You know that moment. You’re standing on the tee, hands a little shaky, heart rate not ideal, and all you’re thinking is: “Just don’t duck hook it.” Now imagine doing that in front of 10 million viewers, on Sunday at Augusta, with a green jacket on the line.
That’s where Phil Mickelson lived. And when the pressure cranked up, he didn’t go safe — he went left to right. The high fade wasn’t just a shot shape for Phil Mickelson. It was a strategy. A solution. A security blanket disguised as a full-send.
Let’s break down why his high fade worked so well — and how you can (sort of) borrow it for your own game.
The Setup: High Tee, Higher Intent
Phil teed it high. Really high. We’re talking “entire ball above the driver crown” high. Most of us would be worried about skimming it off the top. But for Mickelson, that tee height was key to launching the ball high with low spin — ideal conditions for a fade that carries instead of ballooning.
He’d open his stance and align his body just left of his starting line, with the clubface aimed at his intended target. But here’s the crucial bit — he didn’t set up square and then rotate the face. He gripped the club after he made those adjustments, locking in the fade pattern before he even started his swing.
It wasn’t something he hoped to pull off mid-swing. It was built in. Baked in. Practiced and polished to the point of reliability.
Why Two Drivers? Because One Just Didn’t Cut It
Phil’s famous two-driver setup wasn’t a marketing stunt — it was surgical. One was for bombs (a draw-bias driver with maxed-out distance). The other? A slightly shorter, fade-biased driver designed for precision.
That second driver helped him launch “cute little cuts into the fairway” — his words, not ours. It was built to make the fade effortless, not something he had to muscle into existence. Shaft specs, internal weighting, loft tweaking — he dialed it all in.
And you know what? It worked. Especially when the rest of the field was spraying it under pressure, Phil had a predictable shot shape in his back pocket. Not a bomb-and-pray — a weapon.
High Launch, Low Spin: The Goldilocks Combo
Here’s where it gets geeky (but stay with me). Mickelson generated one of the highest launch angles on tour — about three degrees higher than average. But he also kept spin low.
That combo — high launch, low spin — is like the holy grail for modern drivers. The ball rides the air longer, stays straighter in crosswinds, and lands softer. That’s why his fade didn’t just curve — it soared. And when it landed? It stayed put.
No overshooting doglegs. No runaway fairways. Just a reliable high cut that sat where it was told.
Under Pressure, This Shot Had His Back
The 2006 Masters is a perfect example. Mickelson leaned on his high fade and dual-driver system to carve up Augusta. One club for shaping draws, another for working fades — depending on the hole. But when things got tight? He trusted the fade.
Same story at places like Pebble Beach, where firm fairways and sloped terrain reward trajectory control over raw power. He’d “work it against the slope,” riding that fade like a wave to set up scoring chances.
The fade wasn’t his backup plan — it was his go-to when things got serious.
Want to Hit It Like Phil? Start Smaller
Let’s be real. You’re not going to step onto the range tomorrow and hit Phil’s high fade on command. But you can start building your version of it.
- Tee Height: Go higher than usual. Not Phil-high, but enough that the top third of the ball is above the crown.
- Stance and Face: Open your stance slightly, and point the clubface where you want the ball to finish.
- Grip After Setup: Grip the club after you’ve aimed everything. It locks in the angle.
- Start with Irons: Work the fade with a 7-iron first. Then graduate to longer clubs once it’s consistent.
- Driver Comes Last: Only go for the fade driver once you’re feeling it. That club’s less forgiving.
A Shot That Works When the Wind Doesn’t
One of the big reasons Mickelson trusted the high fade in pressure situations? It held up in the wind. That consistent left-to-right shape cut through gusts that ate up draws and straight balls.
And it didn’t just perform under pressure — it took pressure off. No need to baby a swing or hold something off. He could go after it and let the shot shape do the work.
If you’ve ever stood on a tee box and felt unsure — this is the shot that gives you certainty. Or at least, more certainty than a panicked slice or an overcooked draw.
What This Means for You
You might not need two drivers. You might not even want to play a fade all the time. But having a reliable left-to-right shot in your bag? That’s a serious upgrade.
Especially on tight driving holes, windy days, or when you just want something dependable under pressure — the fade gives you room. Room to play aggressive lines without bringing big misses into play.
Just like Mickelson used it when the heat was on.
Because sometimes, the smartest thing you can do in golf… is choose the safer aggressive option.
“Cute little cuts into the fairway.” — Phil Mickelson
