Question about Fades/Cuts

[Chilidipper]

Thanks for participating in advance.

I have a weak grip been playing that way for a few years. Don't have to motivation to change this golf season, anyway this is what I want to know

When I play a strong grip I get a lot more yards on each shot, maybe 15 yards+ but the accuracy isn't there so I decided to stay with my fade. Anyway my real question is this. How do the players on tour who cut the ball compete? Obviously from my small sample, "ME", I just don't see how these players could afford to lose yards like that and still compete with the guys who can do both. The fade/cut shot seem like you lose atleast 10% of the total distance of the shot if you were to put that much energy into a shot that went straight or even drew.

Thoughts?

One last thing, JB Holmes who is one of the longest in the business plays a big fat nasty cut. If he redirected all that energy into a straight shot or fade could he even be longer?

Thanks

[Kcas77]

There is a chance JB could hit it farther but I doubt it because he would have to change his swing. If he gained 15 yards there is a chance he would hit the ball too far. The shorter players on tour who hit a cut are still hitting it 290+.

[Jay-Bird]

JB Holmes played a draw until he was a senior in highschool. He changed his swing and started hitting a cut. It's easier to control. Too often a long draw will roll out too much and get through the fairway.

[RobotDoctor]

Even the short players are long compared to us. They can hit a ball upwards to 300 yards when needed. Many of the short players are better mid iron players because they have to be. It is called practice. Besides, the fairways of the PGA tour are generally hard so there will be roll, even with a fade.

I personally favor a slight draw for my shot pattern as I have found hitting a fade is not that hard to do, at least when teeing the ball up.

[dragonflyin]

That's because the professional fade is usually different than the amateur fade. Pros you see hitting it 300+ are still delivering the club on plane, but they leave the face a little open to push it. They still have all the power delivered, but it just fades to their intended target. Amateur typically come over the top creating an unintended fade or slice. This usually has the added consequence of power loss. If you think about it, a great majority of the long hitters are faders of the ball. VJ, Freddie, Davis, AK, and KJ.

Also, this is just the "preferred" shape of the pros. Any one of them can hit any type of a shaped shot. At their level, consistency/comfort may take precedence over a slight distance gain.

[RobotDoctor]

That's because the professional fade is usually different than the amateur fade. Pros you see hitting it 300+ are still delivering the club on plane, but they leave the face a little open to push it. They still have all the power delivered, but it just fades to their intended target. Amateur typically come over the top creating an unintended fade or slice. This usually has the added consequence of power loss. If you think about it, a great majority of the long hitters are faders of the ball. VJ, Freddie, Davis, AK, and KJ.

Don't forget Nicklaus during his career. In the 60s, he was just about the longest player on tour. He won the long drive contest during the '63 PGA at the Dallas Athletic Club with a blast of 341 yards (

http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2...tory_1963.html ). This was the day of persimmon and balata, not what we have today. Nicklaus, a fader of the ball, was very long.

[birdiemachine]

changing your grip doesnt change your swing. In my opinion, draws run out more and have less backspin. As stated previously, due to this they are harder to control. By changing your grip, you change the spin you impart on the ball. With 460 cc drivers, my advice would be to stay with your fade. 15+ yards might be great if its in teh fairway, but also could mean your OB if its not straight. Ideally, you would fade/draw when you wanted, but someone like freddie holds off his left wrist to not lose it right. Kenny Perry would be example of someone who constantly draws it. Tiger does whatever the hell he feels. Just make sure not to fade/draw your putts.

[imtomtomim]

you're probably not hitting the same way the pro's do. The correct swingplane is still inside to out and they still use that. They just play it more like a push fade instead of hitting it outside-in. I've found that it makes my iron play more accurate but I still prefer the look of a draw. It's my go to shot so if I'm not confident I'll just go with that.

[kafka01]

Quote by Lee Trevino: "You can talk to a fade but a hook won't listen."

Keeping it in play is often more important than a couple more yards..

[Kcas77]

I think it easier to control a draw because an over draw is still long and a over fade is way short. And for me my hook isn't as bad as my slice.

[ebough]

Golf is a two dimensional game, requiring both distance and lateral accuracy. Everybody should routinely use the shot shape which they can hit most consistently. For most pros and amateurs, that just happens to be a fade. There is no point in being an extra 15-20 yards out of bounds, in the woods, or in a sand trap. Any pro can give up 10-20 yards in distance if it comes with a commensurate increase in consistent accuracy and still remain in the hunt.