Instruction
Learn to hit a draw in 2 easy steps
For most club golfers, a ball that curves from left to right is common, but most golfers would prefer to move the ball the other way, or what’s described as a “draw” shot. By definition, a draw is when the ball starts to the right of the target line and curves left toward the target (for a right-handed golfer).
To really understand how to hit this shot, a golfer should know two things: club path, and what’s called the face-to-path relationship.
- Club path: This is the direction that the club head is traveling through impact in relation to the target line. The variations are in-to-out (moving right of target), out-to-in (moving left of target) and neutral (moving straight at the target).
- Face-to-path: This is the direction that the club face is pointing in relation to the club path at impact. To hit a draw, golfers need to produce an in-to-out club path (rightward) with a club face that is pointing leftward, or closed to the club path.
A good analogy I like to use for hitting a draw shot is imagining a right-footed soccer player bending a ball around a wall. As the player strikes the soccer ball, the foot will be traveling in a rightward direction in relation to the goal. The part of the foot that is striking the ball, however, will be pointing to the left of this in order to create the curve.
That’s the science! Now for two easy steps to help you start hitting draw shots.
Step 1: Creating a face that is closed to an in-to-out club path
The first thing to do is place a headcover in the position shown in the picture below (note: the photo is setup for a right-handed golfer). With the headcover in mind, strike some golf balls without striking the headcover. A careful positioning of the headcover will encourage you to deliver the club head on an in-to-out path.
Make an out-to-in delivery, and your headcover will be flying down the range!
Continue to hit balls while avoiding the headcover, while at the same time attempting to create a ball flight that is curving from right to left. Once this is achieved, you can be pretty sure that you are delivering a club face that is closed to an in-to-out club path.
“But sir, I don’t want to hook it,” you might be saying. I don’t want you to either, so here comes the next step.
Step 2: Controlling club face alignment
From modern day launch monitors, we have learned that the club face is the main influence on the starting direction of the ball. This changes slightly at times, but for simplicity let’s say that the ball will start pretty much where the club face is aiming at impact. Assuming centered contact, curve will then be produced as a result of the relationship that the face has with the club path. In this case, the closed relationship with the club path will create a right-to-left curve.
A draw shot starts right of the target line, and this means that the club face must be pointing to the right of the target line at impact. It sounds counterintuitive, but yes, a draw shot needs a club face that is OPEN to the target line at impact.
To practice this, place an alignment stick in the ground and attempt to hit balls that start to the right of the alignment stick and curve back to the left, toward the target. This exercise will help you explore the relationship of an in-to-out path with a closed face, with specific attention to starting the ball to the right of the target.
An important concept to understand
In both of the shots below, the club path is moving 5.2 degrees to the right (in to out). However, the key difference is the face angle.
Shot 1
In Shot 1, the face angle is pointing 1.2 degrees left of the target line (meaning the ball starts left of the target line).
Shot 2
In Shot 2, the face angle is pointing 2 degrees right of the target line (meaning the ball starts right of the target line).
In both shots, a closed face-to-path relationship was created. The key in the second shot, however, was that the club face was pointing right of target at impact, thus allowing the ball to start right and curve back toward the target.
What are the advantages of this exercise?
You may notice that ZERO technical information regarding positions or movements has been given. Instead, examples of task constraints have been provided.
“A task constraint is a boundary That encourages the learner to emerge with certain behaviors.”
Although that may sound complex, in simple terms the constraint of the headcover and alignment stick allow golfers to self discover how technique evolves from the exercise, as opposed to deliberately thinking about it. Within motor learning research, there is a ton of evidence for this type of constraints-led learning.
Unfortunately, your friends may not allow you to place your headcover by your ball in your Saturday match. With this in mind, try not to become reliant on the constraints and vary between using and not using them in practice.
Before you hit the range, remember: Club face pointing to the right and the path pointing farther to the right!
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Dave Dudus
Sep 5, 2016 at 10:06 am
Works for me! Thanks.
Phillip Akers
Oct 15, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Class article, clear, concise and a change to read some factual information which is backed up by evidence….contrary to some ‘established’ coaches.
Pingback: Learn the draw in 2 easy steps
Wayde
Oct 2, 2015 at 10:14 am
A good tip is to buy a pool noodle (they’re dirt cheap); cut it in half, put one half over your alignment stick to protect it from the golf ball , and use the other half on the ground to form your swing path. It makes for a very strong visual.
Shakers97
Sep 26, 2015 at 7:10 am
Whatever you do don’t have your club face open to the club path or you’ll be in a world of sh………
KK
Sep 25, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Great article, great summary!
AJ
Sep 25, 2015 at 11:45 am
What about Angle of Attack? How does that play into hitting a draw? Is this to assume the AoA for the drills is 0? If I hit up with a driver vs hitting down with an iron what difference does this make? I hear so much about AoA, I’m curious how this plays a role into hitting a draw. Thanks.
Thomas Devine
Sep 25, 2015 at 12:19 pm
HI AJ…great question (and references the D plane). In theory, your swing direction could be zero and with a negative AoA, an ‘in to out’ path could be achieved. Does that make sense? The reason for the headcover in this exercise is due most slicers having a swing direction that is excessively left. In order to change, it is advantageous to attempt to move the swing direction rightwards.
Jan
Sep 25, 2015 at 6:33 am
Hi, thanks for a great article. I’m struggling with the club face part. Feel that I can’t “leave” it open compared to the target line and in the same time have a free release. I have to hold it so to say… If I release the club freely, I hit a pull-fade. Could it be a problem with my grip, that it’s too strong?
Best regards
Jan from Sweden
Thomas Devine
Sep 25, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Hi Jan….I would not like to comment on your grip without seeing it. However, practising with the alignment stick should help you achieve the desired impact alignment for a draw. One exercise I would try is trying to start the ball as far right as possible to still curve it back leftwards. This will allow you to explore the necessary movements to achieve an open to target line club face with a path that is further right!
John-Michael
Sep 24, 2015 at 8:42 pm
I’ve been working on trying to hit a draw lately. The way I’ve been practicing hitting a draw is by closing my stance and swinging down my bodyline. Is practicing the way you detailed in the article a better method in learning how to hit a draw?
Rickard
Sep 25, 2015 at 5:58 am
This might produce what looks like a draw but in reality is a pull-draw (most of the time). It’s a bit old school, but hey, whatever works!
I find these types of draw shots tend to lack the height and softness compared to a proper/modern draw, i e clubface relative open and altered swing path i relation to target line.
The forward press also should be used, moving the ball backwards to promote inside path (relative to ball) should increase forward shaft lean as you open the face.
Ball further back, more open face and hence more forward shaft lean, to create desired curvature and launch direction.
Does it make sense? 🙂
John-Michael Fawley
Sep 25, 2015 at 9:45 am
Yes it does.
Thomas Devine
Sep 25, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Hi John-Michael….sure what you have mentioned can help you achieve and ‘in to out’ path with closed face….however just remember that if you return your club head aiming towards the target (at impact), then the ball will start online and curve left…using the alignment stick will for sure help you return the club face open to the target 🙂
Tom
Sep 24, 2015 at 3:30 pm
This is my natural ball flight. Next article can you do how to hit a fade(cut) shot of which I can’t manage to save my life.
JMcDonough
Sep 24, 2015 at 4:43 pm
I second that.
Jack Slicer
Sep 24, 2015 at 5:55 pm
you take the same drill and do it in the opposite direction…
DatSliceDoe
Sep 24, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Been working on this all season with my teaching pro. Have yet to consistently get this to work with longer clubs. I get the sensation of an in to out path, but leaving the face open is something I’ve struggled with. I just feel that I need to flip my arms over to hit a draw. Guess opposites attract, so I’ll need to practice on leaving the face more open.
Thomas Devine
Sep 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm
If you are confident you are achieving an in to out path, then the alignment stick will for sure help you with your face control. Spend some time starting it to the right and trying to bring it back. Good luck!
Rickard
Sep 25, 2015 at 6:07 am
Make sure that as you move ball back in stance (and path) you apply an appropriate forward press, ideally with an open face.
I stuggle a bit with this as well and for me it is my fear of forward press will result in pull hooks.
But with a soft inside path, a little bit closed body setup at impact (relation to target line, to keep away the pull) and open face it actually produced a high soft draw, even with a 3-i.
When I manage to sequence it correctly, that is! 🙂
Steve Whitehead
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Had a lesson with Tom recently and he had me hitting a real nice draw shot with a good clean contact on the ball by the end of the session. Great coach and highly recommended.
Fred
Sep 24, 2015 at 12:44 pm
This clear presentation is quite helpful. And I assume doing just the opposite will result in a fade starting left and moving back to the target.
Thomas Devine
Sep 24, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Absolutely Fred…change the positioning of the headcover for the fade. We want to create the opposite club path (out to in). And then go through the same process, however look to start the ball to the left of the stick and curve it right 🙂
Tom Stickney
Sep 24, 2015 at 11:54 am
Good work
Thomas Devine
Sep 24, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Thanks Tom