Shape your drives video

Golf Monthly Top 25 coach Keith Williams has a simple technique to help you shape your drives and hit draws and fades off the tee at will.

shot shaping video

Golf Monthly Top 25 coach Keith Williams has a simple technique to help you shape your drives and hit draws and fades off the tee at will.

If you're game is too one-dimensional and you struggle to control your ball flight, try these tips to shape your drives off the tee and find more fairways.

Shot shaping is fun to try and will also improve your skill level. You can learn the mechanics behind the draw and fade elsewhere but in this piece I want to focus on the right feel... A great drill to use if you’re developing this part of your game is to draw a spot on your golf ball.

If you want to hit a draw, set the spot so that it’s aiming slightly more towards you at address, as I’ve done here.

For a fade, turn the ball in the other direction. The aim here is simple – just try to hit the spot square on.

This simple trigger will focus your mind on how to manipulate your swing to create the flight you want. Without worrying about the mechanics behind a fade or draw, you should be able to deliver the swing path required to produce them both.

Read more top golf tips

As long as your hands work to square the clubface at impact, you should start to see the gentle shape that you’re looking for. Above all, this is a fun way to add new skills to your game.

Being able to master both a fade and a draw off the tee will help you tremendously, especially in the wind.

The ability to draw the ball into a left to right wind, or cut it into a right to left wind will make you a much more accomplished player.

Top tips

  • Draw a large spot on your ball using a sharpie marker.
  • To hit a draw, set the spot so that it's aiming slightly more towards you at address.
  • For a fade, turn the ball in the other direction.
  • The aim is then just to try and hit the spot square on.
  • This simple reminder will focus you on how to manipulate your swing to create the flight you want.
  • Ensure you work hard to square the clubface at impact.
Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.