Ball Flight Preference on Tour

[rony]

Left to Right or Right to Left

I had always thought that most tour pros predominately hit a draw on most shots. As a matter of fact, hitting a nice draw use to be considered the way an accomplished player hit the ball. Today, it seems that more and more players like to hit a nice cut on their shots. What is the reason for this? Working the ball left to right seems to be very much in vogue on tour now. Is it because it is perceived to be easier to control? :)

[Samsquanch]

I'm pretty sure Tiger usually hits little baby draws with his irons, unless he has to cut it :rolleyes:

 

There are still quite a few who play draws though, I just can't think of two many off hand :)

[slicefixer]

I'm pretty sure Tiger usually hits little baby draws with his irons, unless he has to cut it :rolleyes:

 

There are still quite a few who play draws though, I just can't think of two many off hand :)

 

 

Well, I think the best pattern is a SLIGHT draw with the irons and a SLIGHT "knuckle" fade with the driver........the main thing is the LEFT side of the golf course needs to be DEFEATED...... :cheesy:

[ej002]

I get why you prefer the "knuckle fade", but what is the theory for preferring a draw on iron shots. I would think a fade irons is better. (especially for long irons)

[Ezgolfer]

I thought the fade would hold the green and fairway better than a draw.

[Belman]

Why would the left side of the fairway need to be defeated more than the right?

[Golfme]

For one thing, The Left side is often a better players miss, Thats just a stereotype ^.^

 

I almost figured, a draw was the shot prefered of the tee for most players to get the most distance.

 

Now, Im 99.9% sure that tiger, and most other players hit fades on to the green. Unless the pin is tucked on the left, with water or bunkers left as players rather not get shortsided, and would prefer for it, not to draw as much and just sit on the green.

 

Here's a tip from Camilo from the latest golfmagazine on shot shapes. "On Tour, the hole is rarely cut in the middle of the green, which means I hardly ever aim at the flagstick. If it's right, I'll aim at the center and hit a fade. If it's left, I'll aim at the center and hit a draw. That can conflict with my natural shot shape, but I have some keys to fall back on if I need to work the ball"

 

That should answer atleast something :)

[Sean2]

Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors with a fade. Lee Trevino didn't do too bad either.

[ej002]

I think off the tee, I heard Tiger say most guys are going to fade to keep enough spin on the ball to keep it airborne, due to the new balls. I have noticed in the last few years that most tee shorts that I see (that land in the fairway) just stop.

 

So maybe this is the trend?

[Philfest]

Great topic. I personally like to hit a fade off the tee and a draw with my irons. I've just learned to control the ball and flight patterns best this way....

 

That's just me, not that anyone would care about my ball flight or pattern?

[The Ultimate Spin]

it's because your thinking of Phil Mickelson...remember, his draw is a righties fade!

[hbear]

I'd venture a guess and say most players play a fade for control.

 

Although the point is somewhat moot as tour pros seem to be equally as comfortable moving the ball either direction, and play that shot that is required....not force a shot based on their "normal" flight.

[Body_Visions]

The norm used to be a fade. Now, more seem to be going with the draw.

[birdie_man]

Why a draw for irons G? (slicefixer)

 

I've always thought this would be a good way to go due to the strong trajectory.

 

+ you can just open the face a bit and you have a dinky little fade. (and I can't stand closing the face at address)

[mayes]

The preference on tour is both.

 

Tour greens are incredibly more firm compared to the courses normal conditions.

Typically, short irons are hit with a draw to stay lower and take some spin off. Otherwise it spin back too far.

Long irons are hit with a fade to go high and land soft with more spin. Or they will roll off the back.

 

The conditions that change this usually are: Wind, weather (wetness), slope (up, down, left, right) and pin location.

 

If these factors are not in play, then it is short irons draw, long irons fade.

Woods are shaped according to required shot. Especially the 3 wood.

[slicefixer]

I get why you prefer the "knuckle fade", but what is the theory for preferring a draw on iron shots. I would think a fade irons is better. (especially for long irons)

 

 

Because BOTH are struck from the inside (as a result are very powerful) and with the irons it's easier for the draw to OCCUR as you've got some loft to play with.......and when I say draw I do NOT mean a "Haney draw" that hooks 20 yards........bout' a 2 yard one........same for the knuckle fade only in the opposite direction....... :wub: With BOTH a miss left of any consequence is eliminated from the equation........and i'm by NO means saying a fade bias with all of them is not ideal........just that, in my experience, the BEST ballstrikers basically hit it with very lil' curve of any kind with the irons gently FALLING left and the driver gently falling right when they are swinging their BEST.......when they aren't they just hit a shot that won't, under any circumstance go left to any great degree and will fade if it's missed, with some it will just fade a bit MORE :yess:........same swing with slightly different curvatures.........and I DO mean SLIGHTLY........:yes:

[cdesana]

Greg Norman once said, the best combination to hit it far was to have a draw swing with a fade set up. That combo helped produce a very low spin high launching ball.

 

And in many interviews with Trevino, he has commented many times on this subject. Todays VERY long ball hitters hit a fade because they prefer less roll when it hits the ground. They want it to stay where it lands.

 

He also said the reason he and Jack played a fade back in the day when most players played a draw to get more distance was simply you could talk to a fade, but you had to yell at a hook.

 

In other words the misses were better with a fade than a hook.

[wirelessness]

I can't find the quote but someone somewhere sometime said something like 'a hooker will never with the open'. That being said I think more players are hitting predominantly right to left. Obviously you need to be able to work the ball to the right on demand. Zach Johnson is a good example of a right to left player winning a Major recently...imo

[slicefixer]

I can't find the quote but someone somewhere sometime said something like 'a hooker will never with the open'. That being said I think more players are hitting predominantly right to left. Obviously you need to be able to work the ball to the right on demand. Zach Johnson is a good example of a right to left player winning a Major recently...imo

 

 

NOT true with the driver.......trust me....... :wub:

[cdesana]

The Masters and Augusta National favors a right handed player hitting a draw, that is why Phil has done better with his fade driver.

 

Especially the par 5's!

[Swingtheclub]

First I agree a lot with what Slice is saying. Most good players hit irons pretty straight some work it a bit more one way or another with the longer clubs woods and even long irons or hybrids.

 

I would be very curious as to how many of todays tour pros can actually work the ball. I know Tiger does .

 

 

I am not talking a big hook or a big slice I am talking hitting the shape shot that is required versus their natural shot.

 

I believe it would be less than most people think. Another point is todays golf ball does not curve as much as balls a few years back.

 

Very interesting thread.

[GOLF FTW]

while watching the PODS yesterday, i noticed that a lot of guys (not just calc) were hitting a lot of fades.