Straight shots in golf are great, but you don't have to hit them to win in golf. Arnold Palmer, known as The King of Golf, curved almost every shot from right to left. Jack Nicklaus won many of his tournaments by curving the ball left to right. And Ben Hogan prided himself on the ability to hit straight shots, right-curving shots, and left-curving shots. You can learn to hit all three, too, if you learn the secrets of aim and alignment.
Straight Shots
Golfers who hit the ball straight tend to aim the club face directly at the target, and align their feet, knees, hips, and shoulders on a line parallel to the target line--an imaginary line running from the ball to the target. Think of railroad tracks, with the ball on one track stretching to the target, and your feet on the other track. The ball starts on its track, and flies straight towards the target.
The Friendly Fade
A fade is a shot that starts left of the target, and curves gently towards it. To hit this shot, begin by aiming your club face at the target, and align your body along the line you wish to start your shot. Swing along your body line, and enjoy the benefits of the fade--soft-landing shots that ride the wind and stop quickly on the green. It may be shorter than a draw, but it is often more accurate.
The Power Draw
The draw is a shot that moves from right to left, and tends to be a powerful shot. Aim the club face at the target, and align your body to the right. Swing along the body line, and concentrate on rotating the hands and club face counter-clockwise through impact. This shot will bore through the wind, and in most conditions, will give you the longest shots that you can hit.
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