Club Path

The Launch Direction of a golf shot is defined by TrackMan® as the horizontal direction of movement of the golf ball’s center of gravity immediately after it leaves the clubface. It is typically expressed in degrees to the right or left of the target line—a line projected onto the ground that extends through the golf ball toward the intended target. Launch direction does not refer to vertical trajectory, but strictly to the ball’s horizontal path at takeoff.

Two key variables influence launch direction: club face angle and golf club path.

Face Angle is the horizontal direction in which the clubface is pointing at impact. It’s measured in degrees relative to the target line, either right or left.

Club Path, often called swing path or golf swing path, refers to the direction the clubhead is moving at the moment it contacts the golf ball. Like face angle, club path is measured in degrees left or right of the target line, but it is commonly described in terms such as inside-to-out or outside-to-in, which relate to how the club moves relative to the ball and target line.

Because the golf swing occurs on a tilted plane—known as the swing plane—the club does not move directly along the target line. If you observed a golfer from overhead, the club would trace a curved arc: during the backswing, the clubhead moves inside the target line; in an ideal, neutral swing path, the clubhead returns to the target line at impact before moving inside again on the follow-through.

So what do "inside" and "outside" mean in golf club path terminology? "Inside" refers to the side of the target line closest to the golfer, while "outside" refers to the far side, beyond the ball. A golfer’s club swing path—whether it’s inside-to-out or outside-to-in—has a significant influence on the shot’s curvature and ball flight shape.

The direction of your club path in golf is shaped by the orientation of your swing plane and body alignment. Shifting the swing plane, rotating your stance, or changing swing mechanics can alter your clubhead path, affecting where the club is traveling relative to the target at impact.

Although golf club path affects launch direction, it plays a secondary role compared to face angle. TrackMan® data shows that with iron shots, face angle accounts for approximately 75% of the initial launch direction, while club path accounts for the remaining 25%. With a driver, the face angle's influence increases to around 85%, leaving just 15% to the swing path.