Club Path
The direction the club is travelling at impact — the engine of curve.
In plain English
At impact your club is moving somewhere: out toward the far side (in-to-out), straight, or cutting across (out-to-in). The ball curves AWAY from the path when the face doesn't match it.
Going deeper
Path plus face together are the whole story of curve: face open to path = fade-side spin, closed = draw-side spin. Your path number tells you which shape is EASY for you and which needs force.
The advanced view
Delivered path = your swing direction ± attack-angle geometry (hitting down on an inclined arc shifts path out; up shifts it in). That's why the same swing shows a more in-to-out path with driver up-strikes than wedge down-strikes.
Why it matters for scoring
Path is the shape of your golf. Own it and you can play one predictable curve; ignore it and both misses stay live.
How it shows up in your ball flight
Persistent out-to-in path = fade-family shots (and pulls when the face matches it). In-to-out = draw family (and pushes).
How it shows up in launch monitor data
Club Path in degrees; ShotIQ convention + = in-to-out for a right-hander. Read it WITH Face-to-Path: the pair diagnoses every two-way miss.
Typical values: ±3° of neutral; tour ~0° to +4°.
Symptoms
- Same-direction curve most swings
- Divots pointing off-line
- Ball starts one side and stays there
Common causes
- Shoulders open/closed at address
- Transition sequence (upper body first = out-to-in)
- Ball position drift
- A grip that forces a compensation
How to improve it
- Confirm alignment FIRST — many path 'faults' are aim
- Train the opposite exit: exaggerate swinging toward the far-side field
- Change one thing, then re-measure — path responds fast
Drills that train this
Related concepts
- 🎯 Face AngleWhere the face points at impact — the boss of the start line.
- 🌀 Face to PathThe single number that explains why your ball curves.
- 🛰 Ball Flight LawsThe physics decoder ring for every shot you've ever hit.
- 🛝 Swing PlaneThe tilted circle your club travels around your body.
- 📉 Attack AngleHitting down or up — and why driver and irons want OPPOSITE answers.
- 🤝 GripYour only connection to the club — and the face's steering wheel.
- 🔓 ReleaseHow the face squares through impact — timing, not flipping.
Metric deep-dive: the full guide to this number.
Ask the ShotIQ coach
Questions this concept answers about your data, one tap away in the app:
- “Explain my club path”
- “Why do I slice?”
- “How do I swing more in-to-out?”