Drawing it
After work today, I stopped by the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville to hit some balls. The day was cool, sunny, with a slight breeze out of the east. After my euphoria of discovering that my grip was the primary reason I’ve been fading and/or slicing the ball, I was looking forward to starting to hit mostly straight or draw shots.
I started off hitting 9-iron shots onto the green in the center of the range, just behind the water hazard. My first shot was well over the green, as the tee location was just behind the water hazard. After warming up with a few 9-irons, some of them hit fat and into the water, I got out the 10-iron and also hit shots over the green. A full pitching wedge was about right, though, so I hit a few close to the pin or just over it.
Next, I took aim at the green on the left side of the range beside the net, hitting some 7-iron shots short of that green, some into the bunker in front of it. Most of the shots were pushed, with little or no side spin. After adjusting a bit, I hit some shots straight at the flag, but short of the green. I then pulled out the 6-iron and hit more shots, most also with little side spin. Again, more of the shots were pushed, but one or two drew nicely and landed left of the green or into the net. The 5-iron was a bit more difficult, most shots were fading. Next up was the 27-hybrid, which I mostly faded as well.
I got out the Sasquatch 3-metal and aimed at the farthest flag, which I’m guessing was about 180 yds from where I teed up. The first few shots were poor, either hooks or slices, but I soon found my rhythm and hit some nice shots over the flag into the net. My biggest problem today with the 3-metal was hitting sky balls, but they all went more or less straight. I did hit some draws, though, and some pulls, but few fades or slices.
Next up, I got out the mid-irons, and went pin hunting, without my customary aiming stick. First up was the 6-iron. The first shot was pushed, but the next one was right at the pin. Similar story with the 7-iron; the shots were straight or pushed, short of the pin. On the 8-iron, the first shot was pushed badly, but the next two were very well hit. The 9-iron was also right at the pin. With the 10-iron, I hit the first fat into the water, but the next shot was perfect. Finally, the last two balls were hit with the 27-hybrid, the first a fade, the second perfect, right at the pin.
I had some good improvement with my ball striking today, but still need to find just the right grip to make all the balls go straight or with a slight draw.