Right to left at Augusta

[Anthony Gray]

  Look at all those hooks the past couple of days. Does it favor the right to left hitter? When Jack was winning wasn't it more open so the right to left shot less demanding?

   Anthony

[PCCraig]

  Look at all those hooks the past couple of days. Does it favor the right to left hitter? When Jack was winning wasn't it more open so the right to left shot less demanding?

   Anthony

Yes.

[Niall C]

If that is the case, does that give Mickelson an advantage with it being easier to control a strong fade rather than a strong draw ?

Niall

[Garland Bayley]

ANGC has always been a right to left shot course. Jack actually would tone up his draw well before Masters week so he would be ready.

[Anthony Gray]

  Is it me or are we seeing more of the hook this year?

   Anthony

[CJ Carder]

  Is it me or are we seeing more of the hook this year?

   Anthony

I wonder how much of that is dictated by the conditions, both good and bad. 

Good being that a well struck "hook" (or strong draw if you're picky) in fast conditions can really run and provide an advantage.  Holes 10 and 13 come immediately to mind.

Bad being that the firmer conditions mean more runout and thus a hook may be needed for recovery.

[Kalen Braley]

KJ Choi is a natural fader of the ball and he seems to be doing alright....

But I must agree, it seems like several holes require or encourage the hook, draw for a right handed player.  Shall we count them?

2) Tee ball
3)  Approach shot to avoid bunkers
5) Tee ball
7)  This is marginal, but seem to see draw being played here off tee.
8)  Second shot if going for it
9) Tee ball, only a slight draw here
10) Tee ball
11) Approach shot
13) Tee shot and approach
14) Tee ball
16)  For the lower pin positions
17)  Tee ball

18) Is the only hole that requires a fade off the tee that I can think of.

Did I leave any out?

[Garland Bayley]

Another thing to consider. The new wedge rule was put in place to get the players to play balls with more spin. More spin means it is easier to hit a draw, strong draw, and maybe even a hook. The characteristic of the balls in play last year was that they spun more with a higher face angle and less with a low face angle. Therefore, a slightly angled face last year would spin less than it would with a ball with more spin presumably used by players this year. Therefore, the same swing that produces a noticable draw this year may have produced little or now draw last year.

[Anthony Gray]

Another thing to consider. The new wedge rule was put in place to get the players to play balls with more spin. More spin means it is easier to hit a draw, strong draw, and maybe even a hook. The characteristic of the balls in play last year was that they spun more with a higher face angle and less with a low face angle. Therefore, a slightly angled face last year would spin less than it would with a ball with more spin presumably used by players this year. Therefore, the same swing that produces a noticable draw this year may have produced little or now draw last year.

  Good observation. We have seen some just plane crazy ball movement in the air this year.

  Anthony

[Alex Miller]

KJ Choi is a natural fader of the ball and he seems to be doing alright....

Actually I think he's changed his "go to" shot to a draw. Freddy has done this as well. The draw is definitely favored but Tiger got around the course the first 2 days playing a fade, so it can be done.

I often hear being able to hit a draw is a characteristic associated with better players. I know that controlling a draw may be the toughest thing to do with a golf ball so rewarding the player who does that the best seems like an OK way to determine a champion.