Okay, so I’ve been trying to nail down this “Sam Burns fade” shot I saw him hit. It’s not like a crazy slice, more of a controlled cut, you know? Here’s how my practice session went today, and what I figured out along the way.
Getting Started
First things first, I warmed up. Can’t just jump into trying fancy shots without loosening up. Did some stretches, hit a few easy wedges, just to get the blood flowing and the body moving.
The Setup
I grabbed my 7-iron because that’s what I felt comfortable with. Now, for the fade, I did a few things differently:
- Opened my stance: I aimed my feet a little left of the target. Not a ton, just enough so I felt like I was lined up slightly left.
- Ball position: Played it a bit forward in my stance, like maybe an inch or so.
- Clubface: Here’s the tricky part. I opened the clubface just a smidge at address. Again, not a lot, just enough to see a little more of the face.
The Swing
This is where I messed up a bunch at first. My natural swing is more of a draw, so I had to really think about what I was doing:
- Swing path: The key, I realized, was to swing along my foot line, not the target line. So, I was swinging slightly “out-to-in”. It felt weird at first.
- Keep it smooth: Tried not to muscle it. A fade isn’t about power, it’s about control. I focused on a smooth, controlled swing.
- Release The Club: Do not hold the * let it flow.
The Results (and Frustrations)
First few? Awful. Total slices. Way too much curve. I realized I was opening the clubface way too much and swinging way too far out-to-in. It’s a subtle thing, this fade.
Then, I started getting a feel for it. I toned down the open stance and the clubface. Focused on that smooth, out-to-in swing along my foot line. And bam, there it was. A nice, gentle fade that started a little left and curved softly back towards the target.
I wouldn’t say I “mastered” it today, not by a long shot. But I definitely made progress. I hit a few that were pretty close to what I was aiming for. The biggest takeaway? It’s all about subtlety and feel. You can’t force a fade, you have to finesse it.
Next Steps
I’m going to keep working on this. Maybe try it with different clubs, see how it feels with a longer iron or even a fairway wood. It’s a cool shot to have in the bag, especially when you need to shape it around something or hold a green that slopes away from you. Definitely going to spend more time on the range with this one!
