Draws on Command

Vary your trajectory for better accuracy

My natural shot is a draw, and most good players know how to curve it right to left when they need to. But sometimes, bending the ball isn’t enough. There are times when the height of the shot is just as important as the draw itself. This is certainly true at a course such as Augusta National. Whether you need to take it up and around the trees on the famous par-5 13th, or you need to chase it up to a green from under some branches off a fairway, the trajectory is crucial to success.

I’m going to make the “how to” adjustments simple: When you grip the club, do so in a stronger position than normal. That means turning both hands to the right a bit, but make sure the face is still square with your target. Now adjust your setup.

For a low draw ( right), play the ball back an inch or two from your normal ball position, which will naturally set your left shoulder lower than it would be for a standard shot. For a high draw, play the ball forward in your stance an inch or two, which will set your left shoulder slightly higher.

These alterations in your grip, ball and shoulder positions will result in your shot drawing left at the desired height. Remember, if you can change trajectory on command, you’re playing at a higher level than most.

Set it, then grip it

Make sure the club is square to the target after you strengthen your grip.

ELEMENTARY WATSON

Sometimes you don’t need a draw; you need a hook. To really get the shot curving to the left, focus on making sure the clubface is significantly closed in relation to its path as you strike the ball. This is a feel shot as much as any, so be sure to practice it a lot to get a sense of how much the ball will curve.

ecognising a common theme among most of the top players in golf today doesn’t take a Ph.D. Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are all hyperathletic and launch the ball off the tee without any fear. Based on that, Brooks Koepka’s U.S. Open win at Erin Hills is no surprise.

The huge-hitting Floridian won his first PGA Tour title in 2015 and made his first Ryder Cup team last year. Now he’s poised for more hardware. “The way the modern game is played and given his attitude—nothing fazes him—Brooks has what it takes to win a major,” Claude Harmon III, who has worked with Koepka since 2012, said before Erin Hills. “He’s become a really good driver of the ball, and he’s added more shots. His putting has improved a lot, too. It’s a complete game.”

Koepka has geared his swing to produce a “pull cut,” his coach says. It’s a shot that starts left but gently curves back toward the target. And with clubhead speed reaching 128 miles per hour, Koepka routinely carries it 300-plus yards. “He hits a very heavy ball, like a boxer who throws hard punches,” Harmon says. “It’s a great swing to copy.” Though your mileage may vary. —

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