Diagram for Hitting a Draw

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Quick Answer

• To hit a draw, swing the club from the inside to the outside of your target line.
• Key elements include a slightly closed stance, a neutral to strong grip, and a clubface aimed at your intended landing spot.
• Visualize the swing path like swinging out towards right field (for a right-handed golfer).

Who This Is For

• Golfers looking to add a controlled draw shot to their repertoire, adding versatility to their game.
• Players struggling with a slice who need a clear visual understanding of the swing mechanics required to hit the ball the other way.

What to Check First

• Grip: Ensure your grip is neutral or slightly strong. For right-handed players, this means rotating your hands slightly clockwise on the club. A strong grip helps promote clubface closure.
• Stance: Your stance should be slightly closed relative to the target. This means your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aligned slightly to the right of your intended target line. This setup encourages an inside-to-outside swing path.
• Clubface: At address, the clubface should be square to your body line, not directly at the target. It should point towards your intended landing spot, which is usually slightly right of the final target.
• Alignment: Take a moment to confirm your body and clubface are aligned correctly. You want your body aimed right of the target, and your clubface aimed at the target. This difference is crucial for creating the necessary swing arc.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Hit a Draw Diagram

1. Set Up Your Stance: Take a slightly closed stance. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should align to the right of your final target.

• What to look for: A subtle angling of your body away from the target. Imagine a line drawn from your toes pointing right of where you want the ball to end up.
• Mistake to avoid: Aligning your body directly at the target. This setup naturally encourages an outside-to-inside swing, which causes a slice.

2. Grip the Club: Hold the club with a neutral to slightly strong grip. For right-handed players, this involves rotating your right hand a bit further clockwise on the grip.

• What to look for: Your thumbs should point down the shaft, and you should feel a sense of control without tension. A strong grip helps the clubface square up naturally through impact.
• Mistake to avoid: Using a weak grip, where your hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise. This makes it much harder to close the clubface through impact, often resulting in a push or slice.

3. Position the Clubface: At address, ensure the clubface is square to your body line. It should be aimed at your intended landing spot, which is typically slightly right of your final target.

• What to look for: The clubface angle should match the direction your body is aimed. If your body is aimed right, the clubface should also point in that general direction.
• Mistake to avoid: Aiming the clubface directly at the final target while your body is aimed right. This creates a conflict and makes it difficult to swing on the intended inside-to-outside path.

4. Initiate the Backswing: Take the club back smoothly, focusing on an inside path.

• What to look for: As you start your backswing, the club head should feel like it’s moving slightly inside your body line. Avoid taking the club back too far inside too quickly, which can cause an overly steep downswing.
• Mistake to avoid: Swinging the club straight back or outside your body line. This is a classic setup for an “over-the-top” downswing, which is the primary cause of a slice.

5. Execute the Downswing: Begin your downswing by dropping the club from the inside and swinging out towards your intended landing spot.

• What to look for: A feeling of swinging the club “out to right field” (for a right-handed golfer). The path of your club head should be moving from inside the target line to outside it through impact.
• Mistake to avoid: Coming “over the top” of the ball. This is when your shoulders and arms initiate the downswing by moving the club outside the target line, leading to a slice or pull.

6. Impact the Ball: Make solid contact with the ball. The clubface should be square to your swing path, which is inside-to-outside.

• What to look for: A clean strike where the clubface is actively closing through the ball. You should feel the club head releasing and squaring up naturally.
• Mistake to avoid: Holding the clubface open at impact. This will send the ball to the right (for a righty) and negate the intended draw. Allow your wrists to release.

7. Complete the Follow-Through: Allow your body to rotate naturally through the shot, finishing with the club high and balanced.

• What to look for: A full, free-flowing release of the club and a balanced finish that indicates you’ve swung through the ball, not at it.
• Mistake to avoid: Decelerating or stopping your swing immediately after impact. This often results in a loss of power and control, and can prevent the clubface from closing properly.

How to Hit a Draw: Common Mistakes

• Aiming the Clubface at the Target — Why it matters: If your clubface is aimed at the final target and your swing path is inside-to-outside, you’ll push the ball significantly right of your target. To compensate, golfers often try to swing across the ball, which can lead to a slice. — Fix: Aim your clubface at your intended landing spot, usually slightly right of the final target. Your body alignment should follow this general direction, but your clubface dictates the initial ball flight.
• Swinging Over the Top — Why it matters: This is the cardinal sin for hitting a draw and the primary cause of a slice. When you swing over the top, you approach the ball from the outside-in, cutting across it. — Fix: Focus intently on an inside-to-outside swing path throughout the entire downswing. Feel like you’re swinging out towards first base if you’re a righty.
• Holding the Clubface Open at Impact — Why it matters: Even with a perfect inside-to-outside swing path, an open clubface at impact will send the ball straight to the right (for a right-handed player) or even cause a slice. The draw requires the clubface to be closing relative to the path. — Fix: Trust your grip and allow your wrists to release naturally through impact. The momentum of the swing should help square the clubface.
• Incorrect Stance Alignment — Why it matters: If your stance isn’t closed (aimed slightly right), you’ll struggle to generate the inside-to-outside swing path needed for a draw. Your natural tendency will be to swing more out-to-in. — Fix: Make a conscious effort to align your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly right of your final target. This setup is fundamental.
• Too Much Body Rotation Early in the Backswing — Why it matters: While you want an inside path, aggressively pulling the club inside with your body too soon can lead to a steep downswing plane and make it harder to swing out. — Fix: Focus on a smooth takeaway, letting your arms and club work naturally. The inside path should develop organically, not be forced by excessive body manipulation.
• Not Releasing the Clubhead — Why it matters: A lack of release means the clubface isn’t closing through impact, which is essential for imparting draw spin. You’ll often hit the ball with a “dead” feel. — Fix: Practice feeling the clubhead release and accelerate through the ball. This is often a result of a good grip and letting the wrists do their job.

FAQ

• What is the ideal target line for hitting a draw?

The ideal target line for your swing path is to the right of your final target (for a right-handed golfer). The clubface should be aimed at the final target. This creates the necessary angle for the ball to start right and curve back left.

• How does grip pressure affect hitting a draw?

A light to moderate grip pressure is crucial. Excessive tension in your hands and arms can restrict your wrists and prevent the clubface from releasing and closing properly through impact, which is vital for imparting draw spin.

• What is the difference between a controlled draw and a hook?

A controlled draw curves gently from right to left (for a right-handed golfer) back towards the target line. It’s a predictable, manageable shot. A hook, on the other hand, curves much more severely and can go significantly off-line to the left, often making it difficult to control.

• Can this diagram and explanation help fix a slice?

Absolutely. Understanding the inside-to-outside swing path, the closed stance, and the clubface alignment described here is the fundamental antidote to a slice. By implementing these principles, you’re directly addressing the causes of a slice.

• Should I aim my body or my clubface at the target when trying to hit a draw?

For a draw, you aim your body slightly right of the target, and your clubface at the final target. This combination creates the condition for an inside-to-outside swing path that makes the ball start right and curve back left towards the target.

• How much should the clubface be closed at address?

The clubface should be square to your body line, not closed relative to the target. If your body is aimed 5 yards right of the target, your clubface should also be aimed roughly 5 yards right of the target. It should not be significantly “closed” like you’re trying to hit a hook.

• What if I’m a left-handed golfer?

If you’re left-handed, simply reverse the directions. Aim your body and swing path to the left of your target, and your clubface should be aimed at the target. The principles remain the same, just mirrored.