How to Hit a Draw: The Complete Guide to Curving the Ball Right-to-Left

A draw is one of the most sought-after shots in golf. It curves gently from right to left (for right-handed golfers), typically travels farther than a fade, and gives you that satisfying feeling of controlling your ball flight. Here’s how to hit one consistently.

What Causes a Draw?

Before you can hit a draw, you need to understand the ball flight laws:

The Two Factors:

Club path - the direction your club is moving through impact
Face angle - where the clubface is pointing at impact

For a draw, you need:

A club path that travels to the right of your target (in-to-out)
A clubface that’s closed relative to your path but open relative to your target

The ball starts where the face is pointing and curves away from the path.

Step-by-Step: How to Hit a Draw

1. Strengthen Your Grip Slightly

A stronger grip makes it easier to close the face through impact:

Rotate both hands slightly clockwise on the grip
You should see 3 knuckles on your left hand at address
The V’s formed by your thumbs and forefingers point toward your right shoulder

Don’t overdo it. A grip that’s too strong causes hooks.

2. Align Your Body Right

Your feet, hips, and shoulders should aim slightly right of your target (for right-handed players). This encourages an in-to-out swing path.

Pick a target 10-20 yards right of where you want the ball to finish
Align your body to that intermediate target
Keep the clubface pointing at your actual target

This creates the path-face relationship that produces draw spin.

3. Ball Position: Slightly Back

Move the ball about half an inch back from your normal position. This:

Gives you more time to close the face
Promotes a more inside approach
Helps you catch the ball on the inside portion

4. Feel the Inside-Out Path

The swing feel that produces a draw:

On the downswing, feel like you’re dropping the club behind you
Swing out toward right field (for righties)
Finish with your hands high and to the right

Key image: Imagine the ball is on a clock face. Instead of swinging at 12 o’clock, swing toward 1 or 2 o’clock.

5. Release the Club Fully

The final ingredient is a full release:

Let your forearms rotate through impact
The toe of the club should pass the heel after impact
Don’t hold off the release - that causes a push or fade

Common Draw Mistakes

Mistake 1: Closing the Face Too Much

If your draw turns into a hook, the face is too closed. Open your stance slightly more or weaken your grip.

Mistake 2: Path Too Far Inside

A path that’s too far right causes pushes (if the face matches) or push-hooks (if the face is closed). Check that your backswing isn’t getting too flat.

Mistake 3: Early Extension

Standing up through impact makes it hard to maintain the inside path. Keep your posture through the ball.

The “Feels” That Work

Different golfers respond to different feels. Try these:

“Exit right” - Focus on where the club exits after impact. A draw exit is to the right of target.
“Close the door” - Imagine closing a door with your right hand through impact.
“Baseball swing” - The flatter, around-the-body motion of a baseball swing naturally promotes a draw.
“Hit the inside of the ball” - Visualize making contact with the inside quadrant of the ball.

Practicing Your Draw

Alignment Stick Drill

Place an alignment stick on the ground pointing slightly right of target. Practice swinging along this line.

Gate Drill

Set up two tees just wider than your clubhead, positioned so the only way through is with an in-to-out path.

Gradual Curve Drill

Start by hitting slight draws, then gradually increase the curve. This builds control.

When to Use a Draw

The draw is valuable for:

Dogleg left holes - Work the ball around the corner
Right-to-left wind - Helps fight the wind
Reaching par 5s in two - The extra roll helps
Tight tee shots - The predictable curve reduces risk

Final Thoughts

A draw isn’t just for show - it’s a functional shot that adds distance and control to your game. Start with the fundamentals: slightly stronger grip, body aligned right, face at target, and an in-to-out path with a full release.

Practice with purpose, and that right-to-left ball flight will become a reliable part of your arsenal.