how to hit a fade if you only need it twice a round

[RandyBobbitt]

I play a course where nearly all of the par-4s and par-5s are dogleg lefts -- perfect for my slight draw. However, there are two holes that dogleg right. Another complicating factor is that both of these holes have large trees on the right that protrude onto the fairway about 100 yards off the tee, and my the right-to-left tee shot, they knock it down every time.

So I'm trying to learn how to hit the fade with the driver. So far the only thing I've tried is to open my stance, weaken my grip (both thumbs down the top of the shaft) and aim down the left rough line. But I'm still turning the ball over and hitting into the trees left.

So how do I hit a fade if I only need it twice a round?

Any suggestions? I'm a 7-handicap.

[Patch]

Start with the easy stuff first. I'd try using your same swing, but open your club face up a little. Open it up 1/8 inch at a time until you start getting a slight fade, or the fade you want. If that's not enough fade for you, then open up your stance a little more to see what you get. If those two ideas combined don't work, then add a weakened grip to the scenario.

Another option, and one I use some times, is I just move the ball back in my stance a little, and leave everything else the same as my normal shot. This gives me a slight push with a little fade at the end.

Yesterday I had a shot from behind a tree. I could not go under, or over the tree, and have a chance at the green. It was a corrected 6i to the green. I actually needed a slice, more so than a fade. I aimed well left of the tree, I opened my stance, weakened my grip, and opened my club face. I made it around the tree, and made the fringe of the green. A chip, and one putt gave par for that hole. It was a lucky shot of course, but it worked this time.

[vangator]

I'm the same as you. My stock shot is a draw. I read an article in one of the golf mags a few years ago entitled something like, "If you absolutely have to hit the fairway". They talked about hitting a high fade with the driver. Open the stance 20 deg left. Pick a spot down the fairway that is 15 deg left and swing along that line. Grip the club tighter with the 3 fingers on your left hand (not the index). This will help in not turning the club over. Tee the ball a little lower. I tend to not follow through quite as much to help prevent the "release". At times I have also extended the index finger on my right hand so it doesn't wrap around the grip. This also helps not turning the club over. For fades I tend to swing a little flatter to produce that power fade. I only lose a little distance hitting a fade and it's more controllable. Warning: Over swinging can cause a relapse and produce a draw which doesn't work well when you're trying to fade the ball. Let me know if it works for you.

[MS256]

Study the ball flight laws...because it absolutely amazes me how many people don't have any idea what they are doing to make the ball curve one way or the other and/or what they need to do to make it curve one way or another.

Played with a guy just yesterday that didn't know (and he's normally a pretty good player).

If you know what makes it happen it's easy enough to make adjustments for both permanent solutions and to get you through a round.

[iacas]

1. Aim everything except your clubface pretty far to the left.
2. Point your clubface pretty just right of where you want the ball to start (i.e. at the left side of the fairway or so).
3. Make the same swing as usual.

That is all.

[mvmac]

Someone should start a thread on this.....Oh wait

[Eack]

[LIST=1] [*] Aim everything except your clubface pretty far to the left. [*] Point your clubface pretty just right of where you want the ball to start (i.e. at the left side of the fairway or so). [*] Make the same swing as usual. [/LIST] That is all.

Is this the opposite for a draw?

[iacas]

Is this the opposite for a draw?

If you only need to hit one or two a round, yeah.

Aim your body way right and the clubface just left of where you want the ball to start.

If you want to learn to hit a "proper" draw instead of a pull-draw, then I wouldn't use that technique.

[Eack]

What's a pull draw, yes I'm new. I only ask because what you wrote was the exact opposite of my draw I just learned.

[Eack]

If you only need to hit one or two a round, yeah. Aim your body way right and the clubface just left of where you want the ball to start. If you want to learn to hit a "proper" draw instead of a pull-draw, then I wouldn't use that technique.

And what's a proper draw?

[Golfingdad]

What's a pull draw, yes I'm new.

It means that you are starting the ball left of where you are aligned and curving it left of that.  (Nothing wrong with being new.  Welcome!)

I only ask because what you wrote was the exact opposite of my draw I just learned.

Are you left-handed?

And what's a proper draw?

I presume he means a "push-draw," which is one where you can line up square to your target, start the ball out to the right and curve it back to the target.  The quotes are for the fact that there really isn't technically a proper right and wrong way to get the ball towards the hole.

Jack Nicklaus used to hit a push-fade - worked out OK for him. ;)

[Eack]

It means that you are starting the ball left of where you are aligned and curving it left of that.  (Nothing wrong with being new.  Welcome!) Are you left-handed? I presume he means a "push-draw," which is one where you can line up square to your target, start the ball out to the right and curve it back to the target.  The quotes are for the fact that there really isn't technically a proper right and wrong way to get the ball towards the hole. Jack Nicklaus used to hit a push-fade - worked out OK for him. ;)

Not left handed, I should have said it's the opposite for my draw, not opposite of my draw. And I think I've heard of that guy, he was decent from what I hear;)