Power Fade

Question
Eddie,
I have the a draw down off the tee, but am now playing courses where a power fade would be a tremendous advantage.  Can you give me help with proper set up, alignment, ball position, hands in front, even or behind ball, swing path, controlling hand, does the club release, etc. I just want to take out the left side of the course where an OB is or hazard.  Thanks.

Answer
Hey Mark:

The biggest thing about this is for you to simply understand what the club must be doing through impact to produce that kind of spin.  The action is slight, we're not talking about slicing the ball.  With a driver, at driver speed, it doesn't take much for you to move the ball.  Remember a fade is a shot that curves on the way down.  The ball will start out straight, then at the top of apex of flight it will fall to the right.  Great shot to hit, one that most Tour players want to have in their bags.  Players you could relate to are Mark Calcavecchia, Bruce Litzke, Craig Stadler.  To hit the shot, alignment (shoulders, forearms and feet) are lined up down the left hand side of the fairway cutline.  That is where you want your ball to start.  Next, I suggest a slightly weaker grip in the left hand paying particular attention to the grip pressure in the last 3 fingers of the left hand.  This is just a suggestion:  you will have to hit balls to see if you are comfortable with a slight grip change.  IF not, you can still make this work.  Jack Nicklaus said the easiest way to hit a fade is to align your body to where you want the ball to start and align the clubface to where you want the ball to finish and just swing.  So in keeping with that simplicity, your bodyline (shoulders, forearms and feet) will be lined up to the left hand cut of the fairway, your clubface will be aiming at the center of the fairway, grip in left hand is slightly weaker if you're comfortable with that (helps to not turn the face over), and then just make a good golf swing.  No need to try to cut across ball or swing from out to in or any of the other things we have heard.  You preset your elements before you begin the motion, then just trust it.  As long as the face does not turn over, your ball has to move from left to right.  With practice, you can control the spin.  Have fun with it.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member