When to draw the ball?

[flandango]

Hey everyone,

This may sound stupid but when (apart from getting around trees etc) would you play a draw?

Is the spinning of the ball more useful in certain situations?

I am mainly talking about drawing Iron shots. I can play the shot but just need to know when and why???

Thanks guys

 

[brendy]

Its not a case of times and places, most club players usually have a "shape" fade, straight or draw. Its your normal reliable shot. Ive started trying to fade the ball off certain tee boxes that have more room down the left to bring the ball back where a straight or drawn ball might clip trees, So far id say im having decent returns from it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess the main benefit of being able to draw a ball is to attack a tight pin on the left hand side of a green where you can aim for the centre and allow for a nice right to left curve into the flag and watch is nestle next to the pin like an old dog next to an open fire

 

[flandango]

Nice Homer. But with myself it will more than likely dart off out of sight like a dog chasing something to hump!!!

Yeah I kind of play it when I need to, just wondered if anyone had any technical explination as to its purposes.

I tend to find trees in my way quite a lot so it has become useful!

 

[haplesshacker]

I may be wrong, and no doubt will be corrected.

Apart from obstacles.

A draw produces a greater run off than a fade. Therefore playing a fade into the green is desirable as the ball will run less and therefore you have more control over the distance the ball runs.

Well that's how I understod it anyway.

Please put me right.

 

[theeaglehunter]

If the fairway slopes left to right quite steeply a draw would be preferable to allow it to hold on the short stuff. There are loads of examples where it might help.

 

[brendy]

HH you are correct.
Still bloody hard to control at the best of times though haha.

 

[Smiffy]

A draw produces a greater run off than a fade.

Correct!
A good golfer will almost always play a draw to get more run on the ball, unless they are playing a shot where a fade (and therefore less run) is more desireable.
The scenario that theeaglehunter describes above is also a good example of where a draw would be more useful.

 

[Cernunnos]

Draw shots are renound for extra length you can get. But its interestin that in certain types of windy conditions that slightly knocked down draw shape of stroke can be most effective at keeping the ball on the straight & narrow, so to speak. Keeping the ball under the radar so to speak.

 

[CarpeDiem]

At my home course (Whipsnade Park) the 16th is a medium length dog leg right with trees forming the corner, all the way from tee to green. Now, I used to have a slight fade which would allow me to shape the ball around the corner, however I would still have a long second shot into the green. I have now progressed in the game enough to be able to hit a fade or draw on cue, this has enabled me to hit my tee shot over the trees knowing that the ball will come back enough to hit the fairway. This approach leaves me with a wedge into the green rather than a 3 wood an therefore have more birdies than bogeys on the SI 3 hole. I think that this would qualify when to hit a draw.

 

[Ken_A]

Most courses require you to be able to play these shots well.
From my course an example of this is the 3rd, SI2, Par 5. High Draw or straight shot from the tee, then long 3 wood faded through tight gap between trees, then light draw to green.

We have a hilly course and some holes you need to run with the slope and others you need to slam the ball into the hill to keep on the short stuff.

An example of this is the 18th. It slopes from left (high) to right(low) thus my regular high fade always rolls into the trees. If I try to keep left then the LHS trees get me.

I am a high handicapper and I find I NEED to be able to shape a ball a bit - I am not accurate, I am not precise but it does help me stay on the short stuff when there is a lot of run on the course. I aim up the middle (or towards a Landing Zone) and then TRY to shape the ball.

I only try to shape balls when hitting fairways - I would prefer to be on a green than over cock a fade/draw and have to chip back on.

I have learnt a lot from playing with a few old timers on the course - Played 2 rounds with a man who is 60+, he held the course record for 10 years.

 

[Herbie]

It is more often someting the average golfer does naturally rather than a choice. Most people should just play what theyve got.

If you are a pretty skillful player who can do draw or fade on demand, the draw would be better for extra distance and for working with a R to L fairway (if right handed)

The fade gives a slightly less distance generally and softer landing and less roll.

 

[viscount17]

When I started my natural shot, other then a slice, was a draw.
Then for a while I found I was hitting a fade, couldn't work out where the draw had gone or where the fade had come from, though the slice was always lurking as was its new friend, a duck hook.
Now the draw has returned, the fade appears on occasion (sometimes even when I want it to) but I still can't work out why.
The only surety is that the odd slice, duck hook or sky shot never desert you.

 

[RGuk]

I played with a draw for a few years and wished I could get it back. At mine, there are a few holes that would be much easier with a big r-l driver, but then again, there are some the other way around.
Most drives would probably favour one or the other but i.m.o. straight-ish is normally good enough!!
As for shots to the green, there are always going to be moments when you want to start the ball right of target and "turn it over" but they don't come that often for me because I don't really chase flags.....
I do use deliberate fades/slices and hooks but the draw is fairly elusive. The usual case for wanting to draw the ball is on a long 2nd shot (4 iron or less) when there's a bunker in the way, so players like to start the ball at the right of the green and hope for a good shot.

Incidentaly, I reckon I was 10 yards further off the tee with a draw. i.i.r.c. my regular shot was 3 or 4 degrees from the inside (and a degree of two open)....meaning if I didn't get the draw, I did get a few nasty pushes!!!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Assuming you're a right hander:

When the danger is on the lefthand side - ie bunkers/ponds etc.

Aim to the right hand side (away from danger) and bring it back.

If it doesn't draw at least you are away from the danger.

 

[DCB]

"Assuming you're a right hander:

When the danger is on the lefthand side - ie bunkers/ponds etc.

Aim to the right hand side (away from danger) and bring it back.

If it doesn't draw at least you are away from the danger. "

I would have thought that that was the time to fade the ball away from the trouble on the left. An over enthusiastic draw can turn into a hook quite easily!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I had a playing lesson this year & that was how I was taught it on the Brabazons back nine.

You don't want to aim at the danger just in case it doesn't fade.

By starting it at the right it has further to go to get to the trouble if it does over draw/ hook..