05 Jan How to Draw the Ball
Golfers come to me all the time wanting to learn how to draw the ball. They understand that they can hit the ball farther by hitting a draw (right to left shot for a right-handed golfer).
But before you start trying to learn how to work the ball, please also understand this fact: if you can hit the ball in one direction and be consistent in that direction, you can play great golf! You will be able to hit many fairways and greens in regulation if you just play your “stock golf shot”.
Your stock golf shot is the shot you normally hit. For me, I hit a draw all the time. That is my stock golf shot. It is very hard for me to hit a fade. I can do it, but it is not easy for me, and I am not successful all the time.
But, you want to learn how to draw the ball…… right? Well, here is how you can get more distance. The simplest way to draw the ball is to close your club face. For a right-handed golfer that means you turn the toe of your club to the left or an 11:00 position (as if you were looking at a clock). The score lines on the face of your golf club will now be pointing to your right heel (a square club face has the score lines right down the middle of your feet).
Now, grip the club so the club stays closed in your hands.
Next, aim the club face (closed) to the target you want to hit (the pin or the fairway) and aim your body to the right of your target. If you happen to be behind trees and need to draw the ball around the trees, your body will be aiming to the right of the trees. When your set up is complete, you will now swing toward your feet line or right of the target. Because the club face is closed or aimed left, the ball flight will start to the right of your target and then draw back in (left) to your target.
For those who are interested, to hit a fade you will open your club face and grip it open. You will then aim your club face to the target and your body and feet line left of the target. When you swing with your feet line, the open face will curve the ball (right) to your target.
Hitting either of these shots when playing golf, takes practice. The day will come when you will have the opportunity to use one of these shots. But if you haven’t had the chance to practice the shot at hand, you may end up being better off by just hitting your “stock shot”!