What Is a Draw and How to Hit It

Golfers that can shape the golf ball consistently on demand have a distinct advantage over their fellow golfers that have limited control when it comes to shot shaping. The ability to draw or fade the golf ball requires an understanding of your golf swing and how you need to adjust your swing to shape the ball and it also requires time on the practice range for fine-tuning.

Below we are going to take a closer look at how to draw the golf ball. First, we are going to get a better understanding of the technical factors that allow you to hit a draw. Additionally, we are also going to take a look at some drills that you can do to help you with hitting that perfect draw.

There are no guarantees in the game of golf and similarly, we can’t guarantee that by reading this article you will be able to hit a draw. However, what we can guarantee is that you will be equipped with all of the information needed to help you do just that.  

Golf Ball Flight Laws

Golf is a very technical game and it is very easy for amateur golfers to get caught up in the technicalities instead of focussing on playing and having fun. A technically sound swing is important but at the end of the day enjoying your time out on the course is what matters most for recreational golfers. 

Without getting overly technical, understanding the 9 different golf ball flight laws will go a long way in helping golfers to understand different ball flights including a fade and a draw. Ball flight is determined by two factors namely club path and clubface angle. Club path determines the curvature on the ball and clubface angle determines the start line of the shot. 

With a push draw, the start line which is determined by the clubface angle is to the right of the target (left for left-handed players) and if the club path is in-to-out the curvature on the ball flight will allow for the ball to draw back to your finish target. Technically the perfect draw is a push draw given that the ball starts off towards the right of the target. To get a better understanding of golf’s ball flight laws takes a closer look at the image below. 

Technicalities of How To Hit a Draw 

Alignment 

Alignment is very important when hitting a draw. Without good alignment hitting the perfect draw that ends up right next to the flag will be difficult even if your swing is perfect. When hitting a draw standing slightly closed to your initial start line is better than lining up too square to your end target. 

With a closed stance, your right foot will be back in your stance which in return will ensure that there is adequate space for your hands to move through the ball at impact with an in-to-out swing path.  If you are working on drawing the golf ball make sure to use alignment sticks when practicing to ensure that your alignment is both accurate and consistent. 

Club Path 

Golf launch monitor companies, TrackMan and FlightScope caused chaos in the minds of swing instructors when they proved many assumptions about the golf swing to be inaccurate. This led to many arguments amongst swing instructors but they had the data to prove it, fast forward 10 – 15 years, and old school golf coaches have adopted a new way of thinking especially when it comes to shaping the golf ball. 

When hitting a draw club path is responsible for the curvature (draw) on the golf ball. For a ball to draw the desired swing path is in-to-out. In addition to an in-to-out clubface angle is equally as important. If the relationship between the club path and clubface is misaligned your draw will either turn into a hook or a block. 

Clubface Angle 

Clubface angle is responsible for the start line of the golf ball after impact. Other factors including path and spin also have an influence but the angle of the clubface is the main factor that determines direction. When hitting a draw an open clubface is required for the ball to start to the right of the target allowing for the draw curve to bring it back to the target. 

To hit that perfect draw the ratio between an open clubface and an in-to-out swing path needs to be synchronized. It is impossible to spot in with your naked eye but with the help of launch monitor data, the relationship between club path and clubface angle is roughly 1:2 for a small draw. What this means is that if your clubface is 2 degrees open at impact your club path needs to be 4 degrees out-to-in to get the perfect ball flight. 

Don’t get too caught up in these numbers, if you have a golf instructor they will assist you with swinging the club correctly without having to worry about the exact math and science behind hitting a draw. 

To learn more about clubface angle click here. 

Best Tips & Drills for Hitting a Draw

1. Swing Path Eyeline Speed Trap Training Aid Drill

Swing path is very important when hitting a draw. Without an in-to-out swing path, there will be no draw spin on the ball and the ball won’t curve back to the intended target. A great drill to help with generating an in-to-out swing path is to train your path with the help of Eyeline’s Speed Trap swing path training aid

This easy-to-use training aid features a plastic rectangle base with a slot where the ball gets positioned. Furthermore, this training aid features 4 sponge rods that can be attached to the base either to the inside or outside of your intended swing path. 

If you are looking for an out-to-in swing path, place one rod outside the line on your backswing and inside the line on your follow-through. This setup will force you to swing the club in to out to avoid making contact with the rods. 

2. Setup and Ball Position

Hitting the perfect draw requires your swing to be technically correct, luckily small adjustments to your ball position and stance will help you with hitting a draw without having to think about your swing. 

When it comes to your setup, closing your stance to your target will put you in a good position to deliver an open clubface to the ball with an in-to-out swing path. In addition to stance placing the ball slightly back in your stance will also promote both an open clubface and an in-to-out swing path. With the ball back in your stance, the impact zone is earlier in the arc before your clubface has had the opportunity to square up. 

These small adjustments might not seem like much but one of the world’s best coaches, Sean Foley strongly believes that these changes will go a long way in helping you hit that perfect draw without getting caught up in too many technical thoughts.

FAQs

Q. What is the difference between a draw and a hook? 

A. Golfers are quick to confuse a draw for a hook. A draw is different to a hook in a variety of different ways. In addition to the amount of curvature startline also differentiates a hook from a draw. 

Hooked shots curve more than a draw and with a hook, the startline is either at the target or left of the target. Furthermore, the ball will continue to curve away from the target and hook away to the left (right for left-handed players)

Q. What are the benefits of a draw ball flight? 

A. A draw ball flight does translate into added distance both in terms of carry and roll. For fast swinging players, this won’t make a huge difference, but for slow swinging players, every bit of distance helps. 

Q. Will I hit the ball further if I hit a draw? 

A. With a draw ball flight the golf ball has topspin on it which translates into added distance thanks to added roll. Added roll is beneficial off the tee with your driver or when hitting a fairway wood on a par 5, but on approach shots, spin and stopping power on the green is preferred.

In terms of carry distance, a draw ball flight will travel slightly further than a fade ball flight. With iron shots the difference will be very small 3 – 5 yards, this difference will be slightly bigger with a fairway wood and your driver. 

Final Thoughts 

If added distance is what you are looking for, hitting a draw will definitely help you to achieve that especially with driver in hand. When a player hits a draw the ball has topspin on it which ensures maximum roll and added distance. This is particularly beneficial to slow swinging players that lack distance. A draw iron shot doesn’t have the same stopping power on the green as a fade but for most players, that’s a small price to pay. 

If you are serious about learning how to hit a controlled draw consistently, understanding the technical aspects of the swing that allows you to draw the ball is very important. And last but not least putting the time in on the practice range is a must in order to see the results out on the golf course. 

This article was last updated on August 31, 2021 .

Bertine Strauss
Written by
Bertine Strauss
The Golf Blog