Tip of the week
This weeks tip is about shot shaping and in particular how to hit draws and fade when you want to. Having the ability to do this will allow you to hit the ball close to the flag when the pin is a tricky position on the green.
Draw
In order to move the ball from right to left for a right handed player, there are some simple changes that need to be made in your set up. Firstly align your feet and body to the right of the target, this is where you would like the ball to start. In the past it was thought that you should align the clubface where you want the ball to finish ie. the target. However, with the information we now have from Trackman and Flightscope it has been discovered that if you do this then the ball will draw to much and finish left of the intended target. Therefore the clubface needs to be aimed to the right of your intended target but to the left of where your feet and body are aiming. To hit a draw, the path of the club needs to be from in to out. To make this easier to achieve, move the ball very slightly back in your stance. Because the golf club moves in a circle, by moving the ball back, you will hit the ball earlier in that circle when the club is travelling to the right. This in to out swing path along with the clubface that is closed to the path will produce a draw.
Fade
To move the ball from left to right for a right handed player, you have to do the opposite to what I have described above. Align your feet and body to the left of the target, where you want the ball to start. Then align the clubface to the left of your intended target, but to the right of where your feet are aiming. Move the ball position slightly forwards in the stance, this helps an out to in swing path and will result in a ball that starts left of the target and curves to the right.
It is important to take into account your normal shot shape. For example if you always hit a fade, you will find it diffcult to hit a draw and vice versa. It is also important to realise that a draw usually makes the ball go slightly further and a fade goes slightly shorter. It is important to work on these shots on the range before you take them onto the course.
|