Clubface Angle & Clubface to Path

Clubface Angle at impact is the direction the clubface is pointed (right or left) at impact and is  measured relative to the target line. Most golfers refer to this as having an “open” or “closed”  clubface. The optimal face angle depends on the type of shot the golfer wants to play.  

Note: Clubface to Path is the angle difference between face angle and clubhead path and is defined by face angle minus club path. Face to path is a key factor in determining the curvature  (spin axis) of a golf shot. A positive face to path means the face is pointed to the right of the  club’s (horizontal) path and a negative face to path means that the club face is pointed to the left  of the club’s (horizontal) path regardless of handedness (right- or left-handed golfer) when using  many launch monitor type measuring devices. Other launch monitors will use the “left” or  “right” designations in relation to the path direction or target line at the professional’s discretion.  It is important to understand the reference point of the data being delivered for accurate analysis.  There are three general descriptions listed below for clubface angle. However, clubface angle is  measured in degrees. 

• Square 
• Open 
• Closed 

The ball’s starting direction on full swing shots generally is between 61% and 83% toward the  face angle on a center face strike, with higher numbers when the dynamic loft is lower. At slower  speeds with a putter for example, the clubface angle can account for over 90% of the ball’s initial  direction. Note that clubface angle to clubhead path are not relative to the target line. 

Example: For a right-handed player to hit a fade, the clubface is angled to the right of the  clubhead path and vice versa to hit a draw. 

Assuming a centered impact, the following examples are provided to show how clubface angle  and clubhead path influence ball curvature. 

• -2 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 19 yards of left curvature 
• +5 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 44 yards of right curvature 

• +2 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 14 yards of right curvature
• • -5 degree Clubface angle to clubhead path = 32 yards of left curvature 

• +2 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 8 yards of right curvature 
• -5 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 20 yards of left curvature

• +2 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 6 yards of left curvature 
• -5 degree clubface angle to clubhead path = 14 yards of right curvature Effect – Distance and Direction. 

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