correct technique for a fade

[gailfcno]

hi everyone im pretty new here, firstly i would like to thank brian for his excellent forum, and to everyone else who contributes to the fantastic info and advice. i hope you dont mind this basic question, but i would like to find out more about the fade. i try to work the ball as much as possible to keep my swing in shape, my go to shot is usually a slight fade which recently has turned into a slight draw, i seemed to have lost my ability to hit a fade, and im wondering is my understanding of the correct way to hit a fade flawed. i usually aim at a point left of the target a and try to start the ball between that point and the target, i swing towards my initial aiming point and try to hold the face off, recently when i try to do this my ball flight is straight left at my aiming point and it makes no difference when i try hold the face off. i would really appreciate some info on the correct way to hit a fade, i have heard people mention that trying to hold the face off is not the correct way to hit a fade, but my understanding was that this was the only way to achieve this shape of shot.

 

[spktho]

Swing more left. Feel like the hands are really close to your left(lead) hip through and past impact.

 

[dannyc]

to hit a fade, the face must be open to the path. if you used to hit a fade, and now you hit pulls and draws, your face is no longer open to the path, but rather square (pull) or closed (draw). you could also be hitting the ball a few dimples off the sweet spot causing the draws.
if you really want to understand ball flight, you should watch brian's d plane video.
basic fade method - true path at left side of green, face to the right of that. ball starts between path and face and turns away from path.

 

[dannyc]

also, you don't have to hold the face off to hit a fade, although many people use this method.

 

[gailfcno]

thanks very much for the replies. i do understand the d plane and the concept of hitting a fade. i was curious about the mechanics of the swing that influences a fade. what is the most important swing mechanics to focus on when hitting a fade, what can i incorporate into my swing to stop the face squaring or shutting down when im trying to hit the fade.

 

[spktho]

thanks very much for the replys. i do understand the d plane and the concept of hitting a fade. i was curious about the mechanics of the swing that influences a fade. what is the most important swing mechanics to focus on when hitting a fade, what can i incorporate into my swing to stop the face squaring or shutting down when im trying to hit the fade.

It may be time to purchase NHA 2.0. It can be an excellent baby fade pattern

 

[Todd Dugan]

When we try to hit a staright shot, we generally set the clubface sqaure to the Target Line at address. We don't try to "hold" the clubface sqaure past impact...we just plan for the face to return to sqaure during impact. So then to hit a fade, why try to "hold off" the face? Why not just set the clubface in the desired impact position...at address...and make our normal swing?

If your ball is not fading, do any combination of three simple things which guarantee that you'll get it back.
1. weaken your grip
2. open the clubface more at address
3. shift Toe Line and Assumed Plane Line more leftward

 

[softconsult]

"i try to work the ball as much as possible to keep my swing in shape, my go to shot is usually a slight fade which recently has turned into a slight draw, i seemed to have lost my ability to hit a fade,"

This puzzles me. Background info would help. What is your handicap? The "try to work the ball as much as possible strategy" is sure not going to be widely advised. It just seems like a contradiction to be able to work the ball, and not know what to do to correct it when it goes wrong. Unless you are playing blades, it's fairly difficult to really bend it much either way. Today's golf balls also tend to go mostly straight.

 

[gailfcno]

thanks very much for the advice guys. i will try those things tomoro. hi steve i play off +1, im self taught and have never had lessons so im a bit of a greenhorn when it comes to breaking down the swing. my knowledge of the golfswing before stumbling on here was reading a couple of instruction books so im clearly way out of my depth. i have been playing on and off for 5 yrs, and have been playing alot more than usual this last yr up to 7 days a wk, i have had problems with my swing before but was lucky enough to iron them out myself. but trying to get back my fade has me stumped. i do play with a set of blades, i live in ireland i play in lots of windy weather, so as you can imagine being able to work the ball left and right has its advantages when playing in strong crosswinds. my usual technique in hitting a fade was to align everything left including clubface try to swing left and i felt like i held the face off. i would have went for lessons but i have had a few friends that went to local pros and they completely lost their game. my actual intentions is to get into golf teaching, so being on this site and listening to what brian and you guys have to say will not only do my game the world of good but also what i will teach. thanks again for the replies i appreciate you taking the time to do so.

 

[Brian Manzella]

FADE.

The shot that most folks would like looking for that shot has the following club numbers for a six-iron:

Swing Direction/HSP: -6° (that's outside-in)
Angle of Attack: 4-5° downward
Resultant Club Path: -3° outside-in
Club Face: -2° closed to the target, which is 1° OPEN TO THE PATH

FADE.

How might that get screwed up?

Hit downward twice as much, which lots of folks do trying to cut it, and throw the resultant path TO or PAST the clubface.

That'll break your little heart.

 

[James Marshall (Hogan1953)]

Because of the out associated with the down, I imagine you have to feel as though you swinging further left than you might think. The key would seem to be not overdoing the down as you swing left.

 

[gailfcno]

FADE.

The shot that most folks would like looking for that shot has the following club numbers for a six-iron:

Swing Direction/HSP: -6° (that's outside-in)
Angle of Attack: 4-5° downward
Resultant Club Path: -3° outside-in
Club Face: -2° closed to the target, which is 1° OPEN TO THE PATH

FADE.

How might that get screwed up?

Hit downward twice as much, which lots of folks do trying to cut it, and throw the resultant path TO or PAST the clubface.

That'll break your little heart.

hi brian, thanks for the advice, i think you may have hit the nail on the head. i have been trying to really hit down on the ball with the short irons in an attempt to hit a cut, recently i have also started to chunk a few long irons, more than likely from being too steep. thanks very much for the info brian, how do you calculate the effect of swing down and out on the resultant path. i notice the numbers above are hsp 6 degrees and the aoa was 4 to 5 downward and the resultant path came out 3 degrees out to in. would leaning the shaft have a similar effect in regards to resultant swing path. what is the best way to prevent hitting down too much would i have to widen my swing arc. sorry for all the questions brian.

 

[birly-shirly]

thanks very much for the advice guys. i will try those things tomoro. hi steve i play off +1, im self taught and have never had lessons so im a bit of a greenhorn when it comes to breaking down the swing. my knowledge of the golfswing before stumbling on here was reading a couple of instruction books so im clearly way out of my depth. i have been playing on and off for 5 yrs, and have been playing alot more than usual this last yr up to 7 days a wk, i have had problems with my swing before but was lucky enough to iron them out myself. but trying to get back my fade has me stumped. i do play with a set of blades, i live in ireland i play in lots of windy weather, so as you can imagine being able to work the ball left and right has its advantages when playing in strong crosswinds. my usual technique in hitting a fade was to align everything left including clubface try to swing left and i felt like i held the face off. i would have went for lessons but i have had a few friends that went to local pros and they completely lost their game. my actual intentions is to get into golf teaching, so being on this site and listening to what brian and you guys have to say will not only do my game the world of good but also what i will teach. thanks again for the replies i appreciate you taking the time to do so.

hmm - permission to work the ball bally well granted.

now, will you also be wanting authorisation to play long irons instead of hybrids?

 

[softconsult]

gailfcno, great response. Nice problem to have! Sounds like you are a natural at golf.
Go easy on the technical stuff. You might screw up a good thing.

 

[gailfcno]

gailfcno, great response. Nice problem to have! Sounds like you are a natural at golf.
Go easy on the technical stuff. You might screw up a good thing.

thanks steve.haha no im far from a natural , like everyone else i have my good days and bad and some days very bad . yeah i dont think i will have a major overhaul of the swing but have got some great advice and info on here so will tweak a few things.

 

[gailfcno]

Clubface could be in a bad position at top of backswing to hit a fade which could make things more tricky (depending on type of swing). You should be aware of it anyway.

thanks danny i will check that out.