As Marcus points out (and Padraig Harrington has too on his channel), a great practice session is to hit a big draw with one ball and then a big fade the next. Then try to make progressively smaller draws and fades. You'll start to get a real feel for the clubface and path. You'll then be more likely to hit relatively straight shots for your default pattern.
So, I’ve been watching this channel for a couple of weeks and it strikes me the reason why I get so stuck in here is because this seems a perfect blend of art and science. It’s helping me to not be so technical when I’m practicing and playing and do be more experimental and experiential. Cheers!
Hole 4 at the club that I am a member of has a fairway that slopes radically right to left into the lateral water. Always tried to hit the right side (trees and houses on that side) and hope that it doesn't roll into the water. In winter it almost always does. Yesterday I started it on the left side and cut it into the hill. It stopped right in the middle of the fairway
Great explanation. Had a query re the club type. Does the path need to swing further to the left or right of the club face the higher the club used? I.e if you’re using a low iron the path to face variance would reduce. I find with the lower irons the margin for error reduces. It doesn’t take much for a fade to become a slice and vice versa.
Thank you for this video marcus. I tried on the range yesterday i had success with draw but cant do the fade will try again next time. The only problem occur is when the ball land it will keep going to the left when i hit draw.
Proper light bulb moment with the figure of 8 and great feedback with my irons straight away. Still struggling to get draw and fade results with my driver though so a 5 minute video of you doing this with a driver would be amazing. Cheers
You are brilliant . I just finished 18 Holes in Arklow a links course in Ireland. Could not tell you what the rough was like because i was never in it thanks to you teaching me to shape shot .
a few months ago i could hit draws at will,now i can only so spectacular 200yd low punch hooks out of trees and when i try to fade i can get a slight fade with short irons and just the TW finish and no fade with woods! I was told it should be easier to draw short irons and easier to fade longer clubs.Anyway hope this video sorts me out.
You went through every scenario of what you were doing wrong Marcus, alignment, stance, swing path, ball path break, and missed the most obvious fault. 🤔 ITS THE PUTTERS FAULT, 😲🙈 i have bought loads because of that, 😂😂😂 Scotty Cameron would go bust without me.😂😂😂. On a serious note this came at a good time for me and reminded me of some of the stuff we covered in my lesson (over a year ago), now playing the best golf i have played for a long long time,and finally enjoying the golf, now starting to experiment with that fade thing😝😱😱, (give me a high draw, every day of the week)😂😂 Keep up the great work. it certainly all works and this tip is great way for getting the feel for the hands/arm path.
Great stuff, watching Zen has transformed my iron play but one thing I am struggling with is controlling the shot shape and flight of driver. I find a plenty of fairways and generally hit the ball reasonably well not to sure about the draw swing with driver or woods. I get inconsistent results my bad shot is a snap hook or a push right. Can you explain the differences between irons and woods I think I am still a bit to focused on a straight down the middle alignment.
Feel like you are standing on a clock face you are on 6 o'clock the ball is the center of the o'clock the target is 9 o'clock. Swing out toward 10 o'clock (right-hand golfer) without moving your lower body. That is the direction you have to swing. After you get the feel for that use your lower body and the Zen techniques to direct the 10 o'clock swing towards the target. This thought helps me separate the movents of the swing hope that helps.
This presentation is all #money ... The only thing I would add is that your swing feelings also subconsciously promote swinging the shaft in addition to the club face which is a good thing ... You have a keen or subtle sense of humor ("hhmmm ... why didnt it go in" or "your P4 position") ... If I had the connections I would try to get you on "Saturday Night Live" in the USA ... We appreciate your efforts 100%
It can appear counter intuitive but by definition we need to move more into draw space to control our fade (and vice versa). So learning how to play both shots will actually improve both shapes! So I'd always recommend how to hit both, for sure.
How do I stop early extending?? My swing is pretty good I just early extend because I am trying to gain club head speed I assume. I'm getting tired of the random super fat shots lol
We need extension in the golf swing for speed and earlier with the driver than the irons, so possibly feel as though you're pushing "up" from the ground slightly later with the irons 👊
I have recently been experiencing pain in my left wrist (feels like a tendon as i can wobble it) which i feel more when im slicing the driver. Its resulted in me nearly letting go of the club at times through not wanting to feel the pain at impact... any advice from anyone would be helpful. Im newish to the game (3 years ish) so it cant be wear and tear or over use surely? Im thinking more technique change as i have put weight on over lockdowns 1 2 and 3!!!! HELP
Anything you can do for rehab in respect to physio or possibly look out for some exercises online! I'd be best in not prescribing anything from afar on this one. I'm sure it'll come back stronger!
I am a confirmed watcher of your videos but when I see you hit shots as on this video, I don’t see you drop with your lead knee first (squashing the tennis ball) and then swing as you mention in one of your other videos but rather the swing and the movement toward the target seems to my eyes to be moving at the same time, so I am a bit confused. Is the lead knee drop supposed to be more subtle and thereby not as easy to distinguish? Cheers
I finally got this on the course a couple of weeks ago . I was setting up for a draw and kept hitting the ball straight right. I then remembered from my lesson last December about the face matching the path. A slight adjustment to my face low and behold draws. I was playing on my own so started hitting two balls one draw and one fade. a definite light bulb moment for me. Looking forward to Saturday Marcus hopefully we can work on some short game.
@@GRFGolf Thanks to you Marcus. I really enjoyed it. Have already watched the video back thanks to you and your team for getting back so quick. Also goes without saying if you want to use any of the footage that's fine by me.
@@soldsold1 no for me my face and path were aligned so the ball was starting straight right , where i was swinging, swing path. My club face was matched up to the path so i was hitting straight right. I just adjusted the face a bit to the left of the path which started to bring the ball back with a draw. I didn't even think about closed or shut just felt it and reacted to the intention of the shot.
Wouldn´t agree on the straight Putt - curve Putt comparison: on the straight Putt there is less margin for error on direction, but more for speed, on the curve but the opposite as a different angle usually needs more exact speed (related to that special angle) to finish in the hole.... or how do you see it? Happy to learn!
@@GRFGolf Will do. Having played and taught T'ai Chi for over forty years there's loads of understanding. Zen mind keeps me questioning/observing/experience ever more subtler slices of "now." The thing that I've always enjoyed about playing golf is the fact that the ball flight never lies, always reflects that pristine moment of now, impact, which informs execution.
G'day Marcus, I did the figure 8 drill today. I have always opened or closed the club face to fade or draw a ball with mixed results. What a revelation it is to swing the club for a draw or fade. Definitely going to have some fun on the course trialling this.. Awesome tip. Much appreciated. ⛳💚💛
BOOM, thats Mr Barlows catch cry, he definitely needs a Zen experience, not sure if that armour plated cranium of his is easy to get through to. (lol) He is a very funny man. Thanks for the Video, great advice.
Problem I find, is I can feel the club path change when I stand square, soon as I move my body around to facilitate the shot I will just end up hitting straight right for draw or straight left for fade🤔
There's no right or wrong, Sean, whatever helps to facilitate your desired shot my good man. The answer I suppose would be having the ability to adapt to both. Also to play a fade from a "closed" stance, then a draw from an "open" stance (in golfing terms) is a great exercise for adaptation.
Hi Marcus. I love your channel and philosophy. However I have to disagree on your statement that the clubface determines the start direction of the ball flight. Your swing direction(path) determines the starting direction of the ball. Your clubface determines the curvature of the ball and where it will end up. Regards Roelof. South Africa.
Thanks for your support and comment. Here's a link about new and old ball flight laws. Depends which club is being hit, woods or irons plus there's gear effect on off centre strikes. theleftrough.com/new-ball-flight-laws/ 👍
As Marcus points out (and Padraig Harrington has too on his channel), a great practice session is to hit a big draw with one ball and then a big fade the next. Then try to make progressively smaller draws and fades. You'll start to get a real feel for the clubface and path. You'll then be more likely to hit relatively straight shots for your default pattern.
So, I’ve been watching this channel for a couple of weeks and it strikes me the reason why I get so stuck in here is because this seems a perfect blend of art and science. It’s helping me to not be so technical when I’m practicing and playing and do be more experimental and experiential. Cheers!
Hole 4 at the club that I am a member of has a fairway that slopes radically right to left into the lateral water. Always tried to hit the right side (trees and houses on that side) and hope that it doesn't roll into the water. In winter it almost always does. Yesterday I started it on the left side and cut it into the hill. It stopped right in the middle of the fairway
You communicate your idea's very well Marcus.
Thanks, Kevin!
Really great sensory "Feel" lesson! When I was a young man I would actually HOLD my finish until the ball landed.
Learnt something new from this video. Thanks Marcus.
could listen and watch these all day. An education for sure.
Generous words, thank you!
Great explanation. Had a query re the club type. Does the path need to swing further to the left or right of the club face the higher the club used? I.e if you’re using a low iron the path to face variance would reduce. I find with the lower irons the margin for error reduces. It doesn’t take much for a fade to become a slice and vice versa.
Thank you for this video marcus. I tried on the range yesterday i had success with draw but cant do the fade will try again next time. The only problem occur is when the ball land it will keep going to the left when i hit draw.
Keep at it, swing slower to begin with and let your nervous system get used to seeing the fade
What an outstanding video!!! Probably the BEST explanation of this EVER!
Why thank you kindly!
It won't be too long before the snow starts to fall where I live. These look like great winter, garage drills to practice! Thanks.
The garage can become the ultimate practise ground 💯
Thank you so much Marcus!! Great informational video.
Glad it was helpful! You are very welcome :)
Marcus did you reverse the figure 8 loop for the fade release?
Marcus this is invaluable! So many of us try to hit straight when we should be working on curvature! Thank you!
No probs, Sean. Remember if you can play curve then you can also play "straight"
Great vid , just what I needed to see 👍
Answer Harry Vardon thanks…..amazing how he’s still fixing golf swings hats off too you as not many pros back this
What a legend 🙌
Proper light bulb moment with the figure of 8 and great feedback with my irons straight away. Still struggling to get draw and fade results with my driver though so a 5 minute video of you doing this with a driver would be amazing. Cheers
Stay tuned for tomorrow... 👀
looking at Zen training system, where can i get one. Struggling to get it sorted. Been watching for a while. Gary
You are brilliant . I just finished 18 Holes in Arklow a links course in Ireland. Could not tell you what the rough was like because i was never in it thanks to you teaching me to shape shot .
Unreal, Bob! Well done 👏
One for Mondays range session, cheers Marcus 👍
Enjoy, Paul
a few months ago i could hit draws at will,now i can only so spectacular 200yd low punch hooks out of trees and when i try to fade i can get a slight fade with short irons and just the TW finish and no fade with woods! I was told it should be easier to draw short irons and easier to fade longer clubs.Anyway hope this video sorts me out.
Hope it helps, Graham!
Excellent as always. Thanks
Thanks, Chad
@@GRFGolf absolutely. you, and your team, are doing incredible work. vastly underrated and undiscovered. it's the best out there, in my opinion.
Excellent explanation!
Cheers, Neil
You went through every scenario of what you were doing wrong Marcus, alignment, stance, swing path, ball path break, and missed the most obvious fault. 🤔 ITS THE PUTTERS FAULT, 😲🙈 i have bought loads because of that, 😂😂😂 Scotty Cameron would go bust without me.😂😂😂.
On a serious note this came at a good time for me and reminded me of some of the stuff we covered in my lesson (over a year ago), now playing the best golf i have played for a long long time,and finally enjoying the golf, now starting to experiment with that fade thing😝😱😱, (give me a high draw, every day of the week)😂😂 Keep up the great work. it certainly all works and this tip is great way for getting the feel for the hands/arm path.
Pleased to hear and correct, I forgot to blame my equipment 😂😩
As always you teach and produce pure gold…good on yer Marcus!
Thanks Peter!
EPIC VIDEO THANKS, Mike in Nova Scotia. ( new subscriber)
Epic comment! 😂 thank you!
Great stuff, watching Zen has transformed my iron play but one thing I am struggling with is controlling the shot shape and flight of driver. I find a plenty of fairways and generally hit the ball reasonably well not to sure about the draw swing with driver or woods. I get inconsistent results my bad shot is a snap hook or a push right. Can you explain the differences between irons and woods I think I am still a bit to focused on a straight down the middle alignment.
Video coming out tomorrow on this, Paul!
Feel like you are standing on a clock face you are on 6 o'clock the ball is the center of the o'clock the target is 9 o'clock. Swing out toward 10 o'clock (right-hand golfer) without moving your lower body. That is the direction you have to swing. After you get the feel for that use your lower body and the Zen techniques to direct the 10 o'clock swing towards the target. This thought helps me separate the movents of the swing hope that helps.
This presentation is all #money ... The only thing I would add is that your swing feelings also subconsciously promote swinging the shaft in addition to the club face which is a good thing ... You have a keen or subtle sense of humor ("hhmmm ... why didnt it go in" or "your P4 position") ... If I had the connections I would try to get you on "Saturday Night Live" in the USA ... We appreciate your efforts 100%
😂😂😂 thank you, I'm sure there are plenty of Saturday Night Live's viewers who need to work on their curvature
why does on site (in my case the fade) feel much more comfortable? Should i stick to i or try to learn both curvages?
It can appear counter intuitive but by definition we need to move more into draw space to control our fade (and vice versa). So learning how to play both shots will actually improve both shapes! So I'd always recommend how to hit both, for sure.
How do I stop early extending?? My swing is pretty good I just early extend because I am trying to gain club head speed I assume. I'm getting tired of the random super fat shots lol
We need extension in the golf swing for speed and earlier with the driver than the irons, so possibly feel as though you're pushing "up" from the ground slightly later with the irons 👊
I have recently been experiencing pain in my left wrist (feels like a tendon as i can wobble it) which i feel more when im slicing the driver. Its resulted in me nearly letting go of the club at times through not wanting to feel the pain at impact... any advice from anyone would be helpful. Im newish to the game (3 years ish) so it cant be wear and tear or over use surely? Im thinking more technique change as i have put weight on over lockdowns 1 2 and 3!!!! HELP
Anything you can do for rehab in respect to physio or possibly look out for some exercises online! I'd be best in not prescribing anything from afar on this one. I'm sure it'll come back stronger!
I am a confirmed watcher of your videos but when I see you hit shots as on this video, I don’t see you drop with your lead knee first (squashing the tennis ball) and then swing as you mention in one of your other videos but rather the swing and the movement toward the target seems to my eyes to be moving at the same time, so I am a bit confused. Is the lead knee drop supposed to be more subtle and thereby not as easy to distinguish? Cheers
I finally got this on the course a couple of weeks ago . I was setting up for a draw and kept hitting the ball straight right. I then remembered from my lesson last December about the face matching the path. A slight adjustment to my face low and behold draws. I was playing on my own so started hitting two balls one draw and one fade. a definite light bulb moment for me. Looking forward to Saturday Marcus hopefully we can work on some short game.
Thanks Paul was an awesome session!
@@GRFGolf Thanks to you Marcus. I really enjoyed it. Have already watched the video back thanks to you and your team for getting back so quick. Also goes without saying if you want to use any of the footage that's fine by me.
@Paul McIntyre do you mean fades should be hit with a closed face, and draws with an open face?
@@soldsold1 no for me my face and path were aligned so the ball was starting straight right , where i was swinging, swing path. My club face was matched up to the path so i was hitting straight right. I just adjusted the face a bit to the left of the path which started to bring the ball back with a draw. I didn't even think about closed or shut just felt it and reacted to the intention of the shot.
Wouldn´t agree on the straight Putt - curve Putt comparison: on the straight Putt there is less margin for error on direction, but more for speed, on the curve but the opposite as a different angle usually needs more exact speed (related to that special angle) to finish in the hole.... or how do you see it? Happy to learn!
Okay, that's a BIG idea. I'll work on this this winter. The Yin/Yang, dominate/non-dominate thing really gets me going....
Sounds good, keep us posted with how you get on!
@@GRFGolf Will do. Having played and taught T'ai Chi for over forty years there's loads of understanding. Zen mind keeps me questioning/observing/experience ever more subtler slices of "now." The thing that I've always enjoyed about playing golf is the fact that the ball flight never lies, always reflects that pristine moment of now, impact, which informs execution.
G'day Marcus, the figure 8 drill is something I will practice. Keep the great content coming mate. ⛳💚💛
G'day Marcus, I did the figure 8 drill today. I have always opened or closed the club face to fade or draw a ball with mixed results. What a revelation it is to swing the club for a draw or fade. Definitely going to have some fun on the course trialling this.. Awesome tip. Much appreciated. ⛳💚💛
@@giddygolfer That's awesome mate! Keep us updated on progress
Damn you can putt TOO???
😂👍
BOOM, thats Mr Barlows catch cry, he definitely needs a Zen experience, not sure if that armour plated cranium of his is easy to get through to. (lol) He is a very funny man.
Thanks for the Video, great advice.
He'd be welcome anytime!
Problem I find, is I can feel the club path change when I stand square, soon as I move my body around to facilitate the shot I will just end up hitting straight right for draw or straight left for fade🤔
There's no right or wrong, Sean, whatever helps to facilitate your desired shot my good man. The answer I suppose would be having the ability to adapt to both. Also to play a fade from a "closed" stance, then a draw from an "open" stance (in golfing terms) is a great exercise for adaptation.
Love your explanations even though I still can’t get a draw to order (sad).
Only a matter of time and practice, Mick! Start off with half swings
My problem is my fades go straight and my draws too left....lol
Is your draw starting right, then curving too far left? Or is it a pull draw?
@@GRFGolf Some where in between.....I just cannot get a fade, which used to be my flight when I first played golf because I was over the top.
Golf whisperer!
I can shout sometimes too 😂😜
Dr. Draw
😂😂😂
The same reason good bowlers curve their ball into the pins.
All ball sports are about controlling spin (curve!)
But I will still keep trying.
Good man.
Hi Marcus.
I love your channel and philosophy.
However I have to disagree on your statement that the clubface determines the start direction of the ball flight.
Your swing direction(path) determines the starting direction of the ball.
Your clubface determines the curvature of the ball and where it will end up.
Regards Roelof.
South Africa.
Thanks for your support and comment. Here's a link about new and old ball flight laws. Depends which club is being hit, woods or irons plus there's gear effect on off centre strikes.
theleftrough.com/new-ball-flight-laws/
👍
You need a putting lesson
Or just a straight putt every time 😂😩