Golf ball flight patterns, how they can help you
There are nine basic golf ball flight patterns.
Having some understanding of what happens to your golf ball after you have hit it could help you improve your golf swing. The golf ball can travel in three initial directions:- Straight, towards your target.
- Left, of your target.
- Right, of your target.
From each of these three initial directions, your ball can curve to the left or to the right.
Note: Club-face position — opened, closed or square is in relation to your swing-path of, not your target-line.
These are for right handed golfers the opposite for left handed golfer, # 9 would be a left handed golfer's “Pull Hook.” 1. Pull Hook: - Initial golf ball flight left of your target-line, counter clockwise side-spin will cause it to curve further left.
- Swing-path — outside to inside.
- Club-face — closed on contact with ball.
2.Pull:- Initial golf ball flight left of your target-line, backspin will keep it straight.
- Swing-path — outside to inside.
- Club-face — square with swing-path.
- Ball hit in center of club-face.
3.Pull Slice:- Initial golf ball flight left of target line, clockwise side-spin will cause ball to curve back to the right.
- Swing-path — outside to inside.
- Club-face — opened at contact with ball.
4.Hook:- Initial golf ball flight will be straight, counter-clockwise side-spin will cause it to curve left.
- Swing-path — on line.
- Club-face — closed at contact with ball.
5.Straight:- Initial golf ball flight is straight, backspin will keep it on line.
- Swing-path — on line with target.
- Club-face — is square at contact with ball.
- Ball hit in center of club-face.
6.Slice:- Initial golf ball flight is straight, clockwise side-spin will cause the ball to curve right.
- Swing-path — on line with target.
- Club-face — opened at contact with ball.
7.Push Hook:- Initial golf ball flight is right of target, counter clockwise side-spin will cause it to curve back left.Swing-path — inside to outside,
- Club-face — closed at contact with ball.
8.Push:- Initial golf ball flight is right of target, backspin will keep it straight.
- Swing-path — inside to outside.
- Club-face — square at contact with ball.
- Ball hit in center of club-face.
9.Push Slice:- Initial golf ball flight is right of target, counter clockwise side-spin will cause the ball to curve to the right.
- Swing-path — inside to outside.
- Club-face — opened at contact with ball.
The fastest way to improve your swing is to learn from the flight of your golf ball.
If you understand what is happening to your ball in flight you will have a good chance of finding the areas in your swing that are causing it to happen.
The laws of ball flight are absolutes:
- The initial direction a ball flies after impact is influenced by the path of the club-head.
- The more the toe or the heel of the club-head, is in front at impact, the more side-spin will be imparted on the ball and the more the ball will curve.
The main factors that will affect the flight of your golf ball are:- The path your golf club-head is traveling when it makes contact with the ball. This determines the initial direction of your golf ball.
- The position of the face of your club-head in relation to your swing path when the ball is struck.
After the initial direction is established by the path of the club-head, the position of your club-face at impact will cause the ball to spin. The ball can spin:- Backwards
- Clockwise
- Counter clockwise
Target-Line: Is the straight line you intend your ball to travel towards your specific target.
Swing-path: Is the path your golf club-head is swung through the bottom of your swing.There are three swing-path variations:
Outside to inside — Your golf club-head is traveling from outside your target line to inside your target line … initial ball flight will be “left” of your target.
" “Right” of target for left handed golfers.
On-line — Your golf club-head is traveling down your target line … initial ball flight will be straight towards your target.
" Both right and left handed golfers.
Inside to outside — Your golf club-head is traveling from inside your target line to outside your target line … initial ball flight will be “right” of your target.
" “Left” of target for left handed golfers.
Club-face Position:
If your club-face is pointed to the right of your swing-path, it is called “open” … clockwise (left to right) side-spin imparted on ball. Your ball will curve to the right.
" “Closed” for left handed golfer, counter clockwise side-spin. Your ball will curve to the left.
If the club-face is pointed to the left of your swing-path, it is called “closed” … Counter clockwise (right to left) side-spin imparted on ball. Your ball will curve to the left.
" “Open” for left handed golfer, clockwise side-spin, ball will curve to the right.
If it is perpendicular to your swing-path, it is called “square” … back spin imparted on ball. Your ball will remain straight.
" Both right and left handed golfers.
How much and the type of spin will vary depending on how opened or closed your club-face is.
The more open or closed your club-face is, the higher the spin-rate on your golf ball.
Where on the club-face the ball is struck will also have a major impact on the amount and type of spin you will have on your golf ball.
A ball hit towards the toe will open the club-face … "clockwise" (left to right) side-spin imparted on ball. Your ball will curve to the right.
A ball hit towards the heel will close the club-face … “counter clockwise” (right to left) side-spin imparted on ball. Your ball will curve to the left.
" The opposite applies to left handed golfers.
A ball hit in the center, the club-face will remain square … back spin imparted on ball. Your ball will remain straight.
" Both right and left handed golfers.
How far from the center of the club-face (sweet spot) the ball is hit can increase or decrease the spin-rate of the golf ball.
The higher the side spin-rate the more severe your ball will curve. If your golf club-head is on-line, your club-face is square to the path of your club-head and the ball is struck on the sweet spot, the flight of your golf ball will be straight. Back-spin is the only rotation imparted on the ball.
Back-spin helps produce more accurate shots.
Back-spin imparted on the ball will cause it gain loft and stay in the air longer.
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