The Top Three TrackMan Numbers Every Golfer Should Know
Indoor golf is almost here and have access to some of the best golf technology in the game. You fire up TrackMan, start hitting balls, and it’s awesome — you can see your ball flight, carry distance, and spin. But then you notice the dozens of numbers flashing across the screen: club speed, launch angle, spin rate, smash factor, and more.
It can feel overwhelming, but here’s the truth — you don’t need all of them.
If you want to actually understand why your golf ball flies the way it does and improve faster, focus on these three: centerness of contact, face angle, and club path.
1. Centerness of Contact – Hitting the Sweet Spot
This shows where the ball strikes the clubface. When you hit the center, you get solid contact, consistent distance, and straight ball flight. Miss the middle — even by half an inch — and you’ll lose distance, change your spin, or curve the ball off target.
Toe hit: starts right, curves left
Heel hit: starts left, curves right
Even if your path and face are perfect, an off-center strike can ruin the shot. That’s why good contact is the foundation of every great swing. A good starting point would is to be within 15mm of center, as you improve this can continue to be more precious and tighten up.
2. Face Angle – Where the Club Is Pointing
Face angle shows where your clubface is aimed at impact — like a camera lens pointed at your target.
Pointing right (open) → ball starts right
Pointing left (closed) → ball starts left
(Opposite for left-handers.)
Your clubface controls roughly 80% of your ball’s starting direction.
If your ball keeps starting right or left, check your face angle first — it’s usually the main culprit.
Depending on the shot you are trying to hit, you want to start the ball 2.5 degrees left of right of the target line.
3. Club Path – The Direction You’re Swinging
Club path shows whether your swing travels in-to-out (to the right) or out-to-in (to the left) at impact.
In-to-out: creates more draws and hooks
Out-to-in: creates more fades and slices
If you’re always slicing, your path is likely too far left. If you’re hooking, it’s too far right. Most good swings fall within 2.5° of neutral. Controlling your path gives you control over your curve.
Final Thought
The next time you hop on TrackMan, skip the data overload. Start by learning your centerness of contact, face angle, and club path. These three numbers explain nearly everything about your ball flight.
In each practice session, focus on one at a time:
Start with centerness of contact (solid strikes).
Then dial in your clubface control.
Finally, refine your swing path.
Do that, and your game will not only look better on TrackMan — it’ll perform better on the course.
For lessons or personalized feedback, reach out to me at drewbarnes1218@gmail.com.
