What is the correct way to fix a fade?

[cnl390]

I have just begun playing again after quite a few years and find that with my drivers I am hitting somewhere between a fade and slice.  I just came back from the range where a guy told me I was falling back during my swing and told me position my back foot like I had a golf ball under my heel and that would correct the falling back.  I tried it and even though it felt very weird it actually works.

Now my question is, is this really the right way to correct my fade or is it a novelty type of remedy?

Thanks,

Charles

[ayysolapsu09]

I think one question you want to ask yourself is why you want to fix it.  I have a fade myself, but I want to fix it not because I think a draw is better (I don't, I think a fade can be a better ball and more reliable than a draw), but because the way I'm hitting the ball I am not coming from the inside enough, and I'm coming over the top on my downswing. I have too many compensations that worked for a while, that aren't working now, and that need to be addressed, and I'm trying to address them as well as I can.

Falling back may contribute to an improper impact position (weight isn't forward enough), but it may not the real reason you're slicing.  I imagine that thinking you have an object under your foot (ball, sponge, etc), helps to brace your right leg in your back swing so you don't sway (re: steady head).  I've been personally playing with that idea by pushing my right knee in about an inch before I took my club head back.  I then felt as if I was stacked with all of my weight being centered over my instep , rather than my weight falling to the outside of my foot (still a work in progress).    It may or may not work for you, talk to your pro about it.

It may be a permanent solution if your swing path/club head position at impact/alignment are all promoting a draw, and falling back was the only reason that your club head would have been diverted of it's original track (I would think that a slightly open face at impact, but the club head diverting at impact to the left instead of keeping it's course.  If someone better at biomechanics could contemplate this, maybe I'm dead wrong :) ).

I think my point is that even though your swing thought has given you better results, it may not be the primary culprits of your fade/slice.  It's something that an instructor/Trackman/video analysis can really pinpoint better than most (get it, GET IT????  I know, I'm an idiot).

Hope this helps, and have fun.

p.s.  I hope the "guy" who told you this isn't some "guy", but rather a PGA Professional whom you trust.  Be careful of unsolicited advice, it could potentially hurt more than help (speaking from experience, I blew up a potential round in the low 80's at a legit course by listening to some dude I got paired with, and subsequently shooting 10 over what I would've if I hadn't paid him any notice).

[Zachari208]

If I need to draw the ball I just use my 3. My driver has a great repeating fade, why mess with a good thing.

[mvmac]

Change the swing direction by making sure the weight is forward and the hips are forward at impact.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/29616/the-biggest-secret-slide-your-hips

Look for Key #2 Drills

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread

Great drill for higher handicap players and beginners.  Those golfers can even play with a similar set-up.

[BirdieNumNums]

I like this video, it's how I personally go about hitting either shot.

http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/instruction-feature/off-tee/how-draw-and-fade-video

[iacas]

  BirdieNumNums said:

Originally Posted by BirdieNumNums

I like this video, it's how I personally go about hitting either shot.

http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/instruction-feature/off-tee/how-draw-and-fade-video

Please don't do any of that. Almost all of what he says is the opposite of what you actually want to do in the golf swing.

For example, putting the ball more forward will result in the club's path being farther to the left, and moving the handle back will result in the face pointing left more (and the club's path being left again). He also says tip back away from the target, which can either send the path left or right depending on a few other things.

Yet he says this is how you hit a draw.

If you actually do those things, you'll either hit pull-draws or pull-fades.

[rowlf]

I would personally die for a power fade. But there are so many reasons to a fade. The swing technique is usually the reason but so too could be the lie angle of your club. Like the guys here have said, having your swing looked it by a certified golf pro is the way to go.

[Golfingdad]

  rowlf said:

Originally Posted by rowlf

I would personally die for a power fade.

But then how would you hit it???? ;)

[rowlf]

Shit. That's true. Didn't think about it. Thanks for reminding.

[Chas]

Guy that I played with today (we were both walk-on singles) had a nice power fade going and must have hit 11 or 12 fairways. Yours truly was hitting them mostly dead straight but only had 6. Our carries were very similar. I'd take his driving over mine any day of the week.