Rory McIlroy's Draw and Fade: It's All in the Setup
A GolfPass subscriber asks Rory McIlroy whether you should move your hands forward for a fade and back for a draw. Rory says no and explains that it all starts at the address: where you align your body and where you set the clubface.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Rory says he’s never thought about the position of his hands at impact to control the ball’s trajectory; he focuses on height instead. He understands the subscriber’s experience: for a fade, you feel your hands moving forward and you hold the clubface; for a draw, you release earlier. But he still advises hands slightly ahead of the ball at impact and would never learn to put them behind: the dynamic loft becomes irregular. For him, the trail and the slope are the two factors that determine the effect.
He recalls the method he learned before speed cameras were introduced: the body facing the ball’s departure, the clubface facing its arrival, and a swing along the line of his feet. Not entirely accurate, but the brain figures out the rest. His version: for a draw, align yourself to the right of the target, with your stance slightly closed relative to the fairway; for a fade, align yourself to the left, with your stance slightly open relative to the fairway, using the same hand position. Next, adjust your aim: it’s easier to start with wide curves. He hits a 10-yard fade by aligning to the left with a fairly neutral clubface, then a fade of about one yard by changing only his address. The further to the left you align, the more you swing to the left, and you keep the clubface in the right position almost without thinking about it.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Select the target and the desired effect.
- For a draw shot, align your body to the right of the target and point the clubface slightly to the left of the line.
- For a fade, align your body to the left of the target, facing slightly to the right of the fairway.
- Keep your hands slightly in front of the ball, as usual.
- Swing along the line of your feet, without changing anything else.
- Start with curves of about ten yards, then make them shorter.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Placing your hands behind the ball at impact to curve the shot: the dynamic loft becomes inconsistent.
- Seek the effect in the movement rather than at address.
- Wanting a one-yard curve right from the start.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Same iron: a 10-yard fade, followed by a 10-yard draw
- Gradually flatten the curve
- Check alignment before each shot
Your Questions
Should you move your hands forward for a fade and backward for a draw?
Rory has never thought of it that way. He keeps his hands slightly in front of the ball on both shots and would never teach players to place them behind it.
What was the method used before speed cameras?
His body aligned with the ball's starting point, the clubface toward where it will land, a swing that follows the line of his feet. Rory knows it's not exactly right, but the spin comes out just right: his brain takes care of the rest.
How does Rory hit a 10-yard fade?
He aligns himself to the left of the target, keeps a fairly neutral expression, and swings normally. For a one-yard fade, he only adjusts his alignment.
Why start with large curves?
To get a feel for what you're doing. Rory finds a 10-yard fade easy and a 1-yard fade much more difficult.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Rory McIlroy). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.