Where Does the Ball Go?
A lofty question

When a golf club strikes a golf ball, the ball is only in contact with the clubface for a very short time.  During that fraction of a second, the ball is deformed inward by the impact with the club, and then it quickly springs off the club in a direction perpendicular to the clubface.  This is evident in the slow-motion video below.

Notice how the ball rolls up the clubface as the club passes under the ball and initiates the ball's spin.  Also, notice the direction of the ball relative to the angle of the clubface at impact.  Higher loft produces higher direction with more spin, and lower loft produces lower direction with less spin.

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