The variables that determine trajectory are easy to understand, yet controlling ball flight is one of the most difficult skills to master. Outside the professional ranks, few golfers are able to do it consistently.

Trajectory, of course, is a function of clubface loft. More specifically, though, it’s determined by the loft at impact. The position of the golfer’s hands and whether the clubface is open or closed in relation to its path can alter the actual loft significantly. For example, a standard pitching wedge has a loft of 48°. If your hands are ahead of the ball at impact and the shaft leaning toward the target, the loft is decreased – perhaps significantly. The result is a lower shot than the loft alone indicates.