Golf is known to be a technical sport full of technical terms that you may not know the meaning of. One of those golf terms often mentioned on golf courses and TV broadcasts is the term “Draw”.
If you are reading this article, you may wonder: What exactly is a “Draw” in golf?
In this article, we will explain to you exactly what the term “Draw” means in golf.
What Is A Draw In Golf?
In golf, a “Draw” is a golf ball hit in such a way that it has a slightly curved trajectory. The trajectory goes from right to left for right-handed golfers, and from left to right for left-handed golfers. A “Draw” is generally the result of good technique and nearly straight.
In the great game of golf, the term “Draw” is very often mentioned on golf courses and on TV broadcasts.
In golf, the expression “Draw” is the name given to a golf shot that follows a slight outwards trajectory. A “Draw” curves from right to left for right-handed golfers, and from left to right for left-handed golfers.
A “Draw” shot in golf is generally desirable, and the result of good swing technique. “Draws” keep the golf ball moving relatively straight towards your target, without reducing much the carry distance the ball travels.
“Draw” shots are very common in golf, and become increasingly more common as the skill levels of observed golfers increases. A “Draw” shot is more or less as desirable as a “straight” or “Fade” shot type.
“Draw” shot have the advantage of being a relatively predictable shot in golf, leading to a high accuracy.
Unfortunately, inexperienced or beginner golfers often struggle to hit a good, relatively straight shot such as a “Draw”.
Instead, these beginner golfers tend to instead “hook” the golf ball, meaning its initial trajectory is towards the outside, and it curves even further outside, and generally into the rough. Many beginners will mistakenly call their undesirable “hook” shots “Draw” shots.
On the other hand, the best golfers on the planet focus on mostly using straight or only slightly-curved shots such as “Draws”, depending on the situation and their position on a specific golf hole.
Down below is a real-world example of the curve a Draw shot follows.
In the image above, you can see the approximate curve that a “Draw” shot will follow if you hit the ball in a certain way. As you can see, the golf ball starts out pushed towards the outside, before it “draws” or curves back in towards the inside of the golfer.
This type of fairly-straight trajectory is typically very accurate and will help you get a good golf score. A straighter shot does not significantly reduce the carry distance your ball travels, and can travel straight enough to avoid landing the ball in the rough or other hazards.
For a right-handed golfer (as most golfers are, such as in the image), a Draw shot will give the golf ball an initial trajectory slightly towards the right, before slightly curving back towards the left side.
For left-handed golfers, a Draw shot will do the opposite, and give the ball an initial trajectory slightly to the left, before curving back towards the right side. You can literally mirror the image up above to know what a Draw would look like for a left-handed golfer.
The curved trajectory of a “Draw” shot is caused by an open club head face at ball impact, along with a club head path that brings the club head in closer to your feet.
For a right-handed golfer, the open club head face gives the golf ball an initial trajectory towards the right side, and the club head path towards the left side brushes the ball in such a way that its trajectory curves to the right.
Hitting consistent “Draws” in golf is the result of consistently controlling the club head path and the openness of the club face in a certain way.
In golf, the openness of your club head’s face relatively to the golf ball will have a strong impact on its initial trajectory. On the other hand, the path in which the club head travels to strike the golf ball will typically influence in which direction the ball curves.
In the case of “Draw” shots, the club head’s face is typically slightly open, in order to give the ball an outwards initial trajectory (towards the right for right-handed golfers, towards the left for left-handed golfers).
To continue, the club head’s path in a “Draw” shot should move from the inside towards the outside of the golfer, which, if executed well, should make the golf ball curve from the outside towards the inside of the golfer.
For right-handed golfers, this club head path will curve the ball from right to left. For left-handed golfers, this club head path will curve the ball from left to right.
If you are having a hard time hitting “Draws” when desired, focus on these two elements to improve your rate of success. Additionally, you may be failing at hitting “Draws” if you are not holding your golf club correctly.
To learn the best and correct golf club grip technique, you can read our guide: How To Hold A Golf Club?. Holding your golf club correctly will give your club head face a more neutral position by default, or a slightly closed bias, which will help your entire golf game.
If you would like to hit some good “Draws” more often, and improve your golf score, you can read our guide: How To Improve Your Golf Score? – 9 Pro Tips.
Origin Of The Term “Draw”
The origin of the expression “Draw” in golf is simple and based in the English language.
When you hit a “Draw” shot, the path the golf ball follows goes slightly outwards, after which it curves back inwards the other way.
In the English language, the verb “to draw” means “to pull or drag something”.
In golf, in the case of a “draw” shot, the ball is being “drawn” or “pulled” or “dragged” in its trajectory, from the outside towards the inside of the golfer.
Therefore, the origin of the term “Draw” in golf is simply an application of the meaning of the verb “to draw” to the golf ball’s flight during this shot type.
It makes perfect sense where the term “Draw” got its name from in golf.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned exactly what a “Draw” is in golf. You also got to see an example of what the trajectory of a “Draw” shot may look like.
Do you have any other golf expressions you wish to know more about? How often do you hit a “Draw” shot in golf? Let us know in the comments down below!
