The draw golf shot is the bee’s knees on the course. It’s like having a secret weapon from the tee all the way to the green.
When you’re faced with a tricky right-to-left dogleg hole, that’s when it’s time to unleash your draw-shot wizardry. By bending the golf ball along with the shape of the hole, you can land it in the sweet spot on the fairway. Talk about a prime ball position.
In this article, we’re going to explain exactly how you can hit a draw consistently, and create the ultimate ball flight.
You can thank us later…
A Draw In Golf Explained
While chances are you’ll pretty much know what a draw is, we thought it would be worth giving a quick definition for those new to the golf game.
Thankfully, it’s a super simple concept:
When you’re a right-handed golfer, a draw in golf is when the golf ball takes a nice little journey from right to left. However, left-handed folks experience the opposite, with a slight left-to-right movement.
That’s it in a nutshell.
What you need to know for now is that this baby is the most controllable ball flight out there, allowing you to substantially up your golfing game.
So, let’s kick back and have a chat about how to set yourself up for that beautiful draw. It’s all about the proper setup and a smooth process, friends, as you’ll soon see.
Benefits Of Hitting A Draw Well
When you master the art of hitting a draw with confidence, a world of benefits opens up. From jaw-dropping distances to laser-guided accuracy, this coveted technique can really elevate your game to new heights.
So grab your clubs and let’s dive into the perks of unleashing a well-executed draw on the golf course.
Improved Distance Control
By mastering the art of hitting a draw in golf, players can experience improved distance control compared with a straight shot. It’s kind of like having a personal caddy who knows exactly how to carry the golf ball to the perfect spot on the fairway.
A well-executed draw tends to have a flatter trajectory and a slight curve from right to left (for right-handed players), resulting in increased roll and overall distance. This control allows players to better navigate the course, strategically placing their shots and maximizing their chances of reaching the green in fewer strokes versus a straight shot.
Enhanced shot-shaping abilities
Hitting a draw in golf expands a player’s shot-shaping repertoire. With a draw, golfers gain the ability to intentionally curve the golf ball from right to left. This allows you to navigate around obstacles, shape shots to fit tight fairways, or target specific landing areas.
This versatility opens up a wide range of possibilities for big gains and provides an advantage in many different course conditions.
Ability to play in bad weather
Having the ability to hit a draw in golf can be particularly advantageous in windy weather, especially when it comes to aligning your shots with the target line. Here’s why:
- Control: A draw with a lower ball flight can help mitigate the effects of strong crosswinds. By curving the ball from right to left (for a right-handed golfer), you can reduce the amount of wind resistance and better control the ball’s flight path in relation to the target line.
- Wind alignment: When faced with a crosswind, hitting a draw allows you to align your shots in a manner that takes advantage of the wind direction. By aiming slightly into the wind, the draw can utilize the wind to push the ball back toward the target line, helping you maintain accuracy along the desired path despite challenging wind conditions.
How To Hit A Draw In Golf
So, without further ado, here are our foolproof steps on how to hit a draw. Mastering each of these steps won’t happen right away. But with a little bit of practice, you should be able to consistently hit a draw that will make you the envy of your golfing buddies.
Step 1: Right alignment
At first glance, aiming right when you want the ball to curve left might seem like a strange choice. After all, isn’t the right side of the hole where you’re trying to avoid?
But when your ball is soaring through the air, curving multiple yards from right to left, you’ll understand why.
Let’s break it down:
Pick a spot on the right of your intended target. The distance you choose will determine how much your ball will curve i.e. the farther to the right, the greater the draw. For a super-controlled ball flight, attempt to aim 15 yards to the right when teeing off.
Now, set up your shot as if you’re aiming for that spot. Align your feet, shoulders, and club towards that point on the right. It’s pretty much just like creating a GPS system for your golf ball. (Just make sure it doesn’t start asking for directions, that would be alarming.)
Step 2: Your clubface
Maintaining precise alignment is crucial for this step. Ensure that your body remains just the same as it was in the previous step, with only one change required: adjusting the position of your club face.
First, identify your target – the spot where you want the ball to land. Then, without shifting your body, gradually rotate the club face until it points directly at this target.
It might help to picture yourself holding a compass and aligning the needle perfectly with your desired destination.
Step 3: Focus on your grip
In step 2, assuming you maintained the alignment of your entire body while adjusting the club face, you’ll have noticed that your grip on the golf club will have undergone some small but important changes.
Closing the club face causes your left hand (top hand) to gradually shift slightly underneath the grip which will have resulted in the loss of visibility of a couple of knuckles.
However, a proper golf grip entails being able to see three knuckles on your left hand during the setup. This grip technique not only helps eliminate a slice but also beautifully facilitates hitting a cool draw.
Now, without altering your setup or the alignment of your club, carefully readjust your left hand around the grip until three knuckles are viewable.
There you have it. Your body is aligned to the right, your club face is pointing down the middle, and your grip is spot on.
Step 4: Stop swinging too steeply
One mistake commonly observed among amateur golfers is swinging the club too steeply. What exactly does this mean? This refers to raising the golf club too quickly and subsequently dropping it abruptly during the downswing.
This type of golf swing movement leads to various problems, including a decrease in distance and the absence of the desired right-to-left spin needed for executing a draw. It just makes things, well, messy.
In contrast, the pros typically have shallower swings, which should be your goal as well. Not only does a shallower swing make it easier to play a draw, but it also adds substantial distance to your shots.
So, just how can you achieve a shallower swing? Several techniques work well, but one of the simplest is neutralizing the shaft.
Step 5: Follow-through
Ever wondered why follow-through is so important in golf? It’s not simply a weird golfing ritual or formality. The truth is that the follow-through is an important component that reflects the entire swing.
To achieve a successful and consistent draw, it’s important to finish your swing strong. This means finishing with your chest out and your right shoulder facing your target. By focusing on this, you’ll ensure that the mechanics of a good golf swing have been implemented throughout the earlier parts of your swing.
A lazy, untidy follow-through will likely result in the ball flying out to the right. Not good.
Step 6: Swing smooth
This is an easy one, you’ll be pleased to know. Just don’t associate the straightforwardness of this step with it not being very important, it’s still a critical step in how to hit a draw successfully.
Most golfers, fueled by the desire to hit a powerful draw, often fall into the trap of trying to crush the ball with all their might.
However, this approach can lead to things falling apart rather quickly. Swinging too fast can result in excessive body rotation and an open club face. In simpler terms, it means the ball position will end up veering to the right instead of achieving the desired draw.
The beauty of the draw lies in its ability to generate extra distance effortlessly. There’s no need to swing harder in an attempt to achieve the additional distance commonly associated with a draw. The draw itself provides the desired distance boost.
By following the previous steps we’ve discussed, you’ll naturally impart spin from right to left on the ball, create a beautiful drawing flight path and gain that coveted extra distance.
So, there’s no need to obsess over extracting extra power from your drive. Instead, focus on implementing the aforementioned steps flawlessly, and maintain a smooth and controlled swing.
Step 7: Know when to swing shallow
Another error that’s common among amateur golfers is swinging the driver with waaay too much steepness. Essentially, this entails raising the club too quickly and subsequently dropping it too abruptly during the downswing.
Such a swing movement gives rise to some issues, including a reduction in distance and the absence of optimal spin (specifically, the desired right-to-left spin essential for executing a nice draw).
Professional golfers, on the other hand, typically exhibit much shallower swings compared to us mere amateurs. Consequently, aspiring golfers should strive to emulate this shallower swing, as it not only facilitates playing a draw but also results in significantly greater shot distance.
But how can you achieve a shallower golf swing? Several techniques can help, with the simplest approach being to neutralize the shaft.
Neutralizing your hands involves a simple adjustment of moving them back, aligning the shaft of your driver closer to a 90-degree angle in relation to your body.
This change automatically fosters a shallower swing. The result? A drive that effortlessly outdistances your companions by an impressive amount, leaving them in awe of your newfound prowess and consistently impressive performance. Well, there’s always room for a little showing off in golf, isn’t there?
Step 8: The power of the mind
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Golf is as much a mental game as anything, and the power of belief is a key component for many pro players.
“That’s all well and good for those guys,” you might be thinking. “They have the skillset that allows them to believe in themselves!”
Well, yeah, there’s that. But the truth is just about anyone can harness the ability of visualization. Think about it: when you fixate on the possibility of hitting a hazard, how often does that dreaded outcome manifest? More than you’d like, it’s probably safe to say.
The same goes for positive thinking and visualization.
Take a moment to envision yourself smashing a magnificent drive that leaves your friends in awe. Picture your club moving on a flawless inside-out swing path, with the clubhead squarely aimed at your target as you strike the ball.
Hone in on the priceless expressions on your buddies’ faces as they witness your ball position curving gracefully from the right side of the fairway back to the middle. Or the astonishment when your shot lands beyond where theirs have come to rest and rolls an additional 25 yards*.
Remember, your mind is the most potent tool you possess on the golf course, and having an unwavering belief in your ability to hit a draw is paramount to actually accomplishing it.
Thankfully, anyone can achieve this skill by following these eight straightforward steps. So, harness the power of your imagination, trust in yourself, and get ready to unleash that remarkable draw shot that will make you the envy of your playing partners.
*Insert Dr evil-style maniacal laughter here
FAQs
Are there practice drills that can help improve my ability to play a draw?
Glad you asked! Here are a couple of brilliant practice drills, ideal for improving your draw shots:
- Alignment sticks drill: Set up some good ol’ alignment sticks (or clubs, they’ll do) on the ground to create a path that encourages an inside-out swing. Practice hitting shots while keeping the club between the alignment sticks throughout the swing.
- Swing plane drill: Use a mirror or video recording to observe and analyze your swing path. Focus on swinging the club on an inside-out path, ensuring the clubface is square at impact for the best swing path.
- Half-swing drill: Practice hitting controlled half-swing draw shots to develop a feel for the correct swing path and clubface control. Gradually increase the length of your swings while maintaining the same principles.
How to hit a draw with an open stance?
You can ace your draw ball flight even with an open stance. The key here is that the shape depends on how you use your golf swing through impact. But, achieving that perfect draw requires some serious finesse in your clubface position and wrist action. It’s all about balancing rotation and movement to get the best swing path and ball flight.
While hitting that draw can be pretty awesome, it also opens up a can of “missing the target left” worms for the right-handed golfer. Yep, it’s a risk, but hey, sometimes you’ve got to take those risks to make the magic happen.
Just watch out for that sneaky hook shot. If you fail to get that clubface in the right position through impact, you might end up hooking that golf ball left of the target. But on the flip side, if you leave that clubface open to the swing path, you might just end up giving your shot a gentle push.
Can playing a draw help me navigate course layouts or hazards more effectively?
Absolutely!
Playing a draw can be really advantageous in certain situations, such as on dogleg holes where it’s best to shape your shots to maximize positioning and distance. These shots can also be great when there’s an ominous tree looking at you or a water hazard you’d give your life savings to avoid.
Being able to draw means you can curve the ball away from danger with ease. Draws are also ideal on approach shots to greens with left pin positions. When you execute a good draw, it can allow the golf ball to land softly and hold the green.
What are the most common draw mistakes?
When it comes to how to hit a draw successfully, there are quite a few pitfalls that golfers tend to fall into. Without a doubt, the most common are:
- Too much of a closed club face at the address, which can lead to a hook
- Over-exaggerating the inside-out swing path, resulting in a push or slice
- Failing to maintain proper balance and tempo throughout the swing
- Gripping the club too tightly, which restricts the clubface’s natural rotation
Mistakes do happen, but if you commonly find yourself making the same swing path mishap over and over again, it might be time to take a step back and really try to evaluate where you’re going wrong. It could be a closed club face or bad balance, but don’t stress it; these things can be fixed. Remember, with golf, the old saying practice makes perfect really is true.