Hitting the Ball

Types of ball flight paths in the golf shot

In golf, there are several types of ball flight paths that a golfer may encounter depending on factors such as swing technique, clubface angle, and wind conditions. Here are some common types of ball flight paths:

Straight Shot: A straight shot travels directly toward the target line without any significant curvature. It is the ideal ball flight for most golf shots and requires a square clubface at impact.

Draw: A draw is a shot that curves gently from right to left for right-handed golfers, and left to right for left-handed golfers. It is achieved by imparting counter-clockwise spin on the ball. To hit a draw, golfers typically close the clubface slightly at address and swing along an inside-to-out path.

Fade: A fade is a shot that curves gently from left to right for right-handed golfers, and right to left for left-handed golfers. It is achieved by imparting clockwise spin on the ball. To hit a fade, golfers typically open the clubface slightly at address and swing along an outside-to-in path.

Slice: A slice is a shot that curves sharply from left to right for right-handed golfers, right to left for left-handed golfers. It is typically caused by an open clubface at impact and an outside-to-in swing path. Slicing is a common issue for many amateur golfers and often results in a loss of distance and accuracy.

Hook: A hook is a shot that curves sharply from right to left for right-handed golfers, and left to right for left-handed golfers. It is caused by a closed clubface at impact and an inside-to-out swing path. While hooks can generate extra distance, they can also be difficult to control and may result in shots veering off target.

Push: A push is a shot that starts right of the target line and continues straight without curving. It is caused by a clubface angle that is open relative to the swing path. Pushes are common when the clubface is aimed right of the target at impact.

Pull: A pull is a shot that starts left of the target line and continues straight without curving. It is caused by a clubface angle that is closed relative to the swing path. Pulls occur when the clubface is aimed left of the target at impact.

These are some of the most common ball flight paths in golf, each requiring different swing adjustments and clubface alignments to achieve. Understanding how to control ball flight allows golfers to make strategic decisions and adjust their shots to navigate the course successfully.