Do you draw the ball?

[golfaddiction]

As a mid-high handicapper, consistent ball striking has always been elusive. At the range yesterday, I concentrated on turning the club over with my right hand and hitting a draw on every shot. This is how the pros do it, right? I pulled about 1 in 5 shots, but I started getting the hang of it. My drives were particularly better because I've always tended to fade/slice. When I concentrated on turning the face over, almost all shots were on line with various degrees of draw.

Does every low handicapper try for this draw every shot (with the exception, of course, when a big fade is needed)? I'm thinking I need to keep at this.

[BigDaddy_Sean]

it all depends.. When you get up to having a lot of distance, a lot of pros prefer fades. I personally generally draw the ball, but I would really rather have a fade as when I am swinging poorly I pull the ball left.

[osean79]

I draw most of my shots. However, nowadays I go for the fade off the tee since it is more predictable and won't run away too far from where it lands. The fade lets me hit the fairways more, avoiding hazards and unwanted positions. This lets me relax for my second shot, with a better chance of getting on the green...

My misses with drawing the driver are, pull hooks, strong draw to left side rough, or big push to the right.

[ElTigre]

I myself also hit a draw, but I don't try and do it with my right hand, that could lead to you flipping the club after impact and producing a massive hook/pull. If you want a good Draw, take it straight back and feel like your hands drop inside and accelerate through impact, swinging out to right field. if your a righty. This will impart left spin on the ball and after practice it will be alot more consistent. I used to flip with my right hand to get that draw but it leads to massive hooks when your swing is off. I recommend just trying this way.

[David in FL]

There are a number of ways to hit a draw, but please don't try to do so by manipulating your right hand. Doing so can quickly lead to a closed headface at impact, smothered hooks, and death......well, death might be a little extreme, but it's not all that far off.

I tend to hit a soft fade unless there's a reason to hit the draw. The old saying is that you can talk to a fade, but a hook just won't listen!

[golfaddiction]

Thanks for the advice. For me, it's been impossible to try and hit the ball just "straight," so I'm thinking that working a draw in will lead to better feel and consistency.

[BigDaddy_Sean]

well there was always an old saying Jack Nicklaus had, he never tried to hit a straight shot. He would always force a fade or draw, usually fade.

[Leftygolfer]

I am a lefty and would kill for a power fade but I can't hit it. I play almost exclusively a draw. It happens very naturally and for me too hit a fade I really have to not release the club and hold the face open. And that release is where I get alot of power.

I originally was a slicer, then I learned to aim to pull and hit a big pull/draw. Now I am square and play about a 10 yard draw with my driver and my misses are a 50 yard hook.

[dragonflyin]

I've recently started to draw the ball as opposed to having a boring ball flight. This has been caused by me strengthening my grip a bit. The nice thing about it is the added distance. The down side as others have pointed out is that it's harder to control at times...

[TN94z]

I have been working on both lately but I don't use my RH to manioulate a draw. I basically close my stance, close the clubface(pointed at target line), and swing along my stance. I do the opposite for the fade...opening the clubface and stance,etc... I just hit whatever one takes the trouble out of play.

[golfaddiction]

In the past my swing has been prone to my right hand making a chopping motion - that is coming outside-in and not releasing. This, of course, leads to a pull or a slice.

Rolling the face over and releasing is something that comes naturally to low-handicappers, but at this point for me I need to keep this as a swing thought. Keeping the club inside-out is the 2nd part of it, and if I can do this I'll limit the pull shots.

[kfowler]

I'm a natural fader but find when I'm really hitting my driver well, I'm hitting a draw.

Properly rolling your hands through impact has something I've been working at for some time. I personally do not believe you can consciously roll your hands through impact with perfect timing on a consistent basis. I believe correct "rolling" is more related to grip pressure and swing plane.

[muggs]

I tend to fade my driver and draw my irons- not sure why.

[Zeph]

Nope, I want to hit it dead straight. I'm working on coming from the inside more, so I hit the occasional draw, mostly with the driver.

[lumpuckeroo]

I wish, I'm a natural fader.

[wannabe]

my entire goal this year has been to eliminate my push/slice. Been doing it forever.

Seems like most teaching pros encourage a swing that favors a draw when working with high handicappers like me on this problem.

I'm happy to report that I can now draw and hook the ball due to several factors, mainly an improved release. It's just awesome to see a straight shot with a slight draw at the end come from me.

Right now, I don't care if I ever fade the ball.

I'm sure at some point down the road I'll want to, but for now, I love my draw.

[pjsnyc]

I'm a natural fader and will hit that shot as my default.

If a draw is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, then yes I hit a draw, but I really have to force it (closed stance, swing along heel line with club closed at the target, swing AROUND the body, high right shoulder finish, no chicken wing left arm, etc.). I probably try to hit only 5 or 6 per round. I feel like it helps keep my fade in check because really - theres a thin line between a fade and a slice.

[Zeph]

Is a "natural fade" simply a swing coming slightly over the top, but where the player has learned to keep the clubface square?

If so, why is it natural?