Sometimes hitting a straight shot is not always the best option on the golf course and shaping the ball one way or the other may be preferred in certain situations. Find out what a 'fade' and a 'draw' are and how to hit them with this golf tip.

Generally, golfers spend most of their time working hard at trying to hit the golf ball as straight as possible on the golf course, however, there are times when it is needed to curve the ball from right to left or left to right in the air. Such times may be to curve the ball away from trouble such as water or out of bounds, or to curve the ball around an obstacle such as a tree. Turning the golf ball in a controlled fashion one way or the other in the air is termed a 'fade' or a 'draw'.

A 'fade' golf shot is a shot, for a right handed golfer, that is a controlled, small curve that starts to the left of the intended target and curves in the air to the right, back towards the target. This is reversed for a left handed golfer where the ball starts out to the right and curves to the left, back towards the target.

A 'draw' golf shot is a shot for a right handed golfer that is a controlled, small curve that starts to the right of the intended target and curves in the air to the left, back towards the target. This is again reversed for a left handed golfer where the ball starts out to the left and curves back to the right, towards the target.

Hitting a draw or a fade shot requires certain focus points:

1. Pick the intended target, for example, the flag on the green, this is where the golf ball needs to finish and is the 'finish point'.

2. Secondly, pick a separate target to aim at. This is the line where the golf ball needs to start it's journey in the air and is the 'start point'.

3. Once the two target points are identified, set up to the golf ball as normal and take aim at the identified start point. Once completed, take the hands off the golf club and, keeping the body still, turn the club face so that it points at the identified finish point before gripping the golf club again. An example for a right handed player hitting a draw shot would be as follows: the aim of the body should be to the right of the intended target while the club face points at the intended target. This is vice versa for a fade golf shot.

4. Take as normal a golf swing as possible. If performed correctly and assuming a good contact with the ball, the ball will fly on or near to the start point where the body was aiming. But because the club face was set up pointing to the finish point, the club face will impart spin on the golf ball that curves it in the air, back towards the finish point which is the intended target.

It is far easier to change the set up than the swing so use this tip to shape the ball left or right consistently and avoid trouble to improve your scores.