Every shot you hit on a golf course - draw, fade, slice, hook, pull, push - is essentially a function of two factors. Club face angle and club path. Before launch monitor technology, skilled players knew they could shape shots by opening and closing the face and adjusting their swing direction. But they couldn't quantify it. It was feel and trial and error. Now we know exactly how much each factor contributes - and understanding that relationship puts every shot shape within reach. Here is the simple version. The club face determines where the ball starts. On mid-iron shots face accounts for 75% of the starting direction. Club path is only 25% responsible. On driver shots face angles contributes even more. The club face determines how the ball curves. When face and path point in the same direction the spin axis is vertical and the ball flies straight - the hardest shot in golf. When they diverge the spin axis tilts and the ball curves. The more it tilts the more it curves. For eve...