This is an age old question in golf… how do you hit a draw with the driver?
With this article, I am going to teach you everything you need to know to hit a draw with the driver.
Let’s get to it!
Ball Flight Laws
First of all, you need to understand the ball flight laws, i.e., what causes the golf ball to start in one direction and curve.
A study utilizing the Trackman launch monitor indicates that the clubface angle is responsible for 80-85% of the initial direction of the ball.
The following graphic demonstrates how the golf ball will fly based upon the path of the swing and the angle of the clubface at impact.
For now, I won’t go into all of the details regarding the ball flight laws. You can read more about them here.
Just understand that a combination of swing path and clubface angle at impact will determine the ball flight direction.
The Swing Plane
Next, you need to have a basic understanding of the swing plane. The swing plane is what determines your swing path.
The ideal swing is one where the club will stay on a swing plane angle that is parallel to the original angle of the club established as you set up to the ball.
This will make it easier to return the club to this same angle at impact.
By returning the club to this angle at impact, the golfer has a much higher chance of hitting the ball with a square clubface.
This allows for more solid and consistent ball striking.
Most amateur golfers attack the ball with a swing plane that is too steep.
That is what results in an outside-to-in swing path, which usually results in a slice.
Check out the video below to learn more about the swing plane.
Let’s have a look at how the grip influences ball flight.
How to hit a draw with the driver – the proper golf grip
The grip is our only connection to the golf club, and it is directly responsible for the controlling the angle of the club face at impact.
A weak grip will tend to cause shots to slice, while a strong grip will tend to cause shots to hook. All this of course depends on swing path and swing plane.
Below is an image of a neutral grip.
A neutral golf grip
In general, if you struggle to hit a draw with the driver, consider using a slightly stronger grip.
Learn more about the grip fundamentals here.
Your Set Up and how to hit a draw with your driver
What makes it more difficult for most amateurs to hit a draw with the driver is the need to put the ball more forward in our stance.
This is because the ball is placed on a tee, and we want to be sure we are striking the ball after our swing has bottomed out and is now in the upswing.
This allows us to get the ball in the air more easily.
The issue here is that the club is starting its path to the left of our target line after it bottoms out. Have a look at the graphic below.
You’ll notice that all of the swing paths turn left after impact.
If you have an over-the-top slice golf swing, this will occur sooner than later. The middle image in the diagram shows that outside/in swing path.
With the ball more forward in your stance, that path is even further to the left.
This is why it will be critical to fix that over-the-top golf swing if you want to hit a draw with the driver.
For those of us who have a more neutral swing path, if we want to hit more of a draw, we can place the ball a little further back in our stance.
This ensures that we are still attacking the ball from a more inside/out path.
How to hit a draw with the driver
If you want to be able to hit a draw with the driver, you are going to need to do some analysis of your swing.
If most of your tee shots start out left of the target and finish off to the right (assuming you are a right hander), then you need to flatten your swing plane a bit and/or work on a better swing sequence.
If most of your iron shots start to the right and curve more to the right, then you are already attacking the ball from an inside out swing path.
Therefore, you may need to modify your grip slightly to help you release the club better, or check your ball position in your stance, as it may be too far back.
Lastly, a little pitch… if you want to get the most out of your driver and hit bombs, consider signing up for some coaching.
Also, consider signing up for my email list and I will send you my Guide to Hitting Longer Drives. Just fill out the form below.
