Transition & DownswingIntermediateFixes: Lack of shot shaping

Intentional Fade Setup and Open Face Alignment

Curated PGA Drill by Me And My Golf

Focus Area

Downswing

Rep Guidance

3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps

Equipment

Golf club, alignment stick (optional)

Skill Level

Intermediate

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

An open face relative to the out-to-in swing path produces predictable left-to-right gear spin and a high, soft-landing fade.

How to Perform the Drill

Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Open stance slightly left of the target line with feet, hips, and shoulders aligned left.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Aim the clubface directly at the final target.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Swing along the body alignment (out-to-in relative to target line).

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Hold off hand wrist rotation slightly through impact, allowing the face to remain open to the swing path.

What Good Feels Like

Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.

Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed

Shot shapingFade biasOutside-in pathControlled slice

Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill

How to Shape Golf Shots: Draws, Fades and Start Line

Where the ball starts is governed almost entirely by clubface angle at impact, and how it curves is governed by the difference between that face angle and your swing path. To shape shots on command, fix your start line first using a gate a few feet ahead of the ball, then introduce curve by changing where the face aims relative to where the body is aligned. Never work on start line and curve in the same session.

Not sure this is your real fault?

Upload one swing video and our AI will identify whether lack of shot shaping is actually what's costing you strokes, using physics-backed metrics and a practice plan matched to what it finds. Your first analysis is free.

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