Driver fade help (with video)

[Brente]

I've only been golfing for three months now but everyone tells me I have a natural golf swing. So far the biggest issue I've encountered is that my drives always fade right. They start straight and as soon as they get to the top of the arch it starts fading right. Sometimes extremely right. I'm not sure if by trying to put more power into my swing I'm also putting my hands ahead of my club face. I've tried so many different solutions It's making my head spin. If ANYONE can see something in my swing that would cause this please please let me know! Thank you very much. I can also post more videos if need be.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

You say they start straight and then fade, which likely means that the face is open at impact. The straight start would indicate a straight swing path and the open face would cause the fade flight. There are threads all over here describing/debating that, but thats what I believe.

That said, I have the same problem. Its hard to tell from the video because you can only slow it down so much, but it doesn't look like your wrists are rolling over at the right time. The hands are releasing too late, and thus the face isn't completely back to square until just after impact. Its something to try.

I also try to really drive the ball straight down the line after impact to avoid the tendency to cut across the ball from the outside on the downswing. Lay a club beyond the ball down on the ground on the line you want the ball to go and try to encourage yourself to follow that line a little past impact.

Other than that just keep swinging man. something will click at some point, and then it's only a matter of time until the next thing goes wrong.

[DaCus3]

Its hard to really tell but it looks like u open your clubface up during the takeaway, cuz i can see its a little open at the top, most likely why you fade it

[uttexas]

Really nice athletic swing for a 3 month player.
You tee the ball up really high (above the clubface at address). You also tee the ball pretty far forward (off your left toe). A forward, high teed ball will promote a fade.

I'd start by teeing it a bit lower (so the ball is only half above the club face)
See how you do.

Then see how you do teeing it a bit further back in your stance with the lower tee height.

If you are still fading all the time, try dropping your right foot back to close your stance a bit.

You have a nice swing, with a few mechanical issues (beyond the scope here).
Save some cash, and get lessons early on.

[mc0388]

I've only been golfing for three months now but everyone tells me I have a natural golf swing. So far the biggest issue I've encountered is that my drives always fade right. They start straight and as soon as they get to the top of the arch it starts fading right. Sometimes extremely right. I'm not sure if by trying to put more power into my swing I'm also putting my hands ahead of my club face. I've tried so many different solutions It's making my head spin. If ANYONE can see something in my swing that would cause this please please let me know! Thank you very much. I can also post more videos if need be.

Work on your balance. Try taking a swing and after your follow thru, take 3 steps forward. You will immediately feel how much weight is on your back foot (should be on your front foot). After doing this for a while your finish wont be so wobbly and may help cure your fade/ slice (if its with-in 5 yds, not a bad thing (Arny Palmer played a fade)

[tsajjad]

looks to me like ur face is abit open at impact. try this.. shift r hands a bit to the right of the grip.. it cured my fade and i used to fade xactly like u..straight and then right.

[shankapotamus]

Also, your swing is all arms. Start the downswing my shifting your weight to your front foot.

[Martyweir]

Take my advice with a grain of salt- if I could get off the tee straight I'd be a scratch golfer!!! LOL! But I have been analyzing alot of my own video lately, and this is what I see that I also do wrong:

Not sure I agree that it's all arms -looks like you have has pretty good timing to me. I agree that more hip turn should probably initiate the downswing.

Balance will definitely help. You fall backward on your first swing which means your hanging back (like throwing a ball off your back foot).

Can't tell for sure but it almost looks like a slight move at the top (raising your club) that causes a slight outside -in path (my problem too - when I figure out how to fix it I'll let you know). If you pause it right after impact (down the line) it looks like your cutting across the ball pretty hard. I've heard the Sergio Garcia backswing (steeper backswing with a drop at the top) can help counter this, but I wouldn't start with that.

Keep on swinging, you'll have alot of us beat soon!!!

[brgolf]

Looks like at the start of the downswing that your hands move outside the proper plane, away from your body and that you cut across the ball through impact.

Hard to pause that video in the right spots.

[Brente]

Thanks for all the help so far everyone. I stopped at the driving range today after work with no luck yet. I'm going to write down all these suggestions and really go after it tomorrow. Thanks again.

[mc0388]

Thanks for all the help so far everyone. I stopped at the driving range today after work with no luck yet. I'm going to write down all these suggestions and really go after it tomorrow. Thanks again.

Work on one thing at time. To many and you'll lose focus and get frustrated

[Nickynoodles]

Your Video looks like my video. I might be able to help you out here. I dont know if you played Baseball or softball but i did. I played Baseball 12 years. Was very good at it and it was very hard for me to not fade the ball right when i first started golfing. Whether you played ball or not your not rolling your wrist over at impact which is not squaring your club face up at impact. Start your backswing slow from your feet up through your hips to your arms. When you downswing as your hands come down towards the ball start rolling your wrist right before impact. This will square your face up at impact causing the ball to fly perfectly straight. Hope this help buddy and may all your balls fly straight

[shankapotamus]

Your Video looks like my video. I might be able to help you out here. I dont know if you played Baseball or softball but i did. I played Baseball 12 years. Was very good at it and it was very hard for me to not fade the ball right when i first started golfing. Whether you played ball or not your not rolling your wrist over at impact which is not squaring your club face up at impact.

No. Start it the opposite way. Start the downswing like that. I would suggest reading Ben Hogan's book.

[xTsUnAmI]

I've always had a natural fade, and for me it comes from un winding my upper body before my lower body. If I get my keys right I can carry it 260, either dead straight or slight fade or draw. If you want to hit a little draw just point your club face to your target and align your feet to where you'd like to start the ball out. Experiment at the range.

My key now, is to release my hips and have my hands follow my lower body and making sure I release my wrists making the V at impact and like was previously said before finish on your front foot. I also have a cool looking reverse C thing going on.


Just what works for me, what goes through my head so I can hit a good drive.

[KwSipp]

I can tell you that your coming over the top. I paused the video at the right time and when you reached the top and started the transition down, you did this with your upper body first, hence over the top. This will always promote a fade/pull hook.

[Brente]

Well I just played 9 holes and WOW. I've made a huge improvement in my drives (hit all 9 fairways). Today I mainly tried to focus on rolling my wrists over during my downswing to square the face up. I can't tell you how much of a difference it made. I also had to put the ball more in the middle of my stance and I'm teeing it a bit lower. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions (especially you Nickynoodles). I'm so glad there is a forum where people can get golf tips and everyone is so friendly and willing to help a complete stranger. I love this forum. Thanks again everyone!!!

[Nickynoodles]

Well I just played 9 holes and WOW. I've made a huge improvement in my drives (hit all 9 fairways). Today I mainly tried to focus on rolling my wrists over during my downswing to square the face up. I can't tell you how much of a difference it made. I also had to put the ball more in the middle of my stance and I'm teeing it a bit lower. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions (especially you Nickynoodles). I'm so glad there is a forum where people can get golf tips and everyone is so friendly and willing to help a complete stranger. I love this forum. Thanks again everyone!!!

No problem. When you have been through it all you know how it feels. Thats what makes people like golfers help others. I wouldnt wish case of the slices on my worst enemy. Ahhh maybe i would.

Good luck with your golf game.

[Drifterland]

I've only been golfing for three months now but everyone tells me I have a natural golf swing. So far the biggest issue I've encountered is that my drives always fade right. They start straight and as soon as they get to the top of the arch it starts fading right. Sometimes extremely right. I'm not sure if by trying to put more power into my swing I'm also putting my hands ahead of my club face. I've tried so many different solutions It's making my head spin. If ANYONE can see something in my swing that would cause this please please let me know! Thank you very much. I can also post more videos if need be.

Hey man, great swing for three months. Anyway, the guy above me is right but the way to fix it is to take the club to the top, pause, and then drop your hands like sergio garcia. You know that move I'm talking about? Well you don't need to do it as drastically as he does but that is an exaggeration for this little drill. Once you feel comfortable hitting more from the inside you will be able to hit a power fade or draw.

The difference between a fade and a power fade is that a fade you actually cut across the ball to make it turn left to right, like you are doing. A power fade on the other hand is a draw swing with an open face at impact (You set up with the face at your target and just swing with the sergio move). A pro will rarely hit a normal fade like most people do. They hit a power fade to keep the distance up. Also check out my golf blog at theincrediblegolfbum.blogspot.com