Different types of fade w/ different swings

[Mugnut]

Starts like a draw and ends like a fade . . .

Been monkeying around a lot on th range - mostly working on anti-hook/anti-pull techniques.



My usual fade swing feels slightly more upright and "smooth" - I start the ball a little left of target and try to let it drift back the whole way. This swing can generate pulls if I get over the top/quick. So I don't always trust it unless my timing feels really good that day. note that this is an adjustment from my standard small draw (or hook, as it may be).



I've been working on a different type of fade - created by a neutral grip, and a flatter, more one plane swing (and a harder, rather than smoother swing). The thing that it's interesting about it is the ballflight: the ball takes off almost like a draw, and then seems to correct or tumble back to the left 2/3 of the way throught its flight. I keep thinking that the ballflight is physically impossible, but I;ve been able to create it on a fairly repeatable basis.



For your connouiseurs of swing types (one plne vs. two plane) and the ballflights they create - should i be chasing this second kind of ballflight/fade as a desriable result of a good swing? It seems like a ballflight that could be one's bread and putter shot, instead of a specialty shot. Interested in your thoughts.

[Ducky]

A ball that drifts left and then comes back to the right, sounds like a Muttiah Muralitharan delivery (you probably don't know who he is). Anyway, was there any wind present at the time of hitting the above mentioned shot?

[Mugnut]

some kind of cricket thing?

 

no wind to speak of; I have observed this phenomenon on several occasions regardless of conditions. Just looks like a 1 yard draw getting to the apex, and then almost knuckles off to the right a little bit on the descent.

 

I'm just not sure if this is (1) a wacko ballflight, or (2) a good ballflight to strive for.

[Ducky]

I am sure there is a good reason for it, I am just trying to eliminate the factors that may have caused it to be a "once off" (or occasional) phenomenon. Originally I thought this may have been caused by:

 

a) A gust of wind

b) Poor quality range balls

 

As far as it being a good/bad ballflight to achieve, obviously a fade is a great shot to have if it is predictable and repeatable. Did you notice any other differences (such as carry, roll, etc) from a standard fade apart from the ball flight?

 

I know this probably isn't the answer you are looking for, but unfortunately I cannot comment too accurately on something I have not experienced.

[mfo]

Ducky:

 

I was reading the one plane threads the other night and saw some people discussing this ball flight as the optimal ball flight produced by the one plane/Hardy method. They mentioned a former tour pro named Keith Fergus as someone who played the knuckle fade. You may want to look at some of those other threads.

[Mugnut]

I'm familiar with the knuckle fade from the good teachings of Slicefixer on this board and elsewhere. I always assumed that the knuckle fade was a driver-only play. Never thought of it as an iron play, but that does make sense that they are similar shots. I use a slightly different swing to try to produce (what I think is) a knuckle fade with the driver, but it could be that what I think is a "knuckle fade" with the driver is not a knuckle fade at all, and what the shot I am describing with the irons is the real "knuckle fade" . . . in that case, then I might be on the right path here.

[Ducky]

Yeah, I recall Slicefixer writing about it. I guess Mugnut can find his answers in that thread then.

 

:cheesy:

 

Edit: Bah, I need to type faster.

[Mugnut]

I found the mention in that thread. It still seems anomalous/paradoxical/not logical, but if someone over there says this is what it should be, I'll believe it.

[857 Pro-Ti]

Sounds like beat up range balls to me. I see those shots all the time at the range. Have you done it with a new ball?

 

Why not just hit the ball straight :D It's easier :cheesy:

[Jer-Jer]

It's just beacuse you cut across the ball at impact, starts it left and then fades right. I think it's because you have an outside-inside swing. Smetimes you just double cross it which leads to pulls.

[Mugnut]

I've seen this flight under too many conditions for it just to be range balls.

 

The appearance of the flight is almost like it reverses spin mid-flight: climbs like a small draw and drops like a fade. That's the best I can describe it. In that sense, it does look like a knuckleball - which can move in different directions on the way to the plate.

 

Maybe I'm high. Well, not right now, at least.