Good Course Management Skills Means Learning How to Hit a Draw

How to Hit a DrawSome golfers ask me why they need to learn how to hit a draw when it is a golf swing fault. Actually a draw can either be a swing fault or a deliberately shaped ball flight. Just like a fade, a draw is a swing fault when you are not intending to hit the ball with any effect on it. On the other hand, a slice and a hook are always swing problems and need to be corrected.

What is a Draw Shot in Golf?

A draw is a less extreme version of a hook. For both the draw and the hook, the club-face will impart on the ball a counter-clockwise spin and due to the inside-outside swing path, the ball will start off to the right and will then curve to the left. The difference between the two is the amount of curve to the left – a draw will normally end up on the fairway while the hook will end up in the rough or out of bounds, way to the left of the target.

When to Use the Draw Shot

Learning how to hit a draw that is deliberate can be a very useful part of course management. Most golf courses will have a dog-leg hole or two and many are known as a dog-leg left because they start off straight and have an angle to the left towards the green. These holes present a lot of problems to many golfers but if you can learn how to hit a draw, you will be able to take advantage of the dog-leg left holes.

Another example of when you may have to hit a draw is on approach shots to the green. If there is a prevailing wind across the green from left to right then it makes sense to hit a draw into this wind to better control the ball’s flight. Also, a draw can be useful for landing the ball into a slope on the green so that it doesn’t run away from the hole location.

Finally, the preferred flight path for many golfers is to hit a draw off the tee, even on a straight drive. The reason why many golfers spend so many hours trying to master this shot is because it can add significant distance to their drives. When you can hit a draw correctly, the golf ball will have a lower trajectory and will therefore roll more once it lands on the fairway – also you can fix a slice by learning how to hit a draw.

These are some of the reasons why you will want to learn how to hit a draw; more distance off the tee and better course management skills will result in a noticeable improvement in your game of golf. Luckily, to learn how to hit a draw shot is easier than you might imagine.

Here is How to Hit a Draw

To learn this valuable golf shot, you will need to make certain swing and grip adjustments.

  1. The key to hitting a draw is to rotate your hands slightly to the right on the grip of the club; don’t turn the shaft, just your hands. This is known as a strong grip.
  2. Close your stance at address a little bit which will let your body the freedom it needs to turn fully and achieve the inside to outside swing path that is required to hit a draw.
  3. Let your hands do the work when the club-head comes into the impact zone with the ball. Your right hand will naturally rotate back over to a neutral position, which allows the club-face to close slightly.

If done properly, the ball’s flight path will begin to the right, and once it reaches its apex, it will start to return to the left, stopping its curve in the region of the target line.

However, if you see that the ball is curving dramatically to the left, you shot is closer to a golf swing hook than a draw, and you will need to continue practicing more.

A good tip is to look at the divot you make when using an iron; your divot should be a little to the left of the target line or in front of the target line. It shouldn’t be to the right of the target line.

Practice Hitting a Draw with Your Mid-Irons

Traditionally, the hardest club to hit is your driver, so if you want to learn how to hit a draw you should practice first with your mid-irons. Many golf instructors recommend learning golf with the 6-iron and so it is also good advice for learning how to hit a draw correctly.

Once you have perfected the draw shot with your mid-irons, move up to the long-irons and finally your driver. For most golfers, it is the most difficult club to master the draw with. That is why learning and practicing with the easier mid-irons first will make it easier to perfect with the driver.

How to Hit a Draw Summary

If you continue having problems perfecting the draw, take a look at your grips. Larger grips than your hand size requires as well as gripping the club too tightly, will make it more difficult to get the desired action on the ball.

It is often normal to see a lot of hooks in the beginning so don’t get dejected and give up. The procedure of rotating your hands to the right that gives you a strong grip is one that you have to experiment with; make small adjustments at a time and then hit a few balls. After observing your ball’s flight you may have to make further small adjustments to get the desired draw.

Learning how to hit a draw correctly is a more advanced golf swing technique but after you have learned the mechanics of it and practiced enough, you’ll be in a better position to control your shot selection and therefore your game will improve too.

Purepoint Golf Video Lessons – Learn How to Hit a Draw

In this new DVD from PurePoint Golf and Bobby Eldridge you will learn how to hit a draw. This easy to follow DVD will help you learn the draw shot in golf – the most powerful shot in golf. A draw will fix your slice and let you hit the ball even farther than a straight shot.

Click Here to Learn How to Hit a Draw – The Most Beautiful Shot in Golf

About

Mick has played golf for almost 40 years and has written golf tips articles for the last 5 years. He became a very proficient golfer after switching to the Purepoint Golf swing system – either the Simple Golf Swing System by David Nevogt or the Full Golf Swing by Bobby Eldridge are both easy to learn, consistent, and repeatable golf swings .

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