On the driving range, one often sees advanced golfers meticulously practicing a particular shape of shot. Their aim is to build an armoury that enables creative shot making. After wayward drives, bad lies, bad weather or sometimes just bad luck, it allows a recovery shot that leads to more greens hit and ultimately lower scores.

Shot shaping includes intentionally moving the ball right to left, left to right, keeping it low and hitting it very high with a lot of spin. Lately, I have been trying to re-groove my ability to shape my shots more precisely. I thought it would be interesting to share the techniques I am using.

During practice, I have been working on precision draws and fades. The simplest method to draw the ball involves having the clubface slightly closed (aiming to the point you wish the ball to finish) and the body aligned towards where you wish the ball to start (right of the target).

For the fade, the set up is opposite: the clubface slightly open and the body aligned left of the target. I keep in mind that the draw shot would fly a little further with a lower trajectory and the fade a little shorter with a higher trajectory.

Some situations though call for a more complex approach. Take for example the high draw needed for curving around some trees on a narrow right to left dogleg or to a back left pin. Or perhaps a low fade keeping it under the branches or carving a path to a tight back right pin with a head-on wind.

Knowing the techniques needed for these shots is the first step to executing them. Practicing them till they become second nature is the key to successfully using them. This is what I have been working on.

When I want to play a high draw, I position the ball closer to the leading foot, exaggerate the tilting down of my right shoulder and start with the clubface slightly open. As I hit the ball, I feel I am rotating the clubface closed through impact. I finish my swing high, which means my swing path was slightly steeper. This causes the ball to climb higher as it draws. I also require a bigger swing in terms of pace and length.

For the low fade, I put the ball closer to the back foot. My shoulders are more flat (unlike the usual leading shoulder being higher) and I have more weight on the front foot. The swing here is almost an opposite of the high draw, the clubface is closed at address and rotates open through impact. My follow through will feel flat and low. I play the low fade like a knockdown shot on a windy day, a three-quarter swing in both pace and length.

Once you have a decent golf swing, remember to add such types of new shots to your arsenal. All golfers get into trouble during a round. Usually the ones that have the ability to effectively get back into play not only end up with the lowest scores but also demoralise their opponents. The end result will hopefully be a win.