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On a dogleg hole, the ability to shape your golf strokes may put you in excellent position. When an impediment is in your target line, a draw or fade shot might assist you get out of difficulties. In this article, we’ll go through the definition of a draw in golf.
In addition, I discuss the advantages of hitting a draw shot and compare the outcomes to a fade. And at the end, I have prepared a few tips that guide you through executing a right-to-left shape if you are a right-handed golfer.
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What is a Draw in Golf?
A draw occurs when your golf ball starts right of your target before curving back left towards your mark. If you are right-handed, the golf ball curves right to left on the hit.
The difficulty is in regulating the amount of curve on your sketch. If you produce excess right-to-left side spin, your beautiful draw turns into anasty hookthat terminates to the left of the goal rather than to the right.
Benefits of Hitting a Draw
1. Optimal Fairway Position
From the tee to the green, a draw golf stroke offers various benefits. I use it, though, for tee shots on right-to-left dogleg holes. By shaping my ball in accordance with the layout of the hole, I am able to gain ideal position on the fairway.
Without the ability to draw, I would rely on a straight shot and aim up the right side of the fairway. This needs accuracy to prevent the golf ball from running off the fairway and into the right rough.
When your ball is in the center of the fairway, you may assault the flag on approach.
2. Escape Trouble
The other location where a draw has paid its dues is safe. Allow me to provide some background. When there are obstructions in my straight path, I usually play this shot. However, I need sufficient space to the right of the target to start my ball since I am a right-handed golfer.
Inducing a draw allows me to bend the ball around the impediment and land it near the target zone. Otherwise, I would need to resort to chipping out and risking a bogey or worse.
3. Lower Ball Flight
A closed clubface upon contact and the ball sitting back in your stance are required to induce a draw. The combination of a closed club face and rearward ball location results in a delofted stroke. This causes a lower launch and penetrating ball flight.
Lower trajectory is appropriate for windy situations where the breeze should be removed from the equation.
Difference Between a Draw and a Fade
Shape
The most noticeable distinction between a draw and a fade is their flight path. As previously stated, a draw begins to the right of your target and bends slightly to the left for a controlled landing. A fade, on the other hand, happens when your golf ball begins left of the mark and shapes right, towards the flag.
A poorly executed draw can turn into a hook causing the ball to finish well left of your target. A slice, on the other hand, is a fade gone awry. It cuts sharply away from your marker and ends slightly to the right of the objective.
Those who are having difficulty with a slice might refer to our tutorial on afade vs slice. In it, you will find all the tips you need to combat this nasty habit.
Alignment
Alignment must be adjusted for a draw and fade. If you are right-handed and want to fade, your feet should aim to the left of your market. This compensates for the impact face angle, which causes the ball to bend from left to right. If you are a left-handed golfer, you should aim your feet right of the target, ready for the left turn.
A draw is distinct. This time as a right-hander, your feet should aim to the right of your landing zone. This leaves enough room for the ball to return to the pin.
Me and My Golf offers a full tutorial video on where to aim and how to set up for each shot; you can see it below:
Ball Position
For best performance, a fade and a draw need different ball placements. A fade dictates that you place the ball forward in your stance, while you should move it back for a draw.
The forward ball posture allows you to swing along your body’s line while aiming to the left of your target. This allows the clubface to stay square to the mark while being open to your swing path. This configuration causes the ball to form in the air from left to right.
On the contrary, you should place the ball back in your stance to produce a delofted strike that draws towards your target. When you make the connection, your clubface is somewhat closer to the target, causing the ball to curve from right to left.
Golf Swing Path
The angle at which your clubface hits the golf is affected by your swing path. This is significant because it dictates the direction of the sidespin generated by your shot. Following the procedures outlined above guarantees that you are properly set up and ready to take your intended photo.
If you want to hit a draw, you should use an inside-out golf swing. This indicates that your clubhead follows an inside line on takeaway before flowing down to the golf ball on an outswing path. This urges you to begin the shot to the right of your target in order to account for the impending left arc.
Furthermore, a fade usually necessitates an outside-in path that guides your clubface to deliver the ball to the right of the target before returning on the proper path.
Clubface At Impact
Everything you’ve planned comes down to this moment. If your clubface is not positioned optimally at impact, you will not execute your golf shot as intended.
For example, you set up for a draw, and aim right of your target, only to strike your golf ball with a square face relative to your swing path. As a result, your golf ball will move straight to the right of your target with no draw.
To create a fade, your clubface must be exposed to your swing path at impact. On the other hand, your clubface should remain in a closed position relative to your swing path to prompt a draw.
Is It Better to Hit a Draw or Fade?
Both photos are valuable to me since they have their own time and location. Being able to play both of these expands your choices on the golf field. When faced with a left-to-right dogleg, a draw is useless.
The key line is that both strokes are critical, and you should be able to nail a draw and a fade.
How to Hit a Draw
Check out our guide on how to hit a drawif you’re looking for step-by-step instructions on how to hit this shot consistently. However, I’ve included a few simple instructions to get you started.
1. Aim Right of Your Target
Right-handed golfers should aim their feet to the target’s right. Limit how far to the right you aim. The further right you point, the more curve you require to get the ball close to your target.
Aiming to the right of your target compensates for the draw curve on your ball. This allows you to shape the ball back to your mark once it has started to the right.
2. Ball Back In Your Stance
The next stage in hitting a draw is to reposition the ionomer in your stance. This encourages you to strike the golf ball with less loft and a steep attack angle, leading to a lower launching shot.
Furthermore, hitting the ball from this stance helps keeping the clubface tight in regard to your swing path simpler. This allows you to launch the ball to the right of your target and then bring it back in.
3. Forward Press
I highly recommend theforward pressEvery configuration requires a different technique. Placing your hands ahead of the ball strengthens the club’s loft to encourage a low launching shot. This is an excellent method for increasing distance by lowering spin speeds.
4. Inside Backswing
It’s time to swing now that you’re set up to play a draw. On the backswing, you begin by taking the clubhead down an inside path. It is simpler to create an outward downswing from this stance.
5. Outside Downswing
You are now in an ideal position to send the club through on an outside path after taking it inside on your backswing. This assists you in keeping your clubface closed in relation to your swing path. Furthermore, it launches the ball to the right of the target before returning to the targeted landing zone.
6. Closed Clubface At Impact
I don’t mean near to your aim when I say closed clubface. You might start your ball left of your mark and drag it farther to the left if you do this. Instead, keep your clubface closed in relation to your swing path. This angle positions you to generate the required side spin, which sends the ball back to the left after beginning to the right.
Matt Stevens
Rory Sabattini’s father gave Matt Callcott-Stevens a 7-iron and a putter when he was four years old. He has seen all of the highs and lows that the game has to offer and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Marketing and has been playing golf for 28 years.
