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Posted by
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Do you work the ball both ways?
Posted by Big L on 8/15/22 at 12:36 pm00
I’ve pretty much been a “hit it straight” guy my entire life but remember reading something a while back that really made sense. Essentially it was a player talking about how your percentages are better if you play a shot shape.. I think a simple way of looking at it was if you have a green that’s 30 yards wide and you aim for the middle with a straight shot, you only have a 15 yard margin for error becaus you coukd hit it offline in either direction. If you know you will hit a certain shape, you can increase your margin of error by eliminating a miss on one side. I remember Tiger once saying this is the reason he didn’t like straight putts because you only have a half hole of error vs a putt with an invisible break means you have the entire hole to work with.
So this year I have been working on shaping shots in both directions with both my tee shot and my irons. I still play my short irons and wedges pretty much straight or with a draw tendency which is my normal shot shape. This has also allowed me to focus more on where the trouble is on a given shot and play away from it. I still struggle to hit a fade reliably and occasionally get the dreaded double cross where my tee shot starts left and draws/hooks, but my iron game has never been better and I’m probably making more pars as a result. I definitely am avoiding the short side miss (missing green on same side as flag so chip/pitch) more which has reduced the number of bogeys made from green side. All told my handicap (2.1) is as low as it’s been in a long time..and it’s fun to try new stuff and adds a part of the gane I hadn’t really paid attention to before.
I’m curious as to whether others play the ball both directions vs how many play a consistent shot shape regardless of situation.
So this year I have been working on shaping shots in both directions with both my tee shot and my irons. I still play my short irons and wedges pretty much straight or with a draw tendency which is my normal shot shape. This has also allowed me to focus more on where the trouble is on a given shot and play away from it. I still struggle to hit a fade reliably and occasionally get the dreaded double cross where my tee shot starts left and draws/hooks, but my iron game has never been better and I’m probably making more pars as a result. I definitely am avoiding the short side miss (missing green on same side as flag so chip/pitch) more which has reduced the number of bogeys made from green side. All told my handicap (2.1) is as low as it’s been in a long time..and it’s fun to try new stuff and adds a part of the gane I hadn’t really paid attention to before.
I’m curious as to whether others play the ball both directions vs how many play a consistent shot shape regardless of situation.
Yeah it has taken a bit to learn how to hit it, but I can now fairly reliably hit a fade by focusing on being a bit steeper in my swing and holding that left wrist firm through impact. I think the steeper swing makes it easier to have an outside in swing path.
DestrehanTiger
New Orleans Saints Fan
Houston, TX by way of Louisiana
Member since Nov 2005
12448 posts
New Orleans Saints Fan
Houston, TX by way of Louisiana
Member since Nov 2005
12448 posts
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by DestrehanTiger on 8/15/22 at 1:18 pm to Big L
quote:
I’m curious as to whether others play the ball both directions vs how many play a consistent shot shape regardless of situation.
A lot of the advice that I have seen is that trying to move the ball both ways is not the best idea for pros, let alone shitty amateurs. It's difficult enough playing golf well with one shot shape. Trying to use two different swings can just lead to swing breakdowns.
If someone does work it both ways as an amateur, more power to you, but it's not the best idea for the masses.
This post was edited on 8/15 at 3:28 pm
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by WilsonPickett on 8/15/22 at 1:35 pm to Big L
I’ve always been a straight sometime fade guy. The last few yrs it’s becoming a fade/draw. I want a reliable straight to fade. It’s more consistent and the ball sits down on the green better.
I guess as I’ve gotten older my body want to do less and let’s my hands get through the swing more causing it?
I guess as I’ve gotten older my body want to do less and let’s my hands get through the swing more causing it?
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by TaderSalad on 8/15/22 at 1:39 pm to Big L
Yep… banana slice right followed by duck hook left.
Anyone can hit it good from the short stuff… takes talent to do so from the shite
Anyone can hit it good from the short stuff… takes talent to do so from the shite
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re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by The Johnny Lawrence on 8/15/22 at 1:57 pm to Big L
I try and hit it straight everywhere. I can hit a hook or a big cut if I need to, but I struggle moving the ball left or right in 5 yard increments.
I tried a couple of years ago to start working the ball, but it took way too much time and effort to get it dialed in. With how little I play, it just doesn't make sense.
If you gave me unlimited practice timr and lessons, I'm confident moving the ball both ways would ultimately produce better scores. But for my situation, it made things worse.
I tried a couple of years ago to start working the ball, but it took way too much time and effort to get it dialed in. With how little I play, it just doesn't make sense.
If you gave me unlimited practice timr and lessons, I'm confident moving the ball both ways would ultimately produce better scores. But for my situation, it made things worse.
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by Eye dentist on 8/15/22 at 2:11 pm to Big L
I’m not consistent enough to try to change my swing mechanics throughout the round. So if I need a draw or fade, I just close or open the club face and make the same swing. It gets limited results. I can draw my irons and fade the driver, but the opposite attempts don’t work as well.
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by sBrodie on 8/15/22 at 2:30 pm to Eye dentist
I can work it both ways most of the time, however, I loose at least one club distance compared to a straight hit, so I only do it when the situation dictates.
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by Tyga Woods on 8/15/22 at 2:44 pm to Big L
MHD can go both ways
This post was edited on 8/15 at 2:46 pm
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by Mingo Was His NameO on 8/15/22 at 2:48 pm to Tyga Woods
quote:
MHD can go both ways
ISWYDT
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by Navajo61490 on 8/15/22 at 3:02 pm to Big L
The only time I “work” the ball is hole 14 at BC. I just grab the 5 or 3 wood, open the stance, and try to come over the top as much as I can to get it near the wetlands
This post was edited on 8/15 at 3:03 pm
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by RedHawk on 8/15/22 at 3:11 pm to Navajo61490
Do you work the ball both ways?
Sure, but not on purpose.
Sure, but not on purpose.
re: Do you work the ball both ways?Posted by Dawgsontop34 on 8/15/22 at 4:33 pm to Big L
I think being able to play the straight ball is best from the fairway or tee. The biggest advantage I think you have in being able to shape the ball both ways is when you’re out of position.
If I’m behind a tree, but can’t shape the ball the desired way, it makes it so much more difficult to put yourself in a good position to make par. It can cause you try and go for an unnecessary hero shot, but if you have discipline in it, I think there’s a lot of advantage to shaping the ball both directions.
If I’m behind a tree, but can’t shape the ball the desired way, it makes it so much more difficult to put yourself in a good position to make par. It can cause you try and go for an unnecessary hero shot, but if you have discipline in it, I think there’s a lot of advantage to shaping the ball both directions.
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