Using Golf Fade to Shape Shots

The golf fade can be looked at as having many negatives but it can be very beneficial to the serious golfer who is seeking to hit shots on demand.

Before you can engage in this journey you need to understand that having a consistent shot is crucial to playing good golf.

For example, if you play a slight draw as your main shot, then that is the shot that needs to be used under most circumstances. An exception would be a pin back right guarded by bunkers calling for a high fade.

After you assess a situation and determine that it calls for a fade, you should then setup in the following way:

• Ball placement is forward of the low point(point at which club fully extends in golf swing)

• Club path in result of ball positioned forward will be out to in

• Baseline of feet, knees, and hips should be aligned left of the target line

• Club face angle is aimed left of the target line

• Upper axis tilt is neutral or tilted 5 degrees away from target

• Shaft lean is neutral or back slightly for a high fade

The following picture will demonstrate the alignments from a down the line view for the golf fade:

The reason these factors allow for a fade is in result of contacting the ball forward on the arc.

Like the Drawyou need to understand the basic rules of the arc.

The purple dot is known as low point, which is the point where the club reaches maximum length. The blue arc is the swing path while the club path is the direction the clubhead was moving at impact.

By placing the ball in the towards the front of the stance it increases the chances of the clubface making contact on the front side of the arc which means the club path will be to the left of the target line.

Also, remember the "85-15" rule referring to the face angle and path percentages when working on the golf fade. The golfer needs to be sure that the face angle at impact is closed to the target line but open to the path in order start the ball to the left of the target and fade back to the target.

The following picture will help:

To clear things up, the further the path and the club are apart the path and club are, the more curvature there will be on the ball.

For more detailed explanations on the "85-15" rule check out the D Pane for information pertaining to how it affects your ball flight.

Hopefully after understanding these basic rules and guidelines, hitting a fade will be an extra tool to have in the bag at your disposal.

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