Bethpage Basics: Draw & Fade

By Jim McLean

Photos By Dom Furore

June 2009

Players who can work the ball in both directions with the driver will have a serious advantage at Bethpage Black. Some holes call for a certain shot shape, either to avoid fairway bunkers or to shorten the route to the green. Even amateurs playing in the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge the week before (see feature, "No Need To Fear") would be smart to develop a driving strategy.

Draw

Tee it high, swing in to out

The ninth hole on the Black features a new back tee that brings a great new fairway bunker on the left into play. It makes bombers think twice about cutting the corner of the dogleg.

To promote a draw -- the ideal shot on No. 9 -- take a slightly closed stance and tee the ball a little higher (inset). Gripping a touch lighter will help you release the club, which closes the face. Be deliberate at the top of the swing to give the club time to drop to the inside. Your swing shape should be in to out through impact. The through-swing is like hitting a big forehand in tennis, with a full rotation of the hands.

Fade

Tee it low, swing out to in

No. 7 at Bethpage calls for a fade off the tee, but you have to bust it to carry the sand, so choosing a good line is critical. Wisps of grass in front of the tee make great intermediate targets.

To set up a fade, take a slightly open stance and a firmer grip -- to hold off the release through impact and keep the face open. I waggle the club along my stance line to pre-set an out-to-in swing; teeing the ball a little lower (inset) also helps. Make your normal swing, keeping the clubhead low through impact and your left wrist firm.

Ranked No. 4 on Golf Digest's list of America's 50 Greatest Teachers, McLean is based at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. Click here for more tips from McLean.