Watch the ball.

A ball that starts right and stays there is different from one that starts towards the target and curves right. Both can finish in the same place. Just saying “I missed right” loses part of the story.

Separate two questions: where did the ball begin, and what did it do afterwards?

• Start direction: the direction the clubface points at impact has the greatest influence on where the ball starts. The club’s direction of travel also contributes.
• Curve: with a centred strike, the relationship between the clubface and the club’s path through impact is a key influence on which way the ball curves.

For example, with centred contact and calm conditions, a face pointing right of the target can send the ball off to the right. If the club’s path is farther right than the face, the ball can then curve left. The starting line and the curve are separate parts of that shot.

Technical background: Trackman’s guides to face angle and face to path.

Those explanations assume contact near the centre of the clubface. A strike away from the centre can change the curve as well. The flight is useful evidence, but it doesn’t tell you every detail of the swing that produced it.

A good description includes the contact. Was it solid? Did it feel thin, heavy or off the heel? Watch a few shots with the same club rather than treating one poor swing as the answer to everything.

In a lesson, John can connect what the ball does with what you’re doing. With your consent, V1 Pro video lets you look at your swing together. How John uses video analysis

If a recurring curve is your main concern, this guide to the slice explains why the starting line and contact matter when describing the miss.

At your next practice, pick a clear target and a shot you want to play. After each ball, notice:

• Where it started compared with the target.
• Whether it curved left, right or very little.
• Whether the flight was higher or lower than you intended.
• How the contact felt and where the ball landed.

You’re collecting a pattern to discuss, rather than guessing which body position to change. Tell John what you notice, including whether the miss changes from one shot to the next.

For John, the purpose of working on impact is to give you more control of the ball. The aim is to play the shots you need with a swing that works for you.

Building useful options in height and shape gives that feedback a purpose on the course.

John Rogers gives private golf lessons on the undercover range at Thurgoona Country Club Resort, Albury, for beginners and experienced golfers. No membership needed.

Lessons are $100 an hour, or $80 an hour for juniors under 16. Call or text John on 0417 682 008 to arrange a time.

Lessons and John’s approach · All coaching notes