What is Angle of Attack in Golf?

Angle of attack is the vertical complement to swing path. Where path tells you which way the clubhead is moving sideways, angle of attack tells you which way it is moving up and down at the moment of impact. For irons it should be negative — the club is still descending when it strikes the ball. For a driver hit off a tee it should be positive — the club is on its way up. Wedges sit in between.

Tour-average attack angles are roughly minus 3 to minus 5 degrees with mid-irons and plus 1 to plus 3 with the driver. Amateurs typically get this exactly backward: they hit irons with a positive attack angle (trying to lift the ball) and the driver with a negative one (steep downswing into the ball). The result is fat or thin irons and weak, low-launching drives.

Attack angle is mostly controlled by ball position, weight transfer, and shoulder tilt at address. Ball forward in the stance with extra spine tilt away from the target raises the angle. Ball back with the hands ahead lowers it. Adjust ball position before you adjust your swing.