How to Fix a Pull Shot in Golf

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Quick Answer

• A pull shot in golf means your ball starts left of the target and stays there. It’s a common frustration.
• The main culprits are usually a clubface that’s too closed at impact or a swing path that’s too inside-out.
• You can fix this by dialing in your grip, squaring up your alignment, and refining your swing path.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who are consistently seeing their shots drift left, costing them strokes and confidence.
• Anyone looking to improve ball striking, gain control, and hit shots closer to the flag.

What to Check First for a Pull Shot

• Your Grip: This is a big one. A weak grip can lead to the clubface closing too early. Check that your hands are in a neutral or slightly stronger position. For right-handers, this means seeing two to two-and-a-half knuckles on your left hand when you look down, and your right hand turned slightly more underneath the grip.
• Your Alignment: It sounds simple, but many golfers aim left without even realizing it. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should all be aimed parallel to your target line. Use alignment sticks on the range – they’re cheap and effective.
• Your Stance: An open stance (feet aimed left of the target) can encourage an inside-out swing path, which often leads to a pull. Aim for a square stance, where your feet, hips, and shoulders are parallel to your target line.
• Clubface at Address: Before you even swing, check that your clubface is square to your intended target line. If it’s already closed, your swing will have to fight to open it up, often leading to a pull.

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

• Adjust Grip: Rotate your hands slightly on the club. Look for both hands to be in a neutral position, or slightly stronger (right hand rotated more clockwise for a right-handed golfer). This helps prevent the clubface from closing too early. Mistake: Gripping too weakly, which forces the clubface to close prematurely through impact. I used to do this all the time, always felt like I was fighting the club.
• Square Alignment: Set up with your body aimed directly at the target. Observe your feet, hips, and shoulders forming a line parallel to the target line. This ensures you’re giving yourself a fair chance to hit the ball where you want it. Mistake: Aiming left of the target, even slightly. You’re setting yourself up for failure before you even take a practice swing.
• Neutral Stance: Ensure your stance is neither too open nor too closed. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart or slightly wider, parallel to the target line. A balanced, square stance promotes a more neutral swing path. Mistake: An open stance that encourages an inside-out path and can lead to an uncontrolled swing.
• Check Clubface: At address, ensure the clubface is square to your target line. A quick glance down can tell you a lot. Mistake: The clubface is already closed before you even begin your swing. This is a setup issue that needs immediate correction.
• Focus on Swing Path: Feel like you’re swinging more “out to the right” (for a right-handed golfer) relative to your body line. This doesn’t mean swinging wildly, but rather focusing on releasing the clubhead towards the target. Mistake: Swinging across the ball from outside-in, which is a classic cause of pulls and often slices. This is where Common Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot and How to Fix Them can really help visualize the path.
• Smooth Takeaway: Start the club back slowly and deliberately. Keep the clubhead in front of your hands for the first few feet. This helps prevent an overly inside takeaway, which can set up an inside-out path. Mistake: Snapping the club inside too quickly, leading to a steep or overly inside-out downswing.
• Release Through Impact: Focus on a full release of the clubhead through the impact zone. Feel the club naturally rotate open after impact. This is crucial for squaring the clubface. Mistake: Holding the clubface off, preventing it from releasing and leading to a closed face at impact.

How to Fix a Pull in Golf: Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Overcorrecting the grip.
• Why it matters: Trying to make your grip extremely strong can lead to the opposite problem – a push or a slice. You want a balanced fix, not a swing-wrecking overcorrection.
• Fix: Aim for a neutral grip, not an extremely strong one. Make small adjustments, maybe just rotating your hands a quarter turn. Patience is key here.
• Mistake: Ignoring alignment.
• Why it matters: Even if your swing is perfect, if your body is aimed left, the ball will start left. It’s like trying to drive a car straight when your steering wheel is turned.
• Fix: Use alignment sticks on the range. Have a playing partner watch your setup. Practice your pre-shot routine to ensure you’re always setting up square. This is fundamental to Fixing Pulled Golf Shots.
• Mistake: Swinging too hard.
• Why it matters: When you swing hard, tension builds up. This often leads to a loss of control, exacerbating swing flaws like an inside-out path or a closed clubface.
• Fix: Focus on a smooth tempo and controlled rotation. Speed comes from proper sequencing and release, not brute force. Think of it as a dance, not a wrestling match.
• Mistake: Incorrect takeaway.
• Why it matters: A takeaway that brings the club too far inside too early can set up an inside-out swing path on the downswing, which is a primary cause of pulls.
• Fix: Start the club back slowly, keeping it in front of your body. Imagine your clubhead is following a straight line back for the first foot or two.
• Mistake: Not finishing your swing.
• Why it matters: A rushed or incomplete swing often means you haven’t allowed the clubface to release properly, leaving it closed at impact.
• Fix: Focus on a full, balanced finish. Let your body rotate naturally through the shot. A good finish is often a sign of a good swing.
• Mistake: Trying to steer the ball.
• Why it matters: When you try to “guide” the ball to the target, you often manipulate the clubface and swing path, leading to inconsistent results like pulls.
• Fix: Trust your setup and focus on making a good, free-flowing swing. Let the club do the work.

FAQ on How to Fix a Pull in Golf

• What is a pull shot in golf?

A pull shot is when the golf ball starts to the left of your intended target (for a right-handed golfer) and generally continues on that line without much curve. It’s distinct from a hook, which starts left and curves sharply back left.

• Why does my golf ball start left of the target?

The most common reasons are a clubface that is closed relative to your swing path at impact, or a swing path that is too far inside-out. Both of these scenarios encourage the ball to start left.

• Is my grip the most common reason for a pull?

While not the only reason, grip issues are very common contributors to pulled shots. A weak grip, where the hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise (for a right-hander), can easily lead to a closed clubface at impact. It’s a good place to start your diagnostics.

• How can I check my alignment effectively?

The best way is to use alignment sticks on the practice range. Place one stick on the ground pointing directly at your target and another parallel to it, indicating where your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aimed. You can also ask a trusted playing partner or instructor to observe your setup.

• Should I aim left to compensate for a pull?

No, this is a common trap and a bad habit to develop. Aiming left will only mask the problem and won’t fix the underlying swing flaw. The goal is to hit the ball where you intend, not to adjust your aim to accommodate a bad shot. Focus on fixing the root cause of the pull.

• What if I’m slicing but still pulling?

This scenario usually indicates your clubface is closing too late relative to an outside-in swing path. The ball starts left (because of the path) but then curves back right (because the clubface is still open relative to the path at impact). This is a different issue from a pure pull, which often involves a closed face with an inside-out path. Identifying and Correcting a Pull Shot in Golf can help differentiate these.

• How much should I adjust my grip to fix a weak grip?

Start with small adjustments. For a right-handed golfer, try rotating your left hand about one to two knuckles further clockwise on the grip, and your right hand about a quarter turn clockwise. You should feel more of your palms facing each other. Make a few practice swings and see how it feels. Don’t go too extreme initially.

Sources:

• Fixing Pulled Golf Shots
• Common Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot and How to Fix Them
• Identifying and Correcting a Pull Shot in Golf