The Easiest Way to Hit a Fade with Your Driver

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

How to Hit a Fade off the Tee

Here is how you can hit a fade. The most important key is in your set-up.

1. Pick your target

First, we need to pick your target on the left side of the fairway. We want the ball to start at this target and curve back to the center of the fairway.

2. Alignment

Next, I want you to set your clubface to the target you picked above. Set your clubface so that it will look directly to the target.

Now, set your shoulders, feet, knees parallel to the target line which is the line from the ball to your target.

3. Ball position

Set your ball just inside or line with your left heel.

When hitting your fade, you might want to try to set the ball just a little bit left of your normal position. Maybe half of the ball-length or up to 2 ball length.

4. Change the fac angle and re-grip the club

Finally, the clubface. At this point, your clubface is looking at the first target that you picked.

Now, we are going to open the clubface for a fade.

To do that, I want you to pick your second target that is 10 yards or 20 yards right of your first target. The more you aim right, the more you will curve the ball.

Your second target is the spot where you want the ball to land.

After picking your second target, I want you to open the clubface and make sure your clubface is now looking at your second target.

I want you to open the clubface first and then re-grip your club. If you would just open the club, your clubface will eventually close during the downswing because of the centrifugal force.

So open the clubface first and then re-grip your club.

This is not the only way to hit your fade but this is the easiest way to hit a fade for most players.

5. Golf swing

When I ask players to hit a fade like above. Some players try to cut across the ball and end up hitting pull-slice or try to hit it right and end up hitting a pus-slice.

You won't get much distance off the tee that way.

So it's important to start the ball to the first target that you picked. To do this, you need to swing your club so that your clubhead path would be inside-to-inside.

Your ball will start at your first target, but if your clubface is open at impact, your ball will eventually fade to the right.

6. 3 keys to hit your fade

Here are 3 keys to hit your fade successfully.

1. Watch the ball impact

When hitting your clubface, make sure it is open or looking at your second target that you picked at impact.

In reality, you really can't see the moment of impact or the ball being hit.

But try to watch it happen. You may not be able to actually see it happen, but I want you to try it anyway.

Try to see it in your mind, also.

Most players are not watching the impact. But instead, they are looking up to see the ball. This will make it very difficult to control the clubface at impact and cause push shots, push-slice and other trouble shots.

2.Turning of your body on the downswing

When hitting your fade, try to feel like you are going to turn your body little faster than normal on the downswing.

 

If there is a race between your clunhead and your body. You want to feel like your body wins the race.

 

This image will help you open the clubface at impact.

 

3. After impact

After impact, try to swing your clubhead low to the ground. Some pros do this to hit the fade.

 

Tiger Woods hit the fade with a driver that only curves 3 yards to the right. But this is very difficult shot to hit. So I really recommend you to hit the fade that curves a lot like 50 yards to start with.

 

After you become comfortable hitting a big fade, try to curve less.

 

Reference: http://www.golfsamurai.net/driver/easiest-way-to-hit-fade.htm

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The Easiest Way to Hit a Draw with Your Driver

How to Hit a draw off the Tee

Here is how you can hit a draw. The most important key is in your set-up.

 

1. Pick you target

First, we need to pick your target on the right side of the fairway. We want hte ball to start at this target and curve back to the left.

 

2. Alignment

Next, I want you to set your clubface to the target you picked above. Set your clubface so that it will look directly at your target.

 

3. Ball position

Set your ball just inside or in line with your left heel.

When hitting your draw, you might want to try to set the ball just a little bit right of your normal position. Setting the ball little right such as 1 ball-length to the right will make it easier to close the clubface at impact and help you hit a draw.

 

4. Change the face angle and re-grip the club

Finally, let's talk about your clubface. At this point, your clubface should looking at the first target that you picked.

 

Now, we are going to close the clubface for a draw.

 

To do this, I want you to pick your second target that is 10 yards or 15 yards left of your first target. The more you aim left, the more you will curve the ball.

 

Your second target is the spot where you want ball to land.

 

After picking your second target, I want you to close the clubface and make sure your clubface is now looking at your second target.

 

And THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

 

I want you to close the clubface first and then re-grip your club. If you would just close the clubface, your clubface will eventually open during the downswing because of the centrifugal force.

 

So close the clubface first and then re-grip your club.

 

Like we talked about before, this is not the only way to hit your draw. But I think this is the easiest way to hit a draw for most players.

 

5. Golf swing

When I ask players to hit a draw like above. Some players try to swing left in an effort to guide the ball to the second target. But they either hit a pull or pull-hook.

 

So it's important to start the ball to the first target that you picked. To do this, you need to swing your club so that your clubhead path would be inside-to-inside.

 

Your ball will start at your first target, but if your clubface is closed at impact, your ball will eventually curve to the left.

 

6. 2 keys to hit your draw

Here are 2 keys to hit your draw successfully.

 

a. Watch the ball at impact

When hitting your draw, you have to make sure your clubface is closed or looking at your second target that you picked at impact.

 

In reality, you really can't see the moment of impact or the ball being hit.

 

But try to watch it happen. You may not be able to actually see it happen, but I want to try it anyway.

 

Try too see it in your mind also.

 

Most players are not watching the impact. But instead, they are looking up to see the ball. This will make it very difficult to control the clubface at impact and cause push shots, push-slice and other trouble shots.

 

b. Turning of your body on the downswing

When I see players who are having the difficult time hitting a draw, I find that some players are turning their body is too fast during the downswing.

 

This is an effective way to hit a fade. But for draw, you don't want to turn your body too fast on the downswing.

 

Actually, you want to feel like your body turn on the downswing is even little slower when hitting your draw.

 

Here is one of the techniques I recommend.

 

Swing back to the top of your gold swing. At this point your chest should e looking right. Now start your downswing but try to feel like your chest is continuing to face right.

 

You actually can't keep your chest looking right but the image will help you slow down your body turn. And as a result, you will have more room to swing your arms and hands on the downsing.

 

I hope this helps.

Related articles: http://www.golfsamurai.net/driver/how-to-hit-draw-driver.htm

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How to Fix Push-Slice with Your Driver

Focus on Your Right Knee

Let's focus on your right knee today to fix your push-slice.

 

When players hit push-slices, their body is moving forward too much during the downswing. This often happens when you try to hit hard and end up losing your timing.

 

But if your body moves forward a lot during the downswing, you will lose the space and the time to swing your arms and hands freely to close the clubface at impact.

 

To fix push-slices, you will have to keep your body behind the ball until impact.

 

One way of the ways to accomplish this is to focus on your right knee to keep your body back.

 

During your downswing, I like you to try to feel like your right knee isn't moving forward than its original position at address.

 

In other words, try to keep your right knee back until impact.

 

Players who are hitting push-slice with their are turning their body too much on the downswing. And if you turn your body too much on the downswing, you end up losing enough space to swing your hands and arms.

 

So if you try not to move your right knee forward, you might feel like your body is very slow and not turning on the downswing.

 

But that's the sign that you have time to swing your hands and arms to close your clubface at impact.

To be exact, your right knee will move a little to the left impact. But I like you to at least try not to move it forward for practice.

 

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/driver/push-slice-driver.htm

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Let Your Left Heel Rise as You Swing Back

If you are hitting far enough by keeping your left heel on the ground during the backswing, you really don't have to change your swing.

 

But if you feel like you are lacking distance, let your left heel raise a little as you swing back.

 

When you think about the easiest way to shift your weight onto your back foot, raising your left foot off the ground is the easiest way to do it just like a slugger in baseball.

 

But if you raise your left foot completely off the ground, you will lose control.

 

So just let your heel rise naturally as you swing back.

 

However, there are players who will do well by keeping their left heel on the ground. So I think you should try both methods and compare them.

 

Some golfers worry about losing distance if they try their heel rise a little on thebackswing.

 

But by shifting your weight completely with left heel raising off the ground, you get more distance so that you don't have to swing hard to get distance.

 

When I tried to keep my left heel on the ground, I felt that I wasn't getting enough distance. So I started to swing harder unconciously and lost control as a result.

 

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/power/left-heel.htm

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Sliding Your Right Knee will Rob You of Distance

If your right knee slides to the right during the backswing, you won't be able to store power to your back foot.

 

If this happens, your hips will slide to the right as well causing the reverse pivot.

 

To stop slifing your right knee, you need to make sure you turn rather than slide on the backswing.

 

Also, yo want to tilt your spine a little to the right at address. When your spine is tilted to the right at address, you will easily shift your wieght to the back foot as you turn back.

 

Stand up straight and turn back. You will find that your weight is still centered.

 

Now, tilt your spine to the right and do the same thing. I think you will understand what I'm saying.

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/power/sliding-right-knee.htm

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Turn Your Back to the Target on the Backswing

Lots of players try to swing their arms as far as they can on the backswing for more distance.

 

But you won't hit it very far like that.

 

To hit it far, you need to turn your shoulders more. My father was a very good player. He told me to turn my back to the target on the backswing.

 

I still use this thought today.

 

It's great way to turn fully for more distance. To turn your shoulders, you want to flare out your right toe at address.

 

This will make your hips to turn more. When your hips turn more, your shoulders will turn further back as well.

 

When you nedd extra distancem think "Turn" rather than swinging your arms further back.

 

Close Your Stance

Another way to turn more is to close your stance a little at address.

 

Pull your right foot back about 5 to 10 inches at address. By closing your feet line, you will be able to turn further back.

 

Swing along your feet line to hit the ball from inside. At address, toe-in your club a little to hit a slight draw.

 

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/power/turn-your-back.htm

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Right Arm Drill for more Power

If you want to increase your distance, you might want to try right arm drill.

 

Here is how to do it.

1. Put your left hand on your waist.

2. Grip 9-iron with your right hand only.

3. Take 20 practice swings.

 

By swinging with your right hand only, wou will feel the weight of the clubhead. In golf swing, I think it's very important to feel the weight of the clubhead during the swing.

 

So this drill will teach you about that.

 

Also, you will learn how to use your right arm during the swing.

 

After taking 20 practice swinggs, hit some ball with your right hand.

 

You don't have to hit it far. Just focus on hitting it in the middle of the clubface.

 

After you get used to it, start trying to hit the ball to the left or right of the target. You will learn more about your swing path using this drill.

 

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/power/right-arm-drill.htm

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How to Get Distance with a Driver

When you need extra distance off the tee, what do you do?

 

Ernie Els said he does 2 things to get some more distance.

1. Move your head back a little away from the target.

2. Grip the club little stronger than normal.

 

By moving your head back a little, you will create more space on the downswing.

 

Gripping the club little stronger will make it easier to close the face through impact to let you hit a slight draw for more distance.

 

It's also a good idea to put little mote weight on your back foor at address. This will tilt your spine little more to the right allowing you to hit the ball on the upswing.

 

Tee Height

According to one study. average golfers do better with the tee height. They hit it further with more accuracy when they tee the ball up higher.

 

Most players think teeing the ball lower will give you more accuracy. But by teeing the ball lower, players start to hit down on the ball causing them to lose distance and accuracy.

 

With a driver, you want to sweep the ball off the tee or hit it slightly on the upswing.

 

If you want extra distance, tee the ball so that the bottom of the ball is just above the top of your driver.

 

This is very high.

 

So you don't want to rest your driver on the ground at address. Instead, hover your driver above the ground just behind the ball.

And don't swing up too much on the ball.

 

If you want to hit it higher and longer, try to swing at the lower hemisphere of the ball. The ball will have higher launch angle with less spin for more distance.

Read more: http://www.golfsamurai.net/power/extra-distance-with-driver.htm

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Swing Your Arms Faster

To increase your distance, you need to swing your clubhead faster through impact.

 

But most average players try to swing their body faster. When you do this, your arms and the club get behind your body forcing you to block shots to the right.

 

David Toms said when he needs extra distance, he tries to swing his arms faster instead of his body.

 

In terms of your body, try to turn as far as you can on the backswing to create more space for your arms to swing faster.

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