You flush one down the middle. The next swing, the ball curves left. Your MLM2PRO shows a club path of -2.4, so… shouldn’t that be a fade?
According to #1 ranked golf coach Mark Blackburn, the answer is gear effect. And if you don’t understand it, your launch monitor data can feel completely misleading.
Club Path vs. Impact Location: Why Your Ball Flight Doesn’t Match the Data
Club path is one of the biggest factors in ball flight—but it only tells the full story when you strike the ball in the center of the clubface.
Mark Blackburn explains that when one of his TOUR players hits a crooked shot, he always asks:
“Did you hit it in the middle of the face?”
Because if the strike is off-center—on the toe or heel—gear effect can override your club path entirely.
“Gear effect trumps what the club delivery is.”
— Mark Blackburn
What Is Gear Effect in Golf?
Gear effect refers to how the clubface and ball interact on off-center hits, causing the ball to curve in ways that may not match your swing path.
Modern drivers are designed with bulge and roll, meaning the face is slightly curved—not flat. This design helps correct mishits, but it also creates gear effect.
How Gear Effect Works:
- Toe strike - The clubhead twists open → tilts the spin axis → produces draw spin
- Heel strike - The clubhead twists closed → tilts the spin axis the opposite way → produces fade spin
This means you can have:
- A draw path that produces a fade
- A fade path that produces a draw
That’s why golfers often think:
“My launch monitor must be wrong.”
But it’s not.
As Blackburn explains:
“When you take a deeper dive and look at Impact Vision, you’ll see it was a heel strike — and all of a sudden, it’s gear effect.”
Why Center Contact Is Critical for Accurate Launch Monitor Data
Launch monitor numbers—like club path and face angle—assume centered contact.
If you miss the center:
- Gear effect changes spin axis
- Ball flight may contradict your swing data
- Shot shape becomes harder to interpret
“If you haven’t hit it in the center of the face, gear effect takes over and you could get some numbers that don’t make sense.”
This is where MLM2PRO’s Impact Vision camera becomes essential.
With Impact Vision, you can:
- See exactly where you struck the ball
- Understand why the ball curved
- Separate swing issues from strike issues
Club data + strike location = real clarity
How Tour Players Use Gear Effect to Shape Shots
While gear effect confuses many amateur golfers, elite players use it strategically.
Instead of changing their swing, they adjust strike location:
- Toe strike → promote a draw
- Heel strike → create a fade
- Maintain consistent swing mechanics
Mark Blackburn notes that Jack Nicklaus used this technique frequently.
If Nicklaus wanted to avoid the left side, he would:
- Tee the ball lower
- Strike it slightly on the heel
- Hit what Blackburn calls a “low squeeze bleeder”
That’s advanced shot-making—using gear effect without changing your swing DNA.
Turn Gear Effect into an Advantage
Gear effect doesn’t have to be confusing. Once you understand it, it becomes a powerful tool.
With the MLM2PRO Impact Vision camera, you can:
- ✅ Confirm strike location instantly
- ✅ Understand ball flight and curvature
- ✅ Diagnose swing vs. contact issues
- ✅ Learn to intentionally shape shots
When you understand gear effect, mishits stop being mysteries—and start becoming valuable feedback you can use to improve.
About Mark Blackburn
Mark Blackburn is one of the most respected golf instructors in the world and has been ranked the #1 Golf Teacher in America by Golf Digest since 2024. He works with PGA TOUR professionals and competitive amateurs, combining data, biomechanics, and technology to optimize performance.
Learn More About Gear Effect
Watch Mark Blackburn as he explain gear effect in detail:
