These days I do a lot of lessons in a golf simulator, not just any simulator but a state of the art, tour quality, simulator that produces swing path, club and ball data like never before. While many consider shot shaping an art form, there are significant laws of physics and ball flight that once understood allow even the casual golfer to perform like the pros. The How to Hit series is all about how to hit all these different shots that you need on the course and likely do not know how to hit. I can guarantee you there is seldom a better feeling than hitting a shot exactly how you drew it up in your mind.
What this series is not, is telling you to hit the ball like this every time. Fighting your natural ball flight is difficult and often leads to loads of mis-hits and hitting the ball more inconsistent than you were. The reality is that draws, fades, and straight shots all work; try not to fight your natural swing just to hit a draw. This is purely to practice and understand how to hit the draw so that when a shot demands a draw, you’ve got it!
Simple Laws of Ball Flight – “Golf is what the ball does” John Jacobs, Hall of Fame Golf Coach
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Now the laws of ball flight are as follows: Club face controls where you start the ball, and the Swing path determines how the ball curves. Or in other words, the face sends it; the path bends it. Knowing what creates a draw, makes the draw easier to hit every single time you line up to hit it. A draw is created for a right-handed player by having a swing path that is right of the club face angle. That will create a draw-spin.
The delta between the club face and the swing path determines how much the shot will draw. So let's take a couple of examples to explain better. If my club face is square at 0 degrees and my swing path is 3 degrees right or in to out, I will hit a draw that starts on the line and draws away from that target line. If my club face is 2 degrees open and my swing path is 4 degrees right, then the ball will start right of your target line and draw back to it. Now let's say your club face is closed at 5 degrees left. Now the swing path is 5 degrees to the right of the target line, this will be a pull hook, which likely will travel a significant distance as well due to the spin. So in summary a draw is created when the swing path is right of the club face. The delta determines how much it will turn or “draw”.
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How to hit “The Draw”
Okay, now you know what creates a draw, but what are some ways you can go out and hit draws? Well, we need to get the swing path right of the club face. So we will close our stance while keeping our club face square. So your feet or set up line is right of your target line. Your club face needs to come through square or just barely open, and you need to swing right of that. So we are going to focus on keeping your club face square. When you come down to impact you need the back of your hand pointed down towards the ground. If you were wearing a watch you would point the watch down towards the ground, which will square or close your club face. Keeping your clubface square through impact or a couple of degrees open is vital to hit a draw. Now with your club face square, swing right of that, on your feet line, and the ball will draw.
You can do this drill to help you come from the inside and swing right as well: Take a normal stance, drop your rear foot back about half way, so that your right toe is parallel to your left foot arch, and take swings hitting from the inside of the ball. It will open up your ability to swing from the inside, taking your path right of a square club face. Remember that the path doesn’t just have to be right; it has to be right of the club face.
Drill it until the Feel becomes Real
Now you know how to hit a draw, it is time to learn how to control it better. After all, what good is another weapon in your arsenal if you don’t know how to aim it? The best way to gain control of a new swing, to gain any kind of consistency, is to use drills. Take the drill above for example. Hit 7 balls from the modified, closed stance then hit 7 shots from your regular stance. Repeat the drill but this time drop your right foot back until your right toes is in line with your left ankle joint, take 7 shots in this modified stance and the take 7 shots in your regular stance. Repeat the drill once more, this time drop your right foot back slightly, say 1.5-2 inches and take 7 shots in this slightly modified stance then take 7 shots in your regular stance. Do this drill with a regular cadence say every 2 or three days for three weeks, I guaranteed you’ll start to “feel” what’s required of you to hit the draw and once you feel it becomes real!
In Summary
Hitting a draw simply requires a swing path that is right of your club face. Once you have club face control and swing path control you will be able to hit a draw whenever you want. This is a vital skill to have when you are out on the course. Out on a course will require many different shots to shoot the best round possible. Whether the hole is just set up to force a draw or you found yourself in trouble and need to hook it out, being able to respond in these situations is crucial to hitting better shots and scoring.
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Daniel is the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf the area's leading golf instruction and advisory firm, host of the IMAGEN Golf Podcast and Best-Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".
For more information visit www.ImagenGolf.com or call 215-595-6299 Reach out to Daniel directly at:Daniel@ImagenGolf.com
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