Fade vs Draw

[Albatross]

I know the draw goes further but i'm having problems understanding why! IF the ball spins left to right, or right to left at the exact same rpm, would the draw still go further? If so why?

[golfinseb]

the trajectory of the draw is what makes it go further. other wise a lefty would hit longer fades than draws.

[Albatross]

That's exactly what i don't understand, I hit fades and draws the same height, my draw is no lower or higher.

[golfinseb]

Maybe you are unable to generate the same clubhead speed when you make the change to hit a draw/fade and that offsets the true nature of the shot.

Personally, I hit a draw up to 2 clubs longer, and a fade up to 2 clubs shorter than the standard carry. That all depends on how much extra I am going for and how aggressively I am going at the ball. I practice these shots all teh time but rarely play the aggressive ones in a round, to much room for error.

[Grass Roots Tour]

I think a draw goes farther because the club head has past square and therefore strikes the ball more solidly and also imparts spin that seems to roll out much farther.

A fade puts just a bit more back spin on the ball and when it lands it often quits very soon after. Also, if the club travels from outside to in through impact with the face open there is a whipe sensation that just doesn't posess the same power transfer as the draw.

I forget which old tour player said, " a fade is a miss-hit" but I totally agree.

[NICK S]

Doesn't a straight shot go the farthest?

I've wondered that as well... why the draw seems to go the farthest. Some have said its because the flight of a fade can be a result of an open clubface, which adds loft, thus going higher and not as far. Others have said that the draw hits the ground running, thus getting more distance. From my experience with the launch monitor, a clubface that rotates to a closed position through seperation (impact) resulting in a draw flight has allowed for the energy to transfer to the clubhead more efficiently while the fade is typically a 'held on' position and the energy has not reached the clubhead, but stays in the hands. Clubhead speed is higher with the rotation of the club to a closed position and therefore the ball goes farther.

2 great books that discuss this are: The Golfing Machine and Newton on the Tee

[Quest]

It is my understanding that it all has to do with ball spin. A draw has more top spin on the ball, while the fade has more back spin.

[golfinseb]

It is my understanding that it all has to do with ball spin. A draw has more top spin on the ball, while the fade has more back spin.

Or does a draw have less backspin than a fade? You can't have overspin, think about how the ball flight really works, how could a ball spin forward when hit with a lofted object?

[Snipes5150]

Or does a draw have less backspin than a fade? You can't have overspin, think about how the ball flight really works, how could a ball spin forward when hit with a lofted object?

He's right. If the ball had top spin on it, it would run itself into the ground quickly. The same way backspin makes the ball fly higher

[dekker]

draw and fade are the result of side spin imparted on the ball.
A Fade includes an amount of "cut" or backspin that keeps the ball up slightly longer and with a steeper descending trajectory so it lands softer with less speed and energy.It's more of a control shot.
A draw has a ballistic flight in that the descend closely parallels the climb and the shallower descend permits more roll after landing

[Quest]

Or does a draw have less backspin than a fade? You can't have overspin, think about how the ball flight really works, how could a ball spin forward when hit with a lofted object?

I stand corrected. I found this short article that more clearly explains it.

http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/instruction/privatelessons/power/0,,02_7_sh,00.html

[michaeljreid]

I stand corrected. I found this short article that more clearly explains it.

http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/instruction/privatelessons/power/0,,02_7_sh,00.html

Maybe it is my old computer but I can't read this website you posted, it there something weird.

My thoughts on the subject is I see it as 4 things.
1) Change in loft as a result of club head rotation (fade, increases loft)--ball travels higher less roll; draw has a lower running trajectory
2) backspeed which increases as a result of the increased loft with the cut, -- ball travels higher with less roll; draw has less back spin because of the less loft and thus more roll
3) Decrease in ball speed that results from a slower face closure of the fade
and decreased arm rotation of a fade as well as a more "square" face contact.
4) Angle of attack is steeper with a fade then a draw and thus has a higher trajectory

Since the link above is a golf digest link I assume they talked about these things.