How to Shape Golf Shots - 'New' Golf Ball Flight Laws Explained

Have you ever wondered what specifically makes a golf ball spin right or left (for a slice or a hook)? Or how about why the ball starts left or right of target but stays straight along that line (for a pull or a push)? Thanks to the advances in golf launch monitor technology (i.e. trackman) we can finally determine what causes a golf ball to fly into any trajectory. Follow the golf tips in this video to learn how the ‘new’ golf ball flight laws work and how you can use them to shape your golf shots.
Two factors determine the ball flight of your golf shots. One is the direction of the clubface at impact (open, square, or closed) and the other is the club path, again at impact (out-to-in, square, in-to-out).
The initial direction of the golf ball is most determined by the clubface at impact, at around 85% to be precise. That means that if the clubface is aiming right of the target at impact then the ball is likely to start its flight right of the target. Likewise if the clubface is pointing to the left of the target at impact then the ball is likely to start left of the target.
Now whether the ball keeps that initial ball flight with little spin or curves sideways (left or right) will depend on the club path and how that club path matches - or mismatches - with the clubface direction.
If the club path matches the clubface direction then the ball will go on a straight line, with little sidespin applied to the ball. Therefore, a clubface that aims straight at the target will remain straight throughout its flight if the club path was straight also. If the clubface was aiming right but the swing matches that direction with an in-to-out club path then that ball will start right and stay relatively right, for a push. Likewise if the clubface was aiming left but the club path is of the out-to-in variety then that ball will start left of target and stay left, for a pull.
Now if the clubface is pointing straight at the target but the club path is of the outside-in variety then the ball will spin clockwise, resulting in a ball that will spin right and finish right of the target. Likewise if the clubface is pointing again straight at the target but the club path is of the inside-out variety then the ball will spin counter-clockwise, spinning left and ending to the left of the target.
Just remember that the bigger the difference between the clubface direction and the club path, the bigger the sidespin. Now that you know what makes a golf ball behave the way it does, use that information to shape golf balls to your liking, for a draw or a fade, for example.
For more on the new golf ball flight laws see:
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