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Common Ball Flights

These nine ball flights are frequently seen on the golf course. Being able to identify the flight your ball tends to follow allows you to understand the reasons behind the flight direction.
The swing path of the club in relation to the target line is the primary cause of the initial direction of the ball's flight. The angle of the clubface at impact is the primary influence on the curve the ball follows during flight.
Go to the chart below this diagram to understand the causes of the nine ball flights, or, if you recognize your own tendency below, click on the colored number to find out how to fix that fault.

Chart:

#

Name

Initial Ball
Direction

"Curve"

Target Line

1
Straight
straight
straight

The club path is straight down the target line and the clubface is square.

2
Fade
straight
right

The club is headed down the target line but the hands have not released the club so the clubface is slightly open.

3
Draw
straight
left

The club is headed down the target line but the clubface is closed.

4
Slice
slightly left
right

The swing path is outside-inside and the clubface is open to severely open.

5
Push
right
straight

The swing is inside-out and the clubface is square to the target line.

6
Push slice
right
right

The swing path is inside-out and the clubface is open at impact.

7
Hook
slightly right
left

The swing path is slightly inside-out and the clubface is closed to severly closed.

8
Pull
left
straight

The swing path is outside-inside and the clubface is square to the target line.

9
Pull hook
left
left

The swing path is outside-inside and the clubface is closed.