How to Curve Golf Shots

Hitting a straight shot feels great, but learning to intentionally curve the golf ball gives you an entirely new command over your game. Being able to shape your shots means you can navigate doglegs, get around trouble, and attack pins tucked in corners. This guide will walk you through the simple fundamentals of how ball flight works and provide step-by-step instructions for hitting both a reliable draw and a controllable fade.

First, Understand What Makes the Ball Curve

Before you try to shape a shot, you need to understand the two factors that create the curve: swing path and clubface angle. Once you grasp this relationship, you'll be able to shape shots on command.

• Clubface Angle at Impact: This is the most important factor for the ball's starting direction. For the most part, the ball will launch in the direction your clubface is pointing when it hits the ball. If the face is open (pointing right for a righty), the ball will start right. If it's closed (pointing left), it will start left.
• Swing Path: This is the direction your clubhead is moving through the impact zone. Think of it as the journey the club takes. It can move from inside-to-out (away from your body), from outside-to-in (across your body), or straight down the line. The swing path is the dominant force that makes the ball curve in the air.

The magic happens when the clubface angle and the swing path are different. The ball will start roughly where the clubface is aimed and then curve away from the swing path. Let’s break down how to use this knowledge to hit the two primary shot shapes.

How to Hit a Controlled Draw (Right-to-Left Curve)

A draw is a shot that starts slightly to the right of your target and gently curves back toward it. It’s a powerful, penetrating ball flight that many players seek for its distance and a great tool for 'right-to-left' shaped holes.

The Setup: Aiming for a Draw

Getting the draw starts before you even begin your swing. It’s all in the setup. These adjustments seem small, but they set the stage for the correct swing path.

1. Aim Your Body Right: For a right-handed golfer, the first step is to aim your body - feet, hips, and shoulders - to the right of your final target. Picture a railroad track. Your target is down the left rail. Your body should be aligned along the right rail. Don't overdo it, a few yards to the right of your target line is plenty to start.
2. Aim Your Clubface at the Target: This is a point of confusion for many. After you’ve aligned your body to the right, you need to aim your clubface back toward your final target. So, your body is aimed right, but the clubface is aimed where you want the ball to end up. This setup creates the necessary difference: a clubface that is "closed" relative to your swing path, but "square" or slightly left of where your body is aiming.
3. Ball Position: Keep the ball in its normal position for whatever club you're using. Moving it too far back can cause other issues. You want the setup to feel natural, just slightly angled to the right.

The Swing: The In-to-Out Path

Your setup has already done most of the work. Now you just need to trust it and swing along the line created by your feet and shoulders.

The feeling you want is to swing "out to the right" (for a righty), toward first base if you're picturing a baseball diamond. Because your body is already aligned that way, you don't need to manipulate the club with your hands. Just make your normal swing and let the clubhead follow the path of your shoulder line toward the right of the target.

When you combine this in-to-out swing path with the clubface that’s aimed at the target, the ball will start just right of the target (where the face is aimed relative to the path) and then gently draw back left (curving away from your swing path).

Easy Drill for Hitting a Draw

Use two alignment sticks (or two headcovers) to create a "gate" on the ground.

• Place one stick on your an inch or two outside the ball, pointing slightly right of your target. This represents your swing path. It encourages you to swing from the inside.
• Place the other stick just ahead of the ball and an inch or two inside your target line, again pointing slightly right.
• Your goal is to swing the club through the gate without hitting either stick. This visually and physically forces you to swing from in-to-out, which is the engine of a draw.

How to Hit a Controllable Fade (Left-to-Right Curve)

A fade is often called a "power fade" at the professional level. It’s a shot that starts just left of the target and gently curves back toward it. A fade is prized for its control and high, soft landing, making it fantastic for approaching greens and avoiding trouble on the left side of the hole.

The Setup: Aiming for a Fade

Just like the draw, the fade is produced primarily in your setup. We're just going to reverse the principles.

1. Aim Your Body Left: For a right-handed golfer, align your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly to the left of your final target. Again, using the railroad track analogy, your target is on the right rail, and your body is aligned down the left rail.
2. Aim Your Clubface at the Target: Once your body is aimed left, bring your clubface back so it is pointing at your final target. This alignment creates a clubface that is "open" relative to your swing path, which is exactly what you need to impart that left-to-right spin.
3. Slightly Weaker Grip (Optional): Some players find it easier to fade the ball by slightly weakening their grip. This means turning your left hand (for a righty) a little more to the left on the club, so you see fewer knuckles. This move naturally discourages the clubface from closing too quickly through impact.

The Swing: The Out-to-In Path

With your setup dialed in, all that's left is to swing the club along the path your body has set up. You want to feel like you are swinging "across the ball from right to left" or toward "third base."

Your goal is to let the club follow your shoulder and body line. Don’t try to cut across the ball violently with just your arms. Let your body rotation guide the club on a gentle out-to-in path. The ball will start left (following the clubface direction at impact relative to the path) and then drift back to the right toward your target.

Easy Drill for Hitting a Fade

You can use the same "gate drill," but just reverse the alignment.

• Place an alignment stick just outside the ball, pointing slightly left of your target.
• Place the second stick ahead of the ball and just inside the target line, again pointing slightly left.
• Your objective is to swing the club through this gate, which promotes an out-to-in path. You’ll quickly get the feel for swinging "down the line" of your feet and shoulders, which is the key to producing a reliable fade.

Start Small and Be Patient

When you first try shaping shots, don’t try to hit huge, swooping hooks or slices. Start small. Aim to curve the ball just five or ten yards. The key is control, not the amount of curve. A small, predictable shot shape is far more valuable than a wild, unpredictable one.

Remember that the bigger the difference between your clubface angle and your swing path, the more the ball will curve. A little bit goes a long way. Stick with your setup, trust your swing, and soon you'll be shaping shots like a pro.

Final Thoughts

Learning to curve the golf ball comes down to controlling the relationship between where your clubface is pointing and the path it travels on through impact. By making simple adjustments to your alignment at setup, you can create a reliable draw or fade without needing to overhaul your entire swing.

As you get comfortable with shaping shots, knowing when and where to use them on the course becomes the next step. If you find yourself standing over the ball on a dogleg, unsure of the right play, or looking at a tricky pin placement, I can give you shot-by-shot strategic advice. You can snap a photo of a tough lie or describe the hole, and Caddie AI will help you decide if a draw, fade, or straight shot is the smartest way to play it, giving you the confidence to commit to the shot.