Draw or Fade!

[kid2]

As im sitting here watching the golf im just wandering how people play these shots.....
Is it a case of moving the feet in an open or closed position relative to target...
Manipulating the clubface open or closed.
Or is it to do with a neutral strong or weak grip.
Or is it a combination of all 3.....
And which is the easiest to master?
I never really try either and normally hit a fade but i would love to have the confidence to hit both well especially as im starting to understand the game a little better.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In my opinion, keep hitting it straight at the moment. Its great to have a draw or fade in your armoury but I struggle enought to keep hitting fairways and greens without trying to manipulate the shape as well.

 

[richart]

Hitting a draw or fade is not too hard, its hitting it straight thats a pig.

I just aim body right with club aimed at the target,and swing down the line for a draw. Similar for a fade but body aimed left. Some draws do turn into hooks and fades into slices though!

 

[haplesshacker]

Nailing it straight is the tricky bit. I think most of us have a 'shape' naturally. Although there are textbook ways to hit these shots, I reckon a lot depends on your natural shape.

My natural shape is a draw, if I try to fade it, it inevitably becomes a push fade. So I figured that I'd try and play with what I have, rather than fight it. Anyway, I try to keep it simple now-a-days. I just can't dedicate the time on the range or course to get all this stuff right.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

if you are talking about your irons, you should be hitting a draw to straight. if you are hitting a fade then something is wrong. the irons we have have toes weights to get draw on them and as i used to be a huge fader and now havent hit one since....

 

[haplesshacker]

Interesting one Pete.

I always understood it that draws produced extra roll when compared to a fade. Therefore iron shots into the green, particularly longer iron shots, should be played with a fade?

Hell. I'm just happy to hit the fairway or green.

 

[JustOne]

It depends what your idea of a draw or a fade is?

For me a fade starts at the target and moves to the right about 5 yds.

A Pull-fade starts 5 yds left of the target and drifts back to the target.

For me a draw starts at the target and moves to the left about 5 yds.

A Push-draw starts 5 yds right of the target and drifts back to the target.

So are we still talking draw/fade or pull-fade/push-draw?

 

[JustOne]

I just aim body right with club aimed at the target,and swing down the line for a draw. Similar for a fade but body aimed left. Some draws do turn into hooks and fades into slices though!

They will if your clubface is pointing at the target.

 

[JustOne]

if you are talking about your irons, you should be hitting a draw to straight. if you are hitting a fade then something is wrong.

Totally disagree. A fade is more accurate as it tends to stop quicker/softer so you should (in theory) hit fades into greens and have them stop right next to the flag.

That said... I hit a draw naturally, and generally go with what I have unless I definately need to fade one, in which case I'll hit a fade.

 

[richart]

Depends how far right or left you aim,but club should always be square to target.

 

[JustOne]

Depends how far right or left you aim,but club should always be square to target.

3 shots require your clubface to face the target..

Straight.
Fade (starts straight moves 5+ yds right of target).
Draw (starts straight moves 5+ yds left of target).

I don't ever have my clubface pointing at the target as I play a push-draw (starts right and curves back in) so my clubface is always open a fraction to the right.

 

[richart]

If you set up with club square and aim slightly to the right,and swing down the line, the shot will start slightly right and draw back to the target.Not sure if you are suggesting it will start on target and move 5 yards left ?

 

[kid2]

if you are talking about your irons, you should be hitting a draw to straight. if you are hitting a fade then something is wrong. the irons we have have toes weights to get draw on them and as i used to be a huge fader and now havent hit one since....

Hi Pete
your right in saying that the new irons have a straighter ball flight than my old Di7's....Im not sure if this is down to the stiffer shafts, the clubs themselves or the fact that im actually hitting them better....
Not sure about the weight in the toe causing a draw though!

 

[Ethan]

I tend to be a hooker, and that can be a bit of a bugger, so I am working on a fade shot with woods and irons.

 

[JustOne]

If you set up with club square and aim slightly to the right,and swing down the line, the shot will start slightly right and draw back to the target.Not sure if you are suggesting it will start on target and move 5 yards left ?

If your body is aimed right and your clubface is aimed at the target then (all things remaining equal) you are going to draw it to the left of your target.

It's going to start almost bang on at the flag (where it's pointing) with added draw spin... taking it left.

You might well look up and say "Damn, pulled it"

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

if you are talking about your irons, you should be hitting a draw to straight. if you are hitting a fade then something is wrong. the irons we have have toes weights to get draw on them and as i used to be a huge fader and now havent hit one since....

Hi Pete
your right in saying that the new irons have a straighter ball flight than my old Di7's....Im not sure if this is down to the stiffer shafts, the clubs themselves or the fact that im actually hitting them better....
Not sure about the weight in the toe causing a draw though!

check your clubs next time. on the back of the head where the wilson staff symbol is, that is where the weight is hidden. brings the toe in and helps with drawing

 

[RGDave]

I just try and hit the thing straight. However, I can move the ball when forced to, sometimes quite successfully.

One thing I do quite often is look at where the flag is, aim at the middle but loosen or strengthen my grip and either move my left foot back (fade) or right foot back (draw). Nothing odd in that, when it works, it does look like I really do know how to do it!!!

 

[JT77]

I played a pretty solid fade most last year, and have been tinkering with a draw over the winter.
Had a lesson few weeks back and the pro was telling me that my swing is a drawers swing and that i am not releasing which is why i am hitting the fade. Have been working on that, but I quite like the control fade from about 150 in, and I now sort of know how I am doing it! sort of....

 

[Parmo]

Fade off the desk and draw off the tee, no idea how its happening just does.

 

[FourPutt]

Fade off the desk and draw off the tee, no idea how its happening just does.

Playing in the office probably doesn't help!