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Draw or FadeIrons: Compress the BallCourse Management Irons Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 17 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Choosing the Right Shot with the Iron: Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler

Three flags between 179 and 193 yards and a left-side wind: Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler explain which club and spin they choose. Their guiding principle: a reliable go-to shot under pressure, a nearby target, and a clear line of play.

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Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemAttack Pins with Your Irons Like Scheffler: 3 ShotsScottie Scheffler · Intermediate / Expert6 minSame problemRory McIlroy's Draw and Fade: It's All in the SetupRory McIlroy · Intermediate19 minFrom the same proTips from Nelly Korda: Small Targets, Lies, and WedgesNelly Korda · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Nelly Korda isn't playing just one shot: the draw: Under pressure, she knows she can count on it. She sometimes turns it too much, but she knows her short shot. With a headwind blowing from left to right, she aims just to the left of the flag and lets the ball fly. Toward the front-right flag at 179 yards, she takes a iron 6 to 90%, her controlled, lower-trajectory basic shot. She likes to hit her long irons low: a 100% high shot gives her too much spin, and as an aggressive player who goes for the flag, she doesn’t want the ball to roll too far. On the back pin, she hits a controlled 5-iron: for her, a cut shot means hitting the ball off the heel and coming up short.

Rickie Fowler plays better when he can do anything with the ball, using a slight draw as his standard shot. From 193 yards out, he hits a hard 7-iron to clear the long rough: at that distance, Finishing in three moves is already a good result. If he didn't know the flag, he would play straight; if he knew there was room on the left, he would go left to let the breeze carry the ball. He chose a intermediate target right in front of him (sprinkler head, divot), then focus only on the tee line and the spin: just thinking “draw” is enough; forcing yourself to relax is overdoing it. To aim for the back of the green, he needs to know the distance to the back of the green and how firm it is: on a firm green, hitting the ball all the way to the flag becomes risky.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Measure three distances: the flag, the point where the ball clears the front obstacle, and the back of the green.
  2. Determine the wind direction and the side where it is safe to miss the target.
  3. Choose your basic shot and its starting line—for example, just to the left of the flag if the wind is blowing to the right.
  4. Aim for a flag in the background, and hit a club that won't carry past the green.
  5. Find an intermediate target in front of you (a divot, a sprinkler head) to help you line up.
  6. When you're standing over the ball, focus on just one thing: the line of play and the desired spin.
  7. Swing with control—about 90% of your full swing—for a lower ball flight.

Key Takeaways

Korda plays only one shot—the draw—to see how he handles it under pressure.
Wind blowing from left to right: She aims just to the left of the flag and lets the ball fly.
An 90% iron flies lower and provides better spin control than a 100% iron.
At 190 yards, playing it long and aiming for the center of the green is often the right choice.
Fowler lines up with an intermediate target just in front of the ball.
Just think “draw” or “cut”—trying to force yourself to relax is overdoing it.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Changing tactics under pressure without being sure of the outcome.
  • Hitting a long iron at 100%: too high, too much spin.
  • Aim for the flag at the back of the green without knowing the distance to the back of the green.
  • Force yourself to relax to make sure you hit a draw: the ball is spinning too much.
  • Aim at a distant target instead of a nearby one.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Three targets at close range, three different clubs
  2. 90% of your shots should be aimed low
  3. An intermediate target chosen in front of the ball on every shot
  4. Just one basic effect; the reverse effect is only a bonus.

Your Questions

Why does Nelly Korda refuse to play a fade?

Under pressure, having two shots in her arsenal creates uncertainty. She sticks with the draw: she might curve it a little too much, but she knows her usual mishit.

How do you aim when there's a left-to-right wind and you're playing a draw shot?

Korda aims just to the left of the flag and lets the ball carry with the wind. Fowler, for a decisive shot, would aim straight at the flag while playing a draw against the wind.

Should we go for the flag at the back of the green from 190 yards?

Not necessarily. Fowler chooses a club that clears the long shot: at that distance, finishing in three strokes is already good. To aim for the back of the green, he needs to know the total distance and the firmness of the green.

What are they thinking about as they watch the ball?

At the tee and on impact. Fowler explains that simply thinking “draw” or “cut” is enough if you’ve practiced it: your body knows how to do it. Trying to force yourself to relax often leads to overdoing it.

Learn More

All “Draw Effect or Fade Effect” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Irons - Compressing the Ball” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Course Management” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Tiger Woods' Iron Play: The Wind and the HandsTiger keeps two shots in mind until his final look at the wind, adds speed for a fade compared to a draw, and controls everything with his hands. Attack Pins with Your Irons Like Scheffler: 3 ShotsDepending on the flag's position, Scheffler chooses the club and the shot that will bring the ball from the center of the green toward the hole: the safest shot. Rory 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. Nelly KordaAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Nelly Korda). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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