Opinion & Analysis
What makes a golf ball curve? (GolfWRX explains)

At some point, every golfer has asked the question “Why did that shot slice? Why did that shot hook? How did that shot go straight?”
The simple answer is physics, but the actual reason is a little bit more complicated and has to do with the relationship the golf ball has with the golf club as it approaches contact, but that’s why we’re here to explain why your golf ball travels where it does.
It’s all about spin axis – AKA “sidespin”
Spin Axis – Trackman Golf
Side spin is the commonly used, but incorrect way to describe the spin axis of a golf ball as it travels through the air. Rather than try and define it myself, I will refer to the experts at Trackman to help me explain what’s really going on.
“Spin Axis is the tilt angle relative to the horizon of the golf ball’s resulting rotational axis immediately after separation from the club face (post impact).”
“The spin axis can be associated to the wings of an airplane. If the wings of an airplane are parallel to the ground, this would represent a zero spin axis and the plane would fly straight. If the wings were banked/tilted to the left (right wing higher than left wing), this would represent a negative spin axis and the plane would bank/curve to the left. And the opposite holds true if the wings are banked/tilted to the right.”
Unlike a plane in the example used by our friends at Trackman, a golf ball has no propulsion system, and all the force that causes it to move comes from the golf club. Depending on how the club makes contact with the ball will result in how the ball will fly. It’s no different than how a tennis or ping-pong ball travels through the air after it is struck with a racket or paddle – a golf club is just a “paddle” with a much longer handle length.
Why does a golfball curve right and left?
There are 2 main factors of the impact that influence how a golfball will curve;
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The direction the clubface is aimed relative to the target line at impact
– Face Angle
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The direction the club is moving at the moment of impact
– Club Path
Face-to-path – How to hit a draw
So now that we have a better understanding of why the golf ball curves in one direction or the other, the video below from TrackMan and Martin Chuck does a great job explaining the relationship of face to path, and how to hit a draw.
How to hit a straight golf shot
Being able to hit a straight shot is one of the most difficult things to do in the game of golf. The reason professionals don’t intentionally hit straight shots very often is that when it’s not executed properly it can create a shot that misses both right and left and if there is one thing professionals and low handicap players like to see is a golf ball that misses in one direction.
Face Strike Point
Beyond the relationship between the clubface and path, hollow golf clubs also have another factor at play, and that is the bulge and roll – curvature of the face from top to bottom and side to side. This curvature combined with the gear effect of hitting a shot outside the sweet spot results in the club imparting a higher measured spin axis and as a result the ball curves even more.
Check out this video below by TXG demonstrating how strike location on a driver has an effect on how the golf ball curves.
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Golf's Perfect Imperfections
Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Golf Test Dummy with Chad Ferguson

Today, we have a great conversation with a fellow YouTuber Chad Ferguson on the evolution of teaching and Chad’s first couple of lessons with Wisdom in Golf. A lot of our students have been saying how they appreciate his take on our methodology, and it’s very refreshing to hear another unique perspective on learning and acquiring skills in golf.
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On Spec
On Spec: Rickie Fowler Rev33 irons and more signature golf clubs

This week’s show is all about signature golf clubs, brought on by the release of the Cobra RF Proto Rev33 irons. From big-name players to historical releases there is a lot to cover from the world of modern equipment.
But before that host, Ryan Barath has something to get off his chest about pro-am golf and TV coverage.
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Opinion & Analysis
“Golfers pay way too much attention to iron lofts” – On Spec podcast

On this week’s episode of the “On Spec” podcast on the GolfWRX radio network hosted by Ryan Barath, the main focus of the show was on the misconception around fitting irons based on handicap and the focus on iron lofts – AKA “loft jacking”
The goal of the episode was to explain how irons are designed to help optimize the target golfer using a number of factors including lofts, and why it’s more important to focus on final results rather than stock specs.
“The goal should be for your clubs to go the right distance with the right trajectory… golfers focus too much on loft and not dynamics”
You can listen to the full show below, the above quote starts at 22:42
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Joe
Nov 21, 2020 at 7:09 pm
You say the reason the ball curves is physics but then you don’t even give the right physics explanation. You give a good explanation of how to tilt the spin axis of a golf ball but zero explanation of why a ball actually curves in the air. Just call the article how to affect the spin axis because the content here has nothing to do with how the ball curves.
Marc
Nov 22, 2020 at 10:37 am
Yup, totally useless article. “How to hit a straight shot…” answer: it’s difficult, so even pros don’t attempt it lol. Fails to explain even a little of the face-to-path relationship. Don’t understand how this guy is a featured writer on here.