How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

[Freebooter]

I am a competent golfer playing for the last several years in handicap range 7 to 9. I naturally fade the ball and can do so to order but I cannot do likewise with a draw. I can accept the loss of distance and have learned to compensate with better accuracy on longer second shots and a solid short game BUT I would love to be able to draw the ball when required as some holes cannot be properly played with a fade. I have had lessons from time to time and can draw the ball sometimes but what are the best practice routines for developing a consistant draw? Any good advice welcome!

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

i set up when the ball near the toe where the groves almost end and close your stance, swing normal but finnish with your hands lower. and thats all there is, now go practise.
bill

[GregJWillis]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

Without going into the details of "how" to draw it, your question is how to "practice" it.

So, when I want confidance over a shot, it's best to practice confidance. Having the knowlege of the shot is one thing, but knowing that that knowlege is second nature, and the shot at hand is going to be executed with confidance is another.

Start on the range after simple warm ups. Get 10 of the best balls and set them aside.

Go through your normal setup routine. Pick the targets, imagine the shape of the fairway for the hole you are playing. Place yourself on the tee box and take your normal practice swings with this "draw" swing over and over in your head, practicing that swing path, the positions you want to be in.

Then make the swing.

Evaluate it, and give yourself:
1 point for being perfect,
2 points for a good shape, but missed fairway,
3 points for a bad shape alltogether.

Go through this with the remaining 9 and come up with a score. Next session know what you had last time and beat it. When you get to 10 after 10 shots...I will bet you will be pretty confidant over that shot on the real hole.

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi greg
that sounds a good way to practise, i try that myself tomorrow but with my fade.
thanks
bill

[canadian_man_44]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

I learned a trick for drawing the ball from the golf channel Lessons from the Pros show. Setup like you normally would then drop your back foot a couple of inches so for right handed golfers the right foot toes are lined up behind the "toe cap"(for lack of a better word) of your left golf shoe. It looks like you are aiming right but doing this after you've addressed the ball and then taking a normal swing works great and the best thing is you don't lose distance. Also, if you drop the right foot back about halfway on the left foot, you can produce an awesome hook that comes in handy on left doglegs. Someone else may have a suggestion for you that might work better, but, it worked for me so it may work for you too.



-------TARGET LINE-------
--B
L
E--------R
F--------I This is the best diagram I could come up with
T--------G on short order but I think it should give you
---------H the idea of what I'm talking about.
---------T

[Freebooter]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

Thanks Canadian Man,
This sounds like a fun practice routine. I'll try it and see if it works for me.

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi



-------------------target line--------------------
()left foot
!! ................................ ()right foot
() ................................ !!
................................... ()
bill

[BrianW]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

Hi,

To shape a shot set your stance in the direction you want the ball to take off and the clubface in the direction you want the ball to end, then hit along the line of your feet. This will be good for a draw, fade etc.

WARNING!! 1) This will not work with high lofted clubs with high backspin. 2) Practice it first.

[Freebooter]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

Thanks, I'm off to practice it!

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi brian
i get the ball to fade with high lofted clubs, the ball flys strait and when it at top of flite it fades as it starts to drop running to the right or if its a draw it drops to the left and runs to the left more, i agree it dont fade much or draw with high irons. i only get about 5/7 yards of turn and maybe 3 yds of run.
bill

[Freebooter]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

I have prepared a composite of the replies, as follows:1. Tip of groves on club to ball
2. Club face square to target
3. Close stance
4. Ball in centre
5. Stronger grip
6. Focus on near Q of ball
7. Hands behind ball
8. Swing // shoulders
9. Lower finish
10. Hook – move Rt.foot back

I hope no one strongly disagrees.

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi
dont need hands behind ballto hit a draw
bill

[Freebooter]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

Thanks Bill.

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi
best of luck, just stick at it and it will come.
bill

[bill reed]

Re: How do I practise to develop a consistant draw

hi
when i first started to try and draw and fade the ball i started with a club outside the ball giving me my line to target, then a club on line of the feet aimed parrel to target and started with the club face square, i started putting tee pegs at 2 finger intevals in an ark from the right foot to about 9 inches back from the club that was squar to target, then i started to hit 5 balls and moved the line up club at feet back to see where i got the best draw, with me using a 5 iron it was my right foot back about 6 inches. i also tried opening and closing the face and its amazing the diffrent shot you can hit. i found with a driver it was only 2 inch closed so my feet line pointed to right edge of fairway and club face closed so it was left of middle of fairway. you will have to try to see what works for you best and what feels right too. i find it so east to fade onto fairway but have to work to hit a good drive with a draw onto fairway, so i'm back to hitting a fade 95% of the time now.
bill