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Learn to Curve The Ball: Fades & Draws

Learning to curve the ball, whether it's a fade or a draw doesn't have to be as complicated as one thinks.

Learning to curve the ball, whether it’s a fade or a draw doesn’t have to be as complicated as one thinks. Yes, there’s a lot of math involved in how exactly a ball moves through the air but we don’t need it, we like to keep it simple.

We don’t need to change our grip, we don’t need to change our swing, we can manipulate our setup and use our regular swing to get the results we want. Some work at the range with these drills will have you hunting for pins tucked around bunkers and shaping it around trees in no time.

19 Comments

  1. RON MULLIKIN

    November 1, 2018 at 7:03 am

    ALRIGHT YOU SHOWED US HOW TO FADE THE BALL SO WHERE’S YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HIT A DRAW ?

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      November 3, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      Hey Ron, if you go to 30 seconds in the video I talk about hitting a draw. Is the opposite of a fade: line up to club face to where you want the ball to finish and close your stance to that target. The more you close your stance the more you should be able to curve the ball. It’s definitely something to work on at the range before taking it to the course. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • LEON AMER

        March 14, 2020 at 5:59 pm

        but, Mr. Chap, you also said “we’re not gonna change our grip”, so, if you keep the same grip when you change the stance angle, the clubface goes where the line of the feet go, which is where the ball starts, not where it finishes. Your adjustments don’t add up, at least to me. I’ve been trying this for years and not gotten it to work yet.

        Reply
    • Lou Barbone

      February 25, 2021 at 4:37 pm

      My problem is where is the ball in my stance? Is the ball going to be in the correct position for the draw and fade once I set my feet?

      Reply
  2. Keith

    November 18, 2018 at 6:24 am

    First time caller, long time listener.

    I’ve always heard that the club face controls eighty percent of where the ball initially goes, so with this setup isn’t there the chance of having the ball start at the target line and then fade/draw away from the target? Wouldn’t having the club face at address somewhere between where your target is and where your body is aligned be a better option? Or is all this part of the “lots of time and lots of patience” part of the video? Finding what works for you.

    Thanks for any info.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      November 18, 2018 at 10:00 am

      Thanks for ‘calling in’ Keith! Yes, clubface angles affects roughly 80% of the direction the ball travels. If the clubface is pointed at the target at impact and the swing path is out-to-in, the ball will/should start on a path closer to the target. That being said, it is the difference in the swing path angle and the clubface angle that is going to create the spin that will/should bring the ball back toward the target.

      Swing paths vary between each golfer, so there is some experimenting that will have to take place to determine what is the right amount of leeway to give your ball flight depending on your setup position and how exaggerated it is or isn’t to created the curve you desire.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
    • Brian Chapman

      April 1, 2022 at 3:51 am

      Clarity: Target is ball aim location. With fade/draw you are thinking of desired ball finish location. Of course if you set up for a fade your target is likely left of finish location. For a draw-right of finish location. (Does this help?)
      Consider bowling, I roll the ball over a target (floor “mark”, that will then curve into the “pocket”.

      Reply
  3. Fred Closs

    December 17, 2018 at 5:36 pm

    If you aim the face to where want the ball to finish, you will OVERCURVE the shot. For a draw, might I siggest you aim right and aim the face at the midpoint of where you want the ball to start and where you want the ball to finish. Do the opposite for fades.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      December 18, 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks Fred!

      Reply
  4. Barry Reeve

    January 6, 2019 at 11:39 pm

    Another good one ,many thanks Barry.????????UK.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      January 7, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks Barry!

      Reply
  5. Las Vegas Duffer

    January 23, 2019 at 10:20 pm

    Thank you for the instructions. I have seen several such teachings and always forget by the time I get to the range. But these were simple notes to take and perhaps they will translate into something much better then what I do now.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      February 4, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      Thanks Las Vegas, happy we can help out.

      Reply
  6. John

    March 18, 2019 at 4:05 am

    My experience has been that while I do not “change” my grip, I do “move” it to the left or right of center line. Otherwise my “regular” grip and swing will try to “correct” what it feels is incorrect as I swing. Say what !?!?! Well, it is golf, right ?

    Reply
  7. Al

    April 15, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Hi Colby,

    I see that you are at The University Golf Club driving range.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      April 18, 2019 at 10:06 am

      I spend a lot of time at the UBC range, absolutely!

      Reply
  8. Las Vegas Duffer Joel

    May 1, 2019 at 8:22 am

    Well this was fun to watch. I hit balls to the right of me, to the left of me when I try to give the ball a good whack? So with these instructions we will see if I can get control of my ball creating a draw and fade with a lot of Patients and Practice. Thank you for the lesson. I am off to terrorize the flag sticks on the range.

    Reply
    • Quite The Chap

      May 6, 2019 at 11:29 am

      Have fun Joel!

      Reply
  9. Jim

    March 15, 2021 at 10:41 am

    So my only question is related to ball position. Is it different from my normal ball position? I tee the ball forward (left heel) for my driver; slightly back for long irons/fairway woods/hybrids; and middle of stance for mid- irons and wedges.

    Reply

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