Mark Twain once called golf a good walk spoiled. Most of us have agreed with this sentiment at one time or another. We can punish ourselves on the course yet we return the next day to see if the spoiled walk will be more enjoyable. For many golfers, understanding why the ball sliced is as elusive as trying to hold down a tomato seed. The search on the practice range can serve, as one gentleman quipped, like a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn’t there. Any potentially meaningful practice is reduced to mere exercise. For golfers looking to remove that nagging splinter from their mind (which is prone to drive one to madness – or at least to purchase a new driver) they turn to instructors to answer THE question: Why? Why does my ball slice? Why does it hook into the weeds looking for a dark place to hide? WHY? And more importantly, how do I fix it? The answer to that riddle starts here.

These golfers (whether they know it or not) are searching for the knowledge of the 9 Laws.

These laws give the reason as to why a golf ball flies the way it does. A clear understanding of these laws is the light at the end of the tunnel (which I understand for the hopelessly pessimistic may look more like the light of an oncoming train). This basic knowledge is where the golfer has at least some say in their destiny on the links. Fortunately, the 9 laws are quite basic (though oddly overlooked) and the diagram below shows the simplicity.

With three possible club-face angles, and three possible paths, this equates to nine different ball- flights – thus, the 9 Ball Flight Laws of Golf.

If you are one who is searching for answers to why your ball behaves the way it does, and are wondering how these laws apply to your golf swing, contact your CPGA Professional to help you find that path to a walk less spoiled

By Brent Morrison

The arrows combine two variables:

1. The PATH the club travels in relation to the target line (blue arrow). (Straight, Outside or Inside)
2. The CLUBFACE ANGLE
   in relation to the path.
   (Square, Closed or Open)