how do you hit a fade?

[bjh1]

My natural shot is a draw with every club, and I'm a firm believer in just trying to make the same swing, same shot over and over, regardless of pin positions, etc.  However, there are certain holes and situations (doglegs, overhanging trees, etc.) where you have to hit a fade.

 

I've tried various different methods and maybe it's just a matter of working on it more, but I've struggled to find one that works consistently, while minimizing double-crosses and huge banana slices.

 

Things I've tried:

- Align feet to the left, clubface slightly open to that path

- Weaken grip, especially right hand

- feeling of holding the face open a little bit on the downswing

- envisioning a fade and just letting it happen with no technical thoughts

 

All of these work for me sometimes, but none of them consistently.

 

What is your go-to method for hitting a reliable fade?

 

 

[pokey79]

My feel is where the hands are at the top of the backswing. High hands = fade, low hands = draw. I've found the fade is much more controllable. 

[MelloYello]

Just make the club path go left. 

 

If you can't instinctually do that you probably shouldn't be worrying about it, TBH. My "feel" is simply tracing my hands more left through the shot. Other things happen, but they're athletic things that you ought to know instinctively, like how you might need to open your stance slightly or establish a certain amount of shoulder tilt to facilitate a high, soft shot versus a low, block. 

 

In my experience, the setup, pivot and weight shift all establish the low point. The shape of the swing itself is mostly about establishing the club path. And TBH, natural ability with the hands controls the face. 

 

So again, it's simply about making the club path go a little left. Whatever makes that happen is how you hit a fade. 

Edited March 30, 2023 by MelloYello

[bjh1]

20 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

it's simply about making the club path go a little left. Whatever makes that happen is how you hit a fade

I can do that, the problem I have is that I frequently double-cross it when I swing left, unless I also do something proactively to keep the face open.  I guess you're saying that should happen instinctually?  Maybe I'm getting too technical and should just see it and hit it.

Edited March 30, 2023 by bjh1

[getitdaily]

Setup open

Swing on foot line or shoulder line, whichever works better.

 

Hold the back of the lead hand facing the target a bit longer through impact.

[riddyl]

With an iron (RHanded): Ball up, aim feet left, aim face left of target but right of feet, swing along feet-line. This has the effect of presenting an leftward path with a face open to the path, but starting the ball left of target. 

 

With Driver: I hit one shape, a draw. I don't mess with it. 

[moehogan]

Increase grip pressure in the trail hand RING finger.

[mat562]

Aim the clubface on the intended start line, line up and swing left, and have the feeling of keeping the hands low and moving left though impact while presenting and maintaining the full loft of the clubface to the ball as it's struck, with the toe not feeling like it's passing the heel. 

[MelloYello]

28 minutes ago, bjh1 said:

I can do that, the problem I have is that I frequently double-cross it when I swing left, unless I also do something proactively to keep the face open.  I guess you're saying that should happen instinctually?  Maybe I'm getting too technical and should just see it and hit it.

 

A common tip to help keep the face from turning over is to focus on keeping the pressure applied with the 3 smallest fingers of your lead/left hand. Even if done carefully, focusing on those fingers gripping firmly has a way of slowing down the release of the club. It's a common swing thought/feel among good players. 

 

A bigger check would be to make sure your take-away is good. You don't want the club coming really inside. Sometimes players do a sort of over-the-top move after that. They suck the club inside only to lean into the shot and end up way out in front dragging the club behind them. Easy to block it. Easy to pull it, too. That might be what you're doing if it's a more monstrous miss. 

[YouDaHamHider]

If I absolutely need to guarantee a fade shape I think about keeping my lead hand, wrist and forearm as tense as possible through impact. 

[texcellence86]

Easiest thing for me....Push the hands on the take away, high hands on the follow through, works like a charm.

[otto6457]

I don't let the toe catch the heel.

[Cliffy2020]

Great stuff here!
 

It sounds like you have the right concepts and easy to follow tips in this thread, but if you’re susceptible to the pull &/or dreaded double-cross you just haven’t practiced it enough to trust it.

 

Sometimes your head feels your body set up for a cut (you don’t normally hit) but your subconscious creeps in warning you about the slice and mid-downswing the subconscious wins and shuts the face down at impact.  You have to get over that at the range.

 

Why the “9-box” drill is one of my range favorites!

[AdamMH]

Typically, I think about hitting anything but a fade, and then the ball fades. Easy!

[bjh1]

2 hours ago, MelloYello said:

A bigger check would be to make sure your take-away is good. You don't want the club coming really inside. Sometimes players do a sort of over-the-top move after that. They suck the club inside only to lean into the shot and end up way out in front dragging the club behind them. Easy to block it. Easy to pull it, too. That might be what you're doing if it's a more monstrous miss. 

Yes, I think this is my issue.  I do have an inside takeaway, need to be more down the line or outside to swing to the left effectively.

 

[ferrispgm]

Ball forward of normal and just swing as usual. If the ball ain't cutting or worse, goes left, then you probably have a swing flaw that needs ironing out. 

[Pepperturbo]

I work the ball both ways but mostly hit the ball straight.  I am not sure my method of hitting a fade or draw would past muster by current ball flight laws fans, plus I don't play GI club heads.  All a straight ball hitter needs is minor face angle adjustments and body movements to hit the ball in either direction.

 

If you hit a natural draw, hitting a fade is going to take a lot of practice to do it on demand during play.  Unless you're willing to put in the practice, I wouldn't bother.  Use what you already know works.

[Rob_X]

1 hour ago, ferrispgm said:

Ball forward of normal and just swing as usual. If the ball ain't cutting or worse, goes left, then you probably have a swing flaw that needs ironing out. 

 

With the driver, I was going to say something similar.  

 

If you put the ball quite a bit forward of where you normally place it... for example, put it in front of your front toe.   This has the effect of making that path out-to-in at contact, even if you normally have a relatively neutral path in the normal ball position.  You do have to make sure you keep the face open to the path a bit, otherwise you can get a pull.

 

Maybe not the textbook way to do it, but it tends to work for me if I want to eliminate the left side.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Rob_X

[aswile]

Play for a draw with water on the right...

 

[MonteScheinblum]

5 hours ago, bjh1 said:

My natural shot is a draw with every club, and I'm a firm believer in just trying to make the same swing, same shot over and over, regardless of pin positions, etc.  However, there are certain holes and situations (doglegs, overhanging trees, etc.) where you have to hit a fade.

 

I've tried various different methods and maybe it's just a matter of working on it more, but I've struggled to find one that works consistently, while minimizing double-crosses and huge banana slices.

 

Things I've tried:

- Align feet to the left, clubface slightly open to that path

- Weaken grip, especially right hand

- feeling of holding the face open a little bit on the downswing

- envisioning a fade and just letting it happen with no technical thoughts

 

All of these work for me sometimes, but none of them consistently.

 

What is your go-to method for hitting a reliable fade?

 

 

Changing grip and holding face open is a recipe for foul balls.

 Ball forward in stance and or get a bit closer and make the same swing.

[LongNwrong27]

Try to hit my left ankle with the club head and pray 

[bjh1]

7 minutes ago, MonteScheinblum said:

5 hours ago, bjh1 said:

 

Changing grip and holding face open is a recipe for foul balls.

 Ball forward in stance and or get a bit closer and make the same swing.

Thanks for the tip, going to try this

[ShortGolfer]

I am cross dominant so I switch my hand dominance from righty to lefty.  

Swinging lefty means I hit a draw and my miss it is a weak hook.  Carry is the same with a roll out.

Swinging righty is a fade and my miss is a slice.

 

I was surprised how easy it was for me to switch and use it on the course.

Edited March 30, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[bjh1]

1 hour ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Changing grip and holding face open is a recipe for foul balls.

 Ball forward in stance and or get a bit closer and make the same swing.

I must be missing something with the ball forward thing.  I’m trying it right now with an 8 iron, have got the ball forward of my left heel and I’m still hitting draws. A tiny bit smaller, but still a draw. 

[MonteScheinblum]

4 minutes ago, bjh1 said:

I must be missing something with the ball forward thing.  I’m trying it right now with an 8 iron, have got the ball forward of my left heel and I’m still hitting draws. A tiny bit smaller, but still a draw. 

That’s a bit too forward but there’s an issue in there that’s making it hard to hit a fade.  For example, rear shoulder dropping early, late shift to front side, too far from the ball, etc.

[ferrispgm]

20 hours ago, Rob_X said:

 

With the driver, I was going to say something similar.  

 

If you put the ball quite a bit forward of where you normally place it... for example, put it in front of your front toe.   This has the effect of making that path out-to-in at contact, even if you normally have a relatively neutral path in the normal ball position.  You do have to make sure you keep the face open to the path a bit, otherwise you can get a pull.

 

Maybe not the textbook way to do it, but it tends to work for me if I want to eliminate the left side.

You actually don't need to hold the face open...if you play the ball forward, the ball should start a little left because the face will be closed at that point and then it will cut because the path should be left by the time the club reaches the ball.  An oversimplified way to look at it is by laying a hula hoop on the ground.  The path obviously isn't that rounded but it gets the point across. 

[RoyalTroon]

Aim left, set up left, swing left, and if the ball doesn't go left you win, with just a tiny little twitch of the lead hip during transition.  Thanks to Tommy Bolt.

[Barfolomew]

With all clubs but driver..... feeling of swinging under the ball.  Never a feeling of swinging out to in cause when I do that its such a weak feeling cause I like arms and everything tucked in close to body using the large muscles

 

Driver..... more of a typical coming across it

 

Reason for difference is cause driver swinging up a little and so a little different feeling needed for me even tho many 🐑 say use same swing lol

Also reason different feel.... is driver Im trying to pound far where the other clubs Im not

 

 

Edited March 31, 2023 by Barfolomew

[4thand11]

On 3/30/2023 at 10:12 AM, getitdaily said:

Setup open

Swing on foot line or shoulder line, whichever works better.

 

Hold the back of the lead hand facing the target a bit longer through impact.

 

Yes this is the key feel for me.  Feels like I am swinging straight down the line moreso than right-to-left.  If I actively try to swing left that is when I get the slices and double crosses.  

[Jeselnik]

If i swing, i draw.  If i hit i fade.  Both very reliable.