A fade in golf is when the ball starts straight or slightly left of your target (for a right-handed golfer) but curves gently to the right mid-flight, usually ending up right of where you aimed. Fixing a golf fade requires looking closely at your swing path and clubface angle at impact. Many amateur golfers fight a persistent fade, which often leads to frustration and poor scores. This article will give you clear steps for golf slice correction and help you learn how to shape your shots intentionally.
Deciphering Why Golf Balls Fade
To stop a fade, you must first know why it happens. A fade, or a gentle slice, occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact. Think of it like this: the clubface steers the ball initially, and the swing path dictates the curve.
For a right-handed golfer, a fade happens when:
- The Clubface is Open: The clubface points right of the target line at impact.
- The Swing Path is Out-to-In: The club travels from outside the target line toward the ball, then across the body to the left.
This combination creates sidespin that moves the ball right. If the path is significantly out-to-in and the face is very open, you get a full-blown slice, which is a more severe version of a fade. We are aiming for a straight flight or perhaps even a slight draw to eliminate this issue.
Key Swing Faults Leading to a Fade
Fixing a golf fade means addressing the root cause in your mechanics. Most fades stem from issues in the transition and downswing sequence.
The Role of the Over-the-Top Move
The most common culprit for a fade is the “over-the-top” downswing. This is where the initial move from the top of the backswing pulls the club outside the intended swing plane.
- The golfer often feels like they are swinging “harder” or faster from the top.
- This steepens the attack angle, forcing the club to approach the ball from outside the target line.
- This out-to-in golf swing path adjustment is the primary driver of the fade.
Clubface Control Issues
Even with a decent path, an open face will cause a fade. This often happens because the hands flip too early, or the lead wrist extends slightly through impact.
- The golfer is trying to “steer” the ball away from a miss (like a pull or hook), leading to an overcorrection that opens the face.
- If the face is open when the path is neutral or slightly in-to-out, you will still see a push or a fade.
Step-by-Step Guide to Correcting a Fade
We will focus our golf swing path adjustment first, as that is usually the bigger factor. We want to encourage an in-to-out path to promote straighter shots or even a slight draw.
1. Reassessing Your Setup for a Neutral Path
Start simple. A poor setup can force a poor swing later.
Ball Position and Stance
If you set up too far back in your stance, it makes it easier to get the club stuck behind you, leading to an out-to-in path.
- Check Ball Position: Ensure the ball is slightly forward of center for mid-irons and near the middle for shorter irons.
- Stance Alignment: Sometimes, golfers aim left (trying to compensate for the fade) but keep their shoulders aimed even further left, setting up the out-to-in move from the start. Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are parallel to your target line.
2. Promoting a Better Swing Plane: Shallowing the Swing
To move the path from out-to-in to in-to-out, you must change how the club enters the hitting zone. We need to work on shallowing the golf swing. Shallowing means dropping the club slightly behind you in the transition, allowing it to approach the ball from the inside.
Drills for Shallowing
- The Hula Hoop Drill: Imagine a large hula hoop on the ground around the ball. Your goal is to swing the club through the hoop from the inside, not cutting across it from the outside.
- The Takeaway Check: In the backswing, make sure your hands travel slightly inside on the first move. If your hands move outside the line of the ball immediately, you are setting up the over-the-top move.
- The Towel Under Armpit Drill: Place a small towel or headcover under your lead armpit (left armpit for right-handers) before you start. If you swing over the top, the towel will fall out immediately. This forces you to keep the arm connected to the body, naturally promoting a shallower angle.
3. Impact Adjustments for Clubface Control
Once you feel the path starting to move inward, you must stabilize the clubface. An in-to-out path with an open face will only lead to a powerful push to the right. We are aiming for an in-to-out path with a square or slightly closed face to promote controlling golf ball flight towards the target.
Hand and Wrist Action
Many fades result from a “casting” motion early in the downswing, where the wrist sets release too soon, opening the face.
- Feel the Lag: Focus on keeping the angle between your lead arm and the shaft longer as you approach impact. This delay helps keep the face square longer.
- The “Right Forearm Underneath” Feel (For Right-Handers): Try to feel your right forearm rotating over your left forearm through impact. This powerful pronation action helps shut the face slightly, combating the fade tendencies. This is crucial if you are fighting hooking golf shots previously, as fixing the fade often brings you closer to a neutral strike, though overdoing this can cause an unwanted hook.
| Swing Element | Fault Causing Fade | Correction Focus | Desired Impact Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swing Path | Out-to-In (Steep) | Shallowing the entry point | In-to-Out or Neutral |
| Clubface Angle | Open to Path | Wrist rotation/Prongation | Square or Slightly Closed to Target |
| Transition | Throwing the club from the top | Loading the lower body first | Smooth weight shift inward |
4. Sequencing the Downswing Properly
The transition from backswing to downswing dictates the path. To fix the over-the-top move and start improving golf shot accuracy, the lower body must initiate the move.
- Lower Body First: Feel your weight shift toward the target (left side for right-handers) before your arms start moving down. This lower body action naturally allows the hands and arms to drop down on the correct inside track.
- Hold the Tension: Resist the urge to immediately swing hard. Slow down the transition drill—count to three on the change—to ensure your body leads the arms. This slow motion helps you feel the inside approach required for golf slice correction.
Advanced Drills for Path and Plane Correction
These drills specifically target the mechanics that cause the club to move outside the target line. If you are correcting a left miss in golf (a pull/hook), these drills might introduce too much inside movement initially, but they are vital for eradicating a severe fade.
The Gate Drill
This is excellent for visualizing the correct entry point.
- Place two headcovers or alignment sticks in front of the ball.
- One stick should be just outside the ball, angled slightly away from you (the danger zone for an out-to-in cut).
- The second stick should be slightly inside the ball, angled toward you.
- The goal is to swing the club between the two sticks, approaching the ball from the inside path. This forces you to avoid the outside cut that causes the fade.
The Mirror Drill (Using Video)
Filming your swing is non-negotiable for serious improvement. Use slow-motion replay to check your shaft plane relative to your arms at the top of the backswing and during the shallowing phase.
- Target Check: At the midway point of the downswing (when your lead arm is parallel to the ground), the club shaft should ideally point slightly inside the ball or directly down the line. If it points outside the ball, you are setting up for an OTT move and likely fixing a golf fade will remain difficult.
When the Fade is Intentional vs. Unintentional
It is important to distinguish between a destructive, uncontrolled fade and a controlled fade used strategically.
Some professionals intentionally hit a slight fade (a low-spinning shot that moves gently right) to hold greens or shape around hazards. This is an intentional golf swing plane adjustment resulting in a controlled trajectory.
- Uncontrolled Fade: Caused by poor mechanics (over the top, open face). Results are inconsistent and frustrating.
- Controlled Fade: Achieved by swinging slightly out-to-in while keeping the clubface square to the intended flight line. This requires high levels of proficiency and excellent improving golf shot accuracy.
If your current issue is an accidental slice that ruins rounds, focus only on the path correction detailed above until you can hit the ball straight or draw it slightly.
Addressing the Common Fear: Why Fixing a Fade Can Lead to a Hook
When golfers spend time trying to fix a fade, they often overcorrect the path or aggressively shut the face, leading to a temporary, or even permanent, pull or hook. This is because eliminating golf hook issues requires the opposite adjustments (more in-to-out path with a very closed face).
If you start hitting hooks:
- Slow Down the Transition: You are likely throwing the club from the top again, but this time you are flipping the wrists too aggressively.
- Check Face Awareness: Focus on keeping the toe of the club pointing slightly toward the sky longer in the downswing. This prevents the face from snapping shut too early.
- Neutralize the Setup: Go back to square alignment. If your path is truly in-to-out now, a square setup should produce a straight shot or a soft draw.
Using Equipment to Aid Correction
While mechanics are key, sometimes equipment reinforces bad habits.
| Equipment Factor | Contribution to Fade | Potential Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Shaft Flex | Too stiff a shaft prevents proper release, contributing to an open face. | Consider a slightly softer shaft, especially in the tip section, to aid release. |
| Club Loft | Lower loft magnifies the side spin effect. | Use a driver with slightly more loft (10.5° vs. 9.5°) to help get the ball airborne with less side spin. |
| Lie Angle | If the toe is pointing too far up at impact (too upright), it can resist closing, causing a fade. | Have a fitter check your lie angle; a flatter lie angle can encourage closing. |
Training Aids for Path and Face Correction
Specific training aids can help groove the feeling of an inside approach, critical for shallowing the golf swing.
- Impact Bag: Hitting an impact bag forces the hands to lead and the clubface to square up without fear of a bad result. It helps train the feeling of the right forearm rotating over the left.
- Alignment Sticks on the Ground: Beyond the gate drill, place one stick running parallel to your target line and another running along your intended swing path (slightly inside the target line). Your club should track precisely between these two lines. This provides visual confirmation of an in-to-out movement.
Summary of Actions to Stop the Fade
To successfully stop hitting a fade and start controlling golf ball flight, prioritize these actions in order:
- Verify Setup: Ensure your body alignment is truly square to the target.
- Master the Transition: Feel your lower body initiate the downswing before your arms drop. This starts the shallowing the golf swing process.
- Track Inside: Consciously feel like you are swinging the club around your body, not at the ball from outside.
- Square the Face: Focus on rotating the forearms through impact to ensure the face is square or slightly closed relative to your new, more inside path.
Consistency in practice, especially using focused drills, is the only way to rewire these ingrained swing patterns and achieve better improving golf shot accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Fixing a Fade
Q: Can I fix a fade just by aiming left?
A: Aiming left only masks the problem. If you aim left and still fade, you are hitting a big slice starting left of the target. You must fix the swing path and face angle to hit the ball straight toward your intended target, not just aim away from your miss.
Q: How long does it take to fix a slice or fade?
A: This depends on how long you have reinforced the bad habit and how often you practice. Small mechanical changes, like golf swing path adjustment, can show immediate results in practice, but ingraining them under pressure might take several weeks or months of dedicated drilling.
Q: What is the difference between a fade and a slice?
A: A fade is a gentle, controlled curve to the right (for a right-hander). A slice is an exaggerated, high-spin, severe curve to the right. Both result from an open face relative to an out-to-in path, but the slice is much more severe and usually involves a higher attack angle.
Q: I hit my driver straight but my irons fade. Why?
A: This often relates to setup and ball position. With irons, players often stand too far from the ball or use a more upright posture, which promotes an OTT move on shorter clubs. Try moving the ball slightly forward for your irons and ensure you are swinging through the ball, not at it. This is a common element in correcting a left miss in golf when it only affects irons.