Is the fade a PROPER golf shot?

[Scouser]

After reading an email today....and catching up on my post about driver distance I have copied this section of the email from a club pro advertising his services and the club he belongs too.

(no I will not name the club or the pro)

"I would love golfers to improve their swings to remove fades and create better ball striking. In the meantime the technology in modern equipment is doing a good job of compensating for our faults. And that means better golf and more fun."

So after appearing to have developed a fade am I nor playing a proper golf shot?

Please look at these questions

 

[Imurg]

Ask Kaymer, Monty or Jack if the fade is a proper shot - it's earned then a fortune or two over the last 50 years.

I play with a fade, slice, hook, draw and straight so I couldn't answer the 2nd part of the vote.....

 

[ADB]

^^^ +1

I wonder whether the Pro was being slightly diplomatic and was referring to removing a slice, which is much different.

 

[bluetoon]

Absolutely, its a fine shot to have in the bag.
I'm a natural fader and have put many hours into trying to draw the ball. This year i have had geat success with my draw shots and is very satisfying particularly on the holes that suit it.
However, played a medal today without any kind of warmup and from the first few shots new that i was fading the ball.
Kept with it and resisted any temtation to manipulate the shots. went the whole round fading the ball and finished with a gross 76 (CSS71). Nice .4 cut again
Its more important to have a repeatable swing than the shape. Just work with what you have got and make it more reliable. Leave the shot shaping for the range.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

If I could hit a consistent fade I'd be over the moon

 

[brendy]

Fades and draws are grand (I hit a natural draw but do have a fade in me) slices and hooks are also great tools from everywhere but the teebox.

 

[goldenbare]

I think a number of famous names would not have been if this wasn't their stock shot. jack (Golden Bear) Nicklaus and Monty are just 2 to start with.

 

[Mongoose]

Yes, its a proper shot, and one thats the choice of many fine players. But personally I dont like it, I lose too much distance on drives that I cant afford to lose, and I find it less controllable than a draw, the fades very easily turn into slices. I also dont like the way a fade is far more affected (or seems to be) by wind, whereas a draw seems to cut through the wind better. Now the ground is firming up the difference on a lowish draw tee shot to a higher fade is 30 yds or so, and sometimes more. Give me the draw everytime, unless its a fading hole of course

 

[JT77]

I play a draw, have a flatter swing and it is my natural shape, but i work really hard to play a fade, especially with my irons, well 6-wedge any way.

 

[G_Mulligan]

although I voted yes to both it is not a proper shot in my hands as it is not intentional and I can control it. Top players who play with one and use it to their advantage it is of course a proper shot.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Definitely a proper shot and one I'd love to be able to hit on demand. Sadly my stock shot is a draw on a good day swithcing to a hook, and a pull hook on a bad day and a snap hook on very bad day

 

[gregbwfc]

When I'm swinging really well,my shots have a little draw on them.
Weirdly though,I'd prefer to hit a little fade with the driver.
Opposite to Mongoose - I always think the draw will become a duck hook (Usually 'cos it does )

 

[AuburnWarrior]

The 1st at my place requires a left to right shot shape.

It's a par 4.

I've driven the green and had a tap in eagle.

One of the best shots I've ever hit so, yes, the fade is a proper shot.

As has been said, it's made numerous top touring pros millions over the years so I reckon they'd agree with me..

 

[Swinger]

I didn't reapond to the poll.

A Fade is a proper shot if you played for one and it suits the hole.

Don't get bent up about people saying things about a fade but in the same way don't think you better than anyone else because you can play one.

 

[Scouser]

I didn't reapond to the poll.

A Fade is a proper shot if you played for one and it suits the hole.

Don't get bent up about people saying things about a fade but in the same way don't think you better than anyone else because you can play one.

No way do I think I am better than any one else ....the fade has only come out on the last two trips to the range....in a consistent manor that is!!!! but i think when its happened its good enough to stick out....

On the course when I have hit one I have found the fairways more often all be it sometimes at the edge

The thread was started because of the email i received

 

[RGDave]

I said no and no. Standing on a range, ball after ball a fade is not a proper golf shot, nor is a draw (for that matter). Creaming the ball 280 yards down to fairway cutting in off the left bunker or sliding in a 7 iron to a back right pin are definately proper golf shots!

I thought everyone tried to hit the ball straight or learn to play to their strengths? If a pro/good amateur reliably hits the ball L-R a few yards every drive and calls himself Colin...that's good enough for me.

 

[Swinger]

I didn't reapond to the poll.

A Fade is a proper shot if you played for one and it suits the hole.

Don't get bent up about people saying things about a fade but in the same way don't think you better than anyone else because you can play one.

No way do I think I am better than any one else ....the fade has only come out on the last two trips to the range....in a consistent manor that is!!!! but i think when its happened its good enough to stick out....

On the course when I have hit one I have found the fairways more often all be it sometimes at the edge

The thread was started because of the email i received

That post wasn't meant to be taken personally.

Don't believe everything you read would be a more appropriate response!

The pro is trying to sell lessons on the back of a common bad shot, the silce, and the difficulty the average player finds in hitting a draw.

If you enjoy hitting a Fade on most shots and find it consistant then fade away but a slice is something you'll have to work hard at to be consistant at!

 

[Yerman]

I can hook, draw, push and slice but straight or fade are myths in my game. What's your missing shot?

 

[kid2]

I voted Yes and Yes...
I play a left to right shot always have...Well in the 2 or so years that i have been playing....
I started life as a fairly bad slice that i got so frustrated with that i knew something had to be done....My issue was my grip and my alignment...
Having sorted both of these i now play with a fairly controlable flight from left to right....My take is its not a slice as im not aiming way left to get it to finish where i want...

Im aiming only a few yards left of my target with a neutral stance.....It starts straight and tails off to the right about the last 1/3rd of its flight....

But i can control it..What does happen is that if i really push the speed too much then that fade does become a slice but then i know whats happening....My tempo is getting too fast..So what if im a little shorter than everyone else....It only means an extra club at the end of the day...Its not the end of the world.

 

[Achilles]

Yes it's a proper shot but interestingly (or not!) one I seem to have grown out of in the last 8 months or so. Last summer I had a lovely consistent fade but I draw the ball more often than not now. Not a complaint as I'm gaining more distance but at the same time the fade was very predictable and I do miss it at times as I could play to it on a relatively consistent basis (for a high handicapper at least) and was accurate with it. Like a lot of people have already said, if it wasn't a proper shot there would be a number of big names not earning half as much as they do on tour.