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Ball Flight Laws #3 - Face Angle
Face angle: the compass of your swing. This week, we’re exploring its impact on your ball flight, with a simple drill to help you take control. Plus, insights from Molly Braid on coaching fundamentals.
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Have you ever noticed how you can hit the ball perfectly one minute, then spray it all over the course the next? The culprit might be your clubface angle! In this week's newsletter, we explore this our third Law of Ball Flight, Face Angle. Understanding how face angle works at impact will help you take control of your shots and hit the ball consistently in your intended direction.
We'll share some practical drills to help you develop awareness of your face angle and master its control. Plus, if you want to stay ahead of the game this winter, consider the benefits of indoor golf lessons! Our sponsor Mike Quinn offers excellent winter packages to help you refine your swing and build skills that will set you apart come spring.
Finally, we recap our recent podcast interview with Molly Braid, who shared her unique approach to golf instruction that blends fundamentals with individual biomechanics. It's a must-listen for any golfer looking to improve their game! Ready to elevate your golf game? Dive into this week's newsletter and start mastering your ball flight!
INSTRUCTION
Straight Talk: How Face Angle Dictates Ball Flight
The first two laws of ball flight we've covered—clubhead speed and centeredness of contact—are straightforward to understand. Hit the ball faster and more solidly, and good things happen. Simple enough, right? Now we're exploring three more complex laws: face angle, swing path, and angle of attack. These work together as a system to influence ball flight.
Before diving into face angle, let's define something crucial: the target line. This is an imaginary straight line running from your target (like the flagstick) through your golf ball. All discussions about face angle, swing path, and angle of attack relate to this line.
Face angle is the direction your clubface points at impact relative to the target line. For a right-handed player, an "open" face points right of the target, while a "closed" face points left. A square face aligns perfectly with the target line.
Here's why face angle is so critical to ball flight:
Impact on Ball Flight: Studies show that clubface angle determines 75-85% of the ball's starting direction in iron shots and slightly less in driver shots due to gear effect. Even a small misalignment significantly affects your ball's initial trajectory.
Professional Precision: PGA Tour players typically control their clubface angle within 1 degree of their intended target at impact. This precision enables their consistent ball flights and accurate approach shots. It's not just about hitting it far—it's about hitting it accurately.
Amateur Variability: Many amateur golfers struggle with face angle, often deviating by 3-5 degrees or more at impact. This leads to significant directional errors. A 3-degree open face with a driver can push a ball 30-50 yards offline, depending on swing speed.
Spin Rate & Face Angle: The clubface angle influences spin axis tilt, creating curvature in the ball's flight. A 2-degree open face on a neutral swing path can produce 800-1,200 RPM of side spin, enough to create a noticeable slice or fade.
Think of your clubface as a compass setting your shot's initial direction. Just as a slightly misaligned compass leads to major navigation errors over distance, small face angle errors create significant shot deviations.
Let's keep it simple. Assuming your swing path follows the target line:
Square Face: The ball starts on the target line.
Open Face: The ball starts right of the target line.
Closed Face: The ball starts left of the target line.
Face angle at impact largely determines your ball's starting direction, making it one of the most crucial factors in ball flight.
Why focus on face angle? Because it's one of the easiest elements to control through proper grip and setup adjustments. If you consistently miss your target, face angle at impact is likely the culprit.
In future lessons, we'll explore how face angle works with swing path and angle of attack to create different shot shapes. For now, remember this: your clubface is your compass, directing your ball's initial flight. Master face angle, and you're well on your way to better golf.
SPONSORED
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By the time spring rolls around, you’ll be ahead of the game—and your playing partners. Visit mikequinlangolf.com to learn more and reserve your winter lesson package today.
QUICK TIP
Face Angle Awareness Drill: Feel the Adjustment
Try this simple drill to better understand and control your face angle:
Set up a ball on a flat surface in your normal address position.
Make several practice swings, paying attention to your hand position and club face orientation at impact.
Now, hit three shots:
First shot: Position your hands to create an open club face (pointing right of target)
Second shot: Adjust your hands to create a closed club face (pointing left of target)
Third shot: Focus on maintaining a square club face (aligned with target)
Watch the ball's starting direction after each shot, noting how subtle changes in hand position affect the face angle and ball flight.
This drill builds awareness of how your adjustments influence the club face at impact—a crucial step toward mastering one of golf's most important fundamentals.
PODCAST
Finding Your Swing: Personalizing Golf Instruction with Molly Braid
Last week on The Approach Podcast, we welcomed Molly Braid of Molly Braid Golf, an accomplished instructor with a passion for blending golf fundamentals with individual biomechanics. Molly shared her journey from growing up on a dairy farm to becoming a respected coach, emphasizing the importance of tailoring instruction to fit each golfer’s unique physical abilities and personal goals. She highlighted how fundamentals like grip and posture can transform a swing, and discussed how tools like Sportsbox and TPI screens enhance the learning experience.
We also explored Molly’s experiences coaching college golf, her perspective on the evolution of the golf industry, and her favorite drills for helping golfers build confidence and consistency. With thoughtful insights and book recommendations, Molly provided valuable takeaways for both players and instructors. If you missed it, this is an episode you’ll want to revisit for inspiration and practical tips to improve your game!
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