Tip From the Archives

Direction Control

Problem

You need to learn how to control the direction of the ball flight.

Cure

Try to understand how your aim, swing path, clubface position at impact affects the ball flight. When the clubhead is moving along the target line but the clubface is open, the ball will start to fly straight but then curve to the right, a slice for a right hander. When the clubhead is moving along the target line but the clubface is closed, the ball will start to fly straight and then curve to the left, a hook for a right hander. When the clubhead travels outside of the target line to inside and your clubface is square to that path, your shot will fly straight to the left of your target, that is, in the same direction the clubhead is traveling. If your path is left of your target and your clubface is either open or closed to that path at impact, the ball will start left and then curve either right or left. When the path is from the outside to inside your target line, to the right of your target, the ball will go straight right or start right and then curve either right or left depending on your face position.

Therapy

Draw a line on the golf ball with a dry erase maker to help you visualize your aim. Practice swinging along the target line with the clubface open, square, and then closed to see the difference in the ball flight. Once you have a good feel for how the ball will fly with the clubface aimed different, experiment by combining them with an inside and outside swing to see the difference.

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10 votes

 
john | 4 years ago, mid-May

I don't know who you folks are, but you have great information for the typical weekend golfer. Thanks

Andy | 4 years ago, mid-May

you people are great i am really lowering my scores thanks alot

Mike | 4 years ago, at the end of May

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THE BALL SHOULD BE SHOULD BE POSITIONED WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DRAW IT FROM THE TEE BOX / FAIRWAY... WITH AN IRON / WOOD... ALSO TO FADE THE BALL, EVERYTHING I READ IS ABOUT ALIGNMENT AND SWING PATH NOTHING ABOUT BALL POSITION... THANK'S

Janice | 4 years ago, at the end of May

It is in the same place in your stance that you would normally have it for the particular club.

Ron Daniels | 4 years ago, at the start of June

Ball position in a draw. A draw starts right and fades left if you swing right handed. If you swing left handed it starts left and fades right. Fortunately the ball doesn't know the sky is blue or the grass is green so it doesn't matter is you're right handed or left handed. All you have to remember is to make it start in one direction and give it spin that will make it fade in the opposite direction. How? 1. Rotate both hands to a stronger position....the width of your thumb. 2. Move the ball further back in your stance. (1 ball width). 3. Rotate the shoulders back 15 degrees. (Start by pointing your shoulder at the target and turn it back until the back side of your shoulder is pointed at the target). It's not much of a turn. Don't over do it. 4. Set your feet on the line you want the ball to start on. (15 degrees in the opposite direction). 5. Swing down the line of your feet. 6. Smile and watch the little ball draw. The amount of draw is determined by grip position, shoulder turn in the setup, and foot alignment. It draws because of the setup and the fact that the ball is back in the stance. The swing imparts a draw spin to the ball.



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