The Draw in Golf: What It Is and Its Main Benefits

You can position yourself on a dogleg green by being able to shape your golf shots. If you are facing trouble, a draw or fade shot can help you get out of trouble. In this post, we’ll go into the details of what a draw is in golf.

I also explain the advantages of hitting a draw shot as well as how it compares to a fade. I also have some tips for you to follow if you are a left-handed golfer.

 

What is a draw in golf?

If your golf ball starts at the target and then curves back to your mark, you have a draw. If you’re right-handed, the curve of the shot is left to right.

The trick is to control how much curve you draw. If you produce too much right-to left side spin, your beautiful draw can become a hook that ends farther from the target than originally intended.

 

Benefits of hitting a draw

1. Optimal Fairway Position

The draw golf shot has many advantages, from the tee to the green. It is however, what I use for tee shots on right to left dogleg holes. Shaping my ball with the hole’s layout enables me to achieve prime position on the fairway.

I would prefer to aim straight and aim up the fairway without the ability draw. This requires precision to ensure the golf ball doesn’t run off the fairway into the right rough.

Once your ball is in center of the fairway, you can attack the flag with an approach.

2. Escape Trouble

Escape from trouble is another area in which a draw has earned its dues. Let me give you some context. I usually play this shot when there is a problem in my line of sight. Since I am a left-handed golfer, I need to have enough space to the right of my target to launch my ball.

I can induce a draw to help me turn the ball around an obstacle and land it near my target zone. Otherwise, I would have to resort to chipping out and risking another bogey.

3. Lower Ball Flight

To induce a draw, it is necessary to have the ball in your stance and a closed clubface at contact. A delofted strike is caused by the combination of a closed club face and back-ball positioning. This motion results in a lower launch, and piercing ball flight.

Windy conditions will suit a lower trajectory.

 

Difference between a Draw or Fade

Shape

The most important difference between a draw and a fade is their flight path. A draw is when your target is to the right and your golf ball curves slightly to the left for a controlled landing. A fade occurs when your ball is angled towards the flag and starts to roll left of the mark.

A poorly executed draw could become a hook and cause the ball not to reach your target. A slice, on the other hand, is a bad fade. It cuts off your marker and ends significantly right of the target.

If you are having trouble with a slice, our guide on how to fade vs. slice will help. It will give you all the tips and tricks to overcome this horrible habit.

Alignment

You will need to adjust your alignment for draw or fade. If you’re right-handed and intend to hit a fade with your feet, your feet should be to the left of your market. This compensates for the impact angle, which causes the ball to curve left to right. If you’re a left-handed golfer your feet should be pointed right of the target.

Draws are different. Your feet should be aimed to the right side of your landing zone if you are a right-hander. This allows enough space for your ball to draw back to pin.

Me and My Golf offer detailed instruction videos on how to set up and where to aim for each shot. You can see their lesson below.

Ball Position

For optimal execution, a fade and draw require different ball positions. For a fade, you must place the ball forward from your stance. For a draw, you must move it back.

The forward ball position allows you to swing along your body’s line while aiming to your left. This allows the clubface to stay square to the mark while still allowing you to swing in the right direction. This set allows the ball to move from left to right in midair.

Instead, place the ball in your stance and make a delofted strike towards the target. Your clubface should be slightly close to the target when you connect the ball. This will cause the ball to curve from right to left.

Golf Swing Path

Your swing path influences the angle at which the clubface touches the green. This is crucial as it will determine the direction of your sidespin. These steps will ensure that you are ready to produce the shot you want.

You should aim to produce a draw by following an inside-out swing. This means your clubhead should follow an inside-out golf swing. This will encourage you to hit the ball right at your target in order to account for the likely left arc.

A fade requires an outside-in path to guide your clubface so that the ball is directed to the right of the target.

Clubface At Impact

Everything you have planned comes down to this moment. If your clubface does not position optimally at impact, your shot will not be executed as intended.

Imagine that you are aiming for a draw. But your golf ball hits a square face relative the your swing path. Your golf ball will travel straight to the right of your target, resulting in no draw.

To generate a fade, your clubface must be open towards your swing path at impact. To generate a draw, however, your clubface should be in a closed position relative the your swing path.

 

Is it better to hit a draw or fade?

Both shots are important to me because they have their own time and place. You have more options on the course if you can play both. When facing a dogleg from the left to the right, a draw will not be of any use.

Both shots are equally important and you should be able to hit both draws and fades.

 

How to Win a Draw

Check out our guide on how to hit a draw if you’re looking for step-by-step instructions on how to hit this shot consistently. To get you started, I have listed a few steps.

1. Be sure to hit your target right

Right-handed golfers must aim their feet towards the right of the target. Limit the distance you aim. To get the ball close enough to your target, you need to be more right than you are.

To compensate for the draw curve of your ball, aim to the right. This allows you to shape your ball back to your mark after it was started to the left.

2. Get in your groove

To hit a draw, the next step is to place your ionomer back into your stance. This will encourage you to hit the golf ball lower and with a steeper attack angle.

This position allows you to strike the ball more accurately in relation to your swing path. This allows you to start the ball to your right and draw it back in.

3. Forward Press

For every setup, I recommend the forward press approach. Placing your hands ahead of the ball strengthens the club’s loft to encourage a low launching shot. This is a great way to increase your distance and reduce spin rates.

4. Inside Backswing

Now that you have everything in place to win a draw, it’s time to start swinging. Start by moving the clubhead in an inside direction on the backswing. It is much easier to create an outwards downswing from this position.

5. Outside Downswing

You are now ideally placed to take the club inside on your backswing and then send it through on an exterior path. This allows you to keep your clubface closed in relation to your swing path. This allows the ball to be launched to the right of its target before returning to the intended landing zone.

6. Closed Clubface At Impact

Closed clubface does not necessarily mean close to your target. You could draw your target further to the left if you did that. Your clubface should be kept closed in relation to your swing path. This angle allows you to produce the necessary side spin which sends the ball back to the left after it has started to go to the right.