Understanding why the ball curves as it does is essential to mastering your golf swing. Using a LaunchMonitor provides precise insight into the club's path and face angle at impact—two of the most influential factors in ball flight. The key lies not in simply hitting the ball "square" but in creating the correct combination of path and face to produce predictable curvature.

Key Definitions

• Club Path: The direction the clubhead travels through impact.

• Face Angle: The orientation of the clubface at impact—left, right, or square to the target.

• Face-to-Path: The difference between the club’s path and face angle. This determines the spin axis and, ultimately, the ball’s curve.

Core PrincipleFor a controlled shot shape—draw or fade—the club path and face angle must have opposite signs, and the face angle must be smaller in magnitude than the path. This combination produces curvature back toward the target line.

Draw Example

• Club Path: Positive (moving right of the target).

• Face Angle: Negative (pointing slightly left).

• Result: Ball starts right, spins left (negative spin axis), and curves back to center.

Fade Example

• Club Path: Negative (moving left).

• Face Angle: Positive (slightly open).

• Result: Ball starts left, spins right (positive spin axis), and fades toward the target.

Misconception – The Square Face Myth
A common mistake is aiming for a 0° face angle at impact. In reality, this does not guarantee straight shots. Even with a square face, the path can create spin, causing the ball to curve off-line. The true goal is not a square face—but the right spin relationship to match your intended shot shape.

Why This MattersA LaunchMonitor allows you to read and understand this crucial data.
Example:

• A shot with a positive path and a more negative face angle launches right, spins left, and curves back perfectly—this is the draw many top players aim for.

Shot Analysis

• Bad Pull Hook: Positive path, but an even more negative face angle → ball launches and curves sharply left.

• Slight Miss Left: Path right, face angle also right but too large → slight left spin, shot finishes left.

• Ideal Draw: Path right, face slightly left, and smaller in magnitude → perfect curvature.

• Textbook Fade: Path left, face slightly open, smaller in magnitude → clean fade to center.

Final TakeawayMastering face-to-path dynamics enables shot shaping with purpose. The secret isn’t in zeroing out your numbers—but in managing the relationship between them. Whether you aim for a gentle fade or a powerful draw, consistent control begins with data—and a LaunchMonitor delivers it with precision.

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The final weekend of June 2025 delivered a series of compelling moments across the professional golf landscape. From seasoned champions reaffirming their legacy to rising stars breaking through on major stages, tours around the world showcased the full spectrum of competitive excellence. This report highlights the key outcomes from June 26–29 and provides a concise preview of notable events in early July.

U.S. Senior Open – Harrington Prevails AgainPádraig Harrington claimed his second U.S. Senior Open title at Broadmoor East in Colorado Springs with a composed and clinical performance. The Irishman posted four steady rounds of 67-67-68-67, finishing at 269 (−11) to edge Stewart Cink by a single stroke. Cink closed with a 68 but couldn’t catch Harrington, who calmly two-putted for par on the 72nd hole.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez delivered the round of the day—a 63—to secure third place at −9. It marked Harrington’s 10th PGA Tour Champions title and earned him $800,000. Scores and prize money were confirmed by the USGA and PGA Tour Champions.

LIV Golf Dallas – Reed Rises, Crushers Extend RunAt Maridoe Golf Club in Texas, Patrick Reed captured his first individual LIV title with a dramatic playoff win. Despite a shaky final round, he forced extra holes against Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen, and Jinichiro Kozuma. Reed sealed the victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole—an emotional win in his home state.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC continued their team dominance, finishing at −18—11 strokes ahead of 4Aces GC—for a third consecutive team victory. Sergio García secured Open Championship qualification via the internal LIV rankings, while Brooks Koepka withdrew early due to triple-bogeys and reported health issues. All results were confirmed by LIV Golf sources.

Rocket Classic – Potgieter’s BreakthroughSouth Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter earned a breakout victory at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. The 20-year-old opened with a blistering 62 (−10), tying the course record with Kevin Roy. Holding firm over the weekend, Potgieter defeated Max Greyserman in a five-hole playoff, holing a 15-foot birdie for the win.

He became the youngest PGA Tour champion in recent years and the seventh-youngest in four decades. His win and statistics were confirmed by Reuters, ESPN, and the PGA Tour.

Italian Open – Saddier Reaches the SummitAdrien Saddier of France captured his first DP World Tour title at the Italian Open in Monte Argentario. After years alternating between the Challenge and main tours, his steady, error-free performance marked a major career breakthrough. His win was officially confirmed by tour officials.

Looking Ahead – July Opens with High StakesThe first week of July brings key events across the global calendar:

• PGA Tour: The John Deere Classic (TPC Deere Run, Illinois) offers a final path into The Open and a spotlight for rising talent.

• DP World Tour: The BMW International Open in Munich features a strong field and home hopes for German players.

• PGA Tour Champions: The Reignwood Legends Championship in China welcomes top senior players to a rare Asian stop.

• LET: The KPMG Women’s Irish Open hosts a world-class field preparing for the Women’s Open.

• Other Tours: The Asian, South African, and Australian tours resume in mid-July.

Data Review – Results VerifiedAll tournament outcomes, scores, and records have been independently verified through official sources, including the USGA, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, DP World Tour, and LET.

ConclusionFrom Harrington’s control and composure to Potgieter’s youthful rise and Reed’s redemption, the final week of June offered a striking blend of legacy and potential. With major events approaching, early July promises more answers in what is shaping up to be one of golf’s most dynamic summers.

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Minjee Lee’s recent triumph at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marks her third major title and eleventh LPGA victory—a milestone win secured on one of the season’s most demanding setups. With a final score of -4 and a three-shot lead, Lee distanced herself from the field through a blend of mental resilience and biomechanical brilliance.

Her swing is engineered for power under pressure. Despite her calm demeanor, Lee produces drives exceeding 270 yards, a feat made possible not just by strength but by an efficient use of ground reaction forces—specifically through the coordinated drop and lift of her pelvis.

The key begins in the backswing. As Lee reaches club shaft horizontal (BCH), her pelvis has already dropped 1.2 inches, allowing her to load into the ground early. By the top of her backswing, she drops an additional 0.8 inches, totaling nearly 2 inches. This sequence of motion anchors her body, creating the platform from which explosive force can be generated.

What follows is a powerful upward thrust. From her lowest point, Lee’s pelvis lifts 3.3 inches into impact, with 2.5 inches of that lift occurring just before the moment of contact. This movement is not incidental—it’s a calculated release of energy stored during the drop.

Biomechanically, this drop-and-lift pattern translates into maximum ground reaction force (GRF). As Lee pushes down and then lifts explosively, she creates a spring-like chain reaction. The equation is simple but profound: More lift = more speed.

This method of vertical force application is what gives Lee’s swing its “explosive” quality. Her timing, sequencing, and depth of ground interaction allow her to generate elite clubhead speed without overexerting her upper body. In a sport where tenths of an inch and milliseconds matter, Lee’s biomechanics are a model of optimized motion.

These insights come from Sportsbox 3D Pro, an AI-powered motion capture tool used to analyze and train elite players. With the ability to measure movement down to the millimeter, it reveals what the eye can’t see—like the exact timing of Lee’s pelvis drop or the lift that fuels her clubhead speed.

In summary, Minjee Lee’s latest major wasn’t won by chance. It was the result of technical precision, ground-based power, and a deep understanding of how the body moves. Her swing is more than graceful—it’s engineered for dominance.

Loading the Ground: The Pelvis DropCreating Speed: The Pelvis LiftEfficient Mechanics, Elite SpeedPrecision through 3D Technology

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Henrik Jentsch of Golf Academy 360° explains how elite players use ground reaction forces to master short chip shots. Based on force plate data, three key lower-body movements set professionals apart: they go up, back, and forward during the motion—while amateurs do the opposite.

1. Up (Vertical Motion):Great chippers elevate their center of mass (COM) during the entire swing. One tour player moved up by 2 inches in the backswing and reached nearly 4 inches at impact—never dropping down. This upward force supports clean contact and effective club release.

2. Back (Heel-to-Toe Shift):Instead of leaning toward their toes, elite players shift pressure toward the heels in the downswing. This heelward move flattens the swing and prevents chunks.

3. Forward (Lateral Motion):At the same time, they move the COM toward the target—supporting rotation and balance.

In short: Up, Back, and Forward—a proven formula for consistent chips.

1. Down:Many amateurs lower their COM during the swing, going from -2 to -4 on the force plate. This kills club speed and ruins contact.

2. Towards the Ball:The COM shifts toward the toes, leading to steep, unstable swings.

3. Only Forward:While amateurs do move toward the target, without the “up and back” motion, they struggle with control.

The result: “Down, Forward, and Left”—the opposite of the pro motion.

Start at the halfway point in your downswing and try to chip. It feels awkward at first—but to make contact, your body must rise. You’ll instinctively push upward, training the correct motion. Add your backswing once it feels natural.

What the Best Chippers DoWhat Amateurs Commonly DoCorrect It: The Pelvic Punch Drill

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Bryson DeChambeau’s golf swing has captivated the sport for years—now, with the support of biomechanical AI analysis, we can finally understand why. Using the Swing Score Report from Sportsbox AI, this data-driven evaluation dissects his technique with surgical precision, revealing how elite-level power is created, where it’s lost, and how it can be optimized. The result is more than a report—it’s a roadmap for golfers at every level.

A Swing Measured in Speed, Efficiency, and Consistency

DeChambeau’s overall swing score of 92 places him in the optimal performance range. His Speed Score? An astonishing 99—ranking him above the 99th percentile of all recorded professional swings. This isn’t just fast—it’s biomechanically exceptional. Meanwhile, his Efficiency Score matches at 92, confirming that his kinematic sequence—how the pelvis, chest, arms, and club move through transition—is not only powerful but remarkably well-ordered. However, the Consistency Score of 86 reveals small variances in key swing positions like address and transition, suggesting minor timing fluctuations across repeated swings.

Rotation: The Engine of Power

One biomechanical value sets DeChambeau apart: rotation. His chest rotates 112°, well above the 80–100° norm for tour players. His pelvis follows at 54°, both powered by a formidable X-Factor of 68°—a measurement of the separation between chest and pelvis at the top of the backswing. This coiling effect stores massive potential energy, much like winding a spring. And it’s not just about the range—his chest rotates at 961° per second, compared to the tour average of 600–800°. Combine that with 506°/s pelvis speed, and the result is a club shaft rotation speed of 2,495° per second—far beyond typical benchmarks.

Core Activation: The Hidden Source

What fuels this? Core strength. DeChambeau’s core activation reaches 18.2%—a number rarely seen even among professionals. This proves that his power doesn’t come from the arms or shoulders alone but from an integrated kinetic chain that starts deep in the body’s core. His swing is not just strong, it’s biomechanically optimized from the ground up.

The Release: Room to Improve

While DeChambeau’s swing builds energy efficiently, his Release Score of 39 signals that not all of that energy is transferred into the ball. The wrist speed gain factor—1.93—is also on the lower end of the spectrum. This suggests limited acceleration of the wrists through impact, possibly due to suboptimal angles or timing. It’s like a high-performance engine not quite shifting into top gear. Drills targeting wrist mechanics and release rhythm could help unlock untapped power and consistency.

Insights for Every Golfer

What makes this analysis revolutionary isn’t just the data—it’s what it means for every golfer. You don’t need to mimic DeChambeau’s swing to benefit. Instead, understanding key principles—like core-driven rotation, sequencing, and controlled release—can guide golfers at all levels toward more speed, control, and consistency.

For many amateurs, the key to improvement lies in better core utilization and rotation mechanics. Focused mobility and strength training for the hips and thoracic spine can enhance range of motion and swing stability. Meanwhile, learning to release the club with finesse, rather than force, will allow golfers to tap into their stored energy more effectively.

Data as a Tool, Not a Rule

Ultimately, this approach doesn’t replace feel—it enhances it. Data offers a clear view of what the body is doing and why, but it’s up to the golfer and coach to blend science with rhythm. As DeChambeau’s analysis shows, even a nearly perfect swing can be refined—and in those refinements lies the future of golf improvement.

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This Podcast explores the critical relationship between grip strength, grip pressure, and clubhead speed. Using advanced sensor data and real-world player testing, we clearly distinguish two core concepts: grip strength—the maximum force a golfer can produce—and grip pressure—how much of that strength is applied during the swing.

Grip strength is measured using a dynamometer and reflects a golfer’s static capacity. Grip pressure, by contrast, is dynamic: it varies throughout the swing and depends on where and when force is applied—particularly between the lead and trail hands. While elite players manage grip pressure fluidly, amateurs often grip too tightly or inconsistently, leading to compensations and inefficiencies.

There is a direct correlation between grip strength and clubhead speed. Players with higher grip strength tend to swing faster. Though strong hands alone don't guarantee speed, low grip strength is a proven limiter, especially for male amateurs under 40 kg and females under 30 kg grip strength. These players often exhibit swing faults: early release, poor transition, shallow angles, and excessive backswing length—compensations rooted in their inability to stabilize the club under force.

Improving grip strength can raise a player’s speed ceiling. Controlled studies show that golfers following targeted grip strength protocols (e.g., the SuperSpeed Squeeze) three times per week for four weeks gained an average of 1.5 mph in driver speed and 5–6% in grip strength.

Key exercises include:

• Farmer’s Walks: Carrying heavy weights to build forearm endurance.

• Deadlifts (no straps): Engage grip fully.

• Fat Grips: Increase grip diameter and activation.

• Isometric Training: Static holds that condition muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

• Golf-Specific Tools: Devices like the SuperSpeed Squeeze simulate real grip positions and apply force where it matters—during takeaway, transition, and impact.

Stronger hands offer more than speed. They improve control. Off-center strikes, face twist at impact, and shot inconsistency are all mitigated when grip strength is sufficient. Even in short game shots, grip pressure is not fixed—elite players subtly vary pressure to maintain feel and precision. Without strength, this finesse isn’t possible.

Grip strength also plays a role in injury prevention. Weak grip has been linked to overuse injuries, including golfer’s elbow. Isometric protocols are especially valuable here, offering tendon resilience without joint strain.

Lastly, grip size matters. Contrary to outdated beliefs, hand size doesn't determine grip size—grip strength does. Many players benefit from slightly larger grips, which allow them to apply force more effectively, reduce tension, and stabilize the club without over-squeezing.

Conclusion:Grip strength is foundational to modern golf performance. It fuels speed, enhances stability, and allows freedom in swing mechanics. Investing in grip-specific training—especially using golf-relevant tools—is one of the fastest, most effective ways to unlock power, consistency, and injury-resistant technique. Stronger hands, smarter pressure: the formula for better golf.

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