Off the Tee..In General....Draw or Fade?

[Three Putt]

I used to always try to draw the ball when younger off the tee to get more distance and also the chest puff "factor"

Recently T Woods said a fade goes just as far because the new balls are just that good, power fades go as far as draws.

I tend to agree with the best player of all time, my power fades always seem to get a good "skip" on a firm fairway and roll a long way. Natural shot is a fade with the irons, commited to a fade with the driver and distance is better for the most part and reliable accuracy is more consistent...tighter shot dispersion off the tee.

[cbe_golfer]

Where's the slice option?.:-)
No..stock swing with a driver was a fade last year. Been hitting a lot of rangeballs this winter..It will be a stock draw this year. I need the extra roll distance because I am more than 200 yards out on the long par fours otherwise.

[Eore]

when i make a decent swing, it naturally draws. however, 70% of the time i hit a "power fade".....not this year though (says the hopeful young boy with tears in his eyes)

[bwgolfer]

It depends on the hole and what shot is required. I will admit that I like to in general take the left side of the hole out of play. You know what they say" you can control a fade ,but a hook has a mind of it's own". bwgolfer;-)

[TourSpoon]

With my most recent purchase, the Callaway BB 454, I find that my ball flight off the tee is straight with the ever so slightest of fades when I need it. It is very predictable and easy to control with a slight set-up change without too much thinking. To hit a draw with this club takes too much effort and when I need that shape I hit my Cally X Tour three wood.

[Dent]

If I get my proper swing going, I hit it straight almost every time. On a round of golf i can hit maybe 13/18 fairways. My driver is really accurate

[lamebums]

I usually hit a draw for more distance (more roll) although I'm working on being able to hit a draw or a cut on demand, whenever a situation demands it. If I can't afford a shot dribbling off into the next area code and into God knows what trouble, I'll (attempt to) hit a cut.

[neudi]

My natural shot is a draw, but if need be I can hit a fade.

[duffer]

I've been hitting an unintentional fade off the tee for a about 3 months now. Not really sure what started it.

[supercow]

Used to hit a draw but found that when my swing went awry the ball went absolutely everywhere. Hence, I've switched over to a stock fade (but I can still draw the ball when required).

[sonicblue]

When I'm striking it really well, my path is usually dead straight, but if I vary off that, it is toward a fade. I tried to get myself to hit a draw but failed, and then I read a piece of advice that made me quit trying. Essentially, the clubface opens up during the backswing and you need to close it as you come to impact. To draw it, you need to close it up to square and then some, the risk being you then do it too severely and hook/snap it.

When I gave in to that, it took a lot of stress out of my swing. I swing to square but don't ever try to overdo it. A lot of times I get right to square, which is great, but sometimes I can be less tense (read: more powerful) by just releasing my wrists to just short of square, knowing I won't pull it, and having aligned to allow some room for a fade. Ever since I adopted this approach, I'm driving farther and more accurately than ever. Granted, my degree of fade can vary a bit so I'm not a given to hit 12 fairways or anything, but my misses are usually very minor.

[Big_M]

prefer the slightest fade... but will swing both ways (don't take this out of context).

[powerfade]

It's a draw, but I'd rather fade it.
I also drew my irons for all of 2007.

With new clubs in the bag (less offset irons and an open face on the driver) I will make the transition to the fade for the entire bag this year.

[Crafty]

I hit a natural draw so i don't try to change that off the tee unless the hole calls for a fade. I am trying to learn to work the ball with the shape of the hole because it leaves a greater marigin of error for htting the fairway.

[g-funk13]

I try to hit a high draw, I love the way it looks!

[Steaksauce]

If the weather is above 40 degrees I almost always hit a high draw with a pretty good amount of backspin. Only when its in the 30's I get this strange slice that never happens other wise so I guess I shouldn't need to be that concerned about it.

[lordnazgul]

Generally it is a high draw, but sometimes with tension i don't release properly get a fade in, not uncontrollable though.

Personally in my experience a draw is a lot more controllable with a driver than a fade, especially into the wind, they do have a tendency to balloon and almost go 90 degrees to the right!!

[FortAsel]

Draw is my go to shot. I tend to play it in every long shot (any shot that isn't an aproach shot)

[Leek]

I've hit a draw for years. I'm trying to switch to a fade.

[pt71658]

Usually based on the penalty for hitting it bad. Water or OB left I hit the fade because my usual miss is a pull-hook. Tight fairways are usually a fade if hole shape allows. If my swing is pure any given day I will draw most tee shots.

[tm22721]

Mid Irons - straight or draw
Long irons - straight
Driver - straight or fade

[Daddy Golfer]

I prefer fade. I seem to see that shot over a draw. If a hole requires a draw from the tee I pull out my 4W, which is draw bias.

[Oregon Golf Ho]

My TaylorMade TP R5 Neutral 9.5* with a Fit on!-11 (six) Fujikura stiff shaft are perfect for
hitting a draw. I used to slice badly but about three years ago I worked hard to cure my slice.
Now I hit a draw or if it goes straight it will stay to the right side of the fairway which on my
home course is usually the safe place to be.

[Craig Mac]

I tend to get the hips ahead of the swing and my misses usually go from slightly left to flat pull-hooks. It's dreadful at times, but I am working on it.

[Finn07]

Fade all the way, I can control it alot better because if I start trying to draw the ball im afraid the ever dreaded hook will start coming out. I used to battle the hooks, not any more though.

[Jeepthrills]

I need an option for both. Not because I am wildly inconsistent. I tend to draw my irons and fade my driver and 3 wood. I can do both with my hybrid but usually play that for a straight shot. I'm confusing myself.

[SteelDriver]

Left.....................Middle.................Right.............0<----my ball :-(

[WeeT]

Left.....................Middle.................Right.............0<----my ball :-(

That's 90% of my drives if I try and muscle up.
I usually can manage a slight draw with my 3 and 4 hybrids off the tee as long as i dont sky the shot. It's the best feeling in the world when a noticeable draw happens with my hybrids.
For now though, a fade off the tee for sure.