x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
How to get the most out of your mishits, according to robot testing
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
Driving

How to get the most out of your mishits, according to robot testing

By: Gene Parente
May 7, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golfer

Most golfers are aware that they miss the center of the face on most driver swings, but what they don’t know is that all mishits aren't equal.

Getty Images

Most golfers are aware that they miss the center of the face on most driver swings, but what they don’t know is that all mishits are not equal. 

Gear
A golf swing robot testing golf clubs in a lab
Why squaring the clubface is so important, according to the ClubTest robot
By: Gene Parente

To see where you can squeeze out the most margin for error, we analyzed the driver data from the robot portion of the 2022 ClubTest, particularly how different impact points across the face (high toe, low heel, etc.) affect ballflight. The data revealed that the “best” mishits occur on the upper third of the clubface; even high toe and heel hits lose only one to four yards compared to centered strikes. 

The second-best miss areas are at ¾ inch toward the heel or toe on the face’s horizontal centerline. These averaged about a five-yard loss in distance. 

The worst mishits? Here’s a tip: Avoid contact on the lower third of the clubface. Here you can lose up to 15 yards. If you don’t have access to a launch monitor, place masking tape on your driver’s face — it’ll show you where you’re contacting the ball when you practice. 

Latest In Instruction

16 hours ago

The best advice Scottie Scheffler ever received — and why it works

18 hours ago

A clever (& legal!) trick to check your grip during the round

1 day ago

Drew Stoltz's favorite bunker trick to fool your unsuspecting buddies

2 days ago

The mental habits that win major championships

generic profile image

Golf.com Contributor

Related Articles

News
Scottie Scheffler is on arguably the best run of golf since Tiger Woods.

What's Scottie Scheffler really like? We asked his inner circle

By: Dylan Dethier
Instruction
golf instructor shows student how to properly grip the golf club

A clever (& legal!) trick to check your grip during the round

By: Zephyr Melton
Food
Pasta alla Zozzona became a fast favorite for LPGA Tour veteran Marina Alex—both at home and on the road

This delicious pasta became an LPGA veteran's tournament-week go-to

By: Jessica Marksbury
Short Game
How to chip with your hybrid, a step-by-step guide

A step-by-step guide to chip with your hybrid

By: Maddi MacClurg
Approach Shots
5 keys for scoring from the rough

5 keys for scoring from the rough

By: Kellie Stenzel, Top 100 Teacher
Bunker Shots
Golfer in orange shirt hits a bunker shot on a golf course.

One simple key for hitting high, soft-landing bunker shots

By: Joe Plecker, Top 100 Teacher
Instruction
Alex Noren's drill for solid contact with wedges

PGA Championship contender's drill for solid contact with wedges

By: Maddi MacClurg
Approach Shots
Max Homa pitching from a wet lie

The 4 keys for pitching off wet lies

By: Maddi MacClurg
Instruction
bryson dechambeau hits a tee shot during a practice round for the 2025 pga championship

The nerdy tech behind Bryson DeChambeau’s resurgence

By: Zephyr Melton
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version