Draw vs Fade: What’s the Difference And Which is Better?

In golf, you are going to heat about the draw or fade. However, to those perhaps starting out on their golfing journey, these are terms that will make very little sense. So, let’s change all of that and not only tell you the difference, but also explain which one may be that bit better for your game.

What you need to remember is that it is going to be impossible for a human being to hit a ball dead straight. We just cannot do it. However, it’s how we manipulate the ball in the shot that is going to make the real difference.

That is where the draw or fade shot will really come into its own.

Now, in this instance, we are going to be primarily talking about a right-handed golfer, so when we are describing how a ball flies through the air, do keep that in mind.

The Draw and the Fade

A draw shot is going to refer to the time when the ball moves from right to left. As a result, a fade shot is going to then mean the ball has been moving from left to right.

Hitting a Fade Shot

• So if we can explain how to hit a fade shot, before then doing the same with the draw, as it will allow you to see what’s going on and why the ball is acting in a particular way.

With the fade shot, it means the clubface is going to be relatively open at that point of impact with the ball. However, there’s a problem.

The problem is that opening up the clubface too far is what will then lead to you slicing your shot, so you clearly don’t want to do that. Instead, you are looking at opening it up just enough so the ball goes from left to right as the spin placed on the ball starts to bring it back into line.

But to hit this shot, if you are trying to do it and not creating it naturally, you need to look at your grip.

You need to hold your grip as normal, but strengthen your left hand. If you put more pressure on your left hand, then it’s going to mean the club is less likely your wrists will then simply roll over as that’s more likely to lead to a draw shot.

After that, you want to turn your right hand over and open your stance, which means your feet will be aligned more to the left of the target. At this point, the only thing you need to do is to make sure you swing more along the path you have created.

Hitting a Draw Shot

With a draw shot, the setup is different to that of the fade. Your grip is different in that you don’t put more pressure on the left hand. Also, you move the right hand away so you cannot see your knuckles in your grip. 

With this, your stance needs to be in more of a closed position. The alignment needs to be more to the right of your target as well. 

All of this is designed to make your wrists roll over, and that will then create the draw. 

But How Will Either Shot Be of Benefit?

You may be sitting wondering why you would want to deliberately send the ball right to left, or even left to right, so here’s a quick explanation.

Each option has a number of benefits, and it’s primarily related to the way in which you naturally hit the ball. To better understand this, you need to know what happens to the ball when you hit either a draw or a fade.

With a draw, you are more likely to produce a shot that has a lot more topspin, and also a much lower trajectory. That tends to mean you achieve better distances, and there will be a more superior rollout. 

But there’s a problem with this. The problem is that if you are offline, then it’s going to keep on going more offline, and that’s not a good position to be in.

Of course, a fade is going to do the opposite to a draw. That tends to come with a higher trajectory, and there will be more backspin.

With this shot, you will notice the ball lands softer, and there will be significantly less rollout. 

Thanks to a fade, it does mean if you make an error with your line, then the damage you do will be less obvious. However, it does mean you will lose some distance as a result.

So, Which is Best?

So which option is going to be the best for you? Well, in an ideal world, you will be able to play both shots as they do have their advantages. However, do focus on trying to master the shot you actually produce naturally before you start to mess around with the opposite.

Basically, the best shot between a draw or a fade is ultimately the shot that you feel you have the most control over. 

If you feel you get too much height, and are able to hit consistently, then a draw is going to add distance while sacrificing some of the natural height you are able to achieve. However, if you find you are going offline too much, then a fade will reduce the damage, and your game will improve.

Both have their advantages in the right setting or scenario. A draw can work wonders when you have a dogleg on a hole that’s to the left. Also, a fade can work well with a dogleg that’s to the right off the tee. That is what we mean by it being a good idea if you can play both.

Ultimately, you want to get your natural shot up to par and know you can hit consistently no matter which option it is. After that, mess around with it and have some fun. You never know how big a difference it could make to your game being able to hit either the draw or the fade depending on the hole.