What Is A Draw In Golf? (Golf Draw Vs Fade)

Golfers of all abilities can benefit from hitting a draw. A draw or fade can help you navigate the turn safely when you encounter a hole with a dogleg. Even if there is no danger lurking around the bend, getting the ball to travel in the desired direction can give you a better chance at scoring that eagle to tell all your friends.

But what is a draw in golf? Don’t worry, my friend; you’ve landed on the right article for answering this question.

If you want to learn about the draw and get some helpful tips to start shaping beautiful draw shots, then you’re in the right place.

What Is A Draw In Golf?

A draw in golf is a shot that starts right of the target line and then curves left to the target for right-handed golfers. For the left-handed golfer, it’s the opposite, left to right.

It’s produced by swinging the clubface more closed toward the target on the backswing with a slight in-to-outward club path. This causes the ball to start right of the target but then curve back to the left as it loses momentum. It’s a great shot to use when navigating hazards or when you want the ball to end up in a specific spot.

Still confused? Don’t worry; even seasoned golfers get lost in the weeds regarding draws and fade! Let me put it this way – if your driver was an artist, then a draw would be its masterpiece! It’s the shot you’ll use to wow your friends and make the gallery go wild.

If you want to start making consistent draws off the tee, it’s important to understand how different clubs can produce different flight paths. For instance, while a driver is best used to produce a draw, a fairway wood or hybrid will produce a more subtle curve. Experimenting with different clubs and ball positions can help you understand how each one affects your shot shape.

Benefits Of Hitting A Draw

Further Ball Carry

There are many benefits to hitting a draw in golf. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that you can carry your golf ball further down the fairway. This is because of a low trajectory ball flight from the closed clubface. This will give you an advantage in cutting strokes off your game.

Shot Shape That Avoids Hazards

Hitting a draw can be helpful on difficult holes where you need to hit your ball between two trees or other hazards. A draw will help you navigate these obstacles more easily than a straight shot would.

Shot Shape For Fairway Position

A draw is most beneficial when teeing off on dogleg holes. Instead of hitting a pair of straight shots to get around a dogleg, hitting the draw around the corner would be ideal.

Golf Draw Vs Fade

There are two main types of shots in golf: the draw and the fade. For the right-handed golfer, the draw is a shot with a ball flight that starts right of the target line and then curves back to the target on the left. The fade has a ball flight that starts left of the target line and then curves back to the target on the right.

Which one you should use depends on the situation. You should hit a draw if you need to carry your ball a long way down the fairway. If there are hazards on the left side of the fairway, you should hit a fade. And if you are playing a hole with a dogleg right, you should hit a fade around the turn. But it isn’t all that simple – here are some details.

Also, Me And My Golf make excellent instructional videos of how to do these shots:

1. The easiest way to fade the golf ball
2. How to hit the perfect draw in golf

Golf Draw Vs Fade Setup At Adress

For these golf vs fade differences, I will be explaining to them as if they were for a right-handed golfer, so I’m not repeating myself. And also, to save some confusion for the left-handed golfer, think of a mirrored image on the other side of the target line; it will be the opposite for you.

Setting up for a draw, the golfer will be closed off to the target line. Meaning their shoulders and feet will be lined up, pointing slightly to the right – not parallel.

For the fade, the golfer will have a slightly open stance with the lead shoulder pointing away from the target line to the left.

Golf Draw Vs Fade Swing Path

The swing path for the draw is an inside-to-out swing. Meaning on the takeaway, your club will be closer to your body. Then on the downswing, your club head will be going more out to the right side of your target.

Think of how a right-handed baseball player hits the ball to right field… it’s the same concept.

For the fade swing path, the club head starts outside on the takeaway, then comes more inside in the downswing. This swing path will start the ball left of your target line.

Golf Draw Vs Fade Club Face At Impact

The club face should be square to your target at impact for both draw and fade. But because of the inside-to-out and outside-to-in swing paths, the club face needs to be opened or closed at address.

For the draw, you’ll need to start with your club face slightly closed, pointing left of the target line so you end up with the club face square at impact.

On the fade shot, the club face should start slightly open, facing slightly right of the target line.

Draw Golf Checklist

Use this checklist before attempting to hit a draw. Take it with you to your next driving range session. The more you practice, the better you’ll get!

1. Have a closed stance with your feet and shoulder pointing slightly into your target line.
2. Aim the clubface slightly closed relative to your target.
3. Make an inside takeaway to the top of your backswing.
4. Make an outside downswing (think about hitting the ball to the right field in baseball terms).
5. Then square the club face at impact – facing the target.

Final Thoughts On The Golf Draw

So, there you have it – the draw shot in golf. It’s not as difficult as you may have thought, but it takes some practice to perfect. Remember to use these tips and pointers when setting up, and ensure your swing path is on the inside-to-out track. Keep that club face square to your target, and you’ll draw those beautiful shots around the course in no time!