Why do tour players do this?

[Jwat381]

I do too. It always looks like it was a pure shank. When I first started watching golf, I thought every player was as bad as I was. Even when they play fades, it's very deceiving. I think it has 95% to do with the camera angle, and 5% to do with whether it was a draw or fade. Even wedges appear to start 45* to the right.

Originally Posted by B-Con

I still struggle with this optical illusion. It's hard to gauge the line of a shot from the initial angle because so often it looks like it's headed way out into right field, only to later hear / see that they hit a pull draw or something.

[ajst22]

I also have this question (sort of) and I believe it is because a draw will go farther than a fade or a straight shot, plus it will get more roll. If the pros want the ball to land softly, they would hit a fade. I personally hit a straight shot if the fairway is straight ahead, and only draw/fade when I have to but when you are that good then you can do whatever you want haha

[allin]

A pure straight shot is actually longest. Because golfers who fade the ball tend to come in a bit steeper, creating extra spin their shots tend to be a bit higher and roll a bit less. The human factor not the shot shape makes the difference. A power fade with a shallow angle of attack is practically indistinguishable from a draw. Pull fades, since contact quality is lessened are shorter.

[Jwat381]

So, armed with this new knowledge that fades and draws can, in fact, be equal, is it still true that players should seek to hit a draw? Does the phrase "better players play a draw" still ring true?

[Paradox]

Better plays have a consistent, controllable flight.  It doesn't matter which way it turns.