Instruction
Turn your weak fade into a power fade
When I see most golfers hit a “cut” or a “fade,” it’s usually a weak shot that curves away from their intended target. That’s because most golfers use a “wiping” motion to hit the shot, and that creates a ball flight with little power that tends to spray offline.
What I’d like to do with this article is help golfers learn how to hit a “power fade,” which won’t suffer a loss in yardage and will increase control.
A power fade is more accurately labeled as a “release fade,” because it allows golfers to fully release the club through impact. I’ll explain it below in terms of a right-handed golfer, so if you’re left-handed, simply reverse the directions.
To hit a power fade, have the club face pointed left of the target at impact, and have a club path that is pointed left of the club face. So even though the club face is pointed left of the target at impact, it’s still “open” in relation to the club path, which is why the ball curves from left to right.
The wipe fade has more of a “holding on” action through impact that feels like a block. The club face is open to the target and the path, so the ball will start right of the target and go farther to the right, creating the weak, slicing ball flight that most golfers have.
Remember, golfers are always trying to position the club face at impact between the swing path and their intended target. It allows the ball to begin in the correct direction before curving back to the target. Whenever the club face does not fit between the target and the club path, the starting direction will be incorrect and the curvature will work against the shot golfers are trying to hit.
The blue line above — the one the left — indicates swing path. It is far enough left of the target (yellow line) to allow the club face (red line) room to fit between the path and the intended target.
Let’s use Trackman to show you how these shots are created.
The Release Fade
- The face is between the path and the target.
- The swing path is left of the intended target by -3.5 degrees.
- The face angle is LEFT of the target by -2.2 degrees and RIGHT of the path by 1.2 degrees.
- Whenever the club face is right of the path, the ball will move left to right. This, of course, assumes that the golfer hits the ball on the center of the club face.
The Wipe Fade
- The face is NOT between the path and the target, so the starting direction is incorrect.
- The swing path is left of the intended target by -1.2 degrees.
- The face angle is RIGHT of the target by 11.8 degrees and RIGHT of the path by 13 degree
- Whenever the face is right of the path, the ball will move left to right; however when the face is also RIGHT of the target, the ball will now begin too far right of the target and then curve away from the target even farther. Both of these scenarios assume centered contact.
The trouble here is that the swing path is almost zeroed out, or too close to the intended target for the player to actually “release” the club without the danger of the ball double-crossing leftward. Therefore, the player “holds on” through impact and keeps the face pointed wide right of the target, not just the path. A push-slice ensues.
So the question remains, “How does one learn how to hit the ‘release fade?’”
First, you must find a swing path that is far enough leftward so that you can feel like you can fully release the club without hitting a “double-cross.” You will have to experiment with different face angles and club paths, as the amount differs for most players.
Second, experiment with different release feels that still allow the ball to curve from left to right with the ball beginning LEFT of the target. Your release feels should be defined as your natural release, not a “hold-on” release.
Third, shifting the path far enough left of your natural release feeling will allow the ball to begin left of the target, yet still curve back toward the target
If you double cross yourself, your path isn’t leftward enough to accommodate your “release.” Aim more left.
Experiment and have fun!
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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dave
Oct 23, 2016 at 9:35 am
Hi Tom
do you do online lessons. Regards
Dave
Josh
Apr 15, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Very solid write up. I’m not quite sure why so many people are bashing this article. Simply because the method he describes is not the same as is taught by others, or the same method you personally find best suits your swing, does not mean that his analysis was incorrect. To me, the big key here is being able to fully release the club head and still produce a left-to-right shot. Being a natural drawer of the golf ball, learning to hit a fade was–and still is–a difficult process for me. I tend to hit weak, “hold-off” fades every time rather than fulling releasing the club head and hitting controlled, “power” fades. Although I’m still not a fan of a left-to-right ball flight (it just looks ugly to me), being able to hit a power fade when the shot calls for one is an essential tool for anyone who wants to compete at a higher level. This article merely simplifies the process a bit.
Maximilian Weber
Apr 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm
wrong on so many levels…. a power fade is played with an inside swing path not coming over the top. lol. “great” article. no wonder you are not getting any distance on that ball if you’re coming from the outside WITH an open clubface
BKR
Apr 9, 2015 at 2:16 am
I think your data shows a power fade and a “wiping” slice, but not for the reason you point out. You are saying that “wiping” is causing a loss of distance. But you are saying that the “wiping” is due simply to the same swing and path/face relationship being pointed in a different direction (on the “wrong side” of the target/aim line), when, in fact, the reason “wipe fade” goes so much shorter is because of the huge face to path angle difference, not the direction of the path. The distance loss has nothing to do with the fact that the path is left of target/aim line or right of target/aim line, it has to do with the fact that the face angle on the “release fade” in the article is very close to the path angle, thus creating much less curve and much more distance. This is proven by Fred Couples who hits a push fade where his aiming point or “target line” are way left of his actual target and he simply swings in-to-out but has the face slightly open to that path, creating a small power fade, and he certainly does not lose any distance. So, if you have a swing like the “release fade” in the article (face-to-path of 1.2) and turned the path any amount to the right (as would be humanly possible), it would be the same shot, it would just be further right and you would have to aim further left, a la Freddy. So, given this, are you actually saying that you get more distance if you hit a pull fade vs. a push fade (assuming the same face-to-path ratio), because I have read articles and heard teachers say that the push cut (that Couples plays) is actually better for distance? If so, I would be very interested to see your trackman data showing a 1.2 face-to-path for a path of -3.5 going farther than 1.2 face-to-path for a path of 0.5, taking into account that it would be farther right and therefore “shorter” for that specific target line.
JP
Apr 8, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Thanks Tom. I’ve been working on this stuff for both a fade and a draw and this lines up exactly with what I do when I’m successful at hitting either shot. It’s nice to have it laid out in such an easy to understand way!
Mike T
Apr 8, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I play to a power fade, but am prone to a double cross and when things go really wrong, a big slice. The problem remains: “How does one learn how to hit the ‘release fade?’”. Consistency is a big issue for us higher handicap, so although I understand the data from the flight monitor, it really does me little good in relation to my driver swing. I need more how’s and less techno babble.
Aaron suarez
Apr 8, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Nice article Tom, I love when you do these kinda articles. It would be cool to see an article on the difference in distance between a fade and draw with a short iron a medium and long iron as I think most people wold be suprised by the difference and the change as the loft decreases. Also would be interesting to do s test where you hit straight balls and 10 20 30 and 40 yard cuts or draws and show the different carry distances. Fun stuff.
Jafar
Apr 8, 2015 at 11:49 am
How should your shoulders and hips be aligned?
SJ
Apr 8, 2015 at 7:47 am
Back when I did club fittings customers would always say their typical ball flight is a “power fade.” So I always thought a “power fade” was just an uncontrollable slice.
Tom Stickney
Apr 8, 2015 at 12:59 am
Double…you can’t be serious
Neige
Apr 7, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Informative. Thanks!
Double Mocha Man
Apr 7, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Is this article an April Fool’s Joke cuz it’s ridiculous
Full of lies but what else should we expect from Tom.
Right guys?
TheCityGame
Apr 8, 2015 at 9:39 am
No.
You should try to articulate what it is you think is ridiculous.
tom stickney
Apr 7, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Kevin– I would say that is correct, sir
Kevin
Apr 7, 2015 at 2:49 pm
So let’s take your article here with a twist. First off I’m left handed. My typical ball flight is a draw. However, after the winter months (clubs 5 months in the corner) the ball flight is right to left. I have the technology to know my path is to the left, but not sophisticated enough to tell me face angle. Could I interpret this information in the article to help bring my draw back? My ball starts left of my target but fades a little more left. Could this be because of the “hold on” you speak of and not releasing enough. Again I have the technology to know my path is not to the right but my ball is fading left. Thanks for reading.
Jake Anderson
Apr 7, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Thank you! Very good article! Great shot to have!
Jeremy Anderson
Apr 7, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Great article Tom.