Draw Vs Fade Vs Hook Vs Slice In Golf – Everything You Need To Know

The shape of the golf ball, along with distance, once hit is the most important factor in determining how good your golf score will be.

If you struggle to hit the target line with your shot, whether from the tee, or the fairway, you will soon find yourself with high scores and maybe some lost balls. So, let’s try and understand the different types of shots so that we can better understand some of the fixes.

There are 4 types of ball flight paths in golf. Some are desirable while others are undesirable. Draw and fade flight paths are desirable, however, a hook or a slice is undesirable. 

Draw Vs Fade Vs Slice Vs Hook: Complete Guide

These are the 4 flight paths in golf. If the ball flight is slightly left to right, it is called a fade (desirable), and if the ball flight is far left it is called a hook (undesirable).

Similarly, if the ball flight is slightly right to left it is called a draw (desirable), and if the ball flight is far-right it is called slice (undesirable). The undesirable shots are because they lack control and often the golfer with this type of ball flight will send the ball wildly off target.

Whereas the desirable shot flights are so because they are controlled, and often meant to be hit with this shot shape. 

Draw Vs Fade – Differences And Similarities?

Similarities

  • Both flight paths are desirable.
  • Both are controlled shots.
  • Both are used to overcome obstacles. 

Difference

  • Both have opposite flight paths.
  • Golf grip strength is not the same.

What Is A Draw?

A draw is a desirable and controlled ball flight in the game of golf. The flight curvature moves slightly from right to left. This shot is used to overcome on-course obstacles such as a dog leg or a tree. A golfer has to take a proper stance, in-order swing plane, and a closed club face to hit a good draw. 

Is a hook a fade or draw?

A hook is an extreme draw. the difference is that a draw flight path moves from left to right and a hook does not have any inside movement. It is a far-left shot. The hook shot is undesirable and uncontrolled. This shot causes problems for the golfers on the course and can result in lost balls. 

How To Hit A Draw?

To hit a good draw, a golfer has to take the right stance and a closed club face at impact. The swing plane has to be in order. The ball will move slightly towards the right of the target line and then come back to the left on the target line. 

Pros

  • Generates good topspin
  • Rolls longer
  • Overcomes obstacles

Cons

  • Lesser control
  • If mishit, it might result in a hook

What Is A Fade?

A fade is a desirable and controlled ball flight in the game of golf. The flight curvature moves slightly from the left of the target line to the right. This shot is used to overcome on-course obstacles. A golfer has to take a proper stance, in-order swing plane, and an open club face to hit a good fade. This style of ball flight is used by top PGA professionals such as Jon Rahm. 

Is a fade a slice or a hook?

A fade is a controlled slice. However, if it is mishit, it will turn into a bad slice. A slice shot is an undesirable shot whose flight path is far right. The slice shot is uncontrolled. This shot causes problems for the golfers on the course and for many, is one of the most frustrating types of shot. 

How To Hit A Fade?

To hit a good fade shot, a golfer has to take the right stance and an opened club face at impact. The swing plane has to be in order. The ball will move slightly towards the left of the target line and then come back to the right on the target line. 

Pros

  • More control and backspin
  • Softer landing
  • Overcomes obstacles

Cons

  • Might turn into a slice

Is it better to draw or fade in golf?

Both shots have their pros and cons. Most professionals prefer to draw the ball on the hole and fade the ball when they approach the green. A draw covers more distance than a fade. However, a fade shot offers a softer landing. A draw shot is harder to control than a fade shot because of the top spin it generates.

Hook Vs Slice – Differences & Similarities

Similarities

  • Both are undesirable shots
  • Both are uncontrolled shots
  • Both cause problems for the golfers

Differences

  • Both have opposite flight paths
  • Both have a different setup, stances, and club face.

Do most golfers hook or slice?

Although both ball flight paths are undesirable and uncontrolled, most golfers tend to hit more slice shots than hook shots. The reason for more slices is that golfers try to aim at the target with a neutral grip strength, but their swing plane is in-to-out. This causes the ball to go far-right.

What Is A Slice

A slice is an uncontrolled shot that veers wildly to the right when hit, often hit while going for a good fade. It is a golf shot in which the target line is aimed perfectly but the swing is irregular, and the club face is loose and open. This makes the ball go far-right in a banana-shaped shot.

Slice: Why Does This Shot Happen? 

It happens because of a few reasons.

  • Swing Path – If the swing path is in-to-out, there are chances for a slice.
  • Club Face – If the club face is too loose and open, it might result in a slice shot
  • Grip Strength – If the grip strength is too weak, it might also result in a slice shot.

Slice: How Can It Be Corrected?

To fix the slice shot, a golfer must correct his grip strength, swing plane, and the club face. The grip strength should not be rigid or too loose, it should have fluidity. The swing curvature should be in order. the club face should be opened to an optimal amount. 

What Is A Hook?

A hook is an uncontrolled shot that curves far to the left when hit, this often happens while going for a good and strong draw. It is a golf shot in which the target line is aimed perfectly but the swing isn’t perfect, and the club face is too tight and closed at impact. This makes the ball go far left.

Hook: Why Does It Happen?

It happens because of a few reasons.

  • Swing Path – If the swing path is out-to-in, there are chances for a hook shot.
  • Club Face – If the club face is too tight and closed, it might result in a hook.
  • Grip Strength – If the grip strength is too strong, it might also result in a hook shot.

Hook: How Can It Be Corrected?

To fix the hook shot, a golfer has to correct his grip strength, swing plane, and the club face. The grip strength should not be firm or too tight, it should be strong with fluidity. The swing curvature should be in order. the club face should be closed to an optimal amount. If any of these is out of order, it will be hard to correct the hook

Is hooking better than slicing?

Both hook shot and slice shot are to be avoided if possible. Both are overdone mishits with poor ball flight. Hook shots have a flight path of far-left and slice shots have a flight path of far-right. Both will create problems for the golfers and increase the number of strokes. 

How Can I Learn To Fade The Ball?

Having a good fade in your locker can be helpful on the course. To master fade shots, a golfer has to work on his stance, grip strength, swing plane, and club face.

To hit a good fade, the golfer should take a slightly left stance to the target line. His grip strength should be strong. His swing plane should be in order and his club face should be open. This is best practiced at the driving range with a bucket of balls and plenty of time on your hands. n

How Can I Learn To Draw The Ball?

The draw shot in golf always looks amazing, it has that classic look of a typical golf shot, and with the top spin it generates the ball tends to travel further leading to longer shots from the tee. 

To hit a good draw, the golfer should take a slight right stance to the target line. His grip strength should be neutral or weak with fluidity. His swing plane should be in order and his club face should be closed. Try to have the feeling of turning the hands over at impact to simulate the feel of giving the ball topspin. Similar to how you would do if you have ever played a tennis shot with topspin. 

Why Am I Slicing My Driver And How To Stop It

There are a few reasons for that. These include the wrong stance, faulty weight distribution, grip strength, swing curvature, and club face. An estimate suggests that 80% of the slice or hook shots come off the driver.

To fix it, a golfer has to align his stance with an appropriate weight distribution of his body. Too weak or strong grip strength has to be reduced to a more fluid grip. The swing curvature should be optimum for straighter shots and the club face should not be extra open. 

Why Am I Hooking My Driver And How To Stop It

Reasons for hooking the ball are the same as slicing the ball, only the dimensions change. The wrong stance, faulty weight distribution, grip strength, swing curvature, and club face cause the driver to hook the ball.

To fix it, a golfer must align his stance with an appropriate weight distribution of his body. Too weak or strong grip strength has to be reduced to a more fluid grip. The swing curvature should be optimum for straighter shots and the club face should not be shut or closed. 

Why Am I Slicing My Irons And How To Stop It 

Slicing the irons also has the same mechanism. These also include the wrong stance, faulty weight distribution, grip strength, swing curvature, and club face causing the irons to slice the ball.

Swing plane is the most important factor in iron shots.

To rectify it, golfers must correct their swing plane throughout the process. The backswing and downswing should be aligned with the ball line. More importantly, the grip strength should be more neutral for straighter shots.

Why Am I Hooking My Irons And How To Stop It

Any inside displacement in the swing process will cause hooks. To fix it, golfers must correct their swing plane throughout the process.

The backswing and downswing should be aligned with the ball line. More importantly, think about the grip strength is it too strong as this could lead to a closed club face at impact which generates a draw ball flight. 

Best Drills To Eliminate A Slice

 

A golfer can perform many drills to eliminate unwanted slice shots from his game. It should be kept in mind that before performing the drill you have positioned your stance, weight distribution, and grip strength for a slice shot. 

We will discuss a three-part drill.

  • Step 1: Take proper stance and aim and create a backward loop with your desired club.
  • Step 2: After creating a loop, now with the same stance and aim, start backswing and tilt your upper body so that the swing path is aligned with the ball line.
  • Step 3: Now start the downswing, making sure that your swing path is in line with the ball line, and complete the follow-through.

Make sure that you do not leave the swing plane at any point.

How Do Your Clubs Affect Hook Vs Slice Or Draw Vs Fade

Different clubs affect the ball flight paths. Your stance does affect the ball’s flight path. The low point of your swing arc changes as you go from club to club in your bag, since every club is different in length. This causes hooks, slices, draw and fade shots.

How Does Your Golf Grip Affect Hook Or Slice

Golf grip strength affects the ball flight to a great extent. To hit straight shots frequently, it is suggested that golfers use a neutral grip strength. However, a weak grip strength might cause slices and a strong grip strength might hooks. 

How Does Stance Affect Hook Or Slice

Stance is an important determinant in the flight path of the ball. For the driver and fairway woods, your ball is higher up in the stance and for irons and wedges, it is low in your stance. This changes the swing arc. The swing arc changes for every club, thus creating new dimensions of the flight path for each shot.

Low Hook Vs Snap Hook Vs Pull Hook

Low Hook

A low hook is caused by the obstruction of the swing path with the upper body. This flips the hands at impact, causing a hook to the left.

Snap Hook

Snap, as the name suggests, creates a steep and violent far-left ball flight at the point of impact. One of the worst feelings in the game of golf is to hit this shot. 

Pull Hook

At impact, the ball starts its flight on the left and keeps on going to the far left. It’s unlikely you will ever find your ball again. 

How Does A Hook Or Slice Differ From Club To Club

They differ because the length of every club changes as you go from lower to higher lofted clubs. The club length and loft also create a different swing arc and swing curvature.

This difference in the swing arc induces different ball flight paths. The lower the loft the more severe the chances of slice and hook become as there is less forgiveness in lower lofted clubs. 

Hybrids Vs Woods Vs Irons 

The mechanism for ball flights is the same for every club. But the intensity of the flight path changes with every club.

The clubs with lower lofts can create violent and quick hooks or slices. As you move to higher lofted clubs, the intensity, and likelihood of this type of mis-hit decreases. A driver might create a pull hook, but it is unlikely for a wedge to create a pull hook unless it is a badly hit shot. Using a hybrid club can help you eliminate these shots from your game as the larger club head can be more forgiving and return the club squarer at impact. 

FAQ

Q: Why is the driver hardest to hit straight for many?

The driver has the lowest loft and longest shaft, this creates major room for error. 80% of mishit shots come off the driver.

Q: Why Do I Only Slice My Driver

Slice shots off the driver are the most common mishits. Drivers have the lowest lofts, longest shafts, and bigger swing planes. There is plenty of room for error. Even professionals are prone to this.

Q: Do hooks go further than slices?

It depends on the player. Generally speaking, slices go farther because of their topspin and the ability to roll longer. 

Q: What swing path causes a slice?

The most common cause of a slice is an out-to-in swing path. This means that your club is outside the ball’s line during the initial part of your downswing and your ball contact produces side spin.

Q: Why do pros hit fades?

Professionals prefer to hit fades because of more control, ample backspin, and softer landings.

Q: Does a strong grip cause a slice?

No, a strong grip can cause a hook but not a slice. Weak grip strength can cause a slice shot.

Q: Can standing too close to the ball cause a slice?

Yes! This is a common problem amongst many average golfers. Standing too close to the ball will change the swing arc and becomes more prone to hit slices and shanks.

Q: How do you hold a driver not to slice?

It is suggested to use a neutral grip to hit straighter shots. A strong but fluid grip strength can also eliminate the slice shot. However, a weak grip strength that is too loose will cause slices. 

Q: Is it easier to fix a slice or hook?

Both are undesirable and uncontrolled shots. But fixing a hook is much easier than fixing a slice. That’s why most golfers are slice prone.

Q: Can ball position cause a hook?

Yes, the ball position can cause a hook. Standing too close or too far from the ball with an incorrect swing plane can cause hooks and slices.

Q: What grip fixes a slice?

A neutral or a strong grip strength helps eliminate and fix slice shots. However, whichever grip is used by the player, it should have fluidity in it. 

Q: What is the invisible knuckle rule in golf?

It is a rule to determine the position of the club face. If you see no or 1 knuckle of your trailing hand, the club face is open. If the visible knuckles are 2, it is a square club face. If you see 3 or more knuckles, the club face is said to be closed. 

Best Training Aid To Fix A Hook

Following are the 6 best training aids to fix a hook.

  1. Impact Bag
  2. Golf Grip Trainer
  3. Tee Claw
  4. Figure 8 Strap
  5. Swingyde
  6. Speed Trap 2.0

Best Training Aid To Fix A Slice

Following are the 6 best training aids to fix a hook.

  1. Impact Bag
  2. Golf Grip Trainer
  3. Tee Claw
  4. Figure 8 Strap
  5. Swingyde
  6. Speed Trap 2.0

Conclusion

 

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed understanding more about the different types of shot shapes. Hopefully, you don’t see the hook or slice very often when you play.

However, if this is your bad shot, this article will have helped you understand why this might be the case and how to rectify this ball flight. The best type of shot for many is a straight shot, if possible, if you are offline with your shot shape then check that your grip is not too strong or weak.

If you want to read more about this then why not take some time to read our other article on the different types of grip. 

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