General Information

9-bal Rule

 Shaping a shot is best if you understand the: THE 9 BALL RULE.
The ball can travel one of 9 possible ways off of your club. There are 2 elements in a swing: Swing path and club-face angle. There are 3 basic positions that each can be in at impact: Open, Square and Closed for club-face angle, and Inside-Out, Square and Outside-In for the path. The number of possible flights are 3 X 3. You can tell what you did based on the resulting flight of the ball by looking at 2 things: The first 10 yards of the ball flight is related to the path. The rest is related to the club-face angle. This is because the club-face angle puts the spin on the ball and that makes the ball curve. The severity of the curve is dependent on the severity of the angle of the club-face. An open club-face also makes the ball go higher and a closed club-face will make it go lower. The swing-path puts the ball on the basic target line – left or right of your intended target.

There are advantages to knowing this rule:
                        1) Diagnosing and Fixing problems with your swing.
                        2) Learning how to shape a shot on demand
                        3) Use and counteract elements to your favor

Here are the results of the 9 possible outcomes and some descriptions of why and what to do to fix them:

Square face and path: is obvious - good shot.

Square face and Outside-In path: "The Pull" -okay for lower shots in the wind. Usually a mistake that is caused by casting at the top of the swing (hands firing first). This causes you to push the club out and away from your body and the only place the club can go to get back to the ball is to be pulled into your body at the bottom of the swing. This causes the outside-in path.
Solution: Just don't cast at the top. Start the swing with the lower hip turn first. Hands always go last.

Outside-In path and Closed face: The "Duck-Hook". This is only good for keeping the ball very low to the ground. It shouldn't get above 20 feet. Used to stay under trees and extreme head-wind. Be sure to aim out right. Normally a mistake. Same casting problem plus your hands closing the face down for that "extra kill it" thought most of us always fight.
Solution: Never let the clubface beat the hands to the ball.

Outside-In path and Open face: "The Sand Shot". This is desired to get the ball up and land soft. If is was a mistake, then you are probably reverse pivoting your body - your weight is going from the front foot on the back-swing to the back foot on the follow through.
Solution: Reverse the weight shift. Practice swinging on the front left leg. Practice my "Walking Drill".  You will find that the finish will be balanced on the front leg and will get you in a good feeling that you will always want to end up there.

Square path and Closed face: "The Draw". Keeps the ball lower for head wind and a good shape for drives that want to hit and run. If it was a mistake, then you probably are getting a little excited in the hands trying to hit the hard. They cause the club to beat your hands to the ball and the face gets shut a little.
Solution: Hold on to your hand "release" as long as you can. Don't make that the "power" move in the shot, make the hip and shoulder turn for power. You also need to aim out to counter the eventual movement of the ball.

Square path and Open face: "The Fade" - This is a good shape for irons that want to go high and land softer. The ball will carry longer and stop shorter. If it was a mistake, you are probably not turning your body through enough before impact.
Solution: Work on getting your hips and shoulders fully rotated before impact with stretching exercises. If trying to make this shape, be sure to aim out to counter the movement.

Inside-Out path and Square face: "The Push" - Not really good for anything. It just simply goes right (for right-handers). Mistakes are caused by the takeaway. You pull the club into you body. The only place the club can go back to the ball is to be pushed back out away from your body causing the In-to-Out path.
Solution: The first move in your takeaway is with your shoulders getting your back to the target. Your hands and arms should stay "still" relative to your chest. Then, you can bring your hands and arms up to their full cocked and extended positions.

Inside-Out path and Closed face: "The Pushed Draw" - A mistake for any shot that wanted to hook or draw that ball. It is always better to play the square path with a closed face then the inside-out path because you have a lot more control of the intended target line. You made 2 adjustments which is harder then just one. Mistakes are usually caused by the takeaway and the hands "swatting" at the ball for power.

Inside-Out path and Open face: "What the hell was that!" This is not good for anything. You really messed up. Pulled the club way inside and didn't turn through. You probably need to take up tennis.