Draw biased clubs: More harm than good?

[Gordon McTavish]

The recent posts about ball-flight laws got me thinking about equipment that is manufactured to supposedly "help cure" a slice.

If these modern clubs are setup in such a way as to "help close the clubface", then how does this actually benefit the slicer, who most likely has an out-to-in swing path?

Surely this type of club is more likely to result in players hitting a pull or even a pull-draw until they sort out their swing path.

Am I missing something, or are draw biased clubs just a waste of time?

[kfowler]

I just asked the same thing on the main Ball Flight Laws article. Good question.

So let's assume you have an out-to-in swing and you're hitting a lot of pull/fade or pull/slice. So at impact, your face is say 5* closed to the target and your swing path is 20* to the left of the target. So your club face is 15* open to your swing path.

By using a draw biased driver, the face is more closed at address and should be more closed at impact. So instead of 5*, let's assume it's now 15*. You've still got the same 20* left swing path. But now your club face is only open 5* instead of 15*. So the ball should start out more left, 15* CFA vs 5* CFA, and should fade less than your previous swing. Is this a more desirable shot? Perhaps, if you learn to aim more to the right to compensate for the pull/fade.

In the end, I think you're more likely to hit a pull/draw, pull straight, or pull/fade more than anything else. I don't see how it'll help you hit a push/draw.

That's my guess anyway.

BTW, I used to own a draw biased driver. I hit a lot of pull hooks.

[jpalermo]

Had an offset King Cobra driver back in the early 90's and when I switched back to a regular non offset driver I was hitting 90* slices, it was a tough year to struggle through. Those clubs are Band aids, not a permenant solution

[Gordon McTavish]

  jpalermo said:

Had an offset King Cobra driver back in the early 90's and when I switched back to a regular non offset driver I was hitting 90* slices, it was a tough year to struggle through. Those clubs are Band aids, not a permenant solution

I used to own a Speed LD-M Offset model fairway wood. I kind of liked the club but got rid of it last year since my default shot was pretty much out of bounds to the left of the fairway.

I now realise that I've spent too much time under the impression that I was unable to square the club-face, when in reality my primary fault is an out-to-in swing path.

[plugged]

  None said:

Those clubs are Band aids, not a permenant solution

My thoughts exactly. I have a draw-based R7 driver that I never use and will happily trade.

[Shindig]

  Gordon McTavish said:

Am I missing something, or are draw biased clubs just a waste of time?

For someone who is as into golf as we are, and works on his swing, and practices, then yes, these are a waste of time. I didn't realize until recently that my fairway woods have slightly closed faces, explaining (to me at least) why I hook them so much. With the 5-Wood, this doesn't bother me as much as the 3-Wood, since I tend to hit it in more wide-open situations.

Is there a such thing as a fade-biased club? I'm tempted to see if I can find a fade-biased (I guess it would be open-faced) 3-Wood and give that a few months to see if I hit that straight. However, for the folks who play maybe once a month, maybe as an excuse to drink beer, and practice once a blue moon, and hit banana slices but refuse to aim anywhere than right down the middle, these clubs probably make the game a lot more enjoyable. Hitting fairways is fun, and if you aren't going to get a better swing to fix the problems, then a club that masks it is just fine.

[Gordon McTavish]

  Shindig said:

Is there a such thing as a fade-biased club? I'm tempted to see if I can find a fade-biased (I guess it would be open-faced) 3-Wood and give that a few months to see if I hit that straight.

The Ping i15 and Titleist 909 range are supposed to be fade-biased (0.5* open face).

[ET-Taylor]

I think you should fix your swing becuase if you keep doing this when you swing correctly it will go off to the left which is why I am trying to find minimal offset forgiving irons. When i get lazy or try to hit it to hard I hook it.

[iacas]

  Gordon McTavish said:

The Ping i15 and Titleist 909 range are supposed to be fade-biased (0.5* open face).

My Callaway FT-3 driver was fade biased, too.

[jpalermo]

Cobra S9-1 Pro D and Pro S are open as well. Not sure if the S9-1 Pro fairway woods are as well.

[WUTiger]

Club designer Ralph Maltby had a couple of website analyses of draw-biased irons and working the ball:

Draw-Biased Irons
http://www.ralphmaltby.com/latest/233

Working the Ball
http://www.ralphmaltby.com/109

[Doctorfro]

I had some biased clubs and ditched them. So glad I did.

[Boyder]

I have worked hard this past season to fix my swing so I could get rid of my "off set" driver .... Just bought my new Burner ans now I am a happy camper!

[McGolf-Doggie]

  kfowler said:

...

Same problem here. It winds up messing with your swing.

[Shanks A Million]

Open biased clubs are what most of the tour players use, and most of theirs are custom made or bent open. I used to have an open biased driver, and I loved it. You can smash the piss out of them without the fear of a snap hook (although it can happen). I'd love to get more open biased woods, but they're either expensive or hard to find.

[James_Black]

  Shanks A Million said:

Open biased clubs are what most of the tour players use, and most of theirs are custom made or bent open. I used to have an open biased driver, and I loved it. You can smash the piss out of them without the fear of a snap hook (although it can happen). I'd love to get more open biased woods, but they're either expensive or hard to find.

I'd love to have those hose.

I hit a draw with my irons and a draw/hook with my woods.

[GaijinGolfer]

The answer is that yes, they are more harm than good. Its just that some people would rathar buy their game than to go out, put the time in and work on their swing.

[WUTiger]

  Shanks A Million said:

Open biased clubs are what most of the tour players use, and most of theirs are custom made or bent open. ... I'd love to get more open biased woods, but they're either expensive or hard to find.

Some of the Callaway Tour drivers have an open face:

FT-5 Tour or FT-i Tour LCG = 0.5º open FT-9 Tour = 1º open Also, BB Diablo Neutral face angle = 0.5º open