Lesson 3: Draw and Fade: When the Ball Curves
One of the most beautiful things in golf is a ball that curves gracefully through the air. These curved shots have names: a draw and a fade.
A draw (for a right-handed golfer) curves gently from right to left. A fade curves gently from left to right. Both are caused by sidespin — the ball spinning sideways as it moves forward.
Sidespin is created when the club face points in a slightly different direction than the swing path at impact. If the face points slightly left of the swing path, the ball draws. If it points slightly right, the ball fades.
Professional golfers deliberately hit draws or fades to curve around trees, get better angles to the flag, or work with the wind.
Draw = sidespin left → ball curves right to left (right-handed golfers).
Fade = sidespin right → ball curves left to right.
Both are caused by club face angle differing from the swing path at impact.
Professional golfers say a draw typically travels farther than a fade with the same swing. Can you think of a reason why, based on what you know about spin and drag?
Curve visualization: take a piece of string about 6 feet long. Hold one end still and swing the other end in a gentle arc. Notice how the end traces a curve — similar to how sidespin curves the ball. Try to trace the path of a draw and a fade. Draw both in your journal next to the path of a straight shot.
After the rope visualization, watch draw and fade shots in slow-motion golf video (easily found online) and ask your child to identify which is which based on the direction of curve.