How to Hit a Draw
Also known as: hit a draw, hitting a draw, draw the ball, intentional draw, curve the ball right to left, right-to-left shot shape
To hit a draw, swing the club on a path to the right of your target with the face closed to that path. The face should still point slightly right of target at impact. Aim your body a little right, aim the face nearer the target and swing along your body line.
Ball flight laws explain the shape. The face angle at impact sets most of the start direction. The difference between face and path sets the curve. For a right-hander, the shot needs a path to the right of target and a face pointing between the target and that path. Left-handers mirror everything.
A simple setup method works for many golfers. Aim your feet, hips and shoulders a few yards right of the target. Then set the clubface toward the target or just right of it. Swing along your body line and feel the club approach from inside and swing out to the right. Let the club release naturally so the face closes to the path. A slightly stronger grip helps some golfers square the face.
Practice with an alignment stick on the ground as a path guide. Some golfers place a headcover a few inches outside and ahead of the ball. An over-the-top swing hits it. Start with small curves. A shot that starts too far right or turns too much becomes a push-hook. If the ball starts left and curves left, the face is closed to the target. That is a pull-hook.
Tips by skill level
Lay one alignment stick along your feet aimed slightly right and another at the target. Set the face to the target stick and swing along the foot stick.
On a launch monitor, this shape shows a club path to the right with the face between zero and the path. Aim for a face-to-path gap of a few degrees, not a large one.
Example
A right-hander wants to curve her drive around a dogleg left. She aims her stance at the right edge of the fairway with the face toward the center. She swings along her feet, and the ball starts right before turning back to the middle.
Why it matters
A controlled right-to-left curve adds options around doglegs and flags tucked on the left. Many slicers learn this path and face pattern to fix their slice.
Common mistakes
- Aiming the clubface right along with the body so the ball never curves back
- Flipping the hands at impact to force the face closed
- Swinging out-to-in from habit after aiming right
- Trying to curve every shot a lot instead of a little
Frequently asked questions
How do I hit a draw?
Aim your body slightly right of the target, set the face nearer the target and swing along your body line. A path to the right with the face closed to it starts the ball right and curves it back. Left-handers reverse this.
How do I hit a draw with my driver?
Tee it a little higher, aim your stance slightly right and keep the face toward the target. Swing out along your feet and slightly up on the ball. That path helps the ball start right and turn back.
Why does my draw turn into a hook?
The face is too closed to the path at impact. Often the hands are flipping or the grip is too strong. Quiet the hands and let the body turn release the club.
Related terms
- DrawA draw is a controlled shot that curves gently right to left for a right-handed golfer. The face is slightly closed to the path but open to the target line.
- Ball Flight LawsThe ball flight laws are the impact variables that decide how a shot flies. They are face angle, swing path, attack angle, strike location, dynamic loft, and clubhead speed.
- Face-to-PathFace-to-path is the difference between face angle and club path at impact. It is the single number that determines how much, and which way, the ball curves.
- In-to-OutIn-to-out describes a clubhead travelling rightward across the target line as it meets the ball, for a right-hander. It is the delivery direction underneath draws, hooks and pushes.
- Push-DrawA push-draw sets off right of the flag and turns gently back toward it, finishing near the middle of the fairway. It is the shape most right-handers are chasing.
- Strong GripA strong grip turns both hands more to the trail side than neutral, showing 3 or more knuckles at address. It makes the face easier to close and is a common slice fix.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
Video shows how you move, not the ball itself. Film one swing to find the movement behind this result — free to start.
See a sample Golf report first