Struggling to play a certain shot shape when the moment calls for it? Elite coach Dan Whittaker shares his simple tips for how you can develop this skill with the driver
Having a reliable shot shape will stand you in good stead throughout the bag, but certain holes call for something more. Take the 18th at the Majlis course – venue for the Dubai Desert Classic – as an example. The par-5 is a severe right-to-left dogleg and with conditions firm and fast, players will struggle to land their drives on the fairway and keep them there without hitting some sort of draw. Here are my tips for how to shape your driver…
How to shape your driver: The main points
In the video, Andy and I are on a right-to-left par-5 dogleg which sets up nicely for his natural draw, and what I tried to get him to do was alter his attack angle so he could really make the most of his advantage and hit a slightly bigger, higher draw.
It’s a great shot to have in your locker in a situation like this as it gives you the option to go for the green in two if you pull it off.
And what about working it the other way?
Changing your path is difficult to do, especially on the course, but you don’t necessarily have to be in-to-out or out-to-in to hit a particular shape.
Altering the attack angle changes what the clubface is doing, and how the clubface relates to the path is what determines the shape.
Most of the adjustments you need to make to hit either shape can be done in the set-up.
Want to learn how? You’ll have to watch the video…
This instruction video was filmed at Lumine Golf Club, host venue of the 2019 European Tour Qualifying School. For more information, visit their website.
