Hitting draw/fade naturally, open/shut clubface of swing plane?

[Zeph]

I'm thinking about those who play a draw or a fade in their game.

Is it normally because of an open or shut clubface and that they aim to the left or right? Or is it because they have a swing that comes from the inside to the outside and visa versa?

I want to work some on drawing the ball, I'm too inconsistent with trying to put it in the middle of the fairway all the time, especially with the driver.
When I try to draw or fade I know the clubface is open or shut, which make my body automatically trying to compensate to get the ball clean, but I guess that's just practice as everythin else.

[Uber$winG]

I don’t believe that I have the intellectual kit-of-tools to talk about anything either natural or normal as it pertains to the golf swing. But… those who do play either “a natural” fade or draw probably employ the techniques you mentioned (open - closed club face, inside - out swing path).

Having said that, these are essentially the most reliable ways to shape the flight of a shot - no one way is necessarily the right way. It’s really all about repeatable results.

You can manipulate the club face at address so that, at impact, the club face is either slightly open or closed (to hit a fade or draw respectively). You can augment your address position by either opening or closing your stance in conjunction with altered swing path to get a fade or draw flight - as the path of your swing will put desired sidespin on the ball.

On a personal aside, when I have to shape a shot out of the rough, I get better results by manipulating the club face. On the fairway, I like to alter my address, and by consequence, the swing path to the ball.

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

I heard of aiming the face of the club at your intended target and then aligning your body either left or right and swinging along your body to either draw or fade the ball.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I think players who natually draw or fade the ball do it because of their alignment or set up habits. I dont think its as much swing mechanics as one might think.

[Zeph]

That's what I figured made sense also. Having a swing with inside to outside or visa versa would make it harder to play the ball. If you naturally hit a fade and shut the clubface a little you'll just end up hitting straight. With a neutral swing you can manipulate the ball either way by opening or shutting the clubface.

So we can say that people who play a draw aim the body to the right and clubface to the middle of the fairway. Gives them the option to hit straight if they just align the body and clubface on wherever they want to go.

The reason I'm wondering is because I want to try hitting a draw, especially with the driver, woods, hybrids and perhaps longer irons. Irons are in my opinion harder to shape, and I've got better control of them, it's when hitting the driver 250 I need to find the fairway. If a small adjustment in setup can solve that, then it's something to work on.

I don't think hitting a fade is an option, I've been a heavy slicer for a long time, I feel completely out of control when trying to fade the ball. :P
Thanks for your thoughts.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I dont try to work my driver at all. I hit a slight draw and thats it. That club is hard enough to hit as it is without trying to move the ball around with it. But if you want to get a feel of a draw, try moving your right foot back about 6 inches and make some brisk swings, but not hard. you'll have no other option but hitting the ball from the inside. You get at least an idea of what the ball will do.

[Zeph]

I don't want to either, but I have a hard time hitting it straight. It's not a slice or hook either, it goes both ways. I used to slice alot, but have managed to work away that habit. Now I tend to draw it into the rough or fade it to the other side. Not those shots going 90º, but like a fade, only I aim for the middle and the ball end up in the high grass. Instead of trying to hit it dead straight, going for a draw might be easier to control.