Common Causes of Pull Shots in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes

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Quick Answer

• A pull shot sends the ball left of your target (for righties).
• Main culprits: closed clubface at impact, inside-out swing path, or bad aim.
• Fixing these basics cleans up your game.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who keep pulling shots. Seriously, if you’re tired of that left-curving ball.
• Anyone wanting to understand why their shots go astray and how to stop it.

What to Check First for Pull Shots in Golf

Before you start swinging like a madman, let’s dial in the fundamentals. These are the low-hanging fruit. Trust me, I spent way too many rounds trying to muscle my way out of this.

• Your Grip: Is it neutral? For righties, a grip that’s too strong (left hand turned too far right) is a common issue. You want to see about 2-3 knuckles on your left hand when you look down. If it looks like you’re strangling a snake, dial it back.
• Stance and Alignment: Are your feet, hips, and shoulders aimed squarely at your target? Most folks who pull aim left, then swing out to the right of their body. That’s a recipe for disaster. Use an alignment stick or two on the range to check this. It’s a game-changer.
• Clubface at Address: Before you even think about swinging, make sure that clubface is square to your target line. A closed face from the start is a big problem, and it’s easy to do without noticing.
• Ball Position: Is the ball too far forward in your stance? This can encourage an inside-out swing path, which we’ll get into. For most shots, the ball should be roughly under your lead armpit or slightly forward of center.

Your grip is crucial for avoiding pull shots. If you suspect your grip might be too strong or just feel off, a golf grip trainer can help you practice the correct hand placement and pressure.

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Step-by-Step Plan to Fix Pull Shots in Golf

Alright, let’s get this fixed. It’s not rocket science, just some good old-fashioned golf mechanics. We’re going to tackle this head-on.

1. Action: Adjust grip pressure.

What to look for: A relaxed grip, like holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing it out. You should feel the clubhead’s weight.
Mistake: Gripping too tightly. This kills feel and creates tension, leading to a less controlled swing and a tendency for the clubface to close. I used to grip it like I was trying to break it. Big mistake.

2. Action: Straighten alignment.

What to look for: Your feet, hips, and shoulders pointing directly at your intended target. Imagine a railway track – your body is one rail, the ball-target line is the other.
Mistake: Aiming left of the target. This often causes you to swing out to the right of your body, but if the clubface is still closed relative to that path, it’ll pull it left. We’re aiming straight, folks.

3. Action: Check clubface angle at impact.

What to look for: The clubface is square to your target line at the moment of truth. It should be pointing directly where you want the ball to go.
Mistake: The clubface is closed. This is the most direct cause of a pull. It means the face is aimed left of your target line when the club hits the ball.

4. Action: Shallow your backswing.

What to look for: The club moves on plane, not excessively inside. Think more up and then down, not a huge loop behind you. You want the club to feel like it’s coming from the inside of the target line on the downswing, not from way outside.
Mistake: Taking the club too far inside the target line on the backswing. This forces an inside-out path, which can easily result in a pull if the face isn’t perfectly square or is even slightly closed.

5. Action: Focus on a neutral swing path.

What to look for: The club swings more directly towards the target, or slightly from the inside to square. It shouldn’t feel like you’re swinging drastically out to right field.
Mistake: An excessively inside-out swing path. This is a common cause of pulls, especially if you’re trying to “hit” the ball hard or feel like you’re “swinging out.”

6. Action: Practice slow-motion swings.

What to look for: Smooth transitions, controlled clubface rotation, and a consistent release through impact. Feel the clubhead square up naturally.
Mistake: Rushing the swing. This leads to poor mechanics, inconsistent contact, and makes it impossible to feel what your body and the club are doing.

7. Action: Work on releasing the clubhead.

What to look for: The clubface rotates open after impact, matching your body’s rotation. The wrists hinge and unhinge naturally.
Mistake: Holding the clubface open or “strangling” it through impact. This prevents the clubface from squaring up and can lead to a pull or a slice.

Common Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot and How to Fix Them

Let’s dive a bit deeper into why these pulls happen and what you can do about it. Identifying the Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot is key to improvement. It’s not just one thing; often, it’s a combination.

• Mistake: Over-correcting the swing path.
• Why it matters: Trying too hard to swing “out” to the right can lead to big pushes or, ironically, even more pulls if you then close the clubface. You might fix the pull but create a new problem or a more severe version of the old one. It’s like trying to fix a leaky faucet by banging on the pipes.
• Fix: Focus on a neutral path first. This means swinging more directly towards the target or slightly from the inside. Then, make small, incremental adjustments. Don’t try to force a massive change in swing direction. Patience is key here.
• Mistake: Ignoring grip and alignment.
• Why it matters: These are the absolute bedrock of your golf swing. If they’re off, everything else you do will be a compensation, leading to issues like pulls, slices, hooks, and inconsistent contact. You can have the most perfect swing path in the world, but if your grip is too strong or you’re aimed miles left, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
• Fix: Get a buddy to check your grip and alignment, or use alignment sticks religiously on the range. Make sure they’re solid and neutral before you even think about working on your swing path or tempo. Seriously, spend 10 minutes on this before you hit a single ball.
• Mistake: Trying to fix too many things at once.
• Why it matters: Your brain can only process so much information during a golf swing, especially under pressure. Trying to fix your grip, path, tempo, and release all in one session is a recipe for frustration and paralysis by analysis. You’ll end up thinking about every single movement instead of just playing golf.
• Fix: Pick one or two key issues and focus on them exclusively for a practice session or even a few rounds. Once you see consistent improvement and feel comfortable, then move on to the next. Small wins add up.
• Mistake: Clubface is closed at impact.
• Why it matters: This is the most direct and immediate cause of a pull shot. Even with a perfect swing path, if the clubface is aimed left of the target when it strikes the ball, the ball will go left. It’s physics, pure and simple.
• Fix: Work on keeping your wrists more neutral through impact, avoiding excessive “flipping” or cupping. Ensure your grip isn’t too strong, as this encourages the face to close. Sometimes, simply focusing on keeping your lead wrist flat or slightly bowed through impact can help square the face.
• Mistake: Taking the club too far inside on the backswing.
• Why it matters: When the club goes too far inside on the backswing, it forces an out-to-in or steep downswing path to compensate. This steep path often leads to a closed clubface at impact, resulting in a pull. It’s a chain reaction.
• Fix: Focus on a more upright or “on-plane” takeaway. Think about keeping the clubhead more in front of your hands for the first few feet. You can also try to feel like the club is moving more towards the sky than behind you on the backswing.
• Mistake: Incorrect ball position.
• Why it matters: If the ball is too far forward in your stance, it can encourage an early release or an inside-out swing path that struggles to square the clubface. For some clubs, especially longer ones, this can be a significant factor.
• Fix: Experiment with your ball position. For drivers, it’s typically off the lead heel. For irons, it moves progressively back towards the center as the club gets shorter. Ensure it’s consistent and appropriate for the club you’re using.

FAQ

• What is the most common reason for a pull shot?

A closed clubface at impact is the most common culprit. It means the face is aimed left of your target line when the club hits the ball, sending it in that direction regardless of your swing path.

• How does grip affect a pull shot?

A grip that’s too strong (especially for right-handed golfers, where the left hand is turned too far clockwise) can encourage the clubface to close through impact, leading to a pull. A weak grip (left hand turned too far counter-clockwise) can lead to an open face and a push or slice.

• Can stance and alignment cause a pull?

Absolutely. If you aim your body left of the target, your swing path might naturally go further left, and the clubface might not be able to square up properly relative to that path, resulting in a pull. It’s very common for golfers to aim left and then try to swing “out” to compensate, which often doesn’t work.

• Should I aim left to fix a pull?

No. This is a common misconception and a dangerous one. Aiming left and swinging out to the right often exacerbates the problem because the clubface is still closed relative to your body’s alignment. Focus on aiming at your target and correcting your swing path and clubface.

• What’s the difference between a pull and a hook?

A pull shot travels straight left of the target (for a right-handed golfer). A hook curves from right to left. Both can be caused by a closed clubface, but a hook usually involves a more pronounced inside-out swing path that exaggerates the curve, while a pull can be more of a straight-line miss.

• How can I practice fixing pull shots?

Use alignment sticks to ensure your stance and target line are correct. Practice slow-motion swings focusing on a neutral grip and clubface. Hit balls on the driving range, focusing on one or two elements at a time, like grip pressure or swing path. Sometimes, just hitting chip shots with a focus on squaring the clubface can build good habits.

• Is it possible to have a pull with an open clubface?

While rare, it’s technically possible if your swing path is extremely out-to-in (swinging significantly from right to left for a righty) and the clubface is only slightly open. However, for the vast majority of golfers, a pull is directly linked to a closed clubface at impact.

Sources:

• Identifying the Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot
• Common Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot and How to Fix Them