25/9/07 - Feel your way for draws and fades

If you are a `feel`player rather than one more technically minded, try these tips in order to create a draw or a fade.

1. For a draw, finish with the club shaft pointing to the left in the followthrough (pic.1). This encourages the hands to release a little quicker and impart some draw spin. Remember to aim a little right to allow for this flight.

pic.1

2. For the fade try the opposite. Finish with the clubshaft pointing to the right in the followthrough (pic.2). This delays the release of the club for a vital fraction of a second and creates some fade spin. Again, remember to adjust your aim, this time to the left.

pic.2

As you look down on the ball from the address position, draw spin is anti-clockwise and fade spin is clockwise.

30/10/06 - How far away from the ball should I stand?

This is a question I get asked a lot, and here is how you can check it:

1. Take your set up position, making sure you have a good posture. Take your right hand off the club and let it hang down naturally. If the hand falls to the inside of where it would be on the grip, you are standing too far away (below). 

If you are standing too close to the ball, the hand will fall too far to the outside like this (below).

When the hand remains in line with where it would be on the grip, you are standing the correct distance from the ball.