work it one way or another.   That will come soon where I want to work on that so I can do it more at will, but for now I am happy to have it go without moving too much one way or another.

In fact, unlike some people I've played with, if a shot moves a bit one way or another I don't give it much thought.   Even if I play one day and hit a lot of fades, and the next it straight or draws.   I'm generally doing the same thing and that is what counts right now.  I specifically don't care unless i hit a bad hook or slice.   

As more of a lay-person I'd say if you are double-crossing like that, then specifically ask an instructor to see what is causing that and see what change can be made, completely aside from a swing path that you want to develop.

Welcome to the site!

[MacDutch]

Stop shaping, just try to hit it straight. 

[ButterCuts4Dayz]

I really appreciate all of the feedback from you guys. I am glad I have found a spot where I can express my thoughts and have good dialogue about golf. I am going to try to work on not having to shape every shot. I am thinking to much about how to shape shots instead of just playing golf

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, ButterCuts4Dayz said:

I really appreciate all of the feedback from you guys. I am glad I have found a spot where I can express my thoughts and have good dialogue about golf. I am going to try to work on not having to shape every shot. I am thinking to much about how to shape shots instead of just playing golf

I recommend buying LSW, http://lowestscorewins.com/

It's a great book and will help you with game planning. Especially developing shot zones so you know where to aim. 

[ButterCuts4Dayz]

10 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

I recommend buying LSW, http://lowestscorewins.com/

It's a great book and will help you with game planning. Especially developing shot zones so you know where to aim. 

Just ordered it! Thanks

[vangator]

To play consistent golf, you have to know where your ball is going.  I would suggest you develop a shot shape if you can (which you should if you work at it).  Then go with that.

When I first started, I hit a slice.  Not a fade, a slice.  I got tired of that and now I only hit draws.

When I try to fade the ball, I can hit a double cross when I don't concentrate on what I have to do to fade the ball.  I have a very strong grip, so I really have to concentrate on holding on with my left hand and not rolling my wrists.

With a driver, I play a draw, but sometimes it hooks.  That not good.  I am going to try to get more consistent with my driver so, I just bought a Titleist adjustable driver and am working on hitting a power fade.  So far so good.  But I have to concentrate to not hit a double cross.  i'll continue my normal swing with my irons and FWs.

So, to get rid of a double cross, you have to have confidence that you can always hit a particular shape.  If you need to shape it differently, you have to know how to do it and really commit to the shot.

[SteveH]

Mostly I hit a fade, except with my woods and hybrids and they draw. I have been working on shot shape but find it difficult to get the right amount of draw or fade. Quite often I will purposely focus on the fade if I need to take distance off to hit a green but its a work in progress

[WUTiger]

Stick with one or the other. As a 20-something, I could work the ball either way because I had a lot of time to fiddle with my swing.

Then for a long time I played the draw. Recently, I faded my irons and played a draw with my driver and FWs. But, all my misses - woods or irons - were hard left.

Just recently, I've decided to go back to draw with all my full shots. Now that I'm focusing on the draw, I actually have fewer hard left misses. And, I can get a slight draw out of a square stance.

Another possible benefit: Lee Trevino and Gary Player - and a physical therapist I know - say the draw is less strain on the back for older players than the fade.

Some golfers claim that a mishit fade is safer than a mishit draw, but I don't know that anyone ever tested this claim out.

[vangator]

33 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

Some golfers claim that a mishit fade is safer than a mishit draw, but I don't know that anyone ever tested this claim out.

For me, I think a mishit fade is better than a mishit draw.  The mishit fade for me as maybe a little thin and goes straighter.  I don't snap off a slice.  The mishit draw is either a push right or a snap hook.  Both are not good.

[9wood]

Is a draw a better shape shot than a straight arrow shot? If yes, then why

[vangator]

4 hours ago, 9wood said:

Is a draw a better shape shot than a straight arrow shot? If yes, then why

Straight is never bad, but can you guarantee a straight shot?  The worst swing in golf is one that could go left or right and you not knowing which.  If possible, it is worth it to eliminate one side of the fairway.  That's just not me talking, but any pro will say the same.

My driver right now is a little iffy meaning I can miss either way ( a hook or a push right).  So, if there is trouble on one side I have to favor the other side.  But what if the other side takes me away from the hole?  What if both side have trouble?  Luckily, I have a 3W that always draws.  I have never hit a fade with it, so I have a little peace of mind with it.  However, a draw can turn into a hook, so that has to be guarded against.  Also, I lose some distance with it.

I actually believe that a fade is preferable to a draw.  A lot of people do.  Ask Lee Trevino.

 

[9wood]

12 hours ago, vangator said:

Straight is never bad, but can you guarantee a straight shot? 

 

I would say about 90% of the time for me -yes

It really helps when I know what part of the fairway my ball is going to land 90% of the time

[Coronagolfman]

I agree with those that say that the best shot shape is the one that you can replicate.

Now, if you are saying that you fade your woods and your long irons and you draw your short ones, then go with that scheme as long as it is consistent.  If you are double crossing yourself ten times a round it doesn't sound like those patterns are too consistent so you will have to decide which way you want to go - draw or fade. But remember you have a number of alternatives to try and adjust your ball flight:  swing changes or equipment changes that might allow you to get a more consistent pattern going for you.

For instance, with modern adjustable metal woods, you can dial up just about any configuration on those clubs you can imagine.  You want a draw with your woods?  Just take out the little tool many manufacturers have for metal woods with adjustable settings and start with the most extreme setting for a draw and then as you practice with that club dial back to suit the level of draw you want.  With irons, you don't have quite the same level of adjustment but many manufacturers will draw or neutral or fade biasing models available - if you go to fitting sessions usually found at local courses you can try out these different settings for free and decide upon what you like.

In terms of your swing, there are now options for swing analysis either by machine or by the eye of a local pro.

The one thing that you can be certain of is that any pro will tell you that when you are able to move the ball in one direction (draw or fade) consistently, you will be able to better manage your way around a course because now you have the whole width of a fairway or green to miss (say for a draw you aim down the right of the fairway and you can miss left the whole width of that fairway and still be in play - if you aim down the middle and miss you have only half of the fairway on either side to miss). All very good players have moved the ball in one direction or the other; the great ones have a preferred ball flight but can still, if necessary, bend the ball the other way when needed.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Coronagolfman

[Dave325]

14 minutes ago, 9wood said:

I would say about 90% of the time for me -yes

It really helps when I know what part of the fairway my ball is going to land 90% of the time

 I agree 100%.... It really feels good when you get that straight ball off the tee with a perfect trajectory heading straight down the fairway. It don't get much better than that!  Every once in awhile, you may need to bend one around a tree... It would be nice to have that tool in the box, but that will come some day, maybe.

[vangator]

1 hour ago, 9wood said:

I would say about 90% of the time for me -yes

It really helps when I know what part of the fairway my ball is going to land 90% of the time

Amen.

If you hit it straight 90% and the other 10% doesn't move that much, I wouldn't change a thing.  That's a recipe for good scoring.

1 hour ago, Coronagolfman said:

I agree with those that say that the best shot shape is the one that you can replicate.

Now, if you are saying that you fade your woods and your long irons and you draw your short ones, then go with that scheme as long as it is consistent.  If you are double crossing yourself ten times a round it doesn't sound like those patterns are too consistent so you will have to decide which way you want to go - draw or fade. But remember you have a number of alternatives to try and adjust your ball flight:  swing changes or equipment changes that might allow you to get a more consistent pattern going for you.

I have a theory on this.  I typed it out in another post a little while ago.

For conventional irons, each club is tipped 1/2 longer as the loft decreases.  Typically, the 7 iron is fitted correctly and most hit it the best.  As you progress toward the wedges, the shaft is tipped 1/2 inch shorter making it stiffer.  As you progress toward the long irons, the shaft is tipped 1/2 longer making it more flexible.  Changing a stiff shaft by soft stepping by 2 inches results in a regular flex shaft.

Therefore, for someone like myself that thinks they have all stiff shafts, the shaft flex for the wedges are x-stiff, the mid irons are still and the long irons are regular.  The wedges would be inclined to hook, the mid irons straight, the long irons fade.  That was my shot shape.

That's why I now play Single Length irons.  All my irons have a soft draw.  Confidence has increased 1000%.