Maybe you have been playing golf for years and have always been envious of the playing partner in your group that can hit that perfect little draw shot that starts just slightly to the right and then draws towards the target.
This swing often produces a penetrating ball flight that can cut through the wind and rolls out, maximizing the distance with the driver and allowing shorter approach shots into the green.
Or maybe you are the golfer that always fights the slice and you have tried time and time again to hit that beautiful looking draw. Regardless, we are here to help and have 5 simple steps on how to hit a draw. To me the draw show in golf is a great indicator of a lower handicap player.
Every wonder how to hit a draw in golf? We have 5 simple steps to help you hit a draw in a golf and change your game forever.
How to hit a draw in golf?
The club face must be closed to the swing path to hit a draw in golf. There are pull draws and push draws. The ball will ultimately start in the direction it is aimed at impact and then curve away from the swing path. In short, the club face must be closed to the swing path!
- Set up your weight 60/40 with 60% on your front foot (Right Golfer).
- Aim your club slight right of the target line.
- Close your feet and shoulder line to the target line.
- Swing along your feet and shoulder line.
- Do not worry about “closing your club face.” Your pre positioning should result in a slight push draw that doesn’t require manipulation of the club face.
First we must understand the science behind the draw before we get into the swing keys.
The “New” Ball Flight Laws – How to Hit A Draw
Before we get to the 5 simple steps on how to hit a draw, we must first understand what causes a golf shot to draw. In the past decade, tools such as the Trackman and other ball and club tracking devices have made it very clear what causes a ball to draw or fade.
Ultimately, the most simple way to explain is that the ball will start wherever the club face is pointing and then curve relative to the path of the swing.
For example, if your clubface is two degrees open to the target line, but your path is 5 degrees to the right (right handed golfer) the ball will draw. The opposite of this is if your club is 2 degrees closed (left) to the target line and your path is 5 degrees left the ball will fade.
This might bust some of the myths in your mind that you need to roll your hands through the shot and have a closed club face to hit a draw, while the truth is that you can hit a draw with an open face to the target line, as long as the club face is closed to the swing path.
In order to hit the push draw, the shot that starts to the right of the target line and then draws towards the target for the right handed golfer, you will need a slightly opened face relative to the target line, but the swing path will be further right, causing a right to left spinning shot that draws.
Ball Flight Laws Explained:
Let’s test your knowledge of the new ball flight laws
Example 1: Draw or Fade
Club Face: 5 degrees right of the target line
Swing Path: 3 degrees right of the target line
End Result: See below
Answer: The ball will be a push fade. The shot will start right and and fade right.
Example 2: Draw or Fade
Club Face: 3 degrees left of the target line
Swing Path: 1 degree left of the target line
End Result: See below
Answer: The ball will be a pull draw. The shot will start slightly left of the target and then draw away from the target. This can work if you aim far enough to the right of the intended final destination.
Example 3: Draw or Fade
Club Face: 2 degrees right of the target line
Swing Path: 3 degrees right of the target line
End Result: See Below
Answer: The ball will start right and slightly draw back towards the target.
Example 4: Draw of Fade
Club Face: 2 degrees right of the target
Swing Path: 8 degrees right of the target
End Result: See Below
Answer: The ball will start right of the target and draw agreesively as a result of the big gap between the club face angle and the swing path angle. This shot will more than likely over draw and end left of your target line.
Now that we have a better understanding of what causes a draw or a fade, we provide you with the 5 simple steps to hit a more consistent shot that draws.
How to Hit a Draw? Some other things to consider.
If you are still struggling to hit that beautiful shot that starts slightly right and then draws towards the target, here are some other checkpoints to help you out.
- Is your grip strong enough? Sometimes you might be swinging far enough to the right of the target, but the club face is even struggling to get back to 1-3 degrees open. If you are hitting a big push fade, this could be a potential cure.
- Is your weight getting stuck on the back foot? Sometimes as we try to shift our weight, we can get stuck on the back foot, causing us to throw our hands at the ball, resulting in the shutting of the club face and a ball that starts right of the target.
- Is your body shifting too far forwards? Once again, in an effort to “shift our weight” we can move forward either causing a big push or a snap hook. This move can cause a big discrepancy in your path versus the club face angle, resulting in slices or hooks depending on what you do with your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Hit A Draw
What Instructors Can Help Me the Most to Hit A Draw?
My top three instructors that I think can help you hit a draw:
- Shawn Clement (Full Shawn Clement Swing Review)
- Jim Venetos (Full Jim Venetos Swing Review)
- Stack and Tilt (10 Things to Consider with Stack and Tilt)
Shawn Clement helps golfers work the ball both ways. He is a major fan of playing the shot that the holes calls for, especially off the tee. On his youtube channel, he spends a good amount of time, helping you set up in your pre shot routine to hit a draw of fade, visualizing the shot that you want to see and then letting your “gravity genius” that we all are take over to hit the shot that the course requires.
Shawn Clement on How to Hit A Draw and Fade:
Jim Venetos promotes a 70/30 weight distribution, with 70% of the weight being on the front foot as part of your setup. He then has the golfer aim the club at the target, close the body down to about 45 degrees and then while staying still, moving your arms along the line of your feet.
To me this is the most foolproof way to hit a push draw. I would recommend, if you are really struggling to hit a push draw, check out Jim Venetos method, give it a shot and see what happens. It is up there with the most simple method to hitting a draw.
Jim Venetos Describing How To Hit A Draw:
Stack and Tilt promotes a 60/40 setup with 60% of the weight being on the front foot with it staying there through tilting and stacking on the front foot. They spend a significant amount of time talking about the swing circle and where you make contact in the circle.
For a draw you want to hit on the backside of the circle and for a fade on the front side of the circle. This follows the new ball flight laws, as your club will be travelling out to the right and then club face should be closed to that path but possibly open to the target line. They believe the further you want to draw the ball, the more you can move your weight and hands forward.
Quote from the Stack and Tilt Book:
If all of the golf instruction books, videos, and lessons for the last hundred years had taught people to keep their weight on the left side and swing their hands inward, we would have generations of golfers drawing the ball instead of slicing. Golf would be a different game.
Stack and Tilt Book
How to Hit a Draw with My Driver?
You will follow the 5 steps listed above. One tip with the driver is that as you hit up on the driver, like most teachers instruct you to, it starts to change the path more to the left (for the right handed golfer). It may be necessary to aim slightly to the right to offset the push to the left as your start to swing more up on the ball.
With your irons, the more you hit down, the more it throws the path of the swing to the right. This is something to play around with at the driving range and focus on your target.
One additional tip is to make sure your head stays behind the ball. Moving the head forward with the driver will destroy most swing. It can slightly sway back and forth, but ultimately it should remain behind the ball at contact.
How to hit a Draw and Fade?
Are you a lower handicap player that is looking to grow your game? Then working the ball both ways might be right for you. Many golf instructors debate whether you should focus on hitting one shot pattern or to play the shot the designer of the course wants you to hit.
My recommendation is to play the shot that you feel most comfortable with on that hole for that day. If the draw is working and the fade is struggling, you might stay with the draw shot even if the hole calls for a fade shot. Have your go to shot for under pressure.
As far as some tips to work the ball both ways, keep the ball flight laws in mind and control the variables you can before swinging the club. Look for those pre shot tweaks you can make in your setup that helps you work the ball both ways. It is key to start to feel the shot and the movement of the ball, well before approaching the shot.
Keep in mind to hit a fade, you have two options. The slight pull fade of the push fade. Regardless, your club face should be open to the swing path. For example, for a push fade is your path is 2 degrees gith, your face should be 3 degrees or more open to the right.
Should I hit a Draw and Fade?
I think it is great to practice both and have both shots as options in your bag, especially with the driver. I think you can be a very good golfer only hitting one pattern, but as you play more difficult courses, with more difficult conditions, having both go to shots will be a key to your overall score.
Hit a Draw Every Time?
I have played some great rounds hitting a draw on every shot. It can be difficult is that shot starts to draw too much and you don’t have anything to balance it out with. This offseason I am working on working the ball both ways, especially off the tee.
I believe it opens up the course, keeps you play more often and provides a mental break of always feeling like you have to force the draw. However, with the Jim Venetos swing above, maybe you can get most consistent always playing that slight draw.
Easiest Way to Hit A Draw?
I believe the Jim Venetos approach is the easiest way to hit a draw. His pre shot closure of your shoulders and hips, while keeping the club face at the target, almost guarantees a draw. The swing cannot be more simple. Keep still, move the arms along the body line and don’t force it. The ball will react to the path and the club face and you will see a draw. I was amazed the first time I experimented with his swing.
How to Hit a Low Draw?
The further you move the ball back in your stance, the lower the ball will start out and will produce a bit more side spin on the shot. This is due to the path being more to the right and the clubface being more square to the target line. Keep your weight forward, hands a bit forward, ball back in the stance and make a smooth swing.
This shot is great in the wind and helps you control. Another great place to hit this shot is on par 5’s on the second shot if you are not going for the green in 2. Taking and punching a 5 iron down the fairway versus maybe a full swing 7 or 8 iron seems to eliminate some variables and keep the ball out of the air. This is often my go-to shot when laying up on a par 5.
What Club Should I Practice a Draw with?
I would recommend starting with a 7 or 8 iron. This provides a low enough loft, but the club is still short enough to start to feel that draw shot. Start by taking some half way back and half way through swings, focusing on your path and the relation of the club face to the path.
Remember the club face must be closed to the path, but can still be open to the target line. The number one fault I see of someone trying to hit a draw is that they try too hard to close the club face. All this does it make the ball start to the left and you will struggle to hit that perfect push draw.
What’s Next
Learning to hit that pretty draw shot, will take some time potentially. Stay patient, work consistently and possibly find a way to get some club and ball data. Start with the half shots and work your way through your bag once you start to experience success. The longer the club and the lower the loft will be easier to produce great spin. Stay patient at the top of the swing and make sure not to fly that left shoulder out. Remember, the club face can be somewhat open, it just must be closed to the path.