Draw or Fade...Why?

[goldenbare]

There's nothing wrong with a fade provided you have enough length to play the course.

Having fought the slice all my off and on golfing life and now feel I am losing a bit of distance I definitely agree with this.
I think once the slice creeps in through lack of concentraton it takes 20 yds off my drive.
At least I know what I should be doing to put it right nowadays

 

[jammydodger]

I might end up rambling a bit on this subject as it is the one thing that is constantly running through my game.

I hit a natural draw with all my clubs , no problem whatsoever and very nice it looks too. BUT...it can turn into a nasty hook if I get too handsy and close the face too much at impact. Horrible shot and VERY destructive. Sometimes I fight it mid swing and end up blocking it way right , horrible results.

Now instead of just going with it I have worked non stop to be able to hit a straight iron shot now. I can do this quite proficiently and rarely hit a bad shot unless its slightly fat or thin. This to me creates consistency which enables me to score better and hence get more enjoyment from the game.

However with my woods I am still fighting a draw/hook so try to leave the clubface open at address to give me the feeling of hitting slightly open and giving me a straight or fading shot.

When I want to draw the ball I just swing naturally and let it happen.

You may think the game gets easier when down to my h/c but I can tell you with no word of a lie that every time \i stand on the tee with any sort of wood in my hand my brain is working overtime and i'm constantly regripping until I can get the right feeling of an open clubface. If they made a club that was several degrees open at address I would buy it tomorrow.

 

[0]

Arent all Titliest drivers 2 degrees open ? And surely they do its called an R9 or R11 so you can set the face open ?

 

[THJahar]

I'd love to see the proof that a draw travels further than a fade...stats anyone? (real scientific ones not just anecdotal, I can't seem to find owt on teh google)

 

[Ethan]

I'd love to see the proof that a draw travels further than a fade...stats anyone? (real scientific ones not just anecdotal, I can't seem to find owt on teh google)

It follows from basic physics that closing the face reduces loft, and opening it increases loft. It is the same principle which applies when your club is too upright or flat, respectively. Assuming you believe that less loft hits the ball further, QED. The effect of topspin, such as it is, on run may add some further overall distance to a hook/draw.

 

[percy_layer]

There's nothing wrong with a fade provided you have enough length to play the course.

I thought you would know that a fade and a draw both go the same distance............

It's only when the shape becomes more acute and the loft of the club is adversely affected that you lose distance and/or control of the shot.

Some of the games naturally long hitters play or played with a fade. Their swings incorporated what is commonly called a Reverse Slot Swing which creates a lot of power due to the club being pulled through the shot by the rotation of the body. Jack Nicklaus, John Daly and J B Holmes......

 

[JustOne]

I thought you would know that a fade and a draw both go the same distance............

Not with my clubs they don't


All faders like to think that they can hit it as far as the drawers

 

[Smiffy]

I'd love to see the proof that a draw travels further than a fade...stats anyone?

Don't know about official stats, but given the choice I'd rather play the rest of my golfing days with a natural, reliable draw than a natural, reliable fade.
Draws do go farther.

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

I find my drawn shots easier to control and more consistent, whereas my fades can easily slice if I'm not careful. I've never hit a hook without changing my grip and alignment, whereas all I need to do to slice is cup my wrist at the top and abbreviate my follow-through (although this is probably more properly a push fade than a slice).

 

[lee_leggett]

To be fair, I believe i can carry a fade further then i can carry my draw, so in weather like this a nice high fade works better. But come to dry summer days the draw will be well used.

 

[SatchFan]

Slight fade for me. As a junior I used to draw the ball all the time but never felt in control of it. Now with a fade I feel much more comfortable. Interestingly, I am also far happier with left to right putts rather than the other way around. Perhaps there is a connection.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Would love a fade as it seems (not got any science bits to back it up) to fly higher tahn a draw which I guess is open v closed club face and the spin imparted. Surely a fade in summer would stop quicker on drier greens?

 

[SyR]

I'm happy to hit it straight and practice this. If required I can hit a draw or fade but my control of it needs work and sometimes I end up blocking it.
For me a draw shot cuts through the wind better than a fade and the draw travels further.