ball position for fades?

[muggs]

I used to be able to play a fade a lot better than I can now (I was never that consistant) but lately the ball has stayed straight on me...perfectly straight actually, so it goes way left of where I'm hoping to fade it to. Not sure what I'm doing different.

I set up open, usually go up at least one club, turn my right hand more underneath my club, and I play the ball back in my stance. I'll even try to come across the ball with my swing path a little, but I don't like donig that.

Should I weaken my left hand as well? Is it right to play it back in my stance or should I play it forward more?

[senorchipotle]

turning your right hand more underneath the club is actually strengthening the grip. for a fade you actually want to play it farther forward in your stance.

[Wiley]

I usually play the ball two-three ball widths forward from center for a fade.

[mdl]

There was a thread recently on the power fade with the driver. The idea was that what you're talking about is basically a cut, which is obviously a good shot to have in the bag (one I'm very so-so with). With the driver, for the power fade you set up open and open the club face to in between your now open target line and where you want to finish the ball. The key is you basically then still swing like you're hitting a draw, from the inside, but with the open stance and slightly open face this means you end up hitting a shot that still fades but is much more powerful than a cut like you're describing (though note, as senorechipotle said, weaking your grip means spinning your hands left, not right, for a righty).

I've been working on this the past couple weeks with great success, and it's actually helped me with my 2h and even 4i and 5i. I'm not losing distance but am getting a little fade that's pretty controllable (relative to my level of play of course).

If your stock swing is a draw I'd recommend this for your longer irons and hybrids/woods. Basically you just open you stance, weaken your grip slightly less degrees than you open your stance, and then take your stock inside-outside swing. For the shorter irons, I think the cut you're trying to play is right, but as senorchipotle said you actually want the ball slightly forward in your stance and a weak grip means spinning both hands on the grip a bit to your left, not right.

[Deryck Griffith]

I used to be able to play a fade a lot better than I can now (I was never that consistant) but lately the ball has stayed straight on me...perfectly straight actually, so it goes way left of where I'm hoping to fade it to. Not sure what I'm doing different.

Are you a lefty? If you are turing your right hand more underneath the club, then yes, you are weakening your grip. If you are a righty, then you are overly strenghtning your grip which will assist in returning the clubface to being square or slightly closed at impact and coupled with the swing path you are trying to acheive is the reason why you are hitting pulls.

If you are a righty, setup with the creases in your forefinger and thumb so that they are pointing directly straight up towards your head vs. towards your right shoulder which is a strong grip. Also, the ball should be forward in your stance which will give the club enough time to cut acorss the ball in an out to in swing path and a square or slightly closed face relative to the path allowing for fade. This is all however water under the bridge if what you feel isn't exactly what you are doing. I suggest you take a video of your swing when trying to accomplish a fade and you will see what it is you may be doing wrong.

[Tiger Spuds]

Don't open the face.If anything, close the face a few degrees.Set your feet open.Weaken your grip a little and really try not to turn your hands over at impact.Works for me.

[TourSpoon]

turning your right hand more underneath the club is actually strengthening the grip. for a fade you actually want to play it farther forward in your stance.

Farther forward is the key...back in your stance promotes the draw.

[MikeLowry5]

Don't open the face.If anything, close the face a few degrees.Set your feet open.Weaken your grip a little and really try not to turn your hands over at impact.Works for me.

Close it to your target, not to your swing path. If the face is closed to the swing path and you have an open stance its going to be a pull.

I am a terrible hooker with the driver and my woods. Have tried to work on hitting this power fade you speak of however it has been with mixed results. My ball either goes dead straight with a piercing path or is a huge push slice.

[Tiger Spuds]

Close it to your target, not to your swing path. If the face is closed to the swing path and you have an open stance its going to be a pull.

Yep, that's why I said 'a few degrees'.

[muggs]

My mistake, I'm a righty, I meant strenghtening my grip. I think ball placement is what is my issue. For whatever reason, I started to think I needed it back in my stance for the fade...thinking that further back in my stance, the face would still be open at impact. Too much to remember I guess.

I can hit draws okay, and I play the ball forward in my stance, and I just make sure I release the club early and close the face. I sort of came up with this method on my own, so maybe I'm doing it wrong and just figured out a weird way to draw the ball...that very well could be.

Are you guys saying I should be trying to be closed at impact for fades too?

[CalBoomer]

There was a thread recently on the power fade with the driver. The idea was that what you're talking about is basically a cut, which is obviously a good shot to have in the bag (one I'm very so-so with). With the driver, for the power fade you set up open and open the club face to in between your now open target line and where you want to finish the ball. The key is you basically then still swing like you're hitting a draw, from the inside, but with the open stance and slightly open face this means you end up hitting a shot that still fades but is much more powerful than a cut like you're describing (though note, as senorechipotle said, weaking your grip means spinning your hands left, not right, for a righty).

Excuse me, but a fade is not basically a cut. A cut is hit with an out-in swing, and is really a mild slice. A fade is hit with an in-out swing and an open club-face. Not the same animal.