"Fade longer than draw..." says the Tiger

[tradewind_golfer]

Anybody see the clinic on Golf Channel last night?

Interesting that Tiger said, with modern balls (and equipment) a fade actually goes farther than a draw--with the driver at least. Reason being that modern balls spin less (hence, less back spin than fades of yesteryear) and stay in the air longer than a draw.

I've always hit a fade for the past 20 years, but have been working on drawing the ball the past few months. I notice that occasionally I rip a draw pretty far (260 is FAR for me), but you kind of have to stay behing it. Whereas with the fade, it feels like you can just go after it.

It does seem that I can get more distance with a fade, but I thought it was just because it was my habit/confidence.

Any experience with this? It's pretty much contradicts what is usually said about draw/fade and distance...

[Young04]

Anybody see the clinic on Golf Channel last night?

i'm definitely not the world's best golfer, but in my experience, draws have always had more distance. more roll for sure. i know someone (who is a scratch) whose strength is working the ball. he tells me that a draw has more distance, but he will hit a fade because it's easier to control.

[Upright]

It's very subjective at my home course. Almost all the O.B. is to the right as we're making left turns the most of the way around the course, so a hook stays in play if it gets away from you. As to distance, if the ground is firm then the draw is longer, where more carry from the fade is longer on average if you're not getting roll on soft fairways. I just wish I could hit it straight and not worry about it.

[d_golf]

Draw is further in most cases.....

As for Tiger Woods.... he may be speaking for him self.
I dont think many of us have his club speed...in which it doesnt really matter which way the ball is going....but one thing is for certian....It is going a long way!

[HXCarib56]

A draw with my driver goes about 20 yds further than my fade. With my irons, it's about 8-10 yds, depending on the bend, with a mid-iron.

Regarding Tiger, I'm thinking it has to do with his ability to swing out of his pants and not worry about staying in the shot...With most of us, a swing like that would result in a block, slice, etc...With him, it's a fade.

[PorkPoney]

In all fairness, understanding that both draws and fades are hit with glancing blows, wouldn't it be fair to say that a high launch angle was the answer to that? Hitting it straight with a higher angle and more carry at his club head speed seems to be a better idea than manipulating less lofted clubs.

[xd3vilx]

My myself have been hitting a fade, it has lesser bounce and it is easier to control. However, recently my coach and I has been correcting my swing to promote a draw. I went to the course just now, seem the draw is abit longer than a fade swing. (I play the same hole twice)

[Kangastu]

A golf professional has told me to definitely have some movement in your go-to shot... Having movement whether it be a draw or a fade, eliminates one side of the golf course... Unless you have a major mental lapse and block a shot right (drawers) or pull a shot left (faders).

[Mr. Desmond]

Tiger is Tiger. He needs to believe whatever works for him.

I like the push draw - gets up high and comes back a bit

[saevel25]

If you have the same swing path, and hit a push draw compared to a push fade, then the push draw will go farther becuase it will have less spin. It's not that significantly lower in height, but there will be less backspin on the ball. But i don't think the distance is that big of a difference. For me its something like 5-10 yards at most.

[michaeljames92]

Thread was made in '06....I think if you asked him now about attack angles, he would suggest that hitting up on the ball means swinging left, hence a fade. Unless of course, you shift your baseline right..