Question:
I am curious as to what most golfers think is a better ball flight: a fade or a draw. I have been playing for a little over three years now (7 hcp.) and I tend to prefer hitting a fade. Maybe it is because I have hooked the ball most of my life and am now starting to hit more of a controlled fade now that I have weakened my grip. What I have noticed is that with a fade you tend to hit the ball a little higher and are able to control it better. With a draw, you tend to hit a lower shot with more roll which equals distance. I was wondering what type of shot most of you preferred? Barry
Response:
: I am curious as to what most golfers think is a better ball flight: : a fade or a draw. I have been playing for a little over three years : now (7 hcp.) and I tend to prefer hitting a fade. Maybe it is because : I have hooked the ball most of my life and am now starting to hit more What are you 5 yrs. old??? :-) What is it really? Played for 3 yrs, or most of your life? Good Putting! Mark — Mark Koenig, Technical Consulting || These views are my own. Hewlett Packard Company, Convex Technology Center || 3000 Waterview Pkwy, Richardson, Tx. 75080 || 78.6% of the people who (214) 497-4298, FAX (214) 497-4141 || quote stats get them wrong.
Response:
It is my opinion that which ever shot comes natural to you is the shot that you should play. I have been playing golf for some time now and I feel that once you reach a certain handicapp, you are going to need both shots in your golfbag. I personally prefer a draw. I feel that I have more control w/ a draw then a fade.
Response:
: I am curious as to what most golfers think is a better ball flight: : a fade or a draw. I have been playing for a little over three years
: now (7 hcp.) and I tend to prefer hitting a fade. Maybe it is because : I have hooked the ball most of my life and am now starting to hit more What are you 5 yrs. old??? :-)
Yes, believe it or not, I am five years old and am a 7 hcp. Pretty good isn’t it? Really I am almost 21 and didn’t start playing golf until I graduated from high school. So I have been playing golf for 3 1/2 years. I guess what I meant to say is that I have hooked the ball most of my "golfing life"….(which is the only life I have :=) ) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Good Putting! (I always do!) Mark
Response:
I am curious as to what most golfers think is a better ball flight: a fade or a draw. I have been playing for a little over three years now (7 hcp.) and I tend to prefer hitting a fade. Maybe it is because I have hooked the ball most of my life and am now starting to hit more of a controlled fade now that I have weakened my grip. What I have noticed is that with a fade you tend to hit the ball a little higher and are able to control it better. With a draw, you tend to hit a lower shot with more roll which equals distance. I was wondering what type of shot most of you preferred? Barry
I’ve heard it said (an excuse for having an opinion, really 
) that good amateurs tend to favour a draw as their stock shot, whereas top tournament pros prefer to fade the ball. Zinger the happy Hooker
Response:
I feel that a fade is a natural shot for most, and yes it is the easiest to control. That said though, if you want to be a good player, you must also master the draw shot. The major reason I think you need a draw is for controlling your shots into the wind. Since we often play in windy conditions, it is a bit easier to adjust if our usual ball pattern is a draw. Another thing I find is that it is quite simple, if your usual shot pattern is a draw, to switch to a fade. But I have noticed that players who fade the ball have trouble reversing their pattern as easily. Into the wind they are prone to hitting high shots that lose their power. What I have described works well for most conventional swingers. Still, in golf there are lots of exceptions. Trevino apparently hits a low fade and seems to be a good wind player. D.E.
Response:
I am curious as to what most golfers think is a better ball flight: a fade or a draw. I have been playing for a little over three years now (7 hcp.) and I tend to prefer hitting a fade. Maybe it is because I have hooked the ball most of my life and am now starting to hit more of a controlled fade now that I have weakened my grip. What I have noticed is that with a fade you tend to hit the ball a little higher and are able to control it better. With a draw, you tend to hit a lower shot with more roll which equals distance. I was wondering what type of shot most of you preferred? Barry
As far as shaping the ball goes, I try to work my game so I can play a draw from the tee with my woods or long irons, and a fade into the green with my shorter irons. I like the feel of hitting a draw from the tee, by concentrating on this I make myself hit through the ball a lot more. With my shorter irons (7 – SW) I tend to open my stance up 10 – 15 degrees and hit into the ball rather than through it, which tends to produce a fade and hopefully more control on the greens. I hope it makes sense, by saying hitting through the ball as compared to into. I soppose this would be better explained by saying "hitting the ball on the up" or "hitting the ball on the down". I practice this by concentrating on making my divot a few cm after the ball with the low irons, and by breaking my wood if a make a divot on the tee. What do others think about this? Is it optimal to have a draw off the tee and a fade into the green (depending on the layout of the hole of course). Just my 10 cents Regards, Peter Biber The statements and opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of Oracle Corporation….etc
Response:
What do others think about this? Is it optimal to have a draw off the tee and a fade into the green (depending on the layout of the hole of course).
This will play well most of the time, but will you will be limited in some instances if you can’t work it both ways with all of the clubs. I like to play a draw off the tee, too, but there are some holes (such as severe dog-leg right, or big trouble on the left side of the fairway) where it is difficult or impossible to get a draw to fit into the fairway. I play fades on those holes. You can go at most greens with a fade, but it is very difficult to get a ball close to a back left pin position with a fade, especially if the greens are firm. With the ball coming from the left of a pin in this position, there isn’t much green to stop the ball. It’s too easy to either miss the green on the left or, if the ball lands on the green, to have it roll way past the flag. A draw starting at the center of the green and working toward the flag is a much more reliable shot in this case. Kevin
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Most pros would prefer to fade than draw off the tee. Jack Nicklaus did this for years, and was absolutely determined as a kid not to hit hooks and draws. I think this is the case because some golfers and most pro will remember a touring pro in the 70’s named Ray Blocker. Blocker was a pretty good golfer, except that he hit a hook to end all hooks off the tee. Fred Couples did this too when he first came on tour, but apparently he mastered it.
Give me a fade anyday! Like they say: "Fades listen, draws don’t." A fade will land softly, enhancing accuracy to some degree. A draw will tend to run when it lands, often getting into trouble, especially off the tee. I used to hit a draw as my normal shot pattern, with the occaisonal hook that can occur. I finally took some good advice and reworked my setup and swing to get a fade as my normal shot (took a while <g). My accuracy improved (more shots in the fairway or clear in the rough) and I didn’t lose as many golf balls off the tee. <g Cut my handicap in half over a 2 year period (24 to 12). It wasn’t pretty, but the results were worth it. A draw is a nice shot to have when you need it, but it’s more dangerous, all things considered. — MIS Manager Phone : (954) 984-2313 Lambda Novatronics FAX : (954) 984-2395
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Most pros would prefer to fade than draw off the tee. Jack Nicklaus did this for years, and was absolutely determined as a kid not to hit hooks and draws.
I thought it was the other way around… Dudley Cornman Systems Programmer Academic Computing Services – EKU *** When it comes to boats… *** *** I’d rather have a new boat than a used boat… *** *** I’d rather have a Baja than a Bayliner… *** *** I’d rather have a used Bayliner than no boat at all… ***
Response:
Most pros would prefer to fade than draw off the tee. Jack Nicklaus did this for years, and was absolutely determined as a kid not to hit hooks and draws. I think this is the case because some golfers and most pro will remember a touring pro in the 70’s named Ray Blocker. Blocker was a pretty good golfer, except that he hit a hook to end all hooks off the tee. Fred Couples did this too when he first came on tour, but apparently he mastered it.
This is not true (I have no idea where this person got this info…). There are probably an equal nuber of faders and drawers on tour. Actually, fading or drawing the ball is a matter of personal preference. One’s swing will naturally fit one shot or the other, so one should go with one’s strengths. One is not better or worse than the other. BTW, Fred Couples plays a fade, not a draw…
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This is not true (I have no idea where this person got this info…). There are probably an equal nuber of faders and drawers on tour. Actually, fading or drawing the ball is a matter of personal preference. One’s swing will naturally fit one shot or the other, so one should go with one’s strengths. One is not better or worse than the other. BTW, Fred Couples plays a fade, not a draw…
They do usually hit it one way or the other, but most move the ball very little in either direction, perhaps 10 max. Most of them hit it pretty straight, but there are some who move it quite a bit like Lietzke. F. Blaine Dickson Assistant Professional Kelowna Golf & Country Club Kelowna BC Canada "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." Theodore Rubin
Response:
: This is not true (I have no idea where this person got this info…). : There are probably an equal nuber of faders and drawers on tour. : Actually, fading or drawing the ball is a matter of personal preference. : One’s swing will naturally fit one shot or the other, so one should go : with one’s strengths. One is not better or worse than the other. BTW, : Fred Couples plays a fade, not a draw… True, Fred Couples plays a fade, but sometimes he hits a nasty hook.
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True, Fred Couples plays a fade, but sometimes he hits a nasty hook.
Does this happen when Fred is trying to turn the ball over, which he does occasionally for length or position, or is it the result of a double-cross (trying to cut it but hooding the club in the process). I’ve heard "them" say that when he wants real length, he’ll hit his 3-wood and turn it over, implying that it’s more difficult to turn over his driver (or perhaps to control the driver). mark — Mark M. Limbaugh (803) 748-9444, ext 103 "So, that Ebola virus, that must suck huh?" – Chandler Bing ("Friends" 1995)