This question was asked in another forum, I wanted to get some real answers so I came here. I hope the original author does not mind my copying his post, if so I will remove it.
here it is:
"Quick question for y'all.
Swing path and clubface angle affect the flight of a golf ball. Obviously.
Physics says that a ball leaves a clubface perpendicular to the clubface - thus providing the initial starting direction of the ball.
If the swing path is outside-to-in relative to that clubface angle, it fades from there. If it's in-to-out, it draws. If it's square, it goes straight.
For example, a block - a shot straight right - is hit with an inside-to-out swing path and a clubface square to the swing path (but open relative to the target line). It starts right (the club face is open relative to the target) and doesn't curve (club face square to swing path).
But, oddly, there are a lot of people (and a lot of articles online) that say that the swing path affects the initial direction the ball goes and the clubface angle affects the spin (and thus the curve). That doesn't make sense. Not in any world governed by physics like we have on earth.
Imagine in your mind aiming your driver at a target, hitting the ball with a clubface square to that target, but cutting across the ball 45 degrees outside to in. Does the ball start 45 degrees left and then go straight? No - it starts straight (for 50 feet or so) and then slices like crazy.
Why then are there so many articles that say the swing path determines the initial direction?? That just doesn't make sense.
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