Off the tee: Work the ball vs 1 ball flight?

[bcoak]

Need to hit more fairways off the tee. Was wondering peoples thoughts on working the ball to fit the hole or would it be better to find one ball flight and stick with that off each tee (where reasonable)?

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Play whatever you're comfortable with and only work the ball if you are really confident that you can do it.

Most of the time my tee ball is mostly straight with either a slight draw or slight fade. My "go to" tee ball is a pull fade and when i HAVE TO i'll hit a draw off the tee.

 

[bantamben2]

i would say go with one ball flight. I personally try to hit it straight or a slight fade on dogleg left holes or wide fairways where distance is a key i hit a draw only because i tend to hit my draw 20 to 30 Tight holes i always hit the fade though.

 

[bcoak]

into greens

How about aprroach shots into greens? Do you still play one shot or work it? Does it depend upon the length of the shot?

 

[birdie_man]

I'd say if you can almost guarantee that you can move your shots one way or another when u need to then it's a good thing.

Then again tho if you can hit it near straight every time then go nuts. And as far as I know there are quite a few players who basically do that most of the time.

I like to work it lately.

 

[bts]

Hit it straight

You can "work" the shot by hitting it "straight".

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

How about aprroach shots into greens? Do you still play one shot or work it? Does it depend upon the length of the shot?

Depends, if i think i can get it closer to a tucked pin working the ball i will and it also depends on how well i'm striking it that day.

If it's a so-so day, i'm aiming for the middle of every green. If i'm on a birdie streak or playing/striking the ball well i'll work it into tucked pins.

 

[mjstrong]

Well, in order to pull off working the ball off the tee, you've got to be comfortable doing it. I've found that playing a very straight ball flight (if it stays that way) can still be very effective in positioning yourself around a golf course. Instead of fading it around the dogleg, you can take a more aggressive line, but with a straight ball flight. If you miss it a little right with either shot, you're still going to end up in the same place.

Equipment (balls and clubs) are designed to hit the ball with little spin, including sidespin, so the technology is trying to hit it straight, why fight that?

You could always adapt a Bruce Lietzke type philosophy where you only teach your driver how to fade (for example) and if you need to draw it, use your 3 wood.

 

[self-mastery]

The only time I play with moving the ball is when I have a short iron - wedge in my hand. I mostly play a draw.