Difference Between Fade And Draw

However, at some point in your golf career, you will need to learn how to hit a draw golf shot, and a fade shot as well.

Having the ability to work the ball both on your tee shot and the approach shot is quite important. If you wonder what the difference is between a draw and fade, how to hit each, and which is a better shot to learn, we have all the answers you will need.

What Is The Difference Between a Draw and a Fade?

Draw vs. Fade — This is for a right-handed player. For lefties, it's the opposite around.

A draw is a shot that starts out straight towards the target and then starts to fall to the left. A draw is different from a hook because it won't turn all that far to the left. The fade shot starts at the golf target and then falls to the right.

Of all the shot shapes that players hit, the fade is the most common. However, not all golfers hitting a fade shot will be doing it intentionally. Sometimes shot shape is a result of your natural swing, and other times it will be a result of the adjustments you make to try and control the ball.

What Are The Benefits of Shot Shaping?

If you are set in your ways and feel as though hitting a straight shot is all that is really necessary, you may limit your game and the scores you are going to be able to shoot. Learning to shot shape takes time and some golf swing adjustments; however, it will be worth the effort that you put in.

Golf Course Management

Hitting the ball long is a great thing. However, it won't keep you out of trouble. Keeping your golf ball in play, setting yourself up for your favorite golf shots, and learning to keep big numbers off of the scorecard is what golf course management is all about.

You will run into a dogleg hole at some point on most golf courses. If you don't know how to hit a fade or a draw, you could end up adding yardage to your shots in the opposite direction of where you need to hit.

Getting Out Of Trouble

Both a fade and draw can be used at times to help players get out of trouble. If your tee shot has left you behind a tree, you may be able to hit fades or draws to get around the tree and back into play. If the only golf shot you have is a straight shot, you may struggle to get the golf ball near the hole.

Precision

At some point in golf, you will want a four foot birdie putt instead of just being near the green in two. For some golfers, this will happen when they are new to the game; for others, it will take years to reach this point. If you want to get precise with golf shots, you will need to be able to hit a draw and a fade.

Left Handed Golfers vs. Right Handed Golfers

A right handed golfer and a left handed golfer will see the golf course differently. Depending on where you are standing. The ability to adjust to any golf course and hit various shots will undoubtedly help you lower your scores.

Draw vs. Fade Which Is Better?

To understand if a draw or a fade is better, it is a good idea to know the differences between the two.

Pros and Cons of A Fade Shot

Pros

Easy to control
It can be adjusted quickly by changing the swing path
A natural golf shot for many people
It lands softly on the green
It tends to have more backspin than a draw shot
Flys high

Cons

Fades can turn into slices rather quickly

Pros and Cons of A Draw Shot

Pros

Has quite a bit of power
Great looking shot
Set's up well for a lot of approach shots on golf courses
Lots of roll for a long drive

Cons

Not as much backspin on a golf draw
Harder to control than a fade

The fade shot tends to be the shot that the majority of golfers like to hit. However, my personal preference is the draw. The draw gives that little bit of extra power and tends to be the best shot for the players that enjoy a few extra yards of distance.

The most important thing is to pick a shot that looks good to you when you set up to hit the ball. Draw or fade, you will still have to put a great swing on the ball.

How to Hit a Draw in Golf

There are many ways to learn how to hit a draw and fade shot. However, you can keep these movements relatively simple and save yourself a lot of frustration. Here is a simple way to hit a draw in golf.

Aim

Aim the club to your target; for a more dramatic draw, you can aim a bit right of the target.

Close

Close your body so that you are facing the right of your target, feel as though you block off the left side of the course

Swing

Swing the club along your body path, which is closed to the target; the clubface should still swing out to the target.

When you hit a draw from this closed position, be pleased to get a bit more distance than you would with a fade. Your target line does not need to change; you can still aim just a few yards to the right of the target so that the ball draws back in. If you exaggerate your draw, you will end up with a hook as it is not as easy to control as a fade.

How to Hit a Fade in Golf

The great thing about a fade is that it gives golfers much more control over what they are doing with their golf shots. Here is the simple way to hit a fade in golf.

Aim

Aim the clubface to the target

Open

Your body needs to be open relative to the target; you will feel as though your shoulder, hips, and feet are pointing to the left of your target line.

Swing

Swing along the path of the body and deliver the clubface square; the fade moves left to right because of the swing path and alignment

A controlled fade will land on the green and have quite a bit of spin and a higher ball flight. A power fade can give golfers a bit more distance but still get that softer landing and higher ball flight. For players new to the game, it can be a good idea to perfect the fade shot before moving on to other types of shots.

What Should I Play: Draw vs. Fade

Now that you understand the difference between a draw and a fade, now you need to determine which is best for your game. Ideally, you will want to learn how to hit both. This way, you will have a draw or fade to choose from regardless of how the hole is set up in front of you.

Your natural swing is going to produce some kind of a ball flight. If that ball flight tends to go a little left to right then, you will probably have an easier time learning how to hit a fade. It would be best if you always played the shot that is the most natural to you.

Consistency in golf is hard to obtain, and trying to manipulate a club face to hit different types of golf shots gets complicated. The hardest shot to hit is the one that feels uncomfortable. To avoid this, stick with exactly what feels natural and repeatable.

Conclusion: Draw Vs. Fade

With all of this information in mind, it's time to head to the driving range and learn how to hit both a draw and a fade. The more time you spend working on your golf game and perfecting these types of shots, the more obtainable those birdies become .

Learning how to hit both a draw and a fade will help to ensure that you are ready for any golf course situation. In addition, players that learn how to control the ball are much better at making swing adjustments and fixes when they are on the golf course. If you know how to hit a fade, you should be able to correct your slice as well