As someone who’s played both shots, I feel like I can give a valid opinion about this topic. In short, the best shot is the one you can perform repeatedly, and the one that gives you personally a better result.
For me, I’ve played a draw for the first several years of my amateur career. However, as time passed, I slowly realized that there are plenty of advantages to fade, as well. Somehow, over time, I realized I’ve begun playing fade more than draw.
While this doesn’t give you a conclusive answer to which one is better when it comes to draw vs. fade, I’ll explain everything in more detail. Then, the answer should be clearer.
Here is my quick guide to draw and fade golf shots.
What Is The Difference Between A Draw And Fade?
We’ll explain both shots in detail a bit later, but for the starters, you need to know the difference between a draw and fade.
The extremity of the shot is the main difference between methods when golfers work the trajectory of a golf ball. This is the same no matter if they’re doing a drive off the tee, a punch shot, or an iron shot. For example, a hook is a more extreme version of a draw, while a slice is a more extreme version of a fade. Usually, draws and fades are controlled, intentional shots, while hooks and slices are unintentional and extreme, and they come from an errant swing – causing most of them to miss.
But the difference that is the easiest to notice is that a golf fade is a shot that goes from the left side to the right side, while a golf draw is the opposite – a shot that goes from right to the left side.
Keep in mind that the standard directions only apply to right-hand golfers. If you’re left-handed, this is the opposite. Be wary of this if you’re left-handed and reading this guide!
What Is A Fade In Golf?
A fade is a shot that goes from left to right. This is usually the best shot when it comes to controlling, even if you’re using an iron shot and not just a driver. This is because a fade has a higher trajectory than other shots. If you’re in need of a shot that needs to have plenty of backspin to stop quickly on the field, a fade is probably the best shot for you.
The ‘5-yard fade’ is one of the most popular shots when it comes to PGA Tour Professionals. These golfers swear by this shot, as it can be very powerful and can be the move that will help you dial in your game.
Also, fade stays in the air for much longer than other, regular moves, giving you plenty of time and control.
To conclude, here are the advantages of a fade vs draw:
- High trajectory
- Gives you plenty of control
- Great with iron shot
- The ball stays in the air longer
- One of the best methods for long to mid-iron shots
Hitting A Fade (Easy Way)
There is an easy way to hit a golf fade.
Firstly, aim the club at your target or very close to it. Open your body left of your target. To do this, open your front foot and point the line that goes from your right toe to the left one left of your desired target.
Then, swing the club following the path of your body. Keep the clubface pointing at the target at all times, even at impact.
What Is Draw In Golf?
A draw is a controlled and intentional shot that goes from right to left. As you can see, this is the opposite of a fade. Typically, a draw creates more distance as they don’t have as much backspin, roll out longer than a fade, and fly with a low trajectory. The spin on the ball is slightly closed relative to the path’s swing.
While most professionals prefer fade, those who know how to use all the benefits of a draw shot say that there is nothing like a small draw to create more distance. This can be quite beneficial when you want to change the course of the game.
Some of the benefits of the draw shot are:
- It reduces the loft
- The ball will travel further
- It allows the ball to cut effectively through the wind
Hitting A Draw (Easy Way)
There are a few tips to hitting a draw the easiest way.
To begin, aim the clubface at the desired target – or a bit open relative to it. Your body should be closed relative to the said target, or slightly right of it. The line going from your back to the front foot should be pointing to the target’s left. When hitting, you should swing along the path of your entire body.
You have to ensure the clubface is aimed right at the target at impact. Also, it might be useful if you place the golf ball slightly further back during the stance.
Is It Better To Play Draw Or Fade?
As we’ve already mentioned, it might be difficult to determine which shot shape is better when it comes to draw vs fade. Both shots have plenty of benefits, and you can use both for several different purposes.
However, it all comes down to confidence. Why is that?
If you’re confident enough with a shot, no matter what kind of shot it is, it can become your greatest weapon. How many times did it happen that you’ve tried to repeat a shot you’ve done just a few minutes before, yet you’ve missed it? While this is one of the most frustrating things that can happen, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Think about golfing as of cooking. The more time you repeat a recipe, the better you’ll get at preparing that exact meal. Essentially, the same goes for golfing and golf shots. The longer you do a particular shot, the more success you’ll have with it.
If you feel like either one of these two shots works better for you, practice and repeat! Once you do this, you’ll become better at it, and this shot will become the winner of the debate. No matter what golfing style you prefer, you have to find the shots that work great for you.
If we’re talking about a specific occasion, you’d want to use a draw if the specific fairway bends left, and a fade if the fairway curves to the right. This increases your chances of hitting the hole and not missing a shot.
Similar can be said for approach shots. If the flag is on the left part, hit a draw. If it is on the right side of the field, hit a fade. This way, you’ll aim precisely for the middle, where you want the ball to land. This will let you get the ball closer to the hole. Don’t forget that using either a draw or a fade is much easier to pull off than aiming straight and hoping that, by some miracle, the ball will go to the desired side on its own,
Difficulty
Neither draw nor fade aren’t too difficult of moves, especially if you know what you’re doing. However, there are a few things that make completing these shots (and not turning them into a hook or a slice!) a bit more challenging. The main of these factors is the clubhead.
When the clubhead has more loft, it can be difficult to apply the side-spin, something that is necessary whether you want to draw or fade the golf ball. If you like performing these moves, you might prefer to get a club head with a lesser loft. However, this might ruin the desired distance.
As with many other things, it seems as if this, too, is up to personal preferences.
The Bottom Line
So, which one is better when it comes to draw vs. fade?
To put it simply, a draw or a fade are pretty similar movements. The only different thing is to which side you want your ball to go. However, this doesn’t mean their effect is the same. Both have some benefits and some drawbacks that the other movement doesn’t have.
Deciding which one is better can be difficult, and there is no way to give an objective answer. The easiest way to determine which one you should use is to which side you want the ball to go, but this doesn’t mean that you’ll prefer using that movement.
When it comes to golf, you should find shots that work the best for you. If you’re bad at draw shots, don’t force yourself to use them just because some other golfer told you that is the right way. Find the shot that you love doing, and repeat it until you’re the best at it. This is what every professional does.
