In which direction is a ball struck above and to the right of center most likely to go?

• A. Dipping and to the left
• B. Straight
• C. Up and to the left
• D. Dipping and to the right

Answer: (A)

When a ball is struck off-center, you don’t just send it straight forward—you also give it spin. Hitting above the center tends to produce topspin, which makes the ball dip as it travels. If the contact point is to the right of the center, the spin that’s imparted is such that the top of the ball moves toward the left. That spin interacts with the air to push the ball sideways in the opposite direction of the spin’s horizontal component, while the topspin drags it downward. The combined effect is a path that dips and moves to the left. So the ball is most likely to go down and to the left.