While there are many factors that can cause a golf ball to curve, only two things can happen at the time the club meets the ball that can affect the direction of the ball. This article explains what causes a misdirected golf shot not how to fix the problems. Information on learning the fundamentals of a sound golf shot are at the end of this article. So the first factor which results in a slice or hook is the direction that the club head is traveling when it hit the ball and the second is the position of the club head at the time it contacts the golf ball.

The Direction of the Club

As the club comes down from the top of your swing it travels inside, or close to your body, and then travels straight down the line leading to your target. After it hit’s the ball it should then travel back inside the line and on to the finish of your swing. At least that’s how it’s suppose to work. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Now if you swing inside/out then when your club hits the ball it will still be traveling to the right of the target, which will cause the golf ball to start to the right. If the opposite is true and you swing outside/in, then when the club hit’s the ball you will start the ball off to the left. If you swing inside/out then you initially "push" your shot. And if you swing outside/in then you initially "pull" the ball.

In both cases, if you hit the golf ball squarely with the club face aiming the same direction that the club is going then you will have a push to the right or a pull to the left. Not so bad. If however you have the club face facing the target and the club direction to either the right or left then you will impart a spin on the ball. This is sometimes referred to as cutting across the ball. This will cause the golf ball to curve in the direction of the spin. The result is a draw to the left or a fade to the right.

The Position of the Club Head

Now the other factor that causes a slice of a fade, the position of the club head at impact. This determines whether there will be a side spin on the ball or not. Ideally you will swing directly at the target with the club head facing directly at the target too. This results in a ball that does not have side spin and your golf shot will travel straight providing the wind does not affect it. But if you contact the ball with the club face facing to the right (open face) or with the club face facing to the left (closed face) then you will cause the ball to spin. This spin causes the ball to fade or slice to the right, or draw or hook to the left.

A Deadly Combination

If you have the misfortune of combining either a push or a pull with an open face or closed face, then you have real trouble. If your shot initially heads to the left and then curves to the right, you have an outside/in swing with an open club face. This will result in a slice. The more you pull the shot or the more open your club face the more extreme your slice will be. This is where that banana slice comes from. You know, the shot that looks like it’s going into the woods on the left only to end up in the water on the right.

Conversely, if your shot starts to the right and then curves to the left, then you have an inside/out swing with a closed club face which will result in a hook. And of course the more you push the shot or close the face the more extreme the hook will be. And we all know where that shot ends up.

What it Takes to Fix it

Now that you know what two factors cause a slice of fade you can fiddle with your swing to see if you can straighten it out a bit. But of course the sure fix is a fundamentally sound golf swing. One that is repeatable and dependable. Weight shift, hip turn, shoulder position, wrist roll are all important to a sound golf swing. Investing in reliable golf instruction may be a wise investment in achieving this type of swing. Especially considering what golf costs these days.

A great affordable e-course is available that will teach you these fundamentals and you can even receive 5 FREE GOLF VIDEOS with no obligation just for checking it out. One of the videos is hilarious and amazing at the same time! You won’t want to miss it.