Question About My Draw Flight Pattern

[dragonflyin]

I've unintentionally developed a slight draw with my irons this season. Result of learning to make better contact with the ball and grooving a swing with blades. However, I still want the boring ball flight that I used to have. Now, I know many people like hitting draws, however, I hate not being able to aim exactly where I plan to land the ball. As in, my draw is not a push draw, it leaves the club face straight on line, then slightly draws to the left. So, if I want to play this shot, I have to aim right. Does anyone else have this issue or concern? Is this even a proper draw pattern? Thanks!

[Spectrums]

That's kind of a mini-hook. You are flipping the club slightly over at impact thus giving you that path. I've got the same issue.

A draw would start right of your intended line and then come back left to your target.

[jasongst]

That's kind of a mini-hook. You are flipping the club slightly over at impact thus giving you that path. I've got the same issue.

Isn't that semantic? If he expected the intended line to be a little more left, wouldn't that "fix" his "mini-hook"?

It's the same thing. But you might be right; he might be "flipping" the club (I hate that term though; it's so inadequate). In other words, he might be forcing the club through the impact area with his hands, instead of allowing it to release naturally, or he might be releasing it too soon. Another thing that will certainly work is to weaken the grip (turn the club face out a smidge). You may need this adjustment. Ben Hogan needed it. If the release is off, it's better to fix that first though.

[TommyD69]

You can talk to a slice...

A hook won't listen!!!

[dragonflyin]

So what I gather is that for a traditional "draw" flight, you shouldn't have to make any aiming adjustments because the ball will start out right, and draw back on line? Does that mean I should have a slightly open clubface at impact?

[jasongst]

So what I gather is that for a traditional "draw" flight, you shouldn't have to make any aiming adjustments because the ball will start out right, and draw back on line? Does that mean I should have a slightly open clubface at impact?

Frankly I think he got you all confused. A draw is a mini-hook is a draw, same thing *. You can try several things to alter it if you don't like it. For instance, you can open your club face via weakening your grip, or you can work on a more natural (later) release. You can even hold off on your release, although I don't recommend this because a good swing will allow you to fully release the club.

*The only difference is your expectations. Since you expect your ball to go straight, the draw catches you off guard. If over time you end up expecting the draw, then you'll naturally aim a little right to compensate. Same thing!

[chingali]

So long as it's 90% consistent does it really matter? No it doesn't. Many years ago I was taught by a former tour player who won many tournaments down here in Australia and who played for quite a lot of years on the PGA tour in the 70's and the first thing he talked to me about was developing a "stock" shot. One where you can stand over the ball and know where it is going to go and what shape it will take getting there. He told me that if it worked out to be a draw or a fade it wasn't the most important thing, the most important thing was that I could repeat the pattern over and over.

I ended up going with a right to left ball flight as it was more natural to me and it has worked out well. I know that I am not going to lose a shot to the right, occasionally I'll block one but it happens so infrequently that I don't even think about it. If the pin is in the middle of the green I just aim at the right edge of the green, if the pin is left edge I can aim at the middle of the green or if the pin is cut right I can aim at it and know I'll be in the middle of the green. If the pin is cut hard left and there is trouble on that side, I can just start it at the middle of the green or the right edge. It's all about what you are used to doing. Similar scenario when driving, I'll generally just start it out at the right edge of the fairway and know that I have 30 or 40 yards to bring it back in to.

I can hit the ball left to right if I want to but I'll only do it if there is a specific reason, otherwise I just stick with what I know is predictable.

So basically I don't think that there is any correct ball flight, a fade is no better than a draw, they both have their advantages and disadvantages in my opinion. The one that IS BEST is the one that is most comfortable to you and you can repeat continuously. Either way if you practice and play often enough then unless you are dumber than dogsh*t you'll work out a way to get yourself around any golf course with either shot pattern. It's when you have no idea which way it's going to go that you'll find yourself in trouble.

[michaeljames92]

So long as it's 90% consistent does it really matter? No it doesn't. Many years ago I was taught by a former tour player who won many tournaments down here in Australia and who played for quite a lot of years on the PGA tour in the 70's and the first thing he talked to me about was developing a "stock" shot. One where you can stand over the ball and know where it is going to go and what shape it will take getting there. He told me that if it worked out to be a draw or a fade it wasn't the most important thing, the most important thing was that I could repeat the pattern over and over.

Well Said. I agree

[dragonflyin]

Thanks for everyone's input! Let me elaborate a little further on the technical aspect of my swing. Hopefully that will shed some more light.

I have developed a consistent flight pattern of being boring. However, I am encountering a slight draw as I'm trying to add more distance to my mid to long irons. I am adding distance by trying to deliberately hit more down at the ball, and this has created a much more piercing trajectory, thus longer carry. What I feel is happening is that because of the more descending blow, I am hooding the club face at impact with my already inside-out swing plane. So it either starts out online then draws, or could be a slight pull. I am toying with it because it adds around 5-10 yards to my 3-6 irons. This swing is more of a "driving range" swing as I have not used it out on the course. I'm just trying to understand draws better (thus posing the question) before actually using it.

So, here are my follow up questions. Somehow this "hitting down at the ball" strategy works best with mid-long irons, but not as well with short irons or woods (obviously). Is it just me or do you also have different (default) swings for different types of clubs in your bag? Also, how do you develop a proper release of the club?

[beung]

Well to me it just sounds like maybe a combination of things.

1) Your grip might have grown to be a bit too strong. Since your ball starts on the line your feet and body are on your swing path is pretty good, just your club face is a bit closed to that line.

2) Having the ball closer to the middle of your stance is going to allow you to trap the ball better which gives you a nice piercing ball flight but is also puts on a slight draw spin because you're catching the ball earlier in your swing while your club is going inside to out more then if you hit the ball later in your swing when it is more square or even later when it is a little outside to in.

Maybe reduce one of those things to see if it helps. If you like your grip the way it is then maybe try moving the ball just slightly forward in your stance.

[dragonflyin]

I actually have a pretty weak grip with my right hand. The "V" is pointing straight up at my face.

Ball position is definitely one of the factors. I've been tinkering with it lately as well. Too many variables right now, in terms of how upright I stand and how far apart are my feet (used to be too far apart). Everything is open to change for me right now. A little exciting and frustrating at the same time...