In many other sports, a draw means to end a game in a tie, so naturally, I was in for a surprise when I learned it’s something completely different in golf. In fact, as a golf term, a draw refers to a type of shot where the ball curves gently from right to left in the air for a right-handed golfer. Alongside the fade, hook, and slice, the draw is one of the core shot shapes every golfer encounters. In a word, it’s a supercontrolled shot that is as beautiful as it is powerful. Here’s how to hit a draw, when to use it to support your strategy, as well as some famous draws during the Masters and PGA Tour.
How to hit a draw in golf
To hit a draw, a golfer usually aligns their stance slightly to the right of the target. The face of your club needs to be closed relative to your swing path on impact but still slightly open to the target line. Too closed, and you’ll hook it wildly, but too open, and you’ll actually be hitting a push or a fade. When hit correctly, the ball flies with a topspin and a sidespin, and this is what creates that right-to-left trajectory. If you need a visual explanation, Me And My Golf has a great video where they explain two ways to draw the golf ball.
Some golfers find this stroke challenging due to an unnatural feel. If you’re used to hitting a fade or a straight shot, swinging “in-to-out” (right to left for a righty), you’ll definitely feel a bit awkward at first.
Strategy behind using a draw in golf
Many golfers use this shot because it adds distance and roll compared to a straight shot or a fade, which curves from left to right. All-in-all, it’s not that hard to hit, but it can be tricky to master consistency, especially if it doesn’t match your natural swing tendencies. Depending on the layout of the course, your strategy, and the day’s conditions, you may wish to use a draw for an edge. Here are some scenarios where you may wish to use the draw:
- Dogleg left holes: On a hole that bends from right to left, a draw will naturally follow the shape of the fairway, which will help to position the ball better for your next shot. In this case, use a draw off the tee to maximize your distance.
- Windy conditions: If you’re facing a tailwind or if the wind is blowing from left to right, a draw can work with the breeze to carry the ball farther. The spin will stabilize the ball in these conditions.
- Avoiding trouble: Sometimes, you’ll come across a situation where there’s some kind of hazard to the right, such as a bunker, water, or out-of-bounds. A draw will let you start the ball right and bring it back to the left.
When has the draw been used during the Masters and PGA Tour?
Without a doubt, the draw is an iconic shot that has been celebrated for decades, and while you can see them at many kinds of courses, I noticed that they often happen at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Here are some famous Masters and PGA Tour moments where the draw really shone.
- Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters Debut: Woods used multiple draws in his record-breaking 18-under performance. On the par-5 2nd, he often used a towering draw off the tee to cut the corner of the dogleg left, which made him finish a whole 12 shots ahead of Tom Kite.
- Tiger Woods’ 2000 Canadian Open: At Glen Abbey’s par-5 18th, Woods trailed by one in the final round. From a fairway bunker 213 yards out, he pulled a 6-iron and hit a towering draw over water, curving it onto the green within 15 feet. The shape of the draw not only avoided the hazard but also set up an eagle putt that helped him beat Grant Waite by one.
- Phil Mickelson’s 2006 Masters Win: During his 2006 Masters victory, Mickelson carried two Callaway FT-3 drivers. One was weighted for a fade and the other for a draw. On the par-5 13th, he used his draw-biased driver off the tee and set up a second shot that helped secure his two-shot win over Tim Clark.
- Bubba Watson’s 2012 Masters Playoff: In a sudden-death playoff against Louis Oosthuizen, Watson pulled his tee shot on the 10th into the pine straw far right. Facing a blind shot with trees in his path, he hit a 40-yard draw that bent sharply left onto the green, within 15 feet of the pin.
In the hands of a skilled golfer, a draw is a powerful tool to gain extra yardage and avoid hazards. While mastering its gentle right-to-left curve takes a lot of practice and precision in all conditions, the draw is a classic shot that is worth having in your toolbox. A well-executed draw can turn the tide, as proven by legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Bubba Watson.
