How to Setup, Swing and Hit a Draw Golf Shot

There are a few different ways to hit an intentional draw which, for right-handed players, is a ball flight that travels from right-to-left. You can think of a draw as a controlled hook. A hook, by definition is a ball flight that starts off left and then curves even further left. The draw is a tamed version of the hook.

We'll cover two methods to produce controlled hook spin on a golf ball;

1. The common, institutional method of hitting a draw simply requires a few pre-shot set up changes to produce the conditions likely to impart draw spin on the ball.

• To start the ball to the right, aim the body -feet, hips and shoulders to the right of the intended target.
• Aim the clubface directly at the target. Because the body is aligned to the right, the club will be and appear slightly closed.
• Make a shallow, inside-to-out swing along the body line. The clubhead must approach the ball from the inside.
• Release the club by allowing the forearms to roll over.

Making the set up adjustments and releasing the club will produce right-to-left spin. Because the body is aligned to the right, the ball will start out right -along the body line. The spin imparted on the ball will cause it to curve to the left in flight, back towards where the clubface was pointed.

Note: The more the clubface and body are closed, the more hook spin will imparted which means a wider curve from right-to-left. Conversely, the less closed the face and body are, the less curve the ball will have on it.

2. The second method of hitting a draw is a little more challenging and requires a great deal of hand speed and coordination to pull off at will. This method involves the intensity of the club release through impact.

• Align the body to the right of the intended target.
• Align the cluface square to the body line. -Everything will set up to the right of where the ball is intended to land.
• Make a normal inside-to-out swing.
• At impact, release the clubhead by allowing the clubhead to pass the hands while closing the face by rotating the right forearm over the left.

The ball will again start out right of the target inline with where the body is pointed and will curve back to the left. This method works because at impact, the clubhead approaches the ball from the inside and the clubhead contacts the ball in a closed position putting the needed sidespin on the ball.

*This method can easily produce pulls and hooks if the hands are too fast during impact.

Experiment with the two methods of hitting a draw and see which one works better for your swing. Practice, practice, practice!

The draw