Learning to Control Ball Flight by Scott Shouldice, CPGA Professional FGCC

Once you are able to consistently hit good shots, the next step to improving your game is learning to control your ball flight. This means hitting fades, draws, or knock down shots. During a round of golf you may find yourself in a situation where you need to either curve the ball or hit it low to avoid hitting trees or other obstacles. Here are some tips to help you get out of these situations.

1) LEARN TO FADE OR SLICE THE BALL
Every golfer has been in a situation where they need to slice the ball. Either you’re behind a tree and need to curve it around, or for better players if the pin is on the far corner of the green it can be easier to hit the shot close by hitting a fade. A fade or slice is when the ball curves from left to right for a right handed golfer, or right to left for a left handed golfer. We use the term fade when the ball curves just slightly, and the term slice when it curves a lot. For example, if my ball is to the right of the fairway and there’s a tree in front of me, I will intentionally slice it around the tree to hopefully get the ball on the green. Sometimes even if I’m in the fairway and the pin is on the far right side of the green, I will hit a fade to start the ball in the middle of the green and let it fade toward the pin. There are a few easy steps to follow when trying to hit a fade:
1) Align your body where you want the ball to start. This means your feet, knees, hips, shoulders should all be lined up to your starting point
2) Point the clubface where you want the ball to finish
3) Take your normal swing, making sure that you swing down the line of your feet
Swinging the club on your body line should cause the ball to start out at your starting point, but with the clubface pointed at your finish target this means that the clubface will be open at impact resulting in a left to right spin on the ball (for right handed golfers) which will cause the ball to slice.
2) HITTING A DRAW OR HOOK
A draw or hook is basically the opposite of a fade or slice. We use the term draw if the ball curves just slightly, and the term hook if it curves a lot. A draw or hook is when the ball curves from right to left for a right handed golfer, or left to right for a left handed golfer. For example, if I’m to the left of the fairway and have a tree in front of me, I will hit a hook around the tree to hopefully get the ball on the green. The tips to hit a draw are going to be the same as hitting a fade except your clubface will be closed instead of open.
1) Align your body where you want the ball to start. This means your feet, knees, hips, shoulders lined up to your starting point
2) Point your clubface where you want the ball to finish
3) Take your normal swing, making sure you swing down the path or your feet
With your body aligned to your starting point, and your clubface pointed to your finish target, this means your clubface will be closed at impact causing the ball to spin and curve from right to left (for a right handed golfer) or left to right for a left handed golfer.

3) LEARN TO CONTROL THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR BALL BY HITTING IT LOW
Learning to hit the ball low is very important especially when playing in the wind. The lower you can hit it, the less the wind will affect your ball and the easier it will be to hit the ball the correct distance. There are many situations you will find yourself in when you need to hit the ball low, whether you are into the wind or behind a tree and need to keep it under the branches. Here are a few easy steps to follow when trying to hit a low ball (or knockdown shot as it’s called):
1) Play the ball further back in your stance than you normally would.
2) Start with your weight a little more on your front foot. Instead of feeling that your weight is 50/50 on your front and back foot, feel like 60% of your weight is on your front foot and 40% on the back foot.
3) Hit down on the ball a little more than normal
Playing the ball back in your stance with the weight forward and hitting down on the ball will cause the clubface to have less loft at impact resulting in a lower ball flight.