Fade
THE SHOT THAT WON: The fade I hit at Baltusrol drifted from right to left because of my ball position and my weight shift through impact — not because I set up with an open clubface.
For a fade, I move the ball slightly forward in my stance and then feel as if I’m sliding a little bit more through impact with my hips. I finish in a more upright position, with the club sweeping up and around my body.
“ Take one side out of play by adjusting your ball position and weight transfer on the downswing — not by opening or closing the clubface.“
At address my ball position is slightly ahead of standard for a fade, but I haven’t opened the clubface. At impact my hips have shifted a little bit in front of my arms on the way down, but my head stays back. My shoulders stay more centered above my hips through the finish, and the club is high over my shoulders.
Draw
TURNING IT OVER: To hit a draw, I move my ball position back — an inch or two for a middle iron, as in the photographs here, and a little bit more for a driver. My swing path stays the same, but I’m hitting the ball as my swing arc is moving from inside to out. I make a more conventional turn through impact, and I finish with my shoulders a little more back than they are for the fade. The club moves more around my body, as well.
There’s no difference between this setup and the fade setup except for my ball position. Notice how the clubface is set the same way. At impact you can see more crease in the right shoulder of my shirt, and my hips are turning more actively, instead of sliding slightly. Compared to the fade, my upper body finishes back a little more, with the club wrapping around my body.
