Troubleshooting Why Your Golf Shots Are Consistently Going Right
← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes
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Quick Answer
- Grip, stance, and swing path are your usual suspects for those rightward shots.
- Make sure that clubface is square at impact. It’s key.
- If you’re still scratching your head, a pro can spot what you’re missing.
Who This Is For
- Golfers who are tired of seeing their ball drift right, whether it’s a slice or a pull.
- Anyone looking to dial in their accuracy and stop those frustrating shots that end up in the rough.
Why Your Golf Shots Are Going Right: What to Check First
- Clubface: Look at it at address and at impact. Is it open? That’s a big clue.
- Grip: How are your hands on the club? Too weak or too strong can mess things up.
- Stance & Alignment: Are you set up square to your target? Or are you aiming way left without realizing it?
- Ball Position: Where’s the ball in your stance? It matters, especially with different clubs.
Step-by-Step Plan to Fix Why Your Golf Shots Are Going Right
This is where we dig in. Don’t just skim; actually do these things.
1. Assess Your Grip: Take a look at how you’re holding the club. You want a neutral grip, meaning your hands are set up in a balanced position. For a right-handed golfer, this means you should see about two to two-and-a-half knuckles on your left hand when you look down, and your right hand should overlap or sit comfortably on top of your left, with your right thumb resting in the valley between your left thumb and index finger. Mistake: Gripping the club too weakly (too far to the left for a righty, making it hard to close the face) or too strongly (too far to the right, which can lead to pulls or hooks, but also can cause an open face if your swing isn’t fast enough to square it). A weak grip is a prime suspect for sending shots right.
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2. Check Your Stance and Alignment: Stand like you’re about to hit the ball, aiming at your target. Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart and parallel to your target line. Imagine you’re standing on railroad tracks, with the ball and target on one track, and your feet on the other. Mistake: Aiming your body or clubface left of the target. This is super common. You might think you’re aiming at the flag, but your body is actually pointing way left. This forces you to swing across your body, which often leads to an open clubface at impact. Use alignment sticks on the range to really nail this down.
3. Verify Ball Position: Where the ball sits in your stance has a huge impact on where the clubface is at impact. For most irons, the ball should be slightly forward of the center of your stance. For a 7-iron, it might be just a ball-width ahead of the center. For your driver, it should be off the heel of your lead foot, so you’re hitting it on the upswing. Mistake: Having the ball too far back in your stance. This often causes you to hit the ball on the downswing with an open clubface, because your body hasn’t rotated through enough yet. It’s like trying to hit a ball that’s already behind you.
4. Focus on Swing Path: This is where the magic happens, or doesn’t. Think about swinging the club through the ball, not just at it. You want an “in-to-square-to-in” path. Imagine a wide gate the clubhead is swinging through. It approaches from the inside, swings through the hitting zone square to the target, and then continues on the inside. Mistake: An “outside-in” swing path, where the club comes from over the top of the ball, cutting across it. This is a classic slice-inducer, like chopping down on the ball. It’s tough to square the face when you’re coming over the top.
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5. Clubface Control at Impact: This is the moment of truth. At the precise instant the clubface meets the ball, it needs to be square to your intended target line. If the face is open, the ball is going right. If it’s closed, it’s going left. Simple, right? Well, not always easy. Mistake: The clubface is open at impact. This is the direct cause of most slices. Even if your swing path is perfect, an open face will send it right. You need to feel like you’re releasing the clubhead and letting your hands turn through.
6. Tempo and Transition: How you start your swing and the rhythm you maintain is crucial. Rushing the transition from backswing to downswing often leads to an over-the-top move and an open clubface. Mistake: A jerky or rushed transition. Feel a smooth, uncoiling motion. Start your downswing with your lower body, not your arms. This allows your arms and club to drop into the slot and come from the inside.
7. Practice with Purpose: Don’t just bang balls on the range. Take a few practice swings, focusing on one element at a time. For example, spend 10 minutes just feeling your grip, then 10 minutes focusing on your stance and alignment, and so on. Mistake: Hitting hundreds of balls without a specific focus or feedback. You’ll just reinforce bad habits.
Common Mistakes That Send Your Golf Shots Right
- Weak Grip — This is a major player. A weak grip means your hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise (for a righty). It makes it really hard to square the clubface at impact, often leaving it open and sending the ball right. — Fix: Strengthen your grip by rotating both hands slightly clockwise on the club. You should see at least two to three knuckles on your lead hand and a “V” formed by your thumb and index finger pointing roughly towards your trail shoulder.
- Aiming Left — This one trips up a lot of folks. You might be aiming your body left of the target, but your swing path is still coming from out-to-in. The ball starts left and curves even further left (relative to your body’s alignment), which, to your intended target, looks like it went way right. — Fix: Use alignment sticks religiously. Place one on the ground pointing directly at your target and another parallel to it for your feet. Consciously focus on aiming your clubface and body at the actual target, not some point to the left of it.
- Outside-In Swing Path — This is the classic slicer’s move. The club comes from over the top of the ball and cuts across it. It’s like trying to slice a loaf of bread with a knife coming from the side. This action almost always results in an open clubface at impact. — Fix: Work on swinging the club more from the inside and through the ball. Feel like you’re swinging “out to right field” (for a righty). A good drill is to place a headcover or a tee just outside the ball on your target line and try to swing under it.
- Over-the-Top Swing — This is closely related to the outside-in path. It often happens when your shoulders start the downswing too quickly, casting the club out and away from your body. You’re essentially trying to hit the ball with your shoulders and arms, rather than letting your body unwind and the club drop into the slot. — Fix: Focus on starting your downswing with your hips and lower body. Feel like you’re unwinding your body and letting your arms and the club follow naturally. Imagine swinging under your hands.
- Insufficient Hip Rotation — Your hips are the engine of the golf swing. If they don’t clear properly through the impact zone, your arms and club can get stuck on the outside, leading to an open clubface and that dreaded rightward miss. — Fix: Make sure you’re rotating your hips through the shot. Feel like your belt buckle is pointing towards the target (or even slightly past it) after impact. Practice with your feet together to feel your body turn.
- Lack of Clubhead Release — Some players hang back on their trail side and don’t allow the clubhead to square up and release through the ball. This leaves the face open. — Fix: Focus on feeling the clubhead “whipping” through the ball. Imagine the clubhead is trying to catch up to your hands. A good drill is to hit shots where you focus on turning your wrists over naturally after impact.
FAQ
- What is a slice in golf?
A slice is a shot that curves significantly from left to right for a right-handed golfer (or right to left for a lefty). It’s typically caused by an open clubface at impact combined with an outside-in swing path. It’s the most common reason golfers struggle with shots going right.
- How does my grip affect the direction of my shot?
Your grip is the primary way you control the clubface. A weak grip makes it harder to close the face, often leading to an open face and a slice. A strong grip can lead to a closed face and hooks, but if you’re already swinging outside-in, a strong grip can still result in an open face relative to that path. A neutral grip provides the best balance for controlling the clubface.
- What is the ideal ball position for different clubs?
Generally, the ball moves progressively forward in your stance as you move from shorter clubs to longer clubs. For wedges and short irons, the ball is usually played in the center of your stance. For mid-irons (like a 7-iron), it’s slightly forward of center. For long irons and hybrids, it’s further forward. For your driver, the ball is typically played off the inside of your lead heel, allowing you to hit it on the upswing.
- Can hip rotation cause my shots to go right?
Absolutely. Insufficient or incorrect hip rotation is a major contributor to an outside-in swing path and an open clubface. When your hips don’t clear properly, your arms and the club tend to get stuck on the outside of the target line, forcing the clubface to remain open through impact.
- What does “square clubface” mean?
A square clubface means the face of the club is perpendicular to your intended target line at the moment of impact. Imagine the clubface is looking directly at your target. This is crucial for hitting the ball straight. If the face is open (pointing to the right of the target), the ball will curve right. If it’s closed (pointing left), it will curve left.
- I’m aiming left, but my shots still go right. What’s going on?
This is a classic case of compensating for a perceived slice. You aim left to account for the ball curving right, but then your swing path might still be out-to-in relative to your body’s alignment. The result is the ball starts left and curves even further left of your body’s line, which, to your intended target, looks like a massive miss to the right. The key is to trust your swing path and alignment to the actual target.
- How can I practice effectively to fix my rightward shots?
Don’t just hit balls aimlessly. Use alignment sticks to ensure your stance and clubface are aimed correctly. Focus on one or two swing thoughts at a time, like your grip or your swing path. Video yourself if possible to see what your swing actually looks like. Work on drills that promote an inside-out swing path and a square clubface. Remember, quality over quantity.
Sources:
- Troubleshooting Why Your Golf Shots Go Right: golfhubz.com
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.