Command Your Ball Flight: Shot Shaping for Intermediate Golfers

“The clubface tells the ball where to start; your swing path tells it where to curve.”

Understand Ball Flight

Clubface & Path: A square clubface and straight path produce a straight shot. A closed face with an inside‑out path encourages a draw; an open face with an outside‑in path promotes a fade.
Grip Pressure: Maintain light grip pressure to sense the clubhead. Strangling the club restricts wrist hinge and shot control.
Alignment & Aim: Align your body parallel to your target line; adjust your feet and shoulders slightly right for draws or left for fades.

Fades: Aim the clubface at your target, then align your body slightly left. Swing along your body line. The ball starts at the target and curves left to right.
Draws: Aim the clubface at your target, align your body slightly right, and swing along that line. The ball starts at the target and curves right to left.
Half Swings: Practice half‑length swings to exaggerate the feeling of path and face control.

Grip Down: Choke down on the club to shorten the lever and reduce distance for those in‑between yardages.
Tempo: Maintain a smooth tempo; faster swings add spin and height.
Ball Position: Move the ball back in your stance to lower trajectory and forward to launch higher.

Use alignment sticks or clubs on the ground to guide your body lines for fades and draws.
Alternate between fades and draws on the range to build adaptability.
Experiment with ball position and grip length to learn how it affects distance and trajectory.