How to Hit a Draw Shot in Golf

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Make sure you don't go overboard and develope a hook

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A draw, or hook, shot starts right and then curves left. Use it when a direct shot at your target is blocked, for example on a dogleg hole or if you need to curve the shot around some trees that are in the way. The draw is more of a subtle curve than the hook, which is very strong and often end up in the rough unless you did it deliberately and calculated it into your aim. The draw starts off pretty straight and then starts to fall off to the left. A draw shot makes the ball roll further when it lands because it puts a forward spin on the ball.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Golf Shirts
Golf Bags
Golf Balls
Golf Gloves
Golf Club Cleaners
Golf Lessons
Golf Shoes
Golf Tees
Golf Practice Equipment
Golf Clubs
Golf Hats

Step1

Note that these steps are intended for right-handers - reverse them if you're left-handed.

Step2

Set up your golf shot with your usual alignment and grip.

Step3

Adjust your feet to aim to the right of your target. The angle of your feet depends on your individual swing and desired results, and can range from 5 to 45 degrees. Try 10 to 15 degrees to the right to start.

Step4

Aim the club face directly at your target and use your normal grip.

Step5

Swing normally.

Step6

Resist the temptation to turn too soon and watch the ball's flight.

Tips & Warnings

Test the intentional hook shot with all your clubs and note the different results with each one.
Consider external factors, such as wind direction and strength, slope, how the ball sits on the ground, obstacles, hazards and margin of error, when choosing your club and execution.
Try not to change your normal swing. Make the changes to your grip and alignment and trust your normal swing to do the work for you.
Take lessons to improve your swing if you need them. An occasional $30 lesson can dramatically improve your swing and enjoyment of the game.
Do not try severe hooks right away. Start with mild hooks and gradually work your way into more dramatic ones.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 6/11/2007 As with any golf shot, you should keep your hips still. That is, keep them from tilting on the back swing. Novice golfers who try to intentionally draw the ball often drop their hips through their back swing and fore swing causing, among other things, the face to open. This can result in a mammoth slice that is compounded by aiming right of the target.

If anything, concentrate on pushing the left hip slightly forward during the back swing and keeping stable through the fore swing.

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 At address, your left foot (assuming you are a right handed player) should be slightly higher, meaning more up in your stance than your back (right) foot. Make sure the ball is positioned a little behind where you normally hit, and try to swing through the ball so your weight ends up completely on your left side. You want to feel like you're swinging across your body at impact, firing to the left side. Additionally, when you setup at address, you want to have a strong right hand grip and a weaker left hand grip. You'll know you are there when you hit the ball and you feel your right forearm turning over the left forearm through impact. The ball should start out right and turn toward the left in flight.

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Assuming you can hit a straight ball to start with, and play all shots off your left heel:
FADE: Shorten your thumb positions on your grip, and kind of scrunch your two hands together. Swing normally.
DRAW: Lengthen your thumb positions on your grip, and kind of stretch your two hands apart. Swing normally.
HIGH: Grip the club with your left hand turned strong and your right hand turned weak. Swing normally.
LOW: Grip the club with your left hand turned weak and your right hand turned strong. Swing normally.

Nothing changes except your grip positions for fade, draw, high, or low shots. Keep you ball position the same. Transfer your weight the same. Keep your swing plane the same. You control your trajectory with your hands. You will normally adjust your alignment to compensate for these shots.

This grip/change system works very well and is easy to do.

Anonymous said

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on 3/7/2006 For beginners, place the ball roughly 2-3 inches back in your stance than normal. Aim your stance further to the right. Close the clubface slightly (really not that much). Make sure to take the club back slightly on the inside or closer to your body than usual and follow through toward the target line that your feet are pointing at.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I like to use a little more of a strong grip for this shot, but not too much. Turn your body a little to the right with your left foot a little higher than your right (make your stance is a little narrow), then close the club face a little and take a swing that is inside to outside and it should draw.

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