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     By Stephen Aumock, Director of Instruction at Gleneagles      Country Club in Plano, Texas. Photos by BW Studios.
   

There are four main situations that require you to do this. The first is if there is an obstacle in your way, the best way around it is curving the ball from right to left. Another situation is if the pin is on the left side of the green, then the appropriate shot is a draw. This way the ball will start out at the "safe" center of the green and then work towards the pin.

A third situation when you would need to curve the ball is if the wind is coming from the left, and you want the ball to stop quicker on the green. A ball drawing into the green is fighting the wind and will sit down quicker. Finally, the fourth situation is when the wind is coming from the right, and you want the ball to roll more. When the ball is curving the same direction as the wind, it will "ride it" for more carry and more roll.

Now once you have decided to play the draw, how do you execute it?

When setting up to the ball, make a few adjustments. Play the ball a little farther back in your stance and open the face slightly. This will allow you to start the ball out to the right. In order to start the ball out to the right, it helps to have the face slightly open and in the process of closing. Next, turn your hands to the right on the club and soften your grip pressure. This will encourage more hand action, which in turn, will help close the face. During your swing, make a full shoulder turn and allow your hands and arms to swing freely in the downswing.

Finish with your hands high and allow the club to point to the ground when your swing is complete. This indicates a full release of the hands.

One thing that you want to keep in mind when trying to draw the ball is that the less loft the club has on it, the more difficult it is to shape a draw. The reason for this is that when a ball is drawing, the amount of backspin on it is decreased. Often times, the ball is not in the air long enough for it to draw properly. This is why the pros will often shape their 3-wood on No.10 at Augusta National. A 3-wood is easier to draw and will carry farther than a drawing driver would.

Week 2 - The Low Fade



   
   



Steven Aumock is the Director of Instruction at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas. His students have included Craig Perks, Marten Olander and other touring pros.