WHY DO HANDICAP GOLFERS WANT TO DRAW WHERE PROS WANT TO FADE IT
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- Опубликовано: 28 окт 2024
- Most golf lessons that come to me are looking to draw the ball where often the better payer is looking for a controlled fade. What makes this desire for the draw drives and tee shots or draw iron shots so strong with handicap golfers. Mark and the gang explore this idea and talk about how to make the most of your golf game and your golf swing. This simple and easy to follow golf lesson and golf tip video is for all golfers wanting to improve their golf games and lower their handicaps.
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My view on it, is that a lot of amateurs (myself included) are sort of constantly battling a pretty wicked slice, and if you can go from slicing the ball to drawing the ball you sort of feel like, "hey I've done it, I've solved the problem". Whereas, if you go from slicing the ball to fading the ball, you feel like you've minimized the problem but you don't really feel like you've entirely solved the issues you were having with your swing. I'm not saying that is the reality, but it's sort of the perception one might have. It's like, if you're sick of eating ice cream you don't want just less ice cream, you want something completely different, you want pizza. Know what I mean?
On a personal note, I also feel like when I'm fading the ball I still feel like the strike could be better, like I'm still making glancing contact with the ball and therefore losing distance (even though it's not a slice). Whereas, when I really strike the ball pure, it seems to naturally have a little draw to it. So, I found I'm sort of always chasing that "pure strike" feeling, which I "feel" like I get from hitting a slight draw.
Spot on about the slice and the perception of the left-to-right shot (for right handers).
I think your bang on the money. Ppl want to draw as they usually battle a slice
This is 100% the reason why. I know if I hit a draw my impact conditions are much better than if I hit a fade. Half the time if I fade it I just feel like I've got lucky but I know the slice would still creep in.
Took me forever to get a draw. Wanted to do so for the same reason. If I can naturally fade it so to say, then why not figure out how to draw it and have both. In my early stages I wanted the draw so I could have a legit in to out swing path. That’s when I started playing great golf. No I can work on a proper fade (which I have) but those proper fade mid hits aren’t massive slices. It’s all about gaining control of your swing.
Yes I agree, learning to draw the ball is needed to neutralise your swing when you slice every shot. Doesn't mean you never want to fade the ball, but you do want solid contact with a slight fade or draw.
Evolution of a golfer...
1. Start out slicing everything
2. Develop a draw
3. Hit fades for better consistency
Most amateurs are on step 1 and trying to get to step 2. While the better players have mastered step 2 and moved on to step 3.
Robert B Agree. I started with a wicked slice. Fixed it by developing to a gentle draw. Not good enough yet to control a fade. My miss is always an uncontrolled slice, which I try to prevent.
I started with Puskas winning slices
Get myself a driver that is drawie
Now getting that fade back for faster and consistent swing
Agreed. It's not more complicated than this. Better golfers, because of their higher skill level, can have the option to choose a ball flight. Amateurs who slice aren't hitting a fade by choice (and a true slice isn't the type of "fade" they're talking about here in any case); it's the inevitable consequence of rudimentary and flawed technique. Amateurs want to learn a draw because as part of that process, they'll learn more about controlling path and face-to-path relationships. I think it was Nicklaus' teacher (or maybe Nicklaus himself) who said you need to learn to hit a draw - to approach the ball from the inside - before you can hit a truly functional fade.
Agreed! I never want to see a slice again. I don't mind a cafe, but I'm trying to get a slight draw to protect against the slice. Worse case, I get a push.
@@ohiomoto I love a good cafe. Any in my area? Lol jk
I can fade , draw, and hit straight no problem.
But not when I want them.
A more ‘drawey’ action straightens me up, simple as that
You nailed it when you said a draw feels like its coming back to you. I naturally hit a baby fade but have always tried to draw and it shows in my consistency. I need to just relax and do what comes more natural and stop trying to force it.
Wow this definitely hit home. Started, as a beginner 3 years ago, with a slice/fade. Got the “coached” towards a draw for “more distance” only to have it create a swing path for me that is extremely flat and very inconsistent. New coach isn’t hung up on fade or draw but just consistent swing plane. Feels like I’ve started over again and verging on hanging up the clubs all together. Sigh...thanks for videos Mark!
I play of a 1 handicap and am a junior. I used to when I first started golf loved to draw and over draw the golf ball. It was just the distance and the feeling of I can hit it further. Nowadays I play with the tmb irons and prefer to hit fades. I almost have to with the club being lower spin and draws go wayyy to far. I fade the ball with all my clubs. For me fading feels like I can control it more. Like I can hit a 5 yard fade or an 8 yard fade. Good video mark I love these interesting videos it makes alot of people think👍❤
Love this debate. I play off 15 and I have ways hit a draw until about 6 months ago. Now I have a slight fade and i much prefer it. I always felt with a draw I couldn't stop it as quickly on the green. I think what ever you naturally play just stick with it and use it to your advantage instead of trying to change! As mark says. (Strike always wins)
For me, this is the best video mark had done. I’ve gone through the phase of thinking I need to hit a draw. But I’ve played my best hitting a fade/cut. I do hate when I over do it and miss too far right but this video has now kept me from wasting my time thinking I need a lesson on drawing it. Just play my game.
Still the most relevant, thought provoking content on here 👏
I've hit a fade for years and when I miss hit it, it's not terrible. My mate his a draw, when he miss hits it, it's a terrible snap hook that is in trouble 90% of the time. I think play your strength, fade is more consistent for me. Nice video
John Bean that’s so true
My favorite videos are the ones with all three of these gentlemen. Love the chemistry and diversity of ideas
Such a great shout about the feeling about a draw coming back and a fade leaking away. I'm so guilty of that.
For me there's 2 main reasons for wanting a draw shape.
The first is it seems to be coveted by so many club golfers. So many times I've been on the course hitting baby fades into the fairway without so much of a murmur from my playing partners, then I can draw one into the rubbish down the left and get a chorus of 'nice shot' from everyone. People just think it's what good players do.
The second is that lots of people are fighting the slice, especially with longer clubs. So a draw is seen as the anti-slice that will fix everything.
I generally draw my irons but would probably prefer to see a baby fade, having the ball just fall right onto target looks to my eye as if it's more controllable, and based on what Mark said will probably land softer with a bit more spin.
I think because draws go further and spin less which is the shot shape everyone desires, whereas a fade will balloon up more.
A very interesting topic - i particular like Marks point at the end when he was talking about amateur feeling as though a fade is getting further away from target where as a draw feels as though your bringing it back. Also, CL's point about the dispersion or consistency with chasing a draw if your a fader is EXACTLY what i did, and still do at times. I've reverted back to a fade 'stock' shot so many times but get scared when i see a couple over cut occasionally and feel as though a draw is 'less damaging' for whatever reason. I think that's the point that amateurs don't always understand as almost every YT golf video is 'TURN THIS SLICE TO A DRAW'. I think if people just knew how to control that slice and hit a nice fade would be much more beneficial to peoples games.
I switched from playing a draw to a fade last winter and it got me down to my lowest ever handicap(1.0). For me playing a fade over a draw kept the ball in play and even though I lost 5-10 yards off my game my bad shots were not as bad as my bad shots with the draw. Love the videos Mark keep them coming!
Where I play it's always windy as hell. Playing a cut into wind is awful, maybe I'm doing it wrong but drawing it works much better.
I know what you are saying about play the fade but aim further left. That is so difficult though for 2 reasons.
1. You never feel like you hit a good shot. If it goes where you are aiming then you miss the green. If you hit the green, yep you missed right of where you "tried" hit it... again.
2. Aiming left is tough because you still know the green is right of where you are aiming. For me that just leads to a bigger slice because mentally you know you need to fade it. It's like the left to right putt being more difficult because you tend to push it.
I practise drawing in the hope of finding a neutral window. My window is straight to slice, never a draw. I want that window to be little draw to little fade I need to learn a more draw feel to move the window over..... if that makes sense.
To hit a draw you generally need your path out to the right... and there lies the holy grail amongst amateurs who are coming over the top or left.....
I hit everything left to right when i started so i learnt to hit a draw, i then had a 2 way miss and golf got really hard 😂😂
Tend to hit a little cut these days, its safer and more consistent for me
i'm exactly the same, trying to hit a draw with driver i now have a miss both ways, whereas before i could aim left knowing it would always come back
This is a great one! It give me, a chronic slice who is trying trying to get rid of it, to just embrace it. But learn to control it a little better.and if I can hit it straight, awesome!!! 👍🏻
As a fader (slicer) of the ball, this video was great! Just listening to you guys talk about all reasons why we want to hit draws was spot on. Thanks Mark, Coach, & Dan!
From a higher handicap player I think a controlled fade is harder to achieve than a draw. I can slice any club but generally if I get a slight cut it's by accident. Whereas I can draw the ball at will.
That is so true, particularly the putting analogy. I hit a draw maybe one in 50. Learnt to live with the fade but still want to be more skilled and able to do what coach did in the vid.
Had my best round 67 (-5) yesterday and found myself playing a little cut down nearly every hole when my tendency is actually more of a draw. My stats say I found more fairways and in turn was able to bring my strengths into play more. My draw also goes further than my fade but being 15 yards back and in play definitely allowed me to score which is crucial at this lower level. Suppose it all depends on what people’s priority’s are and what they are more willing to sacrifice but definitely the skill level of the golfer has an effect on what they look for. Good video as always
I felt this video a lot. Worked on a draw for months. Mainly to get out of a slightly over the top swing. Now I'm loving the cut of the tee. And utilize the low punchy draw with the short irons while the conditions aren't ideal. As much as I hated the fade as a younger player. I absolutely embraced the cut and wouldn't want to hit anything else 95% of the time 💯
Great little chat bruh’s, the fade ( slice ) is sooooO common, I think people just wanna see something new. I also think golfers that “ fade “ often don’t aim left enough, therefore exaggerating their “ bad shot “ / miss!
Side note I don’t play often as a family man & business owner! I’ve also never had a lesson! Yet I’ve never understood my game as much as I do now, & I put that down to your content 👏🏼
The biggest problem in golf is that no one wants to put in the hard graft, but yet everyone wants to get better...🤷🏻♂️
#4right 🤣
Great video that and a couple of deft insights about the ball feeling like it's going away with a fade and vice versa with a draw. After more than 10 years of fighting it I'm now embracing the fade. It worked for Monty.
Wow, that putt analogy was great! My natural swing path call for a cut and it took multiple seasons to become comfortable with that shot shape. Great stuff
This is one of the best informational videos ive seen in a while. Great insight 👍🏽
Personally, I started without instruction and struggled with the slice. So that is the shot that "scares me", and I'm happy doing anything that doesn't remind me of the bad old days.
My home course also very much so plays for a draw (straight, or dogleg left) so it's beneficial for my course to draw it.
Bless you Matt for trying to reduce it to a 10 second video! I agree with what you all have said though. There are many elements to us amateurs wanting a drawing shot. For most of my golfing life I've tended to fade the ball, certainly so with the woods as Matt might remember from our Palairet days at East Devon ;o) Nowadays I seem to be stuck with a draw on the irons though still mostly fade the drives. Typically, I'd prefer to draw the woods and fade the irons, though I do feel great envy at you guys being able to play either shot on demand. (My many fades when attempting a draw at EDGC's 7th spring to mind.) I know that a controlled fade will give a softer-landing shot whereas a draw tends to bounce on, often into trouble, so I do appreciate the benefits of a fade. However, one big a drawback of a fade I don't think you mentioned, and it's one that plagues us, is that it tends to float away on a wind. Forever! Once it starts going, it seems to keep going. Maybe it's the extended period of pain, watching the ball floating ever closer to and then over OOB that causes us so much grief.
Another point I don't think you touched upon is that the majority of amateurs slice or fade, so you are surely going to find a lot more players coming to you to fix that. We always want what we don't have, don't we ;o) Still, Jack Nicklaus didn't do too badly with a natural fade.
1. So good seeing "good" players hit different shapes on demand.
2. As always, love the discussions.
Great topic!!! I always hit cuts to slices all the time and wanted to hit a consistent draw shot. Once I got to learn the draw, I didn’t get any better with it cause it would just run forever. So I keep it as a tool for when needed and went back to a baby fade and just aimed more left. Thanks again Mark!!!!!
When I started, like most everyone, I sliced the ball. The point of being able to draw the ball was to learn how to not leave face open and to swing path inside-square-inside. Now I have that, can face, not slice the ball, with presetting my grip to have face slight open to path and turn my body line to get leftward path, but still doing essentially the same swing as my draw.
Great points in this video, all valid. I think the biggest reason a lot of amateurs get consumed with wanting to draw the ball is because they've sliced/shanked it forever and don't ever want to see the ball go right again because of that. You mentioned this point in the video, I just wanted to emphasize it.
This is a Great video Mark. I always refer to draws and fades to blonds and brunettes. You will have one but the other seems more appealing. I have spent and wasted the last few years on chancing the draw, And when I look back to when I was playing my best golf I was hitting a consistent little cut. I have just gone back to playing with it. Top work as always boys!!!!!
I think teachers have some part in this in the way that they communicate with students. The majority of students have a slice as their primary shot shape or miss. The teachers try to get the student to hit a draw in order to straighten out their shots. The students are told that a draw will have their ball going further and is the shot shape they should have. The teachers are communicating "draw, draw, draw = good, good, good." What's not communicated to the student is that a slight fade will go just as far and have a more predictable shot pattern. I started playing when I was 20 years old (pre-internet) and read all the golf magazines and 90% of the instruction was how to straighter out your slice and hit a draw. I like the way you guys communicate thoughts and ideas and principles on you channel and I'm sure to your students. My misses for a long time were left and now I love my baby fade and I rarely lose golf balls anymore.
Great points...I think pros like fade because they can keep it on the fairways and a cut shot with irons stops the ball better to me on the greens...there are times where the cut for me, being left handed on the courses I play, HAS to be played because the trouble is to right, and it’s open to left, and it fits my eye better....
i have not watched the video yet but i can already tell you when your a new golfer slicing in the woods a draw is absolutely wonderful
Lots of interetsing thoughts, especially from Mark, when he talks about the feeling people have of controlling the ball more with a draw.
I am a 14 hcp trending down and I seem to be the opposite to most people in that range. When I visualize a shot, I naturally see a 5 yard fade and that is what I want to play. I am with Lee Trevino: "You can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen". Also, I feel more in control with a fade. A draw means I have to hit the ball "away" from me and hope that it comes back. With a fade, I start the ball nearer to me and just have to control the amount it moves "away". But then again, for the first few years of my golfing life, my destructive shot was always a pull hook, never a slice. So I asked my instructor to help me to get rid of any right to left curve, and as we started succeeding, my game started to improve. Also, I did not lose distance with the driver, but the opposite was true. So I am very happy with the sort of fade I hit now, starting slightly left of target and just gently falling to the right from the apex of the flight.
Fade=control, draw=long and running.... this is just how I feel when I hit a draw. Love the "feeling" of a slight fade especially with the approach shots. Thanks for doing this video.
Brilliant, great video. Learning to play the opposite can also help to neutralise swing path which can give more control.
Great video. The distance misconception is DEFINITELY a thing. I play a very fade biased course so for me the draw would be the one that felt like it was getting away and the one I'd be begging to get down. I generally only try to hit a draw when I'm 'stepping on it' with an iron when it suits. It's hard for me to overdraw it so if I'm hitting into a small green, want it to land and stop quickly I'll generally go for that
I'd love a soft fade, hence why I'm practicing the drill you and Dan did in America starting right and left of target and seeing if I can hit my mark. My draw is still my more consistent shot, but I now have a fade that I'm confident will come off 60% of the time and getting better the more I do it.
I play off 5, ever since I took up the game I've naturally hit the ball left to right, never shanked a ball with it, always had fairly solid strikes, learned over the years to take it to a nice fade, when I got to a H/cap of 10 I decided because of contact problems to get some lessons, every pro i went to tried to get me swinging more in to out and with a lot of work and countless hours in the range it started to materialize into a right to left shot, contact improved a little, but I now had a whole new set of issues, getting stick, shanks, hooks, blocks, push fades, timing, early extension, I have a swing speed of 110mph with the driver so was hitting the ball off the planet much like Coach Lockey😜, I've now gone back to my fade, I have one set of misses, a slight pull or an over fade, nothing drastic, shanks have gone, blocks have gone, good rounds are now 72,73's and I'm scoring properly again.
Confidence is up, the only thing I see is when the wind blows I've had to learn how to hit a fade in it which is now easy for me, it requires ego management as well to take a few extra clubs more than your mates but when your scoring better it's all that matters.
What I will say to anyone thing of swing changes is to tighten your natural shot cone, and work on the small issues, A swing path change is a big change which requires a lot of repitition, countless hours on the range and you may still not achieve it.
Adjust your equipment around your game, because I naturally hit down on the ball I use a driver with 11° of loft, my longest iron is a 5, I use blades, I carry a 3h+4h and use a 5 wood instead of a 3W because it's easier to get airborne off a tight lie and I get as much distance out of it as I would with a 3W. It's about scoring not about perfection. @110mph and a minus angle of attack I know I won't reach massive distances but o have an average driver carry of 235mtrs and a strong ball flight with a fade.
Embrace the fade!! Love it. As ever, totally sound advice, Mark. Many thanks.
Played a draw once. Hit the ball far but couldn't control it on the run out. Especially with drive on firm fairways. Turned to a fade and everything has been better, distance control with irons has improved greatly. also more predictable for me as well as more spin.
My fades go further because I present very little dynamic loft, so when I hit draws it spins too little. Hitting a fade optimizes my spin loft for my balls speed.
Cut all day for me! I visualise the apex the a cut flight far better than a draw, giving me more confidence over the control of the flight!!
So for me I was one of these amateurs who was desperate to see a draw instead of a fade for one main reason, when I first picked up my clubs and wanted to play golf I was a huge slicer of the ball, everything was way right and that’s still my miss, I feel if I can hit a slight draw I’m always further away from that big miss than if I hit a slight fade. I’ve improved a fair bit since then so I don’t mind seeing a baby fade into a green with my irons but it still makes me nervous hitting fades with my driver, I like seeing the straight to very slight draw shot shape purely because I know I don’t have that wild miss to the left only to the right. I’m sure numbers are the same but it’s definitely a mental thing for me.
Draws for me are another word for unpredictable due to the faults/habits of my swing. Would 100% prefer fades especially with irons.
Hi Mark, slight extension to your explanation. As an amateur who hit it straight 25% and sliced/faded 75% for the first 25 years of my golf, I got sick of it and felt a lack of control. Your videos have helped me develop the draw tool and now it's split three ways. But the draw is still a lovely novelty
Mark, ive watched Hundreds of your course vlogs, and I always notice you say "im just going to cut one in there" or "just going to play a little draw". (With your irons) Why do you stray away from just a straight shot? Easier to shape it? Love the videos!
Aiming straight at something means it can only drift offline. Aiming to either side means it can drift towards target. Plus, It's nearly impossible to hit a straight ball with consistency, even for the best players in the world.
Agree with the “away” versus coming back thing Mark.....I would offer the descriptions “loosing it” versus “working it” feel....make sense? These are my feels anyway.
There’s a difference between hitting a big, weak slice and a controlled fade. Drawing the ball for me felt like I was actually striking it and my face to path was more neutral. I think a lot of it comes down to getting away from the pain of the slice and learning a new skill. Totally get the putting analogy.
Good debate and some sensible ideas - like Coach said nothing wrong with a consistent shape
Mark I’m thinking the fact the head of the club is farther away than the hozel helps give the draw a touch more speed too. Face rotation through impact increases clubhead speed while holding it off for a fade does not add any. Correct me if I’m wrong.
It’s the first time I’ve ever “thumbs-up’d” a video in the first 30 seconds. You can thank Coach for that! Or maybe it was your reaction to coach?... I don’t know, but it was good. Wonder how the rest of the vlog will be?!?! Cheers
When I started playing golf, I hit draws. Lots of my buddies made statements that it was so great that I had a "natural draw". The downside of this was the bad miss was a fast hook with radar seeking the OB stakes. I still hit a draw when the shot absolutely demands it, but 95% of the time my stock driver is a fade. Much more controllable, and because I can swing nearly full out with confidence, no effective loss in distance. If anything, the opposite. I generally play a straight shot with my irons.
For me , playing in windy conditions a draw is crucial shot in the tool box, but agreed with everything you said mark
Easy. The majority of amateurs coming for lessons don't have a fade but an over the top slice or at least a steep swing down maybe manages to keep it to a fade but with high dynamic loft and therefore hit their "fades" powerless. If you learn how to draw first with the correct angle of attack you can easily turn that into the power fade that is what the better players will choose for consistency.
Having been screwed royally by so many hooks, I’ve resolved to fade everything, even my putts. I definitely lose distance on the short clubs, but gain distance on the longer clubs, so it’s like having more clubs in the bag. The best thing about a fade, though, is that it doesn’t roll into trouble.
Damn fellas. This makes loads of sense. Why do I fight the natural shape of my shot! That is crazy! Maybe it is just human nature, we want what we don't/can't have.
I agree with Mark's comment where a fade feels like you are losing it which turns into a slice when you do lose it. A draw feels like you have more control as it's coming back to you even though a hook is just as bad as a slice.
I started 2 years ago and had a repeatable fade but then listened to all the "good golfers" at my club go on and on about how "good players hit draws"
2 years of hell trying to eliminate a 5 to 10 yard fade and I've learnt they were talking crap and I've embraced it.The best bit was in my last competition when I was 40 yards further down the fairway consistently than one of the worst for it.Think a lot of it is golfers stuck in the old thinking influencing newer golfers who look to them for advice
Baby fade is my stock shot these days. Much more reliable and controllable. Yes I'm slightly shorter but the next club up in my bag will sort that out!!😊
Similar to some other comments... my "fade" was a weak slice. To be more consistent with flight and distance I felt a draw was the answer and I still believe it was a more attainable way to improve for me (I now consistently draw). A strong-flighted consistent fade is "next level" for me... i'm getting there with the help of my coach. Maybe player specific a bit?
this vlog links in with your previous vlogs you have shown about distance and bombing the ball so you have a shorter second shot with an easier club to improve your scores. I average 235 yards with driver and know if im playing wind against and hit a customary slice on a longer par 4 say 430 yards, my drive goes 210 and i have 220 in and looking at a 5. If I try and play a draw and get 250 good drive im looking at a better chance of getting a par
When I learned the draw, I saw it as another "tool" in my bag that could lessen some of the "pressure ‘ to create a shot that you didn’t have. Almost like a "utility" shot.
Miss you guys all together.
I changed my swing this offseason and now I seem to always draw or over draw and I’m not as much of a fan. It was a swing change that I needed to make because I was way to steep but I have lost a bit of control I find. Just gotta keep practicing the new move. I miss the baby fade though 🤷🏽♂️
Here are my thoughts as someone who hit a fade all my life and then went on a quest to get the draw for more distance…my fade was much easier to control and the height and landing angle was much better; I did hit it a little shorter. My draw goes well much of the time, but when I overdo it, I tend to come way too far from the inside and either hit it fat, or I hit a low draw. Most amateurs need distance. Most pros do not need distance. They need the extra spin and height to get a better landing angle into concrete hard greens. Not an issue with amateurs. However, what I’ve noticed from hitting a draw/hook…you spend more time farther away from the cart path since most cart paths are purposefully laid on the right side of the fairway for that very reason! I walk 95% of the time unless I’m in a tournament and it’s required. Now, I’m trying to get my fade back as it feels more natural to me. I always find my hip stop rotating when I’m trying to hit a draw because I’m trying to deliver the club from the inside out…
Interesting discussion. I would rather fade the ball any day of the week. I am of the opinion that the low/high hooky shot is the most destructive for me personally.
I usually agree with what you are saying. The reason for the draw is different for me and I think most. Most beginners hit massive slices and in our Need to stop hitting slices out of play we work the other direction
When I first started playing I had a horrible slice so during lessons I over exaggerated a feeling of releasing the club to get a draw and then after some years of practice I now have a baby fade but if needed I can draw the ball. I just like the look of a fade and for me it feels like I can't go over the back of the green
As a junior I tried so hard to hit a fade for 2 or 3 years and it had a negative impact on my game, for some reason the draw is more natural for me to get around the golf course with. Don’t get me wrong I can shape it both ways, the fade just takes work and typically I don’t control how much it curves very well.
Finding what works for you is the best thing you can do to help your golf.
Been fighting an over draw since I started golf 3 years ago , could be from years of playing tennis with a very dominant forehand .
Suffice to say I’m over the moon that I’m finally beginning to play a very slight fade with more height.
With a fade it feels almost guaranteed to be in play and I can rotate as hard as I like without turning the ball over too much compared to a draw, which was stressful too be honest.
It's distance for me, I'm about 15 yards shorter with my irons when I fade, and it makes it difficult for me to get around my course. Where as a draw gives me slightly more distance but I still generate enough spin to stop the ball. I gain about 40 yards on my drives from a draw compare to a fade on my driver. I'm a 6 handicap for reference.
My miss, like lots of armatures was the slice. Compared to a well struck shot, my slice was about 30 yards shorter, due to open club face increasing loft. When I work on a draw, my miss will still miss fairway, but it will be much closer to my standard carry distance, which seems like a win to me.
In order for me to get rid of my slice I had to ratchet down how hard I swang to hit the ball. With a more regulated tempo I began hitting the ball naturally 'straight'. Just by swinging about 60% helped to establish a pace of swing that naturally made me hit it straight. The problem with a 60% swing is it don't go very far. But it made golf so much fun because I was in the fairway and not in the rough like my friends.
Over the years I learned and actually prefer a draw because I can manage it better and keep my ball in play. I can play a fade but only attempt it when obstacles dictate my shot. Most of my fade shot attempts go straight with very little fading. And the way I play a draw is with a stronger grip, left foot in front of right foot and swing naturally out towards 1st base and keeping my eyes on the ball throughout the swing for the best possible contact. And "YES" of course Murphy visits me with regularity.
I learned to draw the ball to fix my leaky fade/slice with my long irons and driver. Personally I like hitting a fade more as it feels like I'm able to swing a little looser but there's always the fear that I'm going to lose it right. I typically try to hit a draw with my driver and then hit my stock shot with every other club. If they fade a little that's fine. I have a tendency to leave the club open on my driver so at the least the draw swing path ends in a push instead of dog leg slice.
I struggle with starting a fade on the correct path. A draw has become my natural shot (after a pro taught me.) Now its just my swing path. Question did you do a video on setup for a cut?
Grew up on a coastal course with OB down the left on the way out and water on the left on the way back.....needless to say unless forced otherwise I play a fade off the tee. As Trevino said “you can talk to a fade, but a hook won’t listen!”
I grew up with a natural draw. It just 'looks' way more powerful than fading. It's exciting and satisfying to hit a towering draw into a green. Made my playing partners jealous. At the time, i loved it. Now i'm blocking it as i get older.
hi Mark, how does push fades and pull fades factor into this conversation? Is there any difference and which do pros favour?
Always used to push slice however it wasn't 12-15 yards like Coach mentioned it was 30-50 yards so fixing that was a priority, and naturally going the other way was the success story I was after. Still to this day some get away from me to the far right. Makes me feel I have no face control when that happens and I'm disappointed. However now there is a two way miss so thats lots of fun also lol
Once you learn both, you need one that feels more comfortable as a "stock" shot. For driver and fw woods, you can aim straight and be OK most of the time; but for approach irons and wedges, you need that combination of distance and direction where you favor a certain shot shape to make those calculations in your head.
I play off 17 at the minute, and currently play with a draw, for me I prefer this as I have more of feeling that I can control it, only played the draw for about 3 months, before that it was a fade which easily turned into a slice which I felt I had no control over which would come
You guys hit just about every reason an amateur wants a draw. I think they also know a draw starts right and comes back where as their fades start right and and finish right. Personally I'm happy hitting a fade I just want it to be repeatable, which it isn't always.
Like the thoughts behind this as it is very relevant to me. Trying to hit a draw at the moment, but wanting to keep a more consistent strike as well, regardless of which it is for me. Keep it up!!!👍
For me personally, in the past I was a bit consumed by wanting to draw the ball and I think it was largely out of fear of the big right miss (which I'm sure a lot of mid-high handicap players can relate to). As I've gotten lower into the single digits and started seeing that slice less and less I have gotten a lot more comfortable with a straight to butter-cut flight with the draw as a tool in the bag as needed
A draw lands on the ground with right to left ball spin (for the right handed player) and rolls out right to left in what is effectively overspin. A fade lands on the ground with left to right ball spin checking up against the ground and rolls out with the spin fighting the progress of the ball. The draw shot ends up further in total distance (not carry) since spin and path are in the same direction. Amatures tend to play off total distance (again, not carry) and therefore conclude correctly that the drawn ball "goes further".
I've been down the shape change route many times. I'm a natural drawer of the ball. It suits my eye.
Tried going fades and struggled a lot.
Bottom line for me through the turmoil was that the fade just didn't suit my eye. So the same could be said the other way round
I like hitting a draw because i can visualise the shot more. Also, when i have put myself in a position, or the course asks for it, that i have to fade, it alway feels as if my body gets constricted, ending up in double crossing it, and a whole lot of trouble. bye bye confidence, next three rounds no more fades😀
What a great video 🙌🏻 I always wondered why i always want to draw the ball. I think its a distance thing. Also, when i draw a drive or iron it “feels” like I flushed it.
Straight for me thanks ☺️
Think course design has something to do with it too. Municipal courses I play have most of the trouble on the right side on a majority of the holes - right where slicers hit it if improperly aimed (there’s the main point). Knowing your tendencies is the rub....
For me it's in that you often use the word slice but rarely the word hook.
I hit draws, straight and fade and the occasional slice never a hook. And not cause I mean too because I don't play enough to have locked it down. So, if I play a drawn, in my head, the slice I no more.
Ps plus my draw on the driver definitely goes further but I feel like I hit it harder. So it should as you say all my sings are not equal.
Well, in my life and vocabulary, "slice" is pretty rare and not much of a problem (use it to go under and around a tree or something) but the hook is a bit of terrifying bogeyman, always ready to creep on me (and on my home course we have a very narrow 430 yards par 4 with OoB all the way on the left). You know the Trevino's saying "You can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen"? That's more like it... And notice "fade" and "hook", not "slice" and "draw"!
How true Mark @ 06:45: the ‘draw’ shot always feels good/safe/better; the ‘cut/fade’ feels like a not so well hit shot........to me anyway! 👍