A Quick Adjustment to Play Different Shot Shapes

Hitting Draws and “Baby Fades” with Tour Pro Rachel Drummond

By Ryan Gager

In this edition of Call Your Shot, GOLFTEC’s Nick Clearwater is joined by Ladies European Tour Player Rachel Drummond to talk about hitting different shot shapes. During a round of golf there are different situations that call for hitting a shot that curves either left or right, say for example, when you find yourself behind a tree. If you’ve ever faced something like this, Rachel has a quick adjustment for you to make, so you can get out of trouble and back into play. As always, be sure to practice these shots on the range or during your practice sessions at GOLFTEC first to get comfortable with them before bringing them to the course.

For Rachel, hitting a draw or a fade simply starts with her setup. She begins by moving the ball position either back or forward in her stance. For a draw she moves the ball back a little bit, which enables her to catch the ball while the club is still moving in-to-out. This puts draw sidespin on the ball.

In the video, Nick challenges her to hit a fade, so she starts by moving the ball forward in her stance. And when she does move it forward it is only about a ball forward, nothing too dramatic. This promotes hitting the ball when the clubface is a little bit more open at impact.

As for her swing, she also tries to keep the clubface more open on the follow-through. Instead of rotating, she lets her body and clubface remain passive through the swing.

The last thing she does is have her feet slightly open in her stance when she addresses the ball. These few simple adjustments help her execute the perfect “baby fade.”

For more great tips like this and to learn about lesson packages we offer, visit your nearest GOLFTEC and talk with a local Coach. GOLFTEC Coaches will help you play your best golf, which includes helping you work on hitting draws and fades, so you can hit your target more often!

Download the CLUBHOUSE app for more related content

---

Want to read more instruction articles like this one? Visit our INSTRUCTION PAGE.

Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram