When you start to play golf you’ll hear other golfers speak about how they can hit draw and fade shots. If you are new and you mis-hit a ball that curves, you may hear your coach mention how that shot under control would be a draw.
As you play more regularly, you’ll also want to control your shots on the golf course better. Being able to hit a draw or a fade is an important step to mastering the course with precision shots.
This article will break down the basics of what a draw is in golf terms and then how you can set yourself up to hit a draw. So let’s jump right in!
Here’s what you will learn in this article:
The Basics of a Draw
First, it’s important to know what exactly a draw is. In simple terms, a draw in golf, also known as a draw shot, is when right-handed golfer hits the golf ball with a curve from right to left. For left-handed golfers, it’s when they hit the ball with a curve from left to the right.
Typically, when you want to hit a draw off the tee down the fairway, you aim slightly to the right of your target, as the ball will curve to the left.
Benefits Of A Draw
Being able to hit a draw in golf has many benefits. These include:
- Increased Distance: hitting a draw correctly can add distance to your shots. This is because the ball is hit at an angle, causing it to have less backspin and more roll, leading to the ball to gain more yards as it hits the ground.
- Controlled Trajectory: you can control the golf ball’s trajectory when you can hit a draw. This leads to more accurate shots as you can control the ball by curving it intentionally in the air.
- Course Management: as many courses are designed with a curve to the left, hitting a draw enables you to navigate these better.
- Shot Versatility: every shot is different and requires different skills to reach the green. Being able to hit this type of shot helps prepare you for situations where a draw shot could help you navigate hazards.
Downsides To A Draw
There are also some downsides to hitting a draw golf shot. These include:
- Control Difficulty: as it takes time to practise as a draw from turning into a hook, beginners may struggle to hit their draws consistently.
- Inconsistent Distance: golf balls can struggle to get their distances correct because of the backspin of the ball. It’s important to take this into account when hitting a draw.
- Less Forgiving: Mis-hitting a draw can lead to the ball rotating much more than they expect, causing less accurate golf shots.
- Course Layouts: although some courses are draw friendly, there are also many courses that aren’t.
How to Hit a Draw
In a simple explanation, hitting a draw requires you to create a spin of the ball so that it will curve from the right to the left. To master this, you would need to hit the ball with the club face slightly closed.
Next, you would ideally swing in to out towards your target line. To do this, align the clubface to the right of your target, also known as setting up “inside” of the target line. The club face should be slightly closed down the swing path, but it should still be open in relation to the target.
Your grip should be but just as any normal golf grip, but you need to slightly rotate it clockwise around the grip. This will help you achieve the movement that leads to a draw.
Now with all these set up as you strike the ball and follow through in the backswing, the ball should have the spin that causes it to go from right to left, the draw shot.
This is a simplified version of how to hit a draw, but it’s recommended you consult with a golf coach who can show you in person everything you need to hit the draw. Myself, I had read multiple articles and watched videos on how to hit a draw, but it was only until I consulted with a pro golfer coach that I could master the draw.
When To Hit A Draw
If you’ve practiced your golf swing and learnt how to control the ball flight and hit a draw, you may wonder when to hit one. It all really depends on the hole layout, the weather, and how you want to get the ball closer to the hole.
Typical scenarios for hitting a draw are when:
- You are playing on a right to left course (assuming you are right-handed)
- You want to maximise the distance of the golf ball to get closer to the hole.
- The wind direction is blowing from right to left, in which a draw would help you gain more distance.
- The hole of the pin is on the left of the green, giving the ball lots of room to roll if you approach it with a draw shot.
- You want to avoid hazards or out of bounds on the course.
How a Draw Differs from a Fade
A draw and a fade are very similar in golf, with the only difference being the direction of the golf ball. As a right-handed golfer, when you hit a draw, the golf ball will go curve from right to left. When you hit a fade, the golf ball curves to the opposite side, from left to right of the target.
Typically, a draw also causes longer distance shots as the golf ball has less spin. With a fade, the ball has more backspin, causing it to roll less as it hits the ground.
Finally, hitting a perfect draw shot is harder than a fade shot, so hitting a fade is preferred by more golfers.
What’s Better: A Fade or A Draw?
Whether to hit a fade or a draw, the ball really depends on many things. It depends on the golf course layout, the skill level of a golfer, the wind conditions, and the strategy of the golfer to get to the hole.
So overall, for beginners, it may be easier to hit a fade shot vs a draw shot. But for professionals, they may find hitting a draw shot with more distance improves their game more than a fade shot.
Final Thoughts: What is a Draw in Golf?
Hitting a draw in golf is when you intentionally put a spin on the golf ball to make it curve from right to left of the club path as a right handed player. The opposite is called a fade shot.
Being able to hit a draw in golf is something anybody can do if they practice enough. By following the instructions in this article, you’ll be able to navigate golf courses better than the average golfer.
Whether you learn to hit a draw or fade, being able to hit either of these shots will improve your golf game. Before you do try to hit these on the course, make sure you practice it at the driving range and perfect the technique.
