Diagnosing and Correcting a Pushed Golf Shot

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes

BLOCKQUOTE_0

Quick Answer

• Pushing the golf ball typically boils down to an open clubface at impact or a swing path that cuts across the ball from out-to-in.
• Setup problems like misaligned aim or incorrect ball position are often the root cause.
• Tuning up your grip and swing mechanics is your ticket to stopping those pesky pushed shots.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who are tired of seeing their shots veer off to the right of the target (assuming you’re a righty, of course).
• Players who want to get to the bottom of why they’re pushing the ball and learn practical ways to fix it.
• Anyone looking for actionable advice to improve their ball striking and hit more accurate shots.

What to Check First: Pushing the Golf Ball

• Clubface Angle: At the moment of truth, is that clubface pointing square to your target line, or is it open? This is huge.
• Swing Path: Are you swinging from outside the ball and cutting across it, or is your path more in-to-out, swinging through the target line?
• Alignment: Take a good look at your setup. Are your feet, hips, and shoulders all aimed precisely where you want the ball to go?
• Ball Position: Where’s the ball sitting in your stance? If it’s too far forward, it can really encourage that out-to-in swing.
• Grip Check: Your hands on the club matter. A grip that’s too weak can make it tough to square the face.

To accurately assess your swing path and clubface angle at impact, a golf swing analyzer can provide invaluable data. It helps you objectively see what’s happening during your swing.

No products found.

Step-by-Step Plan to Stop Pushing the Golf Ball

Get Your Address Alignment Dialed In

• Action: Set up to the ball with intention.
• What to look for: Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be perfectly parallel to your intended target line. Think of it like being on railroad tracks – your body is on one track, the ball and target are on the other.
• Mistake to avoid: Don’t aim your body left of the target to try and “make up” for the push. This is a classic trap that usually makes things worse, often leading to a pull or a more severe push if the face is still open.

Fine-Tune Your Grip

• Action: Grab the club like you mean it.
• What to look for: Aim for a neutral to slightly strong grip. For a right-handed golfer, this means being able to see about two to three knuckles on your left hand when you look down. The “V” formed by your thumb and index finger on both hands should point roughly towards your right shoulder. This helps promote closing the clubface through impact.
• Mistake to avoid: A weak grip, where your hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise (for righties), makes it incredibly difficult to square the clubface through the hitting zone. You’ll fight an open face all day.

If you suspect your grip is the culprit, consider using a golf grip trainer to help you find and maintain the correct hand position. This can be a game-changer for squaring the clubface.

No products found.

Promote an In-to-Out Swing Path

• Action: Focus on swinging through the ball and towards your target.
• What to look for: Imagine your swing path is moving slightly from the inside of the ball towards the outside, aiming a little to the right of your actual target. This helps naturally counteract the tendency to swing across the ball from out-to-in. It’s about feeling like you’re swinging out to the target, not just at it.
• Mistake to avoid: Don’t try to “steer” or manipulate the clubhead. Trying to force an in-to-out path with your hands will kill your natural rhythm and lead to more problems. Let your body rotation guide the club.

Optimize Your Ball Position

• Action: Get the ball placed correctly in your stance for each club.
• What to look for: For your driver, the ball should typically be positioned off the inside of your lead heel. As you move to shorter clubs (fairway woods, hybrids, irons), the ball position moves progressively back towards the center of your stance. A good check is to ensure you’re hitting the ball on the upswing or at the bottom of your swing arc.
• Mistake to avoid: Having the ball too far forward in your stance, especially with irons, can force you to make contact on the downswing while the club is still traveling from out-to-in. This is a prime setup for a push.

Master Clubface Control at Impact

• Action: Work on releasing the clubhead through the ball.
• What to look for: The clubface should be square or even slightly closed relative to the target line at the moment of impact. You should feel your wrists and hands working together to “release” the club, allowing the face to naturally square up. This is where you generate speed and accuracy.
• Mistake to avoid: Holding the clubface open through impact is the most direct cause of a pushed shot. It’s often a result of trying to “help” the ball or a lack of proper wrist action.

Focus on Body Rotation

• Action: Engage your core and hips in the downswing.
• What to look for: Your body should be rotating through the shot, helping to pull the club on that desired in-to-out path. Feel your chest and hips turning towards the target after impact.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to hit the ball solely with your arms and hands leads to a disconnected swing and often an out-to-in path with an open face.

Consider Your Wedge Play

• Action: Pay attention to how you hit wedges.
• What to look for: Short game shots, especially wedges, often suffer from the same issues. Ensure your alignment, grip, and swing path are consistent, even on shorter swings.
• Mistake to avoid: Getting too handsy with wedges or trying to “scoop” the ball. This can easily lead to an open face and a push.

Common Mistakes When Pushing the Golf Ball

• Aiming Left — This is a common but flawed reaction. It can lead to a stronger pull or, if the face remains open, an even more pronounced push. — The fix is to trust your alignment and work on squaring the clubface instead of aiming left.
• Weak Grip — A grip that’s too weak makes it very hard to square the clubface at impact, almost guaranteeing an open face. — Strengthen your grip by rotating your hands slightly inward on the club (away from the target for righties).
• Outside-to-In Swing Path — This path inherently cuts across the ball, often resulting in a push or a slice. — Focus on feeling an in-to-out swing path, swinging through the ball towards the right of your target.
• Ball Too Far Forward — Positioning the ball too far up in your stance, especially with irons, encourages you to hit down and across it. — Adjust your ball position back towards the center of your stance for irons and shorter clubs.
• Trying to “Steer” the Ball — This kills natural swing mechanics and clubface rotation. You’re trying to guide the club instead of letting it swing. — Trust your body’s rotation and the natural arc of the swing.
• Not Releasing the Clubface — Holding the clubface open through impact is a direct cause of pushes. — Practice drills that encourage proper wrist action and clubface release.
• Inconsistent Setup Routine — Rushing your setup or not checking key elements like alignment and ball position leads to starting problems. — Develop a consistent pre-shot routine that includes checking these fundamentals every time.

FAQ

• What exactly is a pushed golf shot?

A pushed golf shot is one that starts to the right of your intended target line and continues to travel in that direction, often with little to no curve. For a right-handed golfer, this means the ball starts right and stays right.

• What are the most common causes of pushing the golf ball?

The two biggest culprits are an open clubface at impact and a swing path that comes from outside-to-in across the ball. Setup issues like poor alignment, a weak grip, and incorrect ball position frequently contribute to these problems.

• How does my grip affect whether I push the ball?

A weak grip, where your hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise (for a right-handed golfer), makes it significantly harder to square the clubface through the hitting zone. This often results in an open face at impact, leading to a push.

• Can the type of golf ball I use influence pushing shots?

While less common than swing mechanics, a golf ball with a very low compression rating might feel harder to square up for golfers with slower swing speeds. However, it’s rarely the primary cause of a push. Focus on your swing fundamentals first. The cover material (like urethane vs. ionomer) affects spin and feel, but not typically the direction of a push.

• Is a pushed shot the same as a slice?

No, they’re different. A push starts right of the target and goes relatively straight or curves further right. A slice also starts right of the target but curves sharply back to the left (for a right-handed golfer). Both can stem from an open clubface, but the swing path and clubface relation to that path are key differentiators.

• How can I practice to fix my pushed shots?

Start with alignment drills, using alignment sticks on the range. Practice your grip with a mirror. Try drills that focus on swinging out towards the target. You can also use impact tape on your clubface to see where you’re making contact and if the face is square. Focus on slow, controlled swings to ingrain the new feelings.

• What if I’m a left-handed golfer? How do these tips change?

For left-handed golfers, the directions are reversed. A pushed shot will start to the left of the target and continue left. A weak grip would involve rotating your hands too far clockwise. The principles of an open clubface and an out-to-in swing path still apply, but the visual and directional cues are opposite.