Changing the swing path to work the ball

[boil3rmak3r]

Is trying to change your swing path to work the ball an acceptable method or is it a recipe for disaster? With my driver, my normal ball flight is a push draw and my normal miss is a straight push. There are two holes on my course where there are trees overhanging the right side of the fairway and a straight ball or fade are the only ways to keep the ball out of the trees and into the fairway. Because of this, I've been trying to develop a somewhat reliable fade with my driver. The adjustments I make to hit a fade are: move the ball a tad forward in my stance; open the club face a tiny bit; have my target line (swing line) left; and swing my arms on a steeper plane (my left arm is usually parallel to my shoulder line... With this swing, I try to get my left arm steeper than my shoulder lines). This is about the only method I've found that works for me. If I do all the other adjustments without trying to change my swing plane, I hit a pull, straight ball, or a huge slice...

[Stretch]

The easiest way to change your swing path is to just change where you are aiming, and it sounds like you're pretty much doing that already. For a fade with your normal draw swing -- aim feet/hips/shoulders out into the left trees, aim club face at left edge of fairway, make your usual move. Even though you are still swinging in-to-out (relative to your body line), you've now rotated that body line so far left that you'll be swinging out-to-in relative to the target line. Your club path will now also be to the left and, provided the face is open to that path, the ball will cut. I don't know about the steeper-plane feel, but if it works for you then keep doing it!

[nevets88]

iacas wrote a detailed thread on how to work the ball in the swing thoughts forum I think.