The 9 Ball Flights can be considered the highest level skill that someone can demonstrate in the game of golf. However, it can also be a great way to learn to deliver the club to the ball in a fun, creative way that can bring clarity to ball flight tendencies. It can also help to solidify the go to shot of choice for a player. For example, if your shot is a mid-flight draw then hitting the high fade can help you understand what produces the draw. Then it becomes even more repeatable.
In this video Tiger demonstrates the 9 ball flights with a mid-iron and explains how he sees, feels, and adjusts to create each one. This is something he has done since he was a young junior trying to learn the game even before he fined tuned his mechanics to such a repeatable motion. What does this mean for you and your approach to improvement? It means that Function Dictates Form and good form supports skill development. Start with the end in mind, what are the skills you want to develop? That is a different approach than fixing something that is broken. There is a time and a place to hit the high slice so don’t try to get rid of it, instead try to understand it better.
Golf is a creative game so we must embrace it as such. Â
Practice Smart!
Dennis Hillman
