W GOLF
L
THE FADE
BY TOM ATKINSON, PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL
In the summer we looked at how to set up to successfully
play a draw shot, let's have a look at the opposite shape
this month - the fade.
Many of the amateur golfers I’ve come across are constantly
battling a slice, so why would they want to learn a fade? It’s
pretty simple, this shot is the most controllable in the game
and after all who doesn’t want to hit more fairways. Some of
the most consistent golfers of all time have mastered the fade,
take Colin Montgomerie for example, he has won countless
tournaments and was the dominant force in European golf
for many years. And how about the loss of distance I hear
you ask! I’m not sure Dustin Johnson would agree, you may
remember his 433 yard fade almost bagging him a hole in
one on a par 4 last year!
Here’s how to play it...
For a right handed player a fade shot will see the ball curve
from left to right in the air, generally no more than 2-10
yards of shape is perfect, for this to happen, the clubface
needs to be open to the swing path at impact.
After picking your target from behind the ball (blue line),
step in and aim the face at this target, then set your feet,
making sure your stance line is to the left. Your body, knees,
hips and shoulders need to point where your feet are aiming.
Then swing where your body is aimed (yellow line). The ball
will start left and curve right (red line).
Be brave with it, don’t let your brain fool you into thinking
you’re going to pull the ball left of target, let the physics work
and find more fairways.
You can contact Tom at Heswall Golf Club on
0151 342 7431, www.heswallgolfshop.co.uk
or @heswallgolfshop.
64 wirrallife.com