Draw vs Fade: Which is Cooler & Reliable

[Rahul 0]

Let's hear your thoughts on it. My view Fade all day Long. Even though I played draw off the tee and approach into the green my whole life never really was able to depend on it. I recently started playing fades and only fades regardless of the situation, gained about 5-7 shots per round. 

Loss of Distance: 10-12 YDS with my driver, maybe 5ish YDS with irons. but what I gained in accuracy far outweighs the loss of distance IMHO

[iacas 8,145]

There’s no reason a draw can’t be as reliable as a fade. Typically draws go farther, but that’s because most amateurs - when they do hit a draw - hit a pull draw, so the club face is de-lofted more.

I don’t think either shot is inherently more or less predictable or reliable, nor is either “cooler” or not.

[Rahul 0]

6 minutes ago, iacas said:

There’s no reason a draw can’t be as reliable as a fade. Typically draws go farther, but that’s because most amateurs - when they do hit a draw - hit a pull draw, so the club face is de-lofted more.

I don’t think either shot is inherently more or less predictable or reliable, nor is either “cooler” or not.

I agree with you that a draw can e as reliable for some. My big miss has been a pull draw with irons and push fades & with my driver for the last 6-7 years and when that happens bad things follow.. as I'm adapting to my new ball flight I'm enjoying the consistency and "NO" swing thought aspect of fades. I feel like can finally play golf now rather than golf mechanics. All my lowest rounds are the proof of that.. IDK I may be completely over my head here

[saevel25 1,626]

I voted both are equal for each. 

I think better players have a tendency to hit a draw. Better players tend to have more neutral ball flights to begin with. I wouldn't say one is more reliable than another. 

[Slim_Pivot 42]

Historically the big power hitters went to a fade. Why would they have done this if it wasn’t more reliable? That being said, Id prefer to hit a draw lol

[Rahul 0]

12 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

I voted both are equal for each. 

I think better players have a tendency to hit a draw. Better players tend to have more neutral ball flights to begin with. I wouldn't say one is more reliable than another. 

I wonder why the pros are moving to fade?

[Slim_Pivot 42]

Oh my examples. Hogan, jack, tiger, DJ, Koepka, Bubba...my age dictates my experience so a lot of younger guys on my list.

[Rahul 0]

5 minutes ago, Slim_Pivot said:

Historically the big power hitters went to a fade. Why would they have done this if it wasn’t more reliable? That being said, Id prefer to hit a draw lol

LOL fair enough..IDK i feel like the worst will happen if I mishit one..it will go straight or shorter

[nevets88 1,703]

I find ball flights that have tight curves "cooler", I guess aesthetically pleasing. My ball flight, I don't have that high a swing speed, or hit it on the screws that often, has a "lazy" curve, it's pretty pronounced. Good players, even if they don't have the fastest swing speed, their balls curve just a wee bit, draw or fade, tight curve, I don't have a bias as to which looks better, but I like watching that wee curve. Jeez, this sounded a little dirty.

[Rahul 0]

4 minutes ago, Slim_Pivot said:

Oh my examples. Hogan, jack, tiger, DJ, Koepka, Bubba...my age dictates my experience so a lot of younger guys on my list.

There is your list..is this argument rested here..

[jimnm 28]

Equally reliable. I voted that a draw was cooler because for several years I had only been able to hit a fade/slice. And I was always envious of golfers who hit draws. After taking lessons, my stock shot (for now) is a draw.

[Rahul 0]

13 minutes ago, jimnm said:

Equally reliable. I voted that a draw was cooler because for several years I had only been able to hit a fade/slice. And I was always envious of golfers who hit draws. After taking lessons, my stock shot (for now) is a draw.

Here is what I don't understand.. every time I went for a lesson..like every pro is teaching their students to hit draws..I am yet to see a benefit in that. I think people who start off slicing the ball always desire draw which is like 90% of the beginners, Please don't quote me on that..made up figure. I was one of those when I started off..over the years worked hard on making my stock shot a draw..Now i can't stand it..1. Time consuming to maintain, 2. Some days swing feels great and out of no where it feels like im picking club 1st time in my life...Now after i moved it away from it..I am barely at the range may be a couple of times a month that to work on rythm and alignments and bit of short game..and Im scoring better than i have ever scored..

[DaveP043 2,032]

I voted that a draw was cooler, only because I've played a draw for a long time, and I like the way it looks.  I don't think either is more reliable, really.  I have to admit, as I continue to work on "handle follows left hip", I've actually been able to fade a few drives (intentionally), and that's a pretty cool shot too.

[Rahul 0]

2 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I voted that a draw was cooler, only because I've played a draw for a long time, and I like the way it looks.  I don't think either is more reliable, really.  I have to admit, as I continue to work on "handle follows left hip", I've actually been able to fade a few drives (intentionally), and that's a pretty cool shot too.

Yeah that's honest.." I like the way it looks" I know what you mean..You probably see everything right to left..I still do with my tee shots..as I am adapting to left-to-right and playing it predominantly, I noticing that fades are less offensive when i do miss hit one.

[bkuehn1952 677]

Most of us hacks fight or hit slices.  To consistently hit a draw takes a bit of skill (as does taming the slice to a fade).  Until we have enough talent to actually choose a ball flight, I think we slicers consider a draw "cool".

[Pretzel 609]

I voted the draw as being "cooler" simply because I used to struggle with a slice and the draw just feels better to me. Most high handicappers hit a slice, meaning most of the time that you see a draw is with mid to low handicap golfers adding to the appeal behind it.

Realistically though you won't see much performance difference between the two, in terms of reliability. When I'm playing I don't generally get any distance difference either because I like to play a bit of a push draw which means I've got a degree or two more loft at impact compared to a squared face. What is a more reliable shot depends on the player. To me a draw is reliable because when I'm not rusty it's a shot I can count on to end up left of where I aimed to start it 95/100 times. When I, personally, hit a fade it ends up to the right of where I aimed to start it only about 85-90/100 times (unless I'm trying to hit a hook or slice, those are both pretty much 100/100 times right or left of where I aimed to start it). 

I've played golf with a 40 yard slice and a 40 yard hook, and I was much more comfortable playing the 40 yard hook. It's entirely personal preference inside my head though, both work just as well as the other.

[Rahul 0]

17 minutes ago, Pretzel said:

I voted the draw as being "cooler" simply because I used to struggle with a slice and the draw just feels better to me. Most high handicappers hit a slice, meaning most of the time that you see a draw is with mid to low handicap golfers adding to the appeal behind it.

Realistically though you won't see much performance difference between the two, in terms of reliability. When I'm playing I don't generally get any distance difference either because I like to play a bit of a push draw which means I've got a degree or two more loft at impact compared to a squared face. What is a more reliable shot depends on the player. To me a draw is reliable because when I'm not rusty it's a shot I can count on to end up left of where I aimed to start it 95/100 times. When I, personally, hit a fade it ends up to the right of where I aimed to start it only about 85-90/100 times (unless I'm trying to hit a hook or slice, those are both pretty much 100/100 times right or left of where I aimed to start it). 

I've played golf with a 40 yard slice and a 40 yard hook, and I was much more comfortable playing the 40 yard hook. It's entirely personal preference inside my head though, both work just as well as the other.

40 YDS of Hook..be careful what you wish for..LOL

[Pretzel 609]

1 minute ago, Rahul said:

40 YDS of Hook..be careful what you wish for..LOL

I played it for an entire year in 15+ tournaments, my senior year of high school. Did alright with it, but the only reason I didn't change it was because I didn't want to mess with something in the middle of the fall tournament season. 

It did get some great reactions though when first teeing off in the morning. First tournament of the year was a shotgun start and the hole I began on had a lake along the whole right side of the fairway. I started it about 20 yards over the lake and the guys I was playing with started commenting on my bad luck to start until they saw it coming back! I definitely didn't miss right often at all that season, and if I did it was only because I aimed too far right to begin with instead of blocking it out that direction.