Probably you don’t know this answer neither. Which 3 things… ?
Every golfer wants to hit the ball straighter and more consistently. That’s not new. But here’s the kicker: when I ask players one simple question, almost all of them fail.
“What three things actually control the direction of the golf ball?”
And no, it’s not your grip, the top of your backswing, or the position of your right elbow. Sure, those things might influence what matters—but they’re not the source.
If you're serious about hitting it straighter and keeping it out of the trees, the lake, or your buddy's backyard, you need to understand this: ball flight direction is determined by just three factors.
Let’s break them down:
Face Angle – This is where the clubface is pointing at impact. Open, closed, square—this is the kingpin of direction.
Club Path – The direction the clubhead is traveling relative to the target line. Is it moving from in-to-out, out-to-in, or straight down the line?
Impact Location – Where on the clubface the ball is struck—center, toe, or heel. This influences gear effect and twist, sending the ball curving off-line even with a good face and path.
That’s it. The ball only “cares” about these three variables at the moment of truth—impact. Not what your swing looks like, not what your coach posted on Instagram. Just impact.
So the next time you stripe one—or shank one—start with this question:
“What was the face angle, club path, and impact location?”
This is exactly how elite players and top coaches approach the game. Step one is always reading the ball flight and the impact. Once you’ve decoded that, then you go searching in the swing.
Let’s say the shot sliced right with a divot pointing left and solid contact. That tells you the face was open and the path was out-to-in. Now you’re ready to fix the real problem—maybe a grip adjustment, maybe clubface control, maybe a better sequence in the downswing.
Bottom line: analyze the result first, then fix the cause.
Start thinking like a pro. Start thinking like a coach. And I guarantee, you’ll stop wasting time guessing and start making changes that actually matter.
Golf Impact Location
Golf Club - Face Angle and Club Path