The Neutral Stance & Squaring Up Your Alignment

However, let us continue with thinking and shot selections. It's called course management, and since golf is mostly mental, a good strategy is important in your battle against the course at hand. That's all it comes down to You versus the Course. If you can play the course better than your opponant you WIN ! ! ! So forget the mindset of playing someone, think more about how the course is layed out, pin positions, weather conditions, etc. etc. Look for it's weaknesses and it's strengthes. Learn to adapt to the course for each shot that presents itself. Increasing your shot-making arsenal increases your ability to adapt better to individual situations.

The Straight path to success. Yes I typically aim and hit a straight ball. I am told that a draw travels furhter than a straight ball, but I am 99% of the time out driving these draw hitters, with my straight ball. I typically hit them high and long (300 Plus).

Now into the wind I have learned to humble myself and submit to using the draw. I adapt to conditions. I play the Fade and Draw shots when the course dictates: doglegs, obstacles, water, wind conditions, course layout situations.
Look at the diagram to the left, pretend the target is now way past the tree line. In this condition the trees are a potential threat. Even though my end target is close to the trees, my 1st shot target needs to be away from the trees. Being right handed, I can do several things here:

Aim just right of the trees and hit a FADE.
Aim more right(at the 2nd Pine tree) - down the middle and play a straight shot.
Aim way right(between the Maple and the cloud) and play a DRAW.

So which shot is best? The shot you feel most comfortable making is best. Remember golf is 90% mental. An instructor might preach "Only hit the Fade shot here!" Is he right??? Not if you cant hit a FADE to save your life, he's not. The correct choice when all 3 are plausible, is once again the one you feel the most confident hitting. Since I usually hit the straight shot, I would probably choose the second option. There are other factors too, maybe you are a slicer by nature, and cant hit a draw at all, well you have no choice but play your shot.

(Dont worry Mr. Slicer or Capt. Hook this website can cure you of this ailment)

Open Stance & Setting Up for the Fade Shot

A Fade shot is a controlled curved shot that starts inside the target line (to the left for a Right Handed golfer) and curves back towards the target. Typically you lose about 10 to 15% of your distance, due to a softer landing with less roll and also increased ball height(AKA tradjectory) at times. Being right-handed, I sometimes use the FADE when there is trouble on the left (trap, water, trees) I aim left of the target yet safely enough to the right of the trouble and play a Fade away from it. If my Fade stays straight I am still safe, and if it Fades properly I hit my target. This effectively gives you a strategy to block out trouble. I also use a fade to bend shots around obstacles (trees / doglegs), when there isnt a direct path to my target.

Closed Stance & Setting Up for the Draw Shot

A Draw shot is a controlled curved shot that starts outside the target line(to the left for a Left Handed golfer) and curves back towards the target. Typically you gain about 10 to 15% more distance, due to a harder landing with more roll and also decreased ball height(AKA tradjectory) at times. Being right-handed, I sometimes use the DRAW when there is trouble on the right (trap, water, trees) I aim right of the target yet safely enough to the left of the trouble and play a DRAW away from it. If my Draw stays straight I am still safe, and if it Draws properly I hit my target. This effectively gives you a strategy to block out trouble. I also use a draw to bend shots around obstacles (trees / doglegs), when there isnt a direct path to my target . Another use is when playing into the wind and in windy situations. The draw tends to stay lower and is afffected less by the wind.

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