Angle of Attack: Key Points to Grasp (VIDEO)

03/01/2016

One fundamental definition when discussing the golf swing is the ‘angle of attack.’ Though golf jargon can be filled with technical language that is difficult to dissect, ‘angle of attack’ is fairly simple: it is the angle the center of the club head (the sweet spot!) has at the moment of impact with the golf ball.

There are three basic directions that golfers use to define the angle of attack.

1. The club head can be traveling down, which is called a negative angle of attack.
2. It can be traveling level, or neutral, which is called zero.
3. Finally, it can be traveling upward, which is a positive angle of attack.

The new golfer may assume that the goal is to always hit the club at zero, but that’s not the case. Golf clubs require a different angle of attack (depending on the club) in order to hit a quality shot.

For example, when hitting a driver, it’s important to have a positive angle of attack to achieve the most distance. The head of the driver should hit the golf ball at a slightly upward angle. However, a seven iron requires the opposite: it needs a negative angle of attack for an optimal shot.

When it comes to analyzing the angle of attack, technology plays an important role. Unfortunately, no matter how experienced a golf instructor is, he or she cannot figure out the angle of attack on a golf swing just by observing it with the naked eye.

A tool like FlightScope gives exact numbers for angle of attack, which is beneficial for players as they make strides toward improving their golf swings. For the average golfer, this means seeking out opportunities to utilize technology like FlightScope. Without precise information, it is difficult to make meaningful, lasting improvements to the golf swing.

This video helps explain Angle of Attack to you, the golfer.

Thanks for watching!

Fairways and greens,

— Todd Kolb @toddkolbgolf on Twitter