A fade is one of the more popular shots out of the tee box. Many players, both amateur and professional know it to be a very useful shot, especially in today’s age of high-tech clubs. So, I wanted to highlight some of the unique fade shots that both current and previous pros used while on tour.
Keep in mind, there are countless players that hit a fade shot, these are ones that stuck out to me, this is my list of pros who hit fade shots.
Pro Players Who Hit Fades:
- Dustin Johnson
- Rory Mcllroy
- Collin Morikawa
- Jack Nicklaus
1. Dustin Johnson
According to Dustin Johnson during one of his press conferences, he decided to start trying out a fade in early 2016. After using it during a number of practice rounds, he felt he had more control of the ball.
So, he decided that instead of hitting his usual draw, he would start hitting a fade from there on out. Now, he is much more well known for his fade. He also claimed that he would still hit a draw with every club except for the driver.
He says that he wants to keep hitting a fade with his driver so that he can maintain control over his shot out of the tee box. So, it seems that he is very trusting in his ability to hit a fade with his driver and we should expect to see it for years to come.
Why Does Dustin Johnson Hit A Fade?
Dustin Johnson began incorporating a fade into his regular routine, ultimately using it as his staple out-of-the-tee-box shot. According to Golf.com, he decided to start hitting a fade because he was able to have more control over the ball in comparison to when he hit a draw.
2. Rory McIlroy
Another pro who is known to hit a fade out of the tee box is Rory McIlroy. For quite some time, McIlroy was known to hit a mean draw, however, he stated that many of the new drivers he was using made it much more difficult to hit a draw, so he changed his play style, out of the tee box, to hit a fade.
It took some time to see the improvement, but it seems as though now the fade has been benefitting him an incredible amount. Not only that, but the newer drivers give much more support for his fade than his draw, so he won’t be in an ongoing battle against newer drivers that get released.
3. Collin Morikawa
Unlike the other two listed above, it seems as though Morikawa has always been known for his fade. He attributes the shot to much of his success in the pros, and for good reason. Morikawa’s fade shot out of the tee box is a bit more unique than other tour professionals.
According to an interview he did with Golf.com, he really tries to begin with a wide backswing. Bringing his arms backwards as far as he can. On his follow through, he tries to make sure that his club is swinging from center to left. In other words, once he makes contact, he tries to follow through with his shoulders facing the left side of the fairway.
Watching it is like a work of art. It is very clear that he is a strong fade player, and has been using it for many many years.
4. Jack Nicklaus
One of the all-time-greats, Jack Nicklaus, was quite famous for his “power fade”. According to records, he never really liked to hit a draw, unless there was absolutely no other option (he always preferred the fade). Nicklaus’s fade was known to fly very high, reaching an apex that only a few other players could reach, hitting a fade.
Allegedly, he has inspired many other golfers to use this type of fade when playing. That being with high trajectory and strong backspin. Even though he can’t get the distance that he used to, his fade shot is still sealed in the history books as one of the most famous shots out of the tee box.