Fading a Driver?

[kleraudio]

Went to the range today to work on hitting a fade with my driver but I came up short...

It feels VERY awkward and your swing plane seems like it changes a lot, Id set up open with my driver aimed down my intended target line but it seems like I couldnt turn my body because the club wouldnt be swung along my feet line...

Any tips guys, I really want to start hitting controlled fades off the tee, I think I'll find more fairways if I can accomplish this.

Jim

[onthehunt526]

two words... weak grip

[deronsizemore]

You could take a weaker grip if you plan on using that grip for all of your shots going forward. Changing your grip back and forth for different shots it too difficult to be consistent in my opinion.

If you want to hit a fade, line your clubface up at your taget and then line your body up left of that target (while your face stays pointed at the target). Your clubface is now open relative to where your body is pointed. All you have to do from this point is swing along your body line and unless you release early, it will have no choice but to fade. If you want to make sure it fades, hold off your release a little longer.

[kleraudio]

You could take a weaker grip if you plan on using that grip for all of your shots going forward. Changing your grip back and forth for different shots it too difficult to be consistent in my opinion.

I was trying that but keeping the club face down the line and my body aiming left , forces me to not be able to turn the driver to far around my body like I usually do.......

Also, doin this makes it feel like its playing waaay up front in my stance.... I thought it was simple, but its not, I can fade an iron rather easily, but the driver is not so easy....

[deronsizemore]

I was trying that but keeping the club face down the line and my body aiming left , forces me to not be able to turn the driver to far around my body like I usually do.......

Actually a driver should be easier than an iron. It has less loft therefore more difficult to hit straight.

You'll want to play it pretty far up in your stance. Drivers should be off your left heel (for right handers) anyway and when you open your stance it will seem even further up (although what you feel and what actually is happening is usually different). I don't follow what you're saying about not being able to turn the driver around your body? Are you talking about the backswing? It shouldn't be any different than your normal stance. Opening your body up a little shouldn't hinder your natural swing... not that much anyway.

[kleraudio]

Thanks for the help by the way!

When I opened up my stance and took my "normal" swing, the ball came shooting out right down my body line and never came back to my intended target....

That is NOT a shot I want on a golf course

So I tried not releasing the club after impact, it helped very very little as it just took off where my body line was aiming and never came back.....

Not sure what to do here, maybe if I cup my wrists at the top and open the face up more... but thats not controllable and repeatable though.... which is what Im looking for.

Thanks again, any more insight is greatly appreciated man!!

Jim

[deronsizemore]

Thanks for the help by the way!

You're welcome. If your aimed left and your clubface is open to that line and you're still hitting it straight left of your target (down your body line) the only thing I can think of is your grip is too strong. If your grip is too strong it's going to be difficult to hold off the release of the club and you'll just hit it straight (left). If you weaken your grip it makes it almost impossible to release the club so it HAS to fade. I wouldn't recommend changing your grip though for different shots. A neutral grip is usually best (in between a weak and strong grip) so that you can hold the release for fades and release more for draws. Just leaves your more options, but different things work for different people.

[10footer4bird]

should a 19 handicap be trying to shape shots? Just try to hit the ball straight man!

[rockrobinoff]

should a 19 handicap be trying to shape shots? Just try to hit the ball straight man!

Really? We all have

some shape to the flight of our shots, and if someone can exaggerate that shape with nothing more than a small setup change, shouldn't they do so - for the sheer predictability? A pro rarely hits a straight shot.

[kleraudio]

should a 19 handicap be trying to shape shots? Just try to hit the ball straight man!

Actually the courses I play hitting it straight is highly detrimental to your score. How many times does a straight shot actually go straight???

If I set up for a fade, and I miss, ill still be in play, if I set up straight and snap hook it well im shooting a 93... (like I did last week) A buddy of mine hit a fade off every tee shot (on purpose) and he hit 12/14 fairways, the 2 he mised he missed by like 3 feet..... So yea, I'd like to be hitting fades, its more controllable than a straight shot I think... Jim

[kleraudio]

You're welcome.

Thanks for the grip tip man! I think your onto something as my right hand has a strong grip....

I cant wait to try that now! Jim

[deronsizemore]

So yea, I'd like to be hitting fades, its more controllable than a straight shot I think...

A fade in theory should definitely be more controllable. It's a higher shot which should stop sooner after it lands and not keep rolling which could have you hitting from the rough a lot. As long as the fade doesn't turn into a big slice where you're losing distance and ending up in the right rough all the time, it's a great shot to have in your bag. It's been said that the most difficult shot in golf is a straight shot. All shots will have some movement on them and if you can eliminate one side of the course and know that your ball will fade every single time, you can play more consistent golf.

Thanks for the grip tip man! I think your onto something as my right hand has a strong grip....

No problem. Hope it works for you.

[Zeph]

If you have trouble letting your mind swing along your body and ignore the clubhead angle, do some work on it at the range. First, aim your shots straight onto the fairway, hit a couple of balls. Then turn the clubhead slightly open, hit some more, keep turning until you've got a nice fade on the ball. Now your balls will be landing on the right side of the range. Turn the body to the left side of the range and do the same, first hit it straight and turn the clubhead gradually towards the middle of the range. Always keep swinging on the line of your body. Once you are in a position where you can hit it comfortably, just keep hitting ball after ball to get used to it.

[Jay-Bird]

Grip changes might work, but will likely feel awkward. The best way to hit the controlled fade (for me lately) is to swing like Paul Goydos. Extend both arms though impact, head steady as a rock, quiet feet (the back foot stays relatively still until well into the follow through).

[nlowplacez]

Really? We all have

I don't think so. Play either a draw or a fade until you get to single digits. Not both. Hitting mostly draws and then starting to fade it will get the timing of your hands messed up to where you can't go back to a draw, and vice versa. Now, if you want to switch to a fade permanently (good idea IMO) then go for it. But I wouldn't reccomend going back and forth until you have pro consistency in one shot shape. My 1 cent.

[nlowplacez]

oh, and if you fire your hips through faster than normal, its almost impossible to hit a draw. i fade by firing the hips with a very slightly open clubface, and draw by holding off the hip turn a bit, with a square face. obviously aiming left for a fade and right for a draw. but i only ever draw once every few rounds or so anymore. I just HATE the way they look and land. ugly