Fading ball over a short distance

[Moxley]

We've all been in situations where the ball goes into the trees, the next shot is blocked, and due to the typical width of the fairway, the only viable options are to play our sideways, or risk punching through the trees which often ends in misery. 

However, at the weekend, I faced a slightly different scenario and unfortunately had a complete brain freeze. I sliced my tee shot so that my next shot was blocked by the driving range fences. I was a good 30 yards from the fairway. Over the other side of the fairway were a solid line of trees and OOB. Taking into  account I could play slightly forwards, I worked out there was 100 yards on GPS to the left side trees. 

I wanted to make more forward progress though, so wanted to fade it a little. This is when I had a brain freeze - the only clubs I could play even close to a full shot with would be wedges, and i know these are difficult to move in the air due to the backspin. So I instead opted for a tap it softly with a 6 iron, a stupid shot, which went arrow straight into the trees. I believe the soft hit removed my change of getting enough sidespin. 

So, my question is, is there any way to curve the ball over short distances, say 50-100 yards, or is it basically not achievable?

[saevel25]

2 hours ago, Moxley said:

So, my question is, is there any way to curve the ball over short distances, say 50-100 yards, or is it basically not achievable?

Are you trying to hit the ball high? If not, then it's not hard to hit a very low cut. Just take a 6 iron and hit a punchy cut shot. This way you are showing less loft at impact, which makes it easier to curve the ball.

[Vinsk]

3 hours ago, Moxley said:

We've all been in situations where the ball goes into the trees, the next shot is blocked, and due to the typical width of the fairway, the only viable options are to play our sideways, or risk punching through the trees which often ends in misery. 

However, at the weekend, I faced a slightly different scenario and unfortunately had a complete brain freeze. I sliced my tee shot so that my next shot was blocked by the driving range fences. I was a good 30 yards from the fairway. Over the other side of the fairway were a solid line of trees and OOB. Taking into  account I could play slightly forwards, I worked out there was 100 yards on GPS to the left side trees. 

I wanted to make more forward progress though, so wanted to fade it a little. This is when I had a brain freeze - the only clubs I could play even close to a full shot with would be wedges, and i know these are difficult to move in the air due to the backspin. So I instead opted for a tap it softly with a 6 iron, a stupid shot, which went arrow straight into the trees. I believe the soft hit removed my change of getting enough sidespin. 

So, my question is, is there any way to curve the ball over short distances, say 50-100 yards, or is it basically not achievable?

Bubba does it. I know, not helpful.  But I many times will take quite a cut swing and manage to put some very respectable curves with  gap wedge/wedge. 

[JonMA1]

3 hours ago, Moxley said:

So, my question is, is there any way to curve the ball over short distances, say 50-100 yards, or is it basically not achievable?

I have hit high wedge shots that drew or faded slightly (unintentionally), so it's achievable. But as @saevel25 suggested, why not work on the low punch shot? Sounds like you tried that with the 6i but hit it straight by mistake? 

I'm a higher capper than you and I've developed a bit of control with this shot - but I do have to work on it. The left to right curve is easier for me than a right to left. My objective is rarely to make it on the green, but to improve the proximity. Sure, sometimes the ball doesn't curve or I hit too hard and it can be costly - just as with any shot. But it's usually successful because I end up closer than simply punching out sideways.

I think you'll find it's an easy shot to become confident with @Moxley if you make it a regular part of your practice. Use the ball flight laws to develop it. 

Good luck.

[Grinde6]

From reading this, the amount of forward progress you were trying to make would probably save you a club to half a club at most if I am reading it correctly.  To me, that's not enough to make me want to risk not catching the ball correctly and it going OOB and I have to play the same shot again, only this time without trying to curve it.  I usually take a 7 iron, put it back in my stance a bit and make a really exaggerated slice swing at it...since I don't want it to go too far I don't swing too hard, but enough to get it out and put a little curve on it.  Again, I don't know the exact amount of yards the slice would have saved you, but if its not at least 2 clubs I would have just punched straight out and taken my medicine.

[Moxley]

Thanks for the responses , @saevel25 no I wasn't trying to hit the ball high, and I like the suggested idea of presenting less loft.  It sounds like it was my execution that was awry rather than the club selection, so that's fine, I'll just work on it in the practice area, as you suggest @JonMA1  . 

@Grinde6 , you are absolutely spot on here. I was hoping to get a probably 5 iron shot down to a soft 6 or 7. It was a poor play mentally -  I agree that I should have not brought OOB into play.
 

[saevel25]

If I want to hit a low cut, I play the ball forward. Get my weight forward a lot. Hit down and in on the ball.

[Groucho Valentine]

4 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Are you trying to hit the ball high? If not, then it's not hard to hit a very low cut. Just take a 6 iron and hit a punchy cut shot. This way you are showing less loft at impact, which makes it easier to curve the ball.

Yeah, this was going to me my suggestion. Hitting high fades or draws with wedges isnt very easy. Particularly out of the rough. 

[joezep23]

When up against overhead objects (bridge, branches of a tree, etc.) or having to play into the wind, the shot of choice would be the Punch shot, or knock back as it is otherwise known. This shot is able to avoid such obstacles because is sends the ball through the air in a low trajectory (closer to the ground then other shots).

 

 

Edited June 19, 2018 by joezep23

[David in FL]

It sounds weird, but try your putter. You can make a ball bend a lot and easily run 60 yards or more.  It makes for a very useful recovery shot at times...

[RayG]

For most, the shorter fade or draw HIGH shot is nearly impossible. I said "most". It is a lot easier to bend a low runner any day of the week. Align you feet left, open the face of a 3 iron towards the target and swing along the feet alignment without turning over the club. Mirror that for a hooking runner. A few swings at a range can give an idea of whats involved. 

DON'T attempt the 200 yard glory shot to be a hero. that will almost always end in disaster. Use it to get back into play and possibly save 3 or 4 strokes.