Among the many techniques and shots that golfers use, the draw and fade shots are two of the most important and widely used. A draw shot causes the ball to curve from right to left, whereas a fade shot causes it to curve from left to right. Both shots take a lot of skill and practice to get right because you have to change the clubface and swing path precisely to get the desired effect.
Golfers who want to improve their game should know the difference between a draw and fade shots. That’s why we’ve compiled a complete guide to these two shots, including when to use them, how to do them, and their pros and cons.
So, to take your game to the next level, head to our guide and start practicing these essential golf shots immediately.
Table of Content
What is the difference between a draw & fade shot?
Here are the differences between a draw and a fade shot:
Draw
- A draw shot goes right and then curve left.
- Won’t turn very far to the left, unlike a hook.
- Right-handed players can do this by spinning the ball in a clockwise direction.
- Helpful in getting around obstacles on the left side of the fairway or setting up a soft landing approach shot to the green.
Fade
- A fade shot goes left then curve right.
- Most common shot shape for players
- It can be on purpose or the result of a natural swing or adjustments made to control the ball.
- A right-handed player can spin the ball counterclockwise to achieve a draw shot.
- Helpful in avoiding obstacles on the right side of the fairway or setting up an approach shot to the green that needs the ball to roll out further.
Now that you know the difference between fade shots and draw shots, we’ll look at both in more detail to help you understand them better.
Benefits of Hitting a Draw or a Fade
Practice using different shot shapes to improve your tee shot and approach shot from the fairway. For example, well-done draw shots can help avoid bunkers, trees, and water. In addition, being able to control the trajectory of your shot by drawing the ball is helpful in many situations, including when the wind is blowing against you or when you have a complicated play on the fairway.
- When faced with a “dogleg left,” many golfers believe a draw is the most effective shot. You may have the best chance of getting closer to the hole than with any other shot form if you curve the ball around the leftward bend.
- You can improve your game’s accuracy and consistency by mastering the difference between the draw and fade shot shapes.
- For adjusting the course’s natural contours and the wind’s direction you can use both draw and fade shots.
- By learning to hit a draw and fade shots, you can avoid hazards, use the course’s terrain to your advantage, and control the ball’s flight path. With enough practice, these shots can become very useful for any player.
What Are Common Mistakes Made When Trying to Hit a Draw or a Fade?
Hit a draw, or a fade can help your shots get around different course layouts. But it’s easy to make the same mistakes that lead to misses or a lack of control. Here are some tips to help you avoid making these mistakes when trying to hit a draw or a fade.
- Make sure your setup is perfect and swing as you usually would; rather than trying to modify the club face throughout the swing, you will hit draws and fades easily.
- You’ll have a lot of trouble hitting the target if you don’t adjust your aim for the club you’re using; the longer your club, the more it will draw, so aim appropriately.
- If you’re holding the club too firmly, you might not be able to let it impact.
- You can’t hit a draw if the club face is exposed at impact.
- Less effort usually means more control, and a steady tempo makes maintaining power and precision easier.
- center of the ball, you should focus on hitting it straight.
When Should You Hit a Draw vs. Fade in Golf?
If you know when to hit a draw or a fade in golf, you can do much better on the course. Here are some situations where one shot shape might be better than the other:
When to hit a draw:
- When you need to hit the ball further, a draw tends to go farther than a fade because it makes more backspin.
- When you need to curve the ball around an obstacle, a draw can help you do that.
- A draw is the best shot when the hole curves to the left because it helps keep the ball on the fairway and gives you more distance.
When to hit a fade:
- When you need to control your shot, a fade usually has less side spin, which makes it easier to control where the ball goes and where it lands.
- When the hole curves to the right, a fade can help you stay on the fairway and out of trouble.
- When you need to hit a shot into the wind, a fade can help you hit the ball higher and with less backspin, which helps it cut through the wind and stay on course.
Draw vs Fade, Which One Is Better for Your Game?
It depends on the situation. In some situations, a draw shot is preferable for avoiding risks and using terrain. In other circumstances, a fade shot may be required to hit a specific target or layup before a hazard. Finally, knowing when and how to hit fade and draw shots will help you succeed on the course.
Whether you’re trying to hit a draw or a fade, knowing you can make the shot will give you more confidence and help you make more putts.
Most golfers think that a draw has more possibility than a fade, but it’s important to remember that a fade can be used when there are only a few possible directions. It’s also important to remember that, despite what some golfers might say, a draw still requires the correct opening of the club face while keeping it in a square position.
Tips for Improving Your Draw and Fade
Some tips to remember to better your draw or fade stroke in golf are provided below.
- An effective way to keep track of the development of your draw or fade is with a launch monitor. It records your swing and provides statistics like side spin, ball speed, and shot pattern. To help you fine-tune your golf swing, a launch monitor will show you how far you’ve come as you practice.
- Before attempting to shape your shot, you should ensure total command of your swing and ball striking.
- Exercising these shots is the greatest way to master them. If you aren’t entirely comfortable with these shots, it’s best to practice them before instead of trying to use them in a game round, where they’ll likely cause you to lose both confidence and shots.
- Choose which shot suits your swing best and which you feel most comfortable striking. Stick to the one you know you can make.
- When playing golf, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Don’t obsess over shot shape and self-criticism. In addition to aiming for the
Wrapping Up
Among the many ways to shape a golf shot, the draw and the fade are two of the most common and versatile. Both draw and fade serve a similar function, although the latter requires a more consistent and exact swing to achieve the former’s desired trajectory.
Now that you know the difference between a draw and a fade, it’s time to practice your swing at the driving range. The more you practice these shots, the closer you’ll go to making those putts.
