Push-Draw
Also known as: push draw, stock draw (tour usage)
A push-draw starts right of the target and curves back toward it, produced by an in-to-out club path with a clubface that is closed to that path but still open to the target line.
A push-draw is a ball flight that starts to the right of the target line and curves back left through the air. It is produced by an in-to-out club path combined with a clubface that is closed relative to that path (creating right-to-left spin) but still open relative to the target line (which is why the ball starts right rather than at the target). Unlike many entries in this list, a push-draw is not automatically a fault — many tour players intentionally play a controlled push-draw as their stock shot, using the starting line as a target-line buffer against an over-draw.
What separates a "stock" push-draw from a problematic one is degree and repeatability. A controlled push-draw starts a modest amount right (often just a few yards) and curves back to the target with a predictable amount of movement. An excessive or inconsistent push-draw — where the ball starts well right and the amount of draw varies shot to shot — indicates either too much path (in-to-out beyond what the face can consistently control) or inconsistent face-to-path relationship at impact.
Golfers working on eliminating a slice often pass through a push-draw phase as an intermediate step, and it is a healthy sign: it means the path has changed from out-to-in to in-to-out. The remaining refinement is dialing in how much the face closes relative to the new path so the amount of curve becomes predictable rather than a wide range of outcomes.
Example
A player's draws consistently start about 8 yards right of the flag and curve back to finish just left of it — a repeatable, intentional push-draw used as a stock shot shape.
Why it matters
Recognizing a push-draw as a legitimate, controllable shot shape — rather than something to "fix" — prevents golfers from overcorrecting a working pattern into a neutral, harder-to-repeat swing. SwingVantage reports both the starting direction and the amount of curve so a player can see whether their push-draw is consistent (a stock shape) or variable (a miss pattern still being sorted out).
How it shows up on video
From down-the-line, the path shows the club approaching from inside the target line through impact. From face-on, the clubface at impact is closed relative to the path but can still appear slightly open relative to the target line itself — the combination that starts the ball right of target before it curves back.
Common mistakes
- Trying to eliminate all rightward starting direction — a modest push start is often the mechanism that makes a draw repeatable; removing it can flip the shot into a pull or an inconsistent straight-ball chase.
- Confusing an excessive push-draw (30+ yards of curve, unpredictable start line) with a controlled stock draw — the fix for the former is tightening face-to-path relationship, not abandoning the shot shape.
- Aiming at the target instead of the intended start line — a player who knows they hit a push-draw but keeps aiming directly at the pin will consistently miss right of where they intend.
Related terms
- DrawA draw is a controlled shot that curves gently from right to left for a right-handed golfer (the opposite for a lefty). It is produced by a clubface slightly closed to the swing path but still open to the target line.
- In-to-OutAn in-to-out club path means the clubhead is moving to the right of the target line through impact (for a right-hander). It is the draw and hook path — the opposite of over the top.
- Draw BiasA draw bias is a golfer's repeatable tendency to curve shots right-to-left (for a right-hander), whether by natural swing pattern, deliberate stock shot, or equipment setup, as opposed to a golfer who tends to fade or hit it straight.
- 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.
- Club PathClub path is the horizontal direction the clubhead is moving through impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. Positive is in-to-out (a draw bias); negative is out-to-in (a fade or slice bias).
Related guides & benchmarks
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