te of spin imparted to the ball depends on the angle of slant of the clubface as it comes to the ball and on the velocity of the clubhead. The angle of slant of the clubface will depend partly on the loft of the club used but also on how far the hands are ahead of the ball at impact. For a ball hit hard with a very lofted club enough spin may be given to the ball to make it roll backward when it lands on the green. WHEN THE SPIN AXIS IS TILTEDSo far we have considered the ball to have spin about a horizontal axis. It is the exceptional shot that has this axis precisely horizontal. If the axis tips down to the right, the lift on the ball will be tipped to the right and the ball will drift toward the right. This motion is called a slice for a right-handed golfer. If the axis tips down to the left, the drift will be toward the left. This motion is called a hook for a right-handed golfer. In order to hit the ball so that its spin has a horizontal axis, the clubhead should be exactly square to the intended line of flight and the clubhead should be moving exactly along the intended line of flight at impact. If the clubhead moves from the outside in or from the inside out with the clubhead square to the intended line of flight, the axis of spin will be tipped to produce a slice or a hook. If the clubhead moves along the intended line of flight but the clubhead is toed out or in so that the clubhead is not square to the intended line of flight, the axis of spin will be tipped to produce a sliced or a hooked ball. It is possible to hit a straight ball when the clubhead is toed in and it moves from the outside in if the path of the clubhead and the orientation of the clubhead are chosen correctly. This would be a most difficult way to hit a straight ball and certainly would be recommended by no one. EFFECT OF THE WINDWhen there is wind, three velocities must be considered. One velocity is that of the ball relative to the ground and also relative ...
