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What does it mean to cut the ball in golf?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 21, 2026

A cut shot, or fade, is when your right-handed swing sends the golf ball to the right, or to the left for left-handed golfers. Working the ball in either direction is essential to reducing your score for a round of golf.

Is a cut the same as a fade?

For people who are new to the game, a fade is a shot that moves from left to right (for right handed golfers). When the ball fades too much, the shot is called a slice. An overdone draw is called a hook. A fade is also sometimes referred to as a “cut”.

Is a cut and a fade the same thing in golf?

If you aren't familiar with the term a golf fade, or sometimes referred to as a cut shot, it is a ball flight that shapes left-to-right for right-handed players and right-to-left for left handers. This is the same shape as a slice, but a fade is much more controlled and doesn't cover as much lateral distance.

What is a draw in golf?

A draw, for a right-handed golfer, is a shot that curves from a player's right to their left. A fade moves from left to right.

Is it better to hit a draw or fade?

“Provided the ball speed, launch angle and spin rate are the same, a draw and fade will carry and roll the same distance. However, from a practical perspective, most club golfers will hit a draw further than a fade, because when they hit a draw they reduce the loft, leading to lower spin rates.

42 related questions found

How do you play cuts?

How to Hit a Cut in Golf

  1. If you're playing right-handed, aim to an area slightly left of your actual target, about 10 to 15 yards. ...
  2. Align your body as if you were going to hit a straight shot to the off-side target. ...
  3. Open your stance by pulling back your lead foot about 8 to 9 inches.

What causes a cut in golf?

In golf, "cut shot" is a term applied to a type of controlled golf shot in which a golfer induces a fade ball flight. For a right-handed golfer, that means the path the golf ball travels in flight curves left-to-right (for left-handed golfers, a cut shot moves from right-to-left).

What does a slice look like in golf?

A slice is a ball that curves away from the players dominant hand. So for a right handed golfer a ball that curves right. The key word here is “curves”. A ball that simply goes straight right is a push, and is caused for different reasons.

Whats the opposite of a cut in golf?

Opposite: The opposite of a slice is a hook, which will see the ball start on the outside of the target line but will end up inside of it after curling aggressively left (for right handed golfers).

How do you blend a haircut?

A blended hairstyle is accomplished by using various clipper guards to create a seamless fade. When you're working with clippers, place the guard against your roots, then gently push the clippers into your hair. Lift the clippers away from your head as you move them forward.

Does Augusta favor a draw or fade?

A lot of the tee shots at Augusta set up best for a draw. Or for lefties like Phil and Bubba, a power fade. The par-4 10th and the par-5 13th are the most critical spots to turn it right to left.

What does cut mean in golf leaderboard?

The cut rule for regular PGA Tour events sees the top 70 advance to the weekend with the score of the 70th-placed player being the score needed to make the cut. Any player that is level with or above the 70th-placed player on the leaderboard makes the cut and plays the final two days of the tournament.

How do golf balls work?

To “work” the ball means to intentionally hit shots that curve in a one direction or the other, to play shots with extra height or keep the ball low when needed, and generally control the spin, trajectory and shape of your shots. It's advanced stuff, but within every golfer's grasp.

What is the cut in golf open?

There is no 10-shot rule. That rule means anyone within 10 shots of the lead after two rounds, regardless of where they stand in the championship, make the cut. It's just a flat top 70 finishers and ties. There is only a single cut at The Open.

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?

Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots.

Does Tiger Woods hit a draw or fade?

We saw at The Masters that under pressure, Tiger tends to favour a fade. Having a go-to shape is important and a fade is a slightly more gentle ball flight so it is a good safety option. Even when he hits a fade, Tiger still has some degree of clubface rotation through impact.

Why do pros play a fade?

Spin loft is exemplified as golfers find themselves much more accurate with their wedges than their driver. More spin equals more stability, and this leads us to why professional players opt for their fade.

What is a slice and hook in golf?

In simple terms, a slice is a fade that never came off right. While a hook is a draw gone wrong. In reality, it is far more complex than that, as multiple factors can induce a slice or a hook. A slice is when the ball curves off to the right and a hook is it when it curves off to the left, generally speaking.

What is hook in golf?

A hook shot in golf is a ball that starts its trajectory on one side of the player and then curves around to the other side during flight. For right-handed players, a hook golf shot starts out to the right and swings to the left. For left-handed players, the ball will go from left to right.

What is a shank in golf?

A shank is when the ball hits the hosel of the club, nearly missing the club face entirely. Once it hits the hosel and not the clubface, the ball will shoot right and go a fraction of the distance it's supposed too. The shank is one of the worst shots you can hit.

Is it better to hit a draw or straight?

If you hit straight, you'll be safely in the center of the green, but a faded shot will land closer to the hole. If you regularly tend to spin the ball too much to the right (a slice), you may want to aim even more to the left. While drawing OR fading shots naturally is fine, you want to avoid doing both randomly.

Why do draw shots go further?

Higher spin loft means more spin and a less efficient transfer of speed-producing energy to the ball. Higher loft and less ball speed produces less distance. And more spin means the ball will stop more quickly after it lands. The result: a draw will generally travel further than a fade.

Why is a draw good in golf?

The draw shot is very desirable and favoured because it is very consistent. It is a shot that the player knows will curve so it is easier to control.