How to Hit a Fade with Driver? Advice from Advanced Players!

This article explains the essentials you need to know about a fade golf shot and the steps to follow to hit a fade with a driver.
By
Phillip Ortiz
Phillip Ortiz
Expert Consultant
Phillip is a professional golf player who knows exactly what features to look for if you need perfect gear. Apart from golf, Phillip is fond of fishing and hunting.
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Suzanne Holley
Suzanne Holley
Research Writer
Suzanne is a talented news reporter. She's also a freelance writer with our site being her major and most loved project. In her free time, Suzanne loves reading utopian nove read more
Last updated: August 26, 2023
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Offering an array of health benefits for people of any age, golf is a low-impact activity, and it’s regarded as one of the world’s most famous recreational sports. However, despite how exciting this sport is, you may not find it pleasing if you are not versed with the necessary skills. Knowing how to hit a fade with a driver is one of these skills. This skill is highly coveted, and if you can master it, you’ll be looked at like a pro because it adds to your quality as a refined golf player. But why’s fade golf shot important? Unlike a slice, a fade golf shot is more reliable, and it can help save you strokes every round. This shot always arrives at the player’s intended target because it lands very softly. It’s a more controlled shot, just like a draw.

Understanding Fade Golf Shot Better

If you’re into golf and want to enjoy the game better, it will do you a lot of good if you know how to control the shape of your shots. Based on what you desire to achieve, you can hold the ball up against the wind or ride the wind.

Whatever kind of shots you have, there will always be some degree of curvature, and hitting all shots straight isn’t a feasible thing. Plus, a neutral swing path may come in very handy for you if you want to shape your shots successfully.

The fade golf shot, when hit with a quality driver like the Callaway Big Bertha B21 Driver, gives you more distance and power. This is something you won’t enjoy with a regular slice. Some experts have described this shot as “a big trouble,” and you can have a controlled fade when you slightly tweak your swing and alignment.

What is a Fade in Golf?

How to Hit a Fade with Driver? Advice from Advanced Players!
Regarded to shape right-to-left for left-handed handers and left-to-right for right-handed players, this ball flight is also called cut shot. This shot is more controlled, and it’s got a similar shape as a slice.

If you’re not so into golf or you just started playing golf, you may have a faint view of what the term fade golf means. And an excellent way to start is by getting a nice driver that will optimize your swing speed.

For instance, let’s say you hit a tee-shot in a deliberate manner, and it moves a couple of yards from left to right, and you’re right-handed. It will be considered a fade. On the flip side, it will not be considered a fade but a slice if this same shot was taken by a right-handed player and there was an uncontrollable movement offline to the right.

How to Hit it With Driver?

There are a couple of fundamentals that you’ll have to put into cognizance for you to be able to hit a controlled fade. And the steps to do so will be stated below.

Check Your Grip

If you’re taking any golf shot, it’s very crucial that you pay attention to your grip. Your grip alone can make or mar your shot. If you don’t know, you may end up not being able to hit the golf shot you are aiming for if you have a poor grip but are perfect with other things.

In this case, your grip has to be a bit weaker than regular. This is the standard when you’re hitting a fade. There should be a little counterclockwise rotation on your top hand. And, you’re expected to see two knuckles on your top hand at address, and not three knuckles.

However, you should note that you’ve been too weak with the rotation of your top hand if you realize that getting the club back to square at impact isn’t possible any longer. More so, the palm of your top hand vis-a-vis your fingers is where you’re advised to hold the club a bit more. While your top hand is rotating in a particular direction, your bottom hand is expected to follow suit with this too a bit.

Be Conscious of Your Stance

In a controlled manner, you can fade the ball to your target when you aim at the left half of the green or down the left side of the fairway. If you can do this effectively and ensure that it’s well-executed, you’ll get exciting results.

However, make sure your target line stays parallel to your feet as you’re hitting this straight shot. To ensure that your fade is a little bit left to right shot shape, do well to have your eyes on the final intended target’s left and aim slightly there. This is very important when you’re hitting a fade.

Open the Clubface

Although this may not be necessary, you can still hit a fade by opening the clubface a bit. Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus are some of the professional players that approve and recommend opening the clubface. Rather than altering your swing path, opening the clubface seems to be a preferable option for a number of players. But you should know that you can use your swing path to fade the ball.

However, note that the ball at the address has to be kept off from the toe of the club if you prefer to open the clubface. And for this, you have to do a slight rotation. You can easily create some curve in the ball’s flight by just a degree of an open face.

Still, you have to be cautious and tread carefully with this because the ball will have more tendency of curving right of your target line as it starts to the right of your target line when you open the clubface more than you should. Whenever you’re hitting a fade, you have to ensure that you aim left of your target. This is essential.

Swing Left

As mentioned earlier, swinging a bit across your target line is an excellent alternative if you don’t buy the idea of opening the clubface. The fade golf shot itself and your swing path are integral parts of hitting your golf shot.

For through impact, the ball should be hit by the club and move left, this is a slightly outside-to-in motion, and it’s a necessary one to hit a fade. Still, you must be cautious. You don’t want to end up creating a slice. So, the clubhead must not cut across the ball and come in from too far outside.

You can create a very effective fade if you ensure you get the ball attacked from a degree or two outside to in. At the top and finish, thinking about your swing positions can also be very helpful in producing a golf fade. Note that your hands stay low and left at the finish, and high above your trail shoulder is where your hands should be at the top.

Golf is an enjoyable sport because of the kinds of experiments it involves. But, don’t forget that the swing path and the clubface are very significant, and even with your stance, you must find balance. While you’re trying to hit a fade, you must be very careful with the way you swing and be mindful of your stance.

If you’re a new player, you must be very conscious of these things so that you don’t end up hitting a frustrating large slice. You can also get a rangefinder to improve your game and estimate distance correctly.

Practice

How to Hit a Fade with Driver? Advice from Advanced Players!
Just as they say, practice makes perfect. However, you may not seek perfection, stay committed to getting better, and you’ll see the results eventually.

While you’re practicing, you must work on allowing yourself to feel your whole body rotate, learn to have a controlled swing motion by getting in the correct position, and be conscious of aligning yourself properly.

You must be very careful not to use your hands or arms to swing. Your body is what you must keep controlling the swing if you want to hit a fade or even any other shot shape. Additionally, getting your hands on a golf rangefinder can also help you measure variables such as slope, wind, and yardage to improve your shot accuracy.

As you practice, you must open yourself up to observe how positioning works so that you’ll be aware of the kind of positions that can compromise your fade golf shots. Once you’re well-versed with the positioning, you have to work on enhancing the connection between your arms and your body and how to rotate better. To produce a controlled shot by grooving a consistent swing motion, you must ensure you don’t flip your hands during the swing and don’t sway; rotate.

You’ll be able to hit an excellently controlled fade when you combine the right path with the proper clubface position and the correct aim. Lastly, you may also want to consider getting face-balanced putters to assist you in hitting your shots till you become better.

Why Golf?

According to Forbes Trusted Source The State Of The Golf Industry In 2016 When you look at the big picture, the state of golf is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, demand is quite healthy and on a growth trajectory. Rounds played were up in 2015 for the first time since 2012 – an increase of approximately two percent . A total of 2.2 million people took up the game last year, approaching the record of 2.4 million, set at the peak of Tiger Woods’ popularity. www.forbes.com , in 2015 alone, close to 2.2 million people started golfing! This is to tell you how quickly many are uncovering the surprising benefits of golfing. Indeed, you have a lot to benefit from golfing; foremost, golfing serves as a good form of exercise. This sport will make you do a lot of walking, which can be very helpful for your muscles.

Additionally, golfing is a delightful way to be in the great outdoors. If you feel you’ve not been able to get outdoors enough, you should try golfing. Medical Daily Trusted Source Why You Need To Go Outside: Health Benefits Of The Outdoors Not only does being outside make you feel better, but it helps you sleep better, too. A recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder indicated that campers were able to shift their internal clocks to a more natural state by sleeping outdoors. The study compared the internal clocks of those who stayed at home versus those sent on a weekend camping trimp. The at-home participants stayed up later than normal, pushing their internal clocks back, while those who spent the time away shifted earlier. www.medicaldaily.com reports that people who spend time outdoors enjoy less anxiety, improved creative thinking, lowered depression, lowered blood pressure, and better sleep.

Golfing can also help you make new friends and boost your relationships. And according to Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School Trusted Source The Health Benefits of Strong Relationships - Harvard Health Strong connections and regular social interaction with friends and family members helps alleviate stress and enhance longevity. www.health.harvard.edu , social connections are very significant because they help us live longer and have fewer health problems.

Golfing is also a great way to relax, and it gives you ample vitamin D Trusted Source Vitamin D FAQ: Why You Need Vitamin D Your body must have vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Too little vitamin D results in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults (osteomalacia). You also need vitamin D for other important body functions. www.webmd.com , which helps enhance your health. It’s a game you can enjoy with your family, it helps you build character, and it’s a great way to challenge yourself.

Final Thoughts

You can develop a consistent fade and improve your golf game. All you have to do is to get a high-quality driver like the TaylorMade SIM MAX Driver and keep practicing to become better and more skilled at hitting your desirable golf shot. While you get out to practice, make sure you enjoy the game and stay free from tension so that you’ll be able to get the correct setup. You’ll also need to be persistent and confident. If you’re yet to get the right shot that you want, don’t give up. Practice more.

Once you keep training to improve your swing speed and swing faster, it’s just a matter of time before you realize that you’ve perfected how to hit a fade with a driver. However, if you find it very challenging to get things right, you may take an extra step in finding a highly experienced golfer that can help you improve your motion in the golf swing.

References

1.
The State Of The Golf Industry In 2016
When you look at the big picture, the state of golf is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, demand is quite healthy and on a growth trajectory. Rounds played were up in 2015 for the first time since 2012 – an increase of approximately two percent . A total of 2.2 million people took up the game last year, approaching the record of 2.4 million, set at the peak of Tiger Woods’ popularity.
2.
Why You Need To Go Outside: Health Benefits Of The Outdoors
Not only does being outside make you feel better, but it helps you sleep better, too. A recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder indicated that campers were able to shift their internal clocks to a more natural state by sleeping outdoors. The study compared the internal clocks of those who stayed at home versus those sent on a weekend camping trimp. The at-home participants stayed up later than normal, pushing their internal clocks back, while those who spent the time away shifted earlier.
3.
The Health Benefits of Strong Relationships - Harvard Health
Strong connections and regular social interaction with friends and family members helps alleviate stress and enhance longevity.
4.
Vitamin D FAQ: Why You Need Vitamin D
Your body must have vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Too little vitamin D results in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults (osteomalacia). You also need vitamin D for other important body functions.
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