Setting up for a golf draw shot primarily involves adjusting your alignment and clubface position to encourage an in-to-out swing path relative to the target, combined with a specific clubface angle at impact. The goal is to produce a shot that starts slightly right of the target (for a right-handed golfer) and curves back towards it.
Understanding the Draw Spin
The key to hitting a draw lies in the relationship between your clubface and the club's path at the moment of impact. In order to hit a draw, the clubface should be closed relative to the clubhead's path but open relative to the target line at the moment of impact. This means if your club path is moving from inside the target line and slightly out to the right, your clubface needs to be pointing slightly right of the target line but still more to the left (closed) than the direction your club is moving. If the clubface is pointing a little right of the target, but still more left than the direction the club is moving, you'll get draw spin.
This specific face-to-path relationship imparts sidespin on the ball, causing it to curve from right to left.
Practical Steps for Setting Up a Draw
To consistently achieve the impact conditions required for a draw, golfers often make specific adjustments during their setup. Here are common elements to consider:
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Alignment:
- Body: Aim your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly to the right of your intended target line (for a right-handed golfer). This encourages an in-to-out swing path relative to the target.
- Target Line: Your body should be aligned along the path you want the ball to start on, which is right of the final target.
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Clubface Position:
- At address, align the clubface towards your final target. This is crucial because you want the ball to end up at the target, and the clubface direction at impact has the most influence on the ball's starting direction.
- When your body is aimed right of the target and the clubface is aimed at the target, the clubface is technically slightly "open" relative to your body alignment, but importantly, it is aligned "open" (right) relative to the target line, as required at impact.
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Ball Position:
- Playing the ball slightly more forward in your stance (towards the front foot) than you would for a standard shot can help promote an in-to-out path and allow the clubface to be slightly closing relative to the path at impact.
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Grip (Optional Adjustment):
- Some golfers slightly strengthen their grip (rotate hands slightly clockwise for a right-hander) to help promote the clubface closing slightly through impact.
Setup Summary Table
| Setup Element | Adjustment for a Draw (Right-Handed Golfer) | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Body Alignment | Aim feet, hips, shoulders right of target | Encourages in-to-out swing path relative to target |
| Clubface Aim | Aim face at the final target | Dictates starting direction towards target |
| Ball Position | Slightly forward in stance | Helps promote in-to-out path |
Combining Setup and Swing
The setup creates the potential for a draw. The swing itself must execute the path and face control. By setting up with your body aimed right and face aimed at the target, you are naturally inclined to swing along your body line (out to the right relative to the target), while controlling the clubface to point more left than your swing path but still right of the target line at impact.
Remember, practicing this specific setup and swing feel is essential to consistently hit a draw.
