How Do I Draw and Fade the Golf Ball? A Beginners Guide

When drafting this article I realised it is a topic that can be easily over complicated. This is a Beginners Guide to “How Do I Draw and Fade the Golf Ball?”. I hope it helps you draw and fade the golf ball.

What is a fade, what is a draw?

• Fade – the ball flight curves left to right (lefties, right to left), excessive curve is a slice.
• Draw – the ball flight curves right to left (lefties, left to right), excessive curve is a hook.

Three key ingredients will be discussed and should be part of your thought routine when setting up to address, preparing to fade or draw:

1. Club Path – In-out, out-in, straight
2. Stance – Feet position for Draw and Fade – open or closed stance
3. Club Face Angle – Open or closed

Club Path (or swing path)

Before attempting to draw or fade, it is useful to understand and practice club path control. Having a feel for club path control is incredibly helpful. Check out my blog on club path here “How do I hit the ball straight?“.

Try both and see which feels more comfortable while hitting a few balls. You may find using both together is best. Ignore where the ball is going. For this exercise you simply want to start getting use to holding and positioning the club differently.

How to Draw (figure 2, top)

• Stand with a closed stance, shoulders pointing to the right of target (left if you’re a lefty). Look over your left shoulder to check where you’re aiming or use a club aligned on the floor parallel to your feet.
• Use your chosen technique (changing grip of twisting the club) to Close the club face so it points along the target line (pale line in figure 2).
• Concentrate on the direction you face with your stance rather than the target line using the club laid on the floor.
• Practice with small swings and increase as you get use to the feel and with success
• Your aim is to see a right to left curve of the ball.
• If you produce a hook, this is fine, open the face a little and try again.

How to Fade (figure 2, middle)

• Stand with an open stance, shoulders pointing left of target (right if you’re a lefty).
• Use your chosen technique to open the club face, pointing at intended target (pale line in figure 2).
• Concentrate on the direction you face with your stance, using the club laid on the floor as a target line.
• Start with a short, straight swing and increase with practice and success.
• All going well, you will see a left to right curve.
• If you produce a slice, close the club face a little and try again.

Experiment with opening and closing the face to generate more or less curve and see how close you can land to your target line.

If you’re really struggling, I strongly suggest trying the exercise in “How do I hit the ball straight?“.

Finally. Learning to fade and draw takes time. Don’t be disheartened if you struggle, especially with re-gripping or twisting the wrists, it is uncomfortable. But persist and you will get results. Having control of the ball is incredibly rewarding, fun, incredibly handy and satisfying to do on the course.

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