By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Korea Times Golf Columnist
A good way to get your game to the next level by producing a different shot shape is to approach the ball from behind in a different manner.
To hit a draw, walk to the ball from behind and slightly from the left to the right of the target. That makes your body point right of the target, which is a must for a draw.
Before approaching the ball from behind and left of the target, you need to visualize the ball starting down the right side of the fairway and turning back toward the middle of the fairway.
Similarly, for a fade, you need to walk to the ball from right to left, picturing the ball starting down the left side of the fairway and curving back toward the middle of the fairway. That way your body will be aligned open or left of the target, which is necessary to hit a fade.
Also crucial to getting your ballstriking ability to the next level is to grip lightly. Tight muscles are slow muscles that rid you of your swing speed and feel. All great home run hitters hold the bat lighter to increase their bat speed; the same principle applies to golf.
A light grip pressure gets your arms to be relaxed throughout the swing, enabling you to release the club freely and with full extension. A light grip facilitates hitting the ball farther and straighter with less effort.
Most importantly, a light grip pressure promotes rhythm, a wide swing arc, a stable lower body and a steady head.
Finally, not only to swing the clubhead naturally, but also to release it fully without worrying about hooking, it's essential to address the ball with its face open.
You set the club so the face is behind the ball. Therefore, it's natural that the clubface needs to be slightly open to the target line at address.
Squaring it at that point and failing to manipulate it during the swing, you will produce a hook, as it would be slightly closed when the club returns to impact. The clubface should work like a door: open on the backswing, square at impact and closed just after impact.
So, to swing freely for power and distance without fear of hook, be sure that you set the clubface slightly open, neither square nor closed, to the target at address.
That also helps you develop better feel for how the clubface needs to be aligned throughout the swing, particularly just before and at the moment of truth.
Incidentally, to hit the ball better you need to start your downswing by swinging down the club below your shoulders. That is also a simple way to cure your slice.
Allowing your hands to get above or out in front of your shoulders at the early stage of the downswing causes you to come over the top of the ball, resulting in a big slice in case the clubface is open at impact.
Make it certain that the clubshaft is below your shoulders, not out in front or above them at the early stage of the downswing. That means you are swinging from the inside, not over the top.
That also allows your hands to be inside of where they were at address during the initial stage of the downswing, also meaning a perfect swing path that is from inside to out.
An inside-to-out swing path through the ball is critical to curing the slice problem, too. Anytime you fail to swing down the club underneath your shoulders, you will produce a pull to the left or a pull-slice.