Hitting a draw with a driver

[Region3]

My question is... how would you do that?

I normally try to hit straight, but sometimes either leak it a little to the right but straight, or start straight and fade a little.

If I need to hit a fade I'm ok with that, but there's one hole where I play that I could really use a draw.

I've tried turning my hands over more on impact but it's very unpredictable, and I've also tried lining up right with the clubface pointing at the target but hit most of those dead straight!!

Can anybody suggest another way, or a better way of doing what I've already tried?

 

[Smiffy]

I've tried turning my hands over more on impact but it's very unpredictable, and I've also tried lining up right with the clubface pointing at the target but hit most of those dead straight!!

I try exactly the same as you R3, but with the same unpredictable results!
I never know whether I'm going to hit a nice draw or an ugly duck hook....and 9 times out of 10 end up with a horrible block right

 

[jammydodger]

I usually set up right of target but with the clubface a little closed , then pull my right back foot a little further for good measure. Then swing naturally tbh cos my normal shape is a draw

 

[Ethan]

Hitting a nice draw with a driver is tough, and flipping the hands is an unreliable way to do it.

I would suggest trying with a 3 wood, and put the ball a bit further back in the stance, aim shoulders and feet a bit right, but aim the clubface straight at where you want it to go, then make sure you don't get too active with the legs. Drawers tend to be arm swingers, faders body swingers.

 

[Region3]

Hitting a nice draw with a driver is tough, and flipping the hands is an unreliable way to do it.

I would suggest trying with a 3 wood, and put the ball a bit further back in the stance, aim shoulders and feet a bit right, but aim the clubface straight at where you want it to go, then make sure you don't get too active with the legs. Drawers tend to be arm swingers, faders body swingers.

I'll give it a go on the range before I play today. On the hole I need the draw, I only need it because of running out of fairway. If I hit 3 wood off the tee I wouldn't need to draw it.

I know the obvious answer is to take my 3 wood off the tee, but it leaves a much longer 2nd shot because the landing area for my 3 wood distance is uphill. If I hit a good driver it can get to the top of the hill and be maybe 50yds further after the roll.

 

[bobmac]

Do you get a shot on that hole?

 

[Pants]

Wise words

I think I need lessons in course management as well as how to hit the thing.

 

[Ethan]

Hitting a nice draw with a driver is tough, and flipping the hands is an unreliable way to do it.

I would suggest trying with a 3 wood, and put the ball a bit further back in the stance, aim shoulders and feet a bit right, but aim the clubface straight at where you want it to go, then make sure you don't get too active with the legs. Drawers tend to be arm swingers, faders body swingers.

I'll give it a go on the range before I play today. On the hole I need the draw, I only need it because of running out of fairway. If I hit 3 wood off the tee I wouldn't need to draw it.

I know the obvious answer is to take my 3 wood off the tee, but it leaves a much longer 2nd shot because the landing area for my 3 wood distance is uphill. If I hit a good driver it can get to the top of the hill and be maybe 50yds further after the roll.

Sure, but hitting a draw with a driver is tougher. You could also tee the ball up a bit higher, which helps a little to get the draw going. make a good free release and feel the club is going around you after impact.

I can hit a draw with the driver, but its unpredictable cousin, the snap hook, is often lurking and sometimes butts in, so I now try to fade it more often.

 

[RGDave]

I reckon unless a draw is quite a regular occurrence, leave well alone. Since working on my in-out path, I've hit a few draws as a "natural" sort of shot. As soon as you force these things, a disaster will soon ruin a potential safe bogey hole.

Start off with a fairway wood and see if your natural way of swinging can do it or not.

 

[Region3]

Do you get a shot on that hole?

For stableford, yes, but I'm really really averse to thinking that way. I always try to think what is the best way to play to get down in the fewest possible shots, regardless of whether that's 4, 5, or 8.

If I can't learn to hit a slight draw with my driver then I'll just start hitting 3 wood off that tee and settle for a long iron for my second.

I took driver today. Flew it straight into the trees right without bouncing. Found it under a tree where the branches were only a foot off the ground so hit my second out sideways from on my knees! 6 iron for my third pin-high but left of the green. Left the chip 15' short and made the putt for a bog-standard bogey

 

[andiritchie]

You have to play the shots you have got,if you play a fade so be it, if you get down to a really good level then think about moving it both ways

Play what comes natural,i have a high hook and a low one and i try to play with it

 

[THE_POWER_1978]

I had exactly the same problem for a long time. I always wanted to hit the draw and I hit it 95% of the time now. To do this I tee it up on the left hand side of the tee box for starters which opens up the whole fairway. I then aim down the right side with my right foot slightly back. I also have my right hand slightly stronger. Finally I make sure I really committ to driving through the ball with the right hand. The odd one I do block right is when my hips get slightly ahead, mainly due to trying to knock the spots off it. Hope this helps.

 

[JustOne]

Left the chip 15' short and made the putt for a bog-standard bogey

Sounds like you saved yourself from a 'bog standard' double bogey with a decent putt

1 into trouble off the tee
2 recovery, often sideways or 50yd chip
3 misses the green
4 chips to about 6 feet
5 misses the six-footer
6 tap-in

Bog standard

 

[Region3]

The story of my day really, chipping and putting saving the score.

I counted 6 holes where I didn't have a shot at GIR, only hit 6 of the 12 I did have a chance at,and 2 of the ones I missed the green were from inside 70yds.

I think I'll just work on trying to hit the ball straight again!!

 

[Region3]

Went to the range last night, and had a go at a drill someone mentioned elsewhere in the forums (Ethan I think) just swinging to horizontal both ways, making sure the club (hands) turns over properly.

7 iron shots were going dead straight so I had a play about with deliberately opening the clubface on the way back slighly more than normal (instead of trying to turn my hands over on impact to create a draw) and I had the ball turning to the left about 5-10 yards!

I then had a go with the driver, and got a mixture of straight shots, gentle draws, and low hooks.
Can't say I've sussed it but enough promise to try 15 or 20 balls like that each time I go to the range.

 

[RGDave]

I had a play about with deliberately opening the clubface on the way back slighly more than normal (instead of trying to turn my hands over on impact to create a draw) and I had the ball turning to the left about 5-10 yards!

You were opening the clubface on the backswing to hit a draw?
That's an odd idea.

I took a non-square driver to the range tonight and had a go at hitting a few (draws). This wasn't my intention; my aim was to push the ball at first and then try and loop it left.
I managed a few at the end.

I did however hit some corking 7 irons with a 5-10 yard draw.....lovely......went about 165 yards too, which is 15 more than normal.

 

[Region3]

I had a play about with deliberately opening the clubface on the way back slighly more than normal (instead of trying to turn my hands over on impact to create a draw) and I had the ball turning to the left about 5-10 yards!

You were opening the clubface on the backswing to hit a draw?
That's an odd idea.

I took a non-square driver to the range tonight and had a go at hitting a few (draws). This wasn't my intention; my aim was to push the ball at first and then try and loop it left.
I managed a few at the end.

I did however hit some corking 7 irons with a 5-10 yard draw.....lovely......went about 165 yards too, which is 15 more than normal.

My thinking was that if it felt open on the backswing, my hands would turn over naturally on the downswing. It's probably a bad idea though if it's creating a compensation for a fault.
Needs a lot more practice though before I decide if it's consistently repeatable.

I also tried (when I was getting bored) standing a bit open and back of the ball and really lunging at it trying to knock the cover off, like Happy Gilmore but without the run up. They were the best drives I hit all night, about 30-40yds further and mostly straight

Don't think I'll be trying that on the 1st tee next time I play though!

How were you purposely hitting a draw?

 

[RGDave]

How were you purposely hitting a draw?

Firstly, I'm working on getting in the slot and hitting a simple push shot. Out of the 80 balls I hit yesterday, less than 10% started left. The one's that did felt bad, bad timing and clearly coming over the top.

I tend to do a lot of "reps" at the range. With no ball, I clip the tee peg (I have 4 different heights and use the one that offers about 1 cm clearance off the mat).

Once the pushes come *most* of the time, I then work on getting the face right.
With longer clubs I need to tweak my grip a little stronger and feel the hands crossing over through impact. With shorter clubs, the draw comes easily.....I think for me, the longer clubs need me more to think about spinning the ball, like a down the line top spin tennis shot.

Having said all this, if I want to hit a hook-y ball or draw off the tee, I'll be sticking with my 4 iron.

With a driver, I'm more concerned with just not pulling than hitting a draw. The draws might come, but I'm not going to risk it just yet.

 

[Sanderslongdrive]

A draw is a great shot to play with a driver as if it is achieved correctly it will result in more overall distance.

The way I personally use to hit further with a slight draw is to practice it on the driving range with a 3 iron. It is far too difficult to practice it with a driver, except for an expert.

Here is what one needs to do:

Do not change grip, stance, backswing or anything else fundamental. Golf requires a consistent approach and anything too unusual will be unfamiliar and will cause more problems than benefits.

Line up and swing back as normal but sharply focus on the inside of the ball as your target area. Attack that area of the ball with a view to pushing the ball out to the right of your intended target. Your attacking left hip will be out of alignment - coming in right of target.

As you come through the ball square up and follow through long and high, directly at the real intended target, finishing with your belt buckle facing target.

By crushing the ball on the inside its unusual internal compression and vibration can increase C.O.R. (trampoline effect) from the legal driver limit of 0.830 to around 1.0. Scientists refer to this phenomemon as 'increased C.O.R. resulting from an oblique collision.'

By increasing C.O.R. further distance will be achieved. Such increased distance (in this case) is not secured via side spin, or ball trajectory, or reduced backspin. It is achieved via increased C.O.R. By so increasing C.O.R. in this way a draw is inevitable.

 

[RGDave]

Thanks SLD....nice to see the post re-born.

Welcome to the forum. Especially welcome to Midlanders too.