The terms draw and fade refer to two different styles of golf shots, denoting the path the ball takes from when you hit it with the club to when it hits the ground. The purpose of the draw and the fade is for the player to deliberately control the path of the ball and the shape it takes.
Is a draw better than a fade in golf?
Following on from the advice of Lee Trevino, it is evident that a fade offers golfers more control than a draw. However, it is a personal preference and depends on which shot a golfer is more confident in playing. In an ideal world, you will know how to play both of these shots.
What is a fade in golf swing?
Basically, a fade occurs when the clubface is open to the swing path through impact. In other words, for right-handers, the face is looking to the right of the swing-path when contact with the golf ball is made.
Does a fade carry the same distance as a draw?
Theoretically, if the launch angle, ball speed, and spin rate are the same, a fade would carry the same distance as a draw. In practice, it is found that a draw will usually outdistance a fade, and we will have a closer look at why the theory does not hold in practice.
How to fade a golf ball?
The first thing to understand is that a fade requires an open clubface at impact. You are wanting to shape the ball, right to left, about 3 to 10 yards. The more you open the clubface the more left to right it will go. Opening the clubface too far could be one, but not all, of the reasons for the slice.
How do you hit a draw and fade in golf?
0:404:22How to DRAW & FADE your golf driver - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGoing more down the left-hand side of the driving range here. And the club face this is reallyMoreGoing more down the left-hand side of the driving range here. And the club face this is really important the club face isn't going to stay open it's going to be slightly. Left of target.
Is it better to draw or fade in golf?
Traditionally speaking, a draw tends to be a better shot than a fade. Although there are golfers that will believe otherwise, to hit a draw, you will have had to release the club properly with a square clubface. Fades, on the other hand, can happen when the direction and path are slightly open.
Why do golfers hit fades and draws?
As the old golf saying goes, 'you can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen'. By playing a fade instead of a draw, you take away the worry about a hook, and you give yourself a better chance of keeping the ball on the course.
Why is a draw better than a fade?
There is an endless debate over which shot shape is better, the fade or the draw. Some will argue that the fade is better because it provides more control, and can offer a softer landing. Others will say the draw is superior because the ball with travel farther, and cut through the wind more effectively.
Does Tiger hit a fade or draw?
We saw at The Masters that under pressure, Tiger tends to favour a fade. Having a go-to shape is important and a fade is a slightly more gentle ball flight so it is a good safety option. Even when he hits a fade, Tiger still has some degree of clubface rotation through impact.
Is a slice a fade or draw?
A hook or slice is a more extreme version of a draw or fade. In most cases a draw or fade is a controlled, intentional shot whereas a hook or slice is more extreme and usually comes unintentionally from an errant swing that causes a miss that most of us dread.
How does Dustin Johnson not hook the ball?
His enormous lower body rotation on the downswing, driven by his right side, creates space for the wrists to unwind. By impact, his hands are ahead of the ball and the clubface square. Johnson somehow manages to hit high fades when mortals would produce nothing but hooks with his backswing.
Why does Dustin Johnson hit a fade?
It's sometimes indiscernible, but Johnson typically sets up aligned slightly left—or open— in relation to the target line (above). That alters his swing just enough to keep the clubface a little open in relation to his swing path at impact, and that's what makes the ball fade.
What's the difference between a slice and a hook?
For a right-handed golfer, a slice begins to the left of the target and curves back to the right. Once again, the definition is the opposite for left-handed golfers. What is this? While a hook is the result of a closed club face, a slice is caused by an open club face.
How do you hit a draw?
9:3611:53How to SHAPE any GOLF SHOT - How to hit a DRAW | Hit it High or LowYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo higher shot well higher shot high shot high finish. High shot high finish allow the club. ToMoreSo higher shot well higher shot high shot high finish. High shot high finish allow the club. To really release upwards i'll probably push the ball forward in my stance a little bit here.
When should you hit or fade?
As a general rule of thumb, you want to hit your shots in a manner such that they will be turning away from hazards as they fly. So, for example, if you are hitting a tee shot on a hole which has water running down the left side of the fairway, you will want to hit a fade to curve the ball away from that hazard.
How do the pro golfers hit it so far?
0:072:06How Do Pro Golfers Hit So Far? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to play as much loft as possible in a driver. Without having the ball up shoot or have thatMoreYou want to play as much loft as possible in a driver. Without having the ball up shoot or have that rider trajectory loft is your friend big time the average loft on the PGA Tour 10.
What is the difference between a draw and a fade?
For right-handed golfers, a draw golf shot will travel slightly right-to-left, while a fade will travel slightly left-to-right.
Why does a golf ball fade?
A ball fades due to the spin placed on the ball from the clubface being slightly open relative to the swing path. It’s important to note that while the clubface is open relative to the swing path, it’s NOT open relative to the target line (and may even be slightly closed).
How to get closer to the pin in golf?
A draw can allow you to get closer to the pin by curving your ball around the leftward bend. In most situations, if you fail to hit a draw and instead hit the ball straight, you’ll still be on the fairway, albeit further from the pin. In the same situation, a fade is likely to put your ball in the rough right of the fairway.
How to point left of target?
This means your front foot may be a bit more open (pointed slightly more forward than directly in front of you) and a line from your right toe to your left toe would point left of your target.
Where to aim for a faded shot?
In the previous example, you’d want to aim for the center of the green. If you hit straight, you’ll be safely in the center of the green, but a faded shot will land closer to the hole.
Is it better to draw or fade a golf shot?
Both “draw” and “fade” golf shots put slight sidespin on the ball, causing the shot to finish slightly off-center. While too much sidespin on a shot is usually bad, the slight side-to-side movement of draw and fade shots is often optimal or better than hitting it straight.
Is it safe to aim if you miss the ball?
If you miss to the right and left, there’s usually nowhere safe to aim. If you regularly miss to both sides or regularly slice or hook (and/or push/pull) the ball, you should probably improve your consistency before trying to learn how to hit a draw or a fade.
What are the pros and cons of a draw and fade?
There are pros and cons to both a fade and a draw. The draw normally will have a lower trajectory and have a pronounced topspin. This will tend to give you more distance and greater rollout.
What is a draw in golf?
A draw, for a right-handed golfer, is a shot that curves from the right to the left. By contrast, a fade will tend to move from the left to the right. Theoretically, if the launch angle, ball speed, and spin rate are the same, a fade would carry the same distance as a draw. In practice, it is found that a draw will usually outdistance a fade, ...
How far to open clubface for fade?
The first thing to understand is that a fade requires an open clubface at impact. You are wanting to shape the ball, right to left, about 3 to 10 yards. The more you open the clubface the more left to right it will go. Opening the clubface too far could be one, but not all, of the reasons for the slice.
How to draw a golf club?
Grip the club normally, but strengthen the grip on your left hand. A stronger grip with more pressure on the left hand will prevent your wrists from rolling over, which will result in a draw. Next, rotate your right hand towards the left. Don’t overdo it, but try to see the knuckles of the right hand.
How does a fade work?
A fade produces a higher trajectory, and with backspin will land more gently and settle quickly with less rollout. The error when you miss your line should be less damaging. The fade will also travel around 5 to 10 yards shorter than a draw, which may or may not be a disadvantage.
What is Jack Nicklaus' advice for a draw?
His advice to play the draw is to start from the ground up with the feet and legs leading. This sets up a swing path into the ball with a closing clubface on impact.
Which golfer was famous for his low fade off the tee?
Many have the idea that some courses are better played predominantly with a draw or a fade. Lee Trevino was famous for his uniquely low fade off the tee, and claim that fades win tournaments.
Draw vs. Fade in Golf
A draw and a fade are opposites of one another. Understanding the differences between these two golf shots and how to hit them will undoubtedly help you become a better player. The great thing about both the draw and the fade is that golfers of any handicap level can learn to hit them as long as you put the time in.
Which is Better: Draw or Fade?
It is hard to say that a draw or a fade is a better golf shot. There are times when you will need to know how to hit both. However, there is something to be said for choosing a shot that feels more natural to you.
How To Hit A Draw
There are several ways in which you can learn to hit a draw. However, the easiest is to make a few adjustments to your setup and stance. When you do this, you will be able to reposition yourself to have a much higher chance of pulling off the draw shot.
How To Hit A Fade
The ball flight that you are looking for with a fade shot is much different than the draw. With a fade, the ball will start to the left of the target and fall back to the right. The first place to start your fade golf shot is in the setup.
FAQs on Draw vs. Fade
Now that you have a much better understanding of what a golf fade is and what a golf draw is, it’s time to look at some of the most frequently asked questions about these two shots. Some players will completely ignore the concept of fade and draw and just worry about hitting the ball straight.
Conclusion
We hope that you now can understand the difference between a draw vs. a fade. It is beneficial to learn how to hit both a draw and a fade to use them to score lower. Playing a golf course by hitting all of your shots straight can be a bit restrictive.
Draw Vs Fade
When someone draws a golf ball it moves from right to left and finishes on target. When someone fades or cuts the ball, it moves from left to right and also finishes on target.
Practical benefits of shaping your shots
Looking at a mid-iron shot, the draw shot missing left tends to go farther because the face is closed and less lofted. Considering that, the other way, fade has the opposite where the face tends to be more open and more lofted if the ball misses to the right and can reduce the distance the ball travels through that.
How to Hit a Fade?
The mechanics of a ball flight, as I understand it, is that the flight starts mostly where the face is aiming at impact. The ball will curve if the swing path is different to that aim.
Low Bullet fade vs high power fade
The low bullet fade launches lower and spins more, tends to be done with a long iron like Tiger’s 2 iron stingers that served him well for many years hitting down on the ball and sending that thing up the fairway.
How to Hit a Draw?
Looking back at the mechanics of a fade, the draw needs the opposite factors. The face starts to the right of the target at address and the swing needs to move in-to-out to get the flight to curve back to the left.
Ball Position Tips For Fade and Draw
Let’s talk about how the ball position can help when looking at Fade Vs Draw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answer is, due to the launch angle and spin rates. Although there are nuances to it, just like anything else in Golf!
what is draw in golf?
Draw shots in golf are when the ball starts to the left of your target and curves back to the right. They are called a draw because they tend to begin with a hook, just like how you would draw a picture or letter. Right-handed players on holes that slightly curve right can use draw shots–left-to-right is probably a more accurate description.
what is fade shot in golf?
The Fade shot in golf is when the ball starts to the right of your target and curves back to the left. They are called fade because they would seem like someone was pulling the golf ball with their hand–the opposite way that you would improve your handwriting or art if you were drawing something.
what is a push shot in golf?
A push or pure drive, as it is sometimes called, occurs when the ball starts too far to the right for a draw and not far enough to the right for a fade. Pushing your shots will send them straight down the fairway without curving at all–this is useful on holes where you do not want much height but good accuracy instead.
what is a push draw in golf?
A push-draw shot is essentially the opposite of a push shot. It occurs when you need to send your ball far to the left but with good height and accuracy–for example if you are hitting over trees or out of an awkward lie (such as one where your feet are blocked by a bunker).
what is a pull shot in golf?
A pull-shot occurs when the ball starts too far to the left of your target for a push and not far enough to the left for a draw.
Conclusion
So, to sum up: a pull-shot occurs when you aim your shot far left of your target but with good distance and accuracy; a pull-fade is the opposite of this, where you aim your shot far right of your target but with good height and accuracy.
What is a fade in golf?
Basically, a fade occurs when the clubface is open to the swing path through impact. In other words, for right-handers, the face is looking to the right of the swing-path when contact with the golf ball is made. Another way of looking at the relationship is the Swing-Path moves to the left of where the clubface is pointing.
Why does the fade start left?
But remember, Face and Path make curvature and the fade starts left because the face looks to the left of the target-line. Johnson uses the following downswing mechanisms to swing to the left of the face: The arm structure is retained to allow the clubface to approach the “outside quadrant of the golf ball”.
What does Mark Dobson do as a golf instructor?
As a golf instructor, Mark believes in cultivating ability and talent by providing comprehensive, holistic golf instruction that is easily understandable and of the highest quality to golfers of all abilities and skill levels.
Where does the swing path move in golf?
Another way of looking at the relationship is the Swing-Path moves to the left of where the clubface is pointing. This is a universal truth and cannot be disputed. Respect this principle and you will make immediate adjustments to the pattern of your golf shot.
Who won the PGA Tour in Cromwell?
Dustin Johnson sauntered his way to his 21st PGA TOUR win with a virtuoso weekend performance at The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, CT. With the win, he joined an elite fraternity of players to have 13 wins in their first 13 seasons on TOUR, one that includes legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and now, Dustin Johnson.
Is Dustin Johnson's swing his own?
His swing is his own (so much his own, in fact, that I would not recommend the average golfer try and emulate Dustin’s action); he possesses incredible speed and power, yet he can very easily gear down to flight shots with touch and impeccable distance control.
