Golf Studio explains the two core rules of ball flight in under 40 seconds. Learn how club face angle determines initial start line and how the relationship between face angle and path causes shot curvature like slices and hooks.
The ball starts mostly where the clubface points at impact.
Shot curvature (slice or hook) is created by the gap between face angle and club path.
A face open to the club path causes the ball to curve right; a face closed to the path causes it to curve left.
If there is no gap between face angle and club path, the ball travels straight with no curvature.
Go deeper
The slice — Causes, drills and coaches for this miss