This weeks Question:

What has more influence over the direction your golf ball curves after being hit by a Driver?

Sorry that is INCORRECT. The CORRECT answer is:

ANSWER: C - Club Face

Why – The Club Face tells the golf ball which way it will fly more than any other factor. The direction your Club Face is pointed at impact determines the direction the golf ball starts and the direction the golf ball will spin (which influences the direction the golf ball will curve).

As many Golfers answer - Swing Path. The Swing Path does have some influence on the spin of the golf ball, yet isn’t as big a factor as some make it out to be. Which is counter to what many have been told and quite possibly just as many have spent hours upon hours and dollars upon dollars trying to work exclusively on their swing path.

Understand this – the direction your Club Face is at impact will influence your Swing Path on your next shot. Meaning: many Golfers have what’s classified as an ‘outside to inside swing path’ – which they’re told causes a slice. That Swing Path has far, far less influence over the spin of the golf ball than you may think! Your Club Face pointing to the right (for a right hand Golfer) is the main reason that the golf ball will spin to the right.

Once the Golfer starts seeing the golf ball go to the right – they unconsciously try to correct it by swing to the … left. Which is often times called an “outside to inside swing path’ or ‘coming over the top’ or ‘casting’. Regardless of what you call it – it’s critical to understand that’s it’s caused by a Club Face pointed the wrong way at impact. So trying to correct your Swing Path without first fixing your Club Face … is basically a waste of time!

To test the theory of what influences the flight of the golf ball more – Club Face, Swing Path or Swing Plane – use a putter. Go to the putting green or the carpet in your office or living room; place a ball on the ground and aim at a cup or target approximately 5 feet away. Then make a stroke where you cut across the golf ball (signifying an outside to in swing path); while making sure that the Club Face stays straight (or as some like to say - Square to the target line).

You'll notice that the golf ball will not curve away from the hole. It'll probably roll in the exact direction your Club Face is pointing. Now set-up to another golf ball. This time make sure your swing path is perfect – though have your club face pointed 3 feet to the right of the hole. Make a stroke. What direction does the ball go? Case closed. It’s Club Face.

What about Swing Plane? Swing Plane and Swing Path are related. As far as I know, it's extremely difficult to have a good Swing Path while having a bad Swing Plane or vice versa. My belief is that although someone can come up with different definitions for Swing Plane and Swing Path - the truth is that they're so tied together, that they're basically almost the same. And if your Swing Path doesn’t affect the flight of your golf ball as much as your Club Face does … why would you be so concerned with Swing Plane?

Besides, GMS has shown using a Results Based Approach - that once a Golfer starts controlling their Club Face more effectively - their Swing Path and Swing Plane start to conform to the improved Club Face. And we have also found, through working with Golfers - that the vice versa isn't true! Improved Swing Path and Swing Plane doesn't help Club Face and thus doesn't improve ball flight.

As far as the Brand of Golf Ball – every poll needs a throw away answer. Yet, if you believe the hype coming from the ball manufacturers – if you use their brand of ball; you’ll always hit it straight.

Don’t be pulled into the Swing Tip/New Swing Craze/Swing Buzz Word Of The Moment crowd – this crowd never gets anywhere with their golf swing. Controlling your Club Face is far more important than the other 3 answers – try my test above and you’ll see the Results for yourself.

To see how your answer compared to others who took the Golfer Knowledge Poll - make sure to look for next week's Golf Improvement Weekly

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