What Is a Draw in Golf & How to Hit one?

Hitting a golf ball is hard on its own. Trying to give a shot a specific shape or trajectory is something that can take a life time to master. However, it is something that is very crucial to playing high level golf.

Any golfer can dramatically benefit from hitting a draw. A draw is a ball that shapes away from the golfer and slowly moves back towards the golfer in the air. For a right handed golfer this would be the ball starting right and moving back to the left. For a left handed golfer this would be a ball that starts left and moves back to the right in the air.

The most common miss in golf is the slice which is the opposite of a draw. A slice is an arrant shot that moves drastically away from the golfer and ends up 20-50 yards off target. With this being the most common miss, a player who learns to draw the ball can cure their slices and understand the different feels for each shot. Leading to less slices.

For experience golfers learning to hit a draw on demand can help navigate difficult greens and conditions. For example, if the wind is off the left, a right handed golfer can hit a draw to neutralize some of the winds affect and hold the desired line. Or if a green slopes heavy to the left and the pin/hole is guarded by bunkers, a right handed golfer may hit a draw right of the pin so when the ball lands it can spin left towards the pin.

What is a Draw in Golf?

A draw in golf is a shot that gently moves back towards the golfer. For a right handed golfer, the ball will start right and and gently move towards the left. (Opposite for left handed golfers) It is crucial to understand that the shot is still on target. Its not arrant. it’s a controlled shot.

Not to be confused with a hook. A hook is like a slice but the other direction. Its an errant shot that pulls all the way passed the golfer and is usually 20-50 yards off target. The image below depicts the trajectory of a slice compared to a hook. It’s a big difference since the hook is unplayable and the draw is where the golfer intended to land the ball.

Why Do Golfers Use a Draw?

Golfers will use a draw in golf for a few different reasons. All of those reasons will be to hit better shots and play better golf.

A very common reason to hit a draw is to add distance. If you’ve ever hit a slice before, you know that you don’t only loose accuracy of the desired target but you also loose a ton of distance. This is because the ball spins way right (right-handed golfers) but also has some backspin at the same time. The draw however has topspin to go along the the right spin. Which will allow the ball to travel a little further.

Another common reason to hit a draw would be to control it against the wind. This is more common for advanced golfers but can be executed by anyone who knows how to hit a draw. For example, if the wind is off the left, a right handed golfer can hit a draw to neutralize some of the winds affect and hold the desired line. Which can be very helpful when the wind is having lots of affect on the ball in the air.

The most common and most sensical reason to hit a draw is to shape the ball depending on the hole. If a fairway is a dog leg right, and you are on the tee box, it would make the most sense to cut the corner and hit a draw so the ball draws around a corner and you save distance in on your second shot. (right-handed golfer)

Draw vs. Fade – What’s the Difference?

Ball Flight and Shape

The draw and the fade in golf are very similar shots the difference is the direction the ball travels in the air because of spin. A draw moves right to left in the air and a fade moves left to right in the air (right-handed golfers)

The differences are built in to the swing you put on the ball heavily depending on your club path which dramatically affects the spin on the ball.

Shot Type	Club Path	Spin (Right-handed)	Trajectory (Right-Handed)
Draw	In-to-out	Left & Foward	Right-to-Left
Fade	Out-to-in	Right & Back	Left-to-Right

*Spin and Trajectory opposite for left-handed golfers

When to Use Each Shot

When comparing the draw and the fade there is no better shot type. It all depends on the shot at hand. Some shots will play better with a fade and others will play better with a draw.

Firstly, before you can choose what shot to hit you need to know your personal capabilities and bias. Most players will naturally hit one shot shape over the other. Personally I favour a draw with my irons and a fade with my driver.

If I am selecting my approach shot, I am always going to look for the draw option. This is because I don’t have a natural ability to fade the ball. A lot of golfers should be able to find there way around any average golf course using one shot shape. If you feel confident only playing one, just account for it on every shot and take the bad with the good and keep moving.

If you are capable of hitting either shot on demand, then it comes down to the situation at hand and you must solve for the best shot selection. Just like you would on any shot.

If theres wind off the left you may want to use the shot shape that holds it against the wind so it can be more predictable. if theres danger right, you may want to go with the shot shape that moves away from the hazard always accounting for the elements of the course and hitting the highest percentage shot type. That’s really all you can ever do in golf!

How to Hit a Draw in Golf – Step-by-Step

Let’s break down how to hit a draw. This step by step guide will teach how to hit a draw but it will be up to you to find your perfect set up (adjusted to the standard), find your feels, and practice until you can’t mess it up.

Setup and Alignment

The best way to ensure you properly hit a draw is to make sure your set up for success. Creating an in-to-out swing path can be challenging if you are trying to do so only with your hands and arms in a normal golf set-up. It will usually lead to a hook.

In order to create a draw, we want to have the club face and the club path moving in the same direction but not on the same line. If we have them both moving in the same direction on the same line at impact, the ball will go mostly straight.

After picking your target we want to start with where the clubhead points at address. (when we step up to the ball) We want to point our clubhead somewhere right of the target. (right-handed golfer) Maybe 4-7 yards right. Then we want to align our feet even further right of club face. Say another 4-7 yards. When we line up our feet, we are also lining up the rest of our body. (shoulder, knees, & hips)

Swing Path and Clubface Position

Using the above mentioned set up will ensure that when we swing along our feet line like we would do for any other shot, our club is traveling from the inside-to-out. Creating that forward left ball spin that encourages the draw.

The further apart the club face is pointed from where the body is pointed, the more the ball spins and therefore the bigger the draw you’ll have. A good way to look at it is that is your a draw meter. Turn it up when you want it to draw more, turn it down when you want it to draw less.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There a few common mistake we shold watch out for when we a learning or trying to hit a draw.

The first mistake I would imagine someone making is overdoing the club path with a standard set up. Don’t visualize the swing path with your arms or hands. Take the proper set up and swing like you normally would. The set up is what should enable you to draw the golf ball, not your hands or arms.

Another common mistake is golfers will close the club face a huge amount to ensure it draws. This usually leads to a massive hook. Its okay to close the club face a little but not to the point where its passed the desire target. This will be why you hook the ball.

The number one solution for golfers struggling with the draw is to make sure you are following the fundamentals of the set up. This should make it easy and repeatable.

When learning the draw, get out there and mess around with the amount of discrepancy between the club face and club path until you find what works for you. A repeatable shot is the best shot in golf!

A great video that can help you get a better understanding of the set up for a draw in golf if you are still struggling is from Golf Distillery. Watch below!

Should Beginners Learn to Hit a Draw?

If you are very beginner level and still struggle with just making contact with the ball I would suggest focusing on the fundamentals of the golf swing primarily.

If you are a little more advanced then someone just starting out, there may be a big benefit in learning the draw. Especially if you are a avid slicer of the golf ball. Learning the exact opposite of a slice, may help you get the feel for keeping the ball straighter.

Learning to shape the golf on demand is one of the most useful tools a golfer can have, however, golf is a very tough sport and I would suggest playing the shot shape you naturally have. As long as its not getting you in a ton of trouble, I’d say master a repeatable shape and then when you are more advanced, getting into the draw.

Conclusion

Learning how to hit a draw in golf is not something that will happen overnight. It takes time, practice, and a lot of trial and error to find what works for your swing.

The most important thing to remember is that a draw is a controlled shot. It’s not about flipping your hands over or trying to force the ball to turn left. It’s about understanding how your setup, club face, and swing path work together to create the desired ball flight.

For some golfers, the draw may become their go-to shot. For others, it may just be another tool they can use when the course calls for it. Either way, understanding how to hit one will make you a better and more complete golfer.

Start small, experiment with your setup, and don’t expect perfection right away. Golf is a game of small improvements over time.

The goal isn’t to hit every shot shape perfectly. The goal is to understand your swing better and build a repeatable shot you can trust when you need it most.

As you can see in the image above, there is a great distinction between the two ball flights. The draw is meant to be on target. As for the hook, it is one of the worst shots a golfer can hit. Many amateur golfers are plagued with the hook. It can’t be controlled.