A draw is a golf shot that curves gently from right to left. For a left-handed golfer, this shot will draw left to right. Golfers hit a draw to shape their shots and gain control over their ball.
The draw is different from a fade because of the direction it goes — right to left for a draw, left to right for a fade.
Typically, a draw means you’re hitting the ball well, as you’re gently shaping the arc of your shot towards the target. When you become skilled enough, golfers can hit a draw at will.
Advantages of Hitting a Draw
You may be wondering why many golfers strive to hit a draw. There are a few different advantages of hitting a draw including gaining distance, harnessing control over the ball and avoiding obstacles on the course.
Hit It Farther
Although this has been debated by some, the draw is usually seen as the type of shot which will run further on the course, adding to your distance.
Gain Control
When you’re able to hit a draw, it also means you have good control of the ball. You can shape your shot and hit a gently drawing shot that arcs towards your target.
Avoid Obstacles
A draw can also help you avoid obstacles on the course. If the fairway is littered with towering trees or water, a draw can help guide your ball out of danger.
How to Hit a Draw
To hit a draw, you’ll need to keep a couple of different ideas in mind. Although it might seem like an intimidating skill at first glance, you can add this skill to your repertoire with a few tips and rounds of practice.
1. Feel the Shot
The first thing you’ll want to do is get a feel for your shot. Without thinking about the detailed mechanics, imagine how you want the shape of your shot to go. Envision that slight right to left ball flight. Pick your target spot and see the ball in your mind, gently moving from one side to the other.
How do you think you can accomplish this shot? What will it feel like? What will it look like? Take some swings to get a feel for how you’re going to draw the ball.
2. Deepen Your Swing
To hit a draw, you’re going to want to deepen your swing — this means pulling the club back a little farther over your shoulder and then coming through the ball. This might seem a little unnatural at first, but when you think about the draw works, it will make sense.
A lot of golf is getting ahold of that overall conceptual concept in your mind. While those detailed parts of the swing are helpful, you need to keep the overall shape of the shot in mind. That way, your body can work with your mind to complete the swing.
3. Find the Path
Hitting a draw relies on finding the path your ball is going to go. Comparing the swing to a tennis swing might help — you’re coming through the ball with that same type of spin. Find that path that feels comfortable for you and trust it.
4. Close Your Clubface
To hit a draw, you’ll also need your clubface a little bit to get that drawing effect. You’ll only need to close it a fraction — rotate your knuckles a bit and then get the feel of that swing.
5. Exaggerate the Swing
If you tend to slice the ball, you may need to exaggerate your swing more to get that draw effect. In the beginning, you might find that you’re exactly hitting the ball straighter than normal just by closing your club face a little more.
6. Practice
As with all things in golf, you won’t get better until you practice. It will likely take a while to get your swing to feel fluid.
When Should You Hit a Draw?
It can be very beneficial to learn how to hit a draw in golf. Still, you could be curious as to when you’ll actually need to hit a draw on a golf course. In truth, there isn’t really ever an urgent need to hit a draw. It’s something that you pick up as you get deeper in your golf game, or you may even pick it up without even practicing.
Ultimately, a draw can offer you those advantages like distance and control, which may be the finishing touches you need in your game to take down an opponent.