Golf Swing Analysis through Ball Flight

What Ball Flight Tells You About Your Swing

At ATX Golf Performance, one of the first things we teach our athletes is how to read the ball. Why? Because ball flight never lies. Whether you're a beginner trying to make solid contact or a seasoned player looking to shape shots, understanding what your ball is doing in the air gives you powerful insight into your swing — especially your club path and club face alignment at impact.

Understanding the Basics of Ball Flight

Every golf shot is a result of two critical factors at impact:

• Club Path: the direction the clubhead is moving (right or left) relative to the target line.

• Club Face: where the face of the club is pointing at the moment of impact.

These two elements combine to produce the ball’s initial direction and curvature in the air.

Common Ball Flights and What They Mean

1. Straight Shot:

• What it means: Your club face and path are aligned to the target.

• A closer look: This is rare. Most golfers have a slight curve in one direction. A straight ball typically indicates consistent mechanics.

2. Draw (Right-to-Left for a Right-Handed Golfer):

• Club Path: In-to-out

• Club Face: Slightly closed to the target but open to the path

• A closer look: A draw is often a sign of good sequencing and efficient rotation. It’s a controlled shot that adds distance and rolls out.

3. Fade (Left-to-Right):

• Club Path: Out-to-in

• Club Face: Slightly open to the target but closed to the path

• A closer look: A reliable fade can be a strategic weapon. The key is controlling the amount of curve.

4. Slice:

• Club Path: Out-to-in

• Club Face: Open to both the target and path

• A closer look: The slice is a common issue for amateur players. It indicates poor face control and typically results in a loss of distance.

5. Hook:

• Club Path: In-to-out

• Club Face: Closed to both target and path

• A closer look: A hook is often more dangerous than a slice. It typically suggests overactive hands or an excessively closed club face at impact.

6. Push or Pull:

• Push: In-to-out path with a square face

• Pull: Out-to-in path with a square face

• A closer look: These shots fly straight but miss the target either right or left. They point to directional misalignment in your path.

Why Ball Flight Should Drive Your Training

The beauty of modern swing analysis is that we don’t need to guess. Using advanced launch monitors, we pair real-time ball flight data with detailed club metrics to confirm exactly what’s happening at impact. This ensures that your training is precise, measurable, and directly linked to what matters most — the flight of your golf ball.

This is where swing analysis becomes invaluable. Seeing your ball flight alongside concrete swing data bridges the gap between feel and fact.

ATX Golf Performance: Your Resource for Ball Flight Mastery

Whether you’re battling a two-way miss or just want to understand why your ball curves the way it does, our expert coaches will break it down clearly and coach you with purpose. At our Austin-based facility, we use top-tier technology and research-backed methods to help every golfer gain control and confidence.

If you're in Austin, Texas and want to understand your ball flight like never before, schedule a session with ATX Golf Performance and start swinging with insight.