Face Angle (Tee to Green)

• Definition
  • The direction the club face is pointing at the center-point of contact between the club and ball at the time of maximum compression.
  • That is, Face Angle is the direction the club face is pointed at impact and is measured relative to the target line. Often referred to as having an open (positive Face Angle) or closed club face (negative Face Angle) for a right-handed player.
• The Use of Face Angle
  • Face Angle is the most important parameter when determining the starting direction of the golf ball. The ball will launch at an angle very close to the Face Angle at impact.
  • The optimal Face Angle depends on the type of shot the golfer wants to play. For example, a player trying to hit a draw would favor a positive Face Angle (for a right-handed golfer), as the player would want to start the ball right of the target line and curve it back.
  • The opposite is optimal for a player trying to hit a fade.