For many golfers, being able to work the ball from left-to-right with a fade shot is one of the most valuable shots in the bag. A well-struck fade provides incredible control off the tee, holding the ball in the fairway while also optimizing carry distance. Approach shots that fade slightly have an easier time holding tight pins and avoiding trouble. Even at the highest levels of the game, the world’s best players rely on their fades to navigate demanding course set-ups and withstand pressing winds.
While a fading ball flight may seem elusive to some, it is an eminently learnable shot shape through sound fundamentals. By understanding proper setup positions, swing paths, face alignments and how to manage curvature, any golfer can start taking advantage of this powerful shot-making technique.
What is a Fade Shot in Golf?
A fade shot in golf is a type of ball flight where the ball curves slightly from the player’s left to right for a right-handed golfer (or right to left for a left-handed golfer). It is different from a slice, which is an exaggerated right-to-left ball curve caused by a swing fault.
The fade shot starts straight off the club face, but then curves gently in its latter flight due to a combination of swing path and face angle. For a right-handed golfer hitting a fade, the club head is slightly closed (pointing left) relative to the swing path at impact. This imparts clockwise side spin on the ball, causing it to gently curve right before straightening out.
Fades are often desired by golfers because they provide a reliable ball flight shape. The right-to-left curve holds the ball in the air a bit longer compared to a straight shot of the same distance. This can be an advantage on tight driving holes or when approaching greens from the right side of the fairway. Many talented players actually prefer to hit a controlled fade off the tee to take advantage of this extra hang time.
While slices leak severely right, a well-struck fade shot will just work back towards the target line before running out of curve. Professional golfers can regulate exact fade amounts from a minor curve to a more pronounced shape when circumstances call for it. Overall, the fade is a handy shot shape that provides great control and consistency when mastered properly.
Why Would You Want to Hit a Fade?
There are several strategic advantages to being able to work the ball from left-to-right with a fade shot. One major benefit is the ability to keep the ball in the fairway off the tee. For right-handed golfers, a controlled fade allows them to aim slightly further left and let the ball work back towards the center of the fairway. This can be hugely valuable on tight driving holes where missing the fairway could mean finding deep rough or trees.
Fading the ball is also useful when approaching greens from the right side of the fairway. With the ball curving from left-to-right, players can be more aggressive at flagsticks positioned on the left portion of the green. The fade shape allows them to cut off more of the dogleg and fly the ball directly at the pin without overshooting the putting surface.
From a ball-striking standpoint, many coaches believe a fade is the most efficient and consistent shot shape. A straight ball flight can bleed off rapidly to the right due to gear effect. But a fade’s right-to-left spin holds the ball on a stronger arcing trajectory that fights slicing spin. This maximizes carry distance and enhances overall control over start lines and directional accuracy.
At a professional level, being able to work draws and fades gives players an advantage in manuvering their ball flight for varying wind conditions. Fades are especially productive in dealing with left-to-right crosswinds that could push a straighter ball flight offline.
So in summary, players opt for a fade shape when protecting against errant misses, attacking flagstick positions, optimizing carry and control, and adjusting for certain wind patterns. It’s a power move in the bag when struck properly.
What is the Proper Setup for a Fade Shot?
The setup for hitting a fade starts with good athletic posture – knees flexed, bend from the hips, arms hanging relaxed. Ball position should be just inside the lead heel. This slightly forward ball position helps create an in-to-out swingpath needed for a fade.
Alignment is critical. The body and shoulders should be open and aiming a few degrees to the left of the target line. However, the feet, hips and knee flex must still be square to the target. This open shoulder alignment encourages an out-to-in club path coming into impact.
The grip is also an important fundamental. For a right-handed golfer, having a slightly stronger or more clockwise rotation of the front hand can help hold the face open longer through impact. This delayed closing of the clubface is what allows it to stay open to the path and impart fade spin.
Finally, weight distribution at address leans towards favoring the lead side by 60/40 or so. This prevents excessive hip slide towards the target and helps maintain the open shoulder plane. Too much weight on the back foot could cause the shoulders to spin out and close the face too soon before impact.
Executing these setup adjustments – open shoulders, strong grip, forward press, lead side weight bias – puts a golfer in ideal position to swing out-to-in while holding the face open a fraction longer. It’s a subtle move, but this delayed closed-face rotation is the hallmark of a well-struck power fade.
How Should Your Swing Path and Club Face be Aligned for a Fade?
The swing path and clubface alignment work together to produce the right-to-left curve on a fade. For a right-handed golfer, the ideal delivery into impact has the clubhead traveling slightly from inside-to-out relative to the target line. This in-to-out swing path imparts clockwise spin on the ball.
However, the clubface itself needs to be open (pointing right of the target) in relation to this inside path. This open face held through impact combined with the inward path creates a glancing blow – putting right-to-left spin on the ball to initiate the fade.
If the clubface is square to the swing path, you’ll likely hit a straight shot. To hit a fade, that face needs to be open to the path by a few degrees through impact. The more open the face is relative to the path, the more curve you’ll put on the ball.
During the downswing, think of swinging more out towards the target line while allowing the clubface to trail open just a bit. For advanced players, moving the bottom half towards the target while keeping the shoulders quieter can help hold the face open longer.
After impact, you’ll notice the trademark inside-to-out swing path imparts higher spin rates overall. So a well-struck fade won’t just curve right, it should carry longer and have a shallower descent than a straight shot. Focus on these impact alignments – patherm inside, face holding open – to capture the full power and consistency fading provides.
What Role Does Ball Position Play in Hitting a Fade?
For a right-handed golfer, the ideal ball position for promoting a fade is just inside the left heel. Positioning the ball this far forward in the stance helps create the desired inside-to-out swing path required to hit a fade.
With the ball teed up closer to the left foot, the golfer is able to swing the club from inside the target line and then release it across the ball’s starting path. This inside-out swing path combined with an open clubface at impact puts clockwise spin on the ball, causing it to fade to the right.
If the ball is positioned too far back in the stance, it becomes much harder to achieve this inside-out path through impact. The swing will tend to come more over-the-top, putting a cutting spin on the ball that exaggerates the fade into a slice miss.
Conversely, with the ball too far forward toward the target line, players will struggle to keep the face open long enough and will likely hit a straight push or even a hook from a stuck closed face through the hitting area.
Advanced players can play with ball position to control the shape of their fade as well. Placing it modestly back off the lead foot can encourage a lower, more boring fade shape with less overall curvature. Playing it forward promotes a higher, stronger fading ball flight.
So while minor adjustments are possible, most golfers will find positioning the ball just inside the front heel is ideal for fading the ball effectively. From this forward position, the proper in-to-out swing path can be more easily matched up with the open club face required to start the ball curving right.
How Can You Control the Amount of Fade on the Shot?
The primary way to regulate fade curvature is through managing face angle in relation to the swing path at impact. The more open the clubface is pointing relative to the path, the more spin and curve will be imparted on the ball’s flight.
For a subtle baby fade, focus on keeping the clubface just slightly open to the swing path through impact. Think of holding off the release of the club for a split-second longer as you’re swinging out towards the target line. This delayed squaring of the face produces a gentle left-to-right spin.
To increase fade amounts, allow the face to remain more open relative to the body and swing path in the hitting area. This increases the angle between face and path, applying more clockwise spin. However, take care not to hold the face open too long or you could put slicing spin on the shot.
Adjusting swing path also affects curvature. An aggressively in-to-out path increases fade, while a path that is too much from inside can cause the face to slam shut and cut across the ball. Make small adjustments to your foot positioning to tweak path direction as needed.
Finally, more rigid leading wrists at impact will also increase fade spin. If the wrists are soft and “flipping” at impact, the clubface can rotate closed too rapidly – taking the side spin off before it can bend the shot’s trajectory.
Advanced players will balance and adjust all these variables – face angle, path direction, wrist conditions – to precisely control fade amounts. But for novices, starting with a face angle that matches your swing path’s delivery line is the safest way to initiate controlled left-to-right shape.
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