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Draw vs Fade: Control Your Ball Flight

Deliberately curving the ball—whether to the right or to the left—makes all the difference on the course. Understand where the spin comes from, then learn how to hit a draw, a fade, and a safety shot with lessons from the best players.

▶ See the 30 best lessons

Shot Shapes in 30 Seconds

The ball mainly goes in the direction of the front upon impact, then rotates depending on the gap between the clubface and the path from the club. For a right-hander, an inside-to-out swing path with a slightly closed clubface results in a draw (from right to left); the reverse gives a fade (from left to right).

Most pros create their spin at address by aligning their feet, shoulders, and clubface, rather than with their hands. If your ball is hooking too much to the right unintentionally, start with our page Fix a Slice.

What do you want to learn? The 6-Question Assessment

Choose what suits you best.

1Not sure why your ball curves?Understand clubface, path and setup → 2Would you like to gain distance with a draw?Learn how to draw → 3Want a shot that never veers to the left?Learn the fade → 4Off the tee, do you want a reliable shot to hit the fairway?The Safety Shot with the Driver → 5With your irons, do you want to pick your shot shape based on the pin?Pick Your Shot Shape with Irons → 6Is your ball curving too far to the left—hooking?Fix the hook →

Where should I start?

Two lessons in French and a simple method that starts from a straight shot.

10 minFade and Draw from Your Stance: Start from a Straight ShotStart from a completely neutral straight shot, then open your stance for a fade and close it for a draw, without changing your grip or ball position.Paige Spiranac · 340K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★10 minHow to Hit a Draw and a Fade: Ball, Clubface, and PathDraw or fade: ball position, clubface slightly open or closed relative to the target, feet aligned, then a lifting or slicing path, just like in tennis.Renaud Poupard · 48K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★7 minMatthieu Pavon's Controlled Draw: Clubface Toward the GroundA fade player, Pavon is learning to hit a tight draw: closed stance, ball positioned slightly back, and a clubface pointing toward the ground at impact instead of the sky.Matthieu Pavon · 15K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★★

Understanding Shot Shape: Clubface, Path and Setup

Ball position, foot alignment and clubface aim: these lessons explain where the curve comes from and how to set it up before you even swing.

2 minHank Haney's Foot Position for a Draw and a FadeHaney adjusts the stance of each foot: left foot slightly turned in for a draw, right foot straight, and left foot turned out for a fade or a hook.Hank Haney · 28K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★6 minRory McIlroy's Draw and Fade: It's All in the SetupRory doesn't rely on hand position at impact: he creates draws and fades through his alignment, with the clubface slightly closed or open relative to the fairway.Rory McIlroy · 58K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★14 minCollin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetClubface always toward the target, body open or closed depending on the shot shape, finish height to control trajectory, and a glove under the arm on the backswing.Collin Morikawa · 236K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★12 minLee Trevino's Swing: Clubface Control on the RangeThree surfaces to align (club, back of the left hand, right palm), a right hand that acts as a steering wheel, and a ball that is moved to choose between a draw or a fade.Lee Trevino · 222K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★7 minHow to Hit a Draw: Céline Boutier's Simple TipCéline Boutier's tip: the clubface aims at the target, your feet aim where the ball should start, and you swing normally, with no compensation.Céline Boutier · 3,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★34 minAdam Scott's Warm-Up: Draw and Fade on the RangeAdam Scott only moves his feet to curve the ball: to the right for a draw, to the left for a fade. When warming up, he plays the shot shape of the day.Adam Scott · 238K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★

For more information: Alignment · Address posture

Learning the Draw

A draw makes the ball roll out and often gains distance. It starts with a slightly closed setup and hands that release naturally.

2 minJohn Daly's Draw: Quiet Legs and Ball PositionFor Daly, the draw comes from keeping your legs still at impact and rotating your hands, but first and foremost from a well-positioned ball, close to your left heel.John Daly · 273K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★14 minAdam Scott's Swing: Simple Rhythm, Fade, and DrawAdam Scott checks everything before taking his swing, focuses on a single rhythm, and produces a fade or a draw either by intention or simply by shifting his body.Adam Scott · 675K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★

For more information: Body Rotation

Learning the fade and the cut

The fade stops sooner and rarely curves to the left: it's the safety shot for many pros. Aim to the left, keep the face from closing too much, and take a full swing.

7 minJordan Spieth's safe fade with his ironsTo ensure the ball doesn't curve to the left, Spieth turns the back of his left hand toward the ground and keeps it there: a stable face, a slight fade.Jordan Spieth · 189K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★10 minCollin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverAim to the left, don't force the spin, a clubface that doesn't rotate on the upswing, and a single starting line at the top: Morikawa and DJ's fade.Collin Morikawa · 332K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★9 minJustin Thomas's Iron Cut Drill: The Two BallsTo stop coming down too far from the inside, Thomas places two balls to avoid on his downswing line: when he misses them, his iron fade comes back.Justin Thomas · 316K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★16 minJon Rahm's Short Driver Backswing ExplainedJon Rahm explains his drive: a short backswing, a bent left wrist, aiming to the left for a fade, loading from the right side, followed by a low ball and a high draw.Jon Rahm · 462,000 views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★★

With the driver: the safety shot

On a narrow fairway, pros prioritize a shot they can control over maximum distance. Here are their “fairway finders.”.

For more information: Driving

With Irons: Pick Your Shot Shape Based on the Pin and the Wind

Flag on the left, wind from the right: the best players choose the shot that brings the ball back toward the center. From Tiger's "nine-window" drill to Scheffler's choices.

For more information: Irons · Course Management

More Shot-Shaping Lessons

14 minBall Position for Fades and Draws: Each Club's ZoneEach club has a playing zone: move the ball forward for a fade or a high shot, and move it back for a draw or a low shot.Mark Crossfield · 45K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★12 minJon Rahm's Open-Face Wedges: His Reference PointsJon Rahm adjusts his wedge shots based on swing percentages, almost always plays with an open face, and uses a draw feel to reduce spin.Jon Rahm · 139K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★18 minFlighted Wedges from Scheffler, Morikawa and KordaThree champions rarely hit a wedge full: use a longer club, a smoother swing, and less spin for a low ball flight and consistent control.Scottie Scheffler · 445K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★★8 minJustin Thomas's Short Game: Draws, Fades and CutsA basic 60-degree pitch to stay aggressive, then get creative: adjust the ball's position, the shaft's angle, and the clubface—your hands will do the rest.Justin Thomas · 21K views · 🇬🇧 Summary★★★19 minPause at the Top of the Backswing: Matsuyama ExplainsMatsuyama explains his pause at the top of his swing (his left shoulder is too “tucked in” when imitating Tiger), his hands in front of his chest, and his swing mechanics with the irons.Hideki Matsuyama · 398K views · 🇯🇵 Summary★★★★★4 minShank crisis on the course: hit a fadeThe shank comes from a clubface that’s too closed and hips that slide, not from a swing that comes back over the top: on the course, you play a connected fade.IdeeGolf · 21K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★★6 minOut of the Trees with Jean Van de Velde: Low or HighWhen playing from the trees, choosing the right shot takes precedence over technique: don't compound one mistake with another. When it comes to the shot's trajectory, the clubface is key.Jean Van de Velde · 3,000 views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★5 minLaunch It Higher as a Senior: Higher = LongerSeniors lose distance because they lack height: the ball is positioned further to the left, the right hand pushes forward, and then they adopt a closed stance for a draw with the driver.Fabien Gabarre · 58K views · 🇫🇷 In French★★★

Your Questions About the Draw and the Fade

What is the difference between a draw and a hook?

A draw is a slight, controlled, and intentional right-to-left curve. A hook curves much more sharply and often sends the ball off the fairway: it’s a draw that’s no longer under control.

Fade or slice: What's the difference?

A fade is a slight left-to-right curve that is intentional and repeatable. A slice is a strong, uncontrolled curve that causes you to lose distance. To correct it, see our page on Correcting Your Slice.

Does a draw go farther than a fade?

Often, yes: a draw starts with less spin and rolls farther. A fade stops sooner, which helps keep the ball on a firm green. Many pros prefer the fade because of its reliability.

How can you hit a draw without changing your swing?

The simplest method involves the following stance at address: feet and shoulders slightly closed, clubface aimed at the target, with the ball positioned slightly back. The swing remains the same and follows the line of the body.

Should you learn both shot shapes?

To improve, one reliable technique is better than two imperfect ones. Choose the one that comes naturally to you, then learn the other for situations where it's necessary.

How do you know which shot to play on the course?

Aim for a shot that brings the ball back toward the center of the green or fairway: a flag on the right calls for a fade, and a flag on the left calls for a draw. With a crosswind, a shot against the wind keeps the ball on a straighter path.

📖 Word of the Day: The Fade in Golf — the definition, before moving on to the videos.