Club path influences the initial direction of a golf ball's flight, but to a smaller degree than club face angle. In fact, Trackman^® data has shown that on iron shots, face angle is approximately 75% responsible for the initial direction of the golf ball. Club path is responsible for the remaining 25%.  On shots with a driver, this gap is even larger. The direction where the club face is pointed is 85% responsible for initial direction with only 15% attributable to the path of the club.