If the ball is lying on an upslope, golfers tend to pull the ball to the left. This is not due to a swing fault but can purely be ascribed to the arc of a flatter swing resulting in a closed clubface. To overcome the ball moving to the weaker side, aim further to your strong side.
Why do I pull my golf shots?
Another swing error you might be doing which could cause pulled shot has something to do with your left knee and how it is used at impact. Some golfers lock their left – forward – knee at impact and while it is not necessarily a problem in itself it can lead to balls that shoots straight left.
How to stop pulled iron shots in golf?
The Takeaway – What Causes Pulled Iron Shots in Golf? 1 Correcting your alignment. 2 Move the ball back in your stance. 3 Alter your swing shape. 4 Connect with the inside part of the golf ball. 5 Fixing your club angle. I hope you’ll be able to finally say goodbye to those dreaded pulled iron shots and keep the ball perfectly on line!
How do I stop hooking the ball off the tee?
Controlled Fade To avoid hooking the ball off the tee, all-time golf great Jack Nicklaus recommends playing a controlled fade, a shot which moves from left to right. To hit this shot take a smooth backswing “with very little wrist action,” Nicklaus says.
Why does my shot always go left of the target?
There are a variety of reasons that your shot could end up going left of the target whether you drew the ball too much or did not fade it quite enough. The problem with the pulled shot is that the ball starts left of the target, in a direction that you did not think you were aiming.
Why do I pull my tee shots left?
If it's a pull, there are two likely reasons why the ball is starting left: 1) your body and clubface are aimed left of the target at address, which promotes an out-to-in path; or 2) you're aiming properly but the clubface is closed too much at the point of contact.
How do you stop pulling tee shots?
1:594:23How To Stop Pulling Your Tee Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just pull one left like I did in the intro. I would do what he does I would go that way at it.MoreAnd just pull one left like I did in the intro. I would do what he does I would go that way at it. So I just try to spin my hips. They just hit straight pull left I would have no inclination.
Likely Reason #1:Are You Aligned Left of The Target?
Before digging further into the causes of your pulled shots you need to make sure they do not happen simply as a result of bad alignment prior to h...
Likely Reason #2:Outside-In Swing and Strong Grip?
If you are correctly aiming at the target and are using a square stance to the target yet are still producing pull shots then your club path is mos...
Related Golf Swing Errors
The reason your club path might be of the outside-in variety may have something to do with an infamous golf swing error. Indeed, it is quite possib...
How do arms stay in a golf swing?
The arms stay passive in a proper Rotary Swing. The proper golf swing, in a one plane swing, the proper motion of the arms is simply for them to stay passive and relaxed. They don't require any effort. This golf swing should feel very, very effortless when you use your body correctly.
Why is it important to release your arms during the downswing?
It is critical for the arms to stay more passive in the early stages of the downswing so that the slower moving body can be in control of the golf club. The arms will release naturally at the right time in the swing with no conscious effort on the golfers part if they stay more passive.
What happens if you rotate your golf ball to the left?
If a golfer has good rotation to the left, but then activates his arms too early by trying to apply clubhead speed with the arms , the arms will often be thrown over the top of the swing plane causing the ball to be pulled to the left.
What is the most common miss in golf?
One of the most common misses in golfers learning the one plane swing is pulls or misses to the left. This is a very, very common cause. I see it all the time, every day that I teach. It's a very, very simple thing to fix, but you just have to understand what's causing this. When you swing to the back of the one plane swing, ...
What swing method do tour pro use?
More TOUR PROS Use RST Fundamentals Than Any Other Swing Method!
When you swing to the back of the one plane swing, when everything's on plane as you look down the line?
When you swing to the back of the one plane swing, when everything's on plane as you look down the line here, if you start to go hard with the arms - if you start to swing down with the arms rather than letting the arms stay passive and letting the body drive the arms through the shot - your arms will start to release out over the plane and the club head will get thrown too far outside.
What happens when you swing down hard with your arms?
Swinging down hard with the arms causes them to release, shutting the club face & causing a miss to the left
What Do I Need To Fix A Pulled Golf Shot?
The following section includes what you’ll need as well as step-by-step instructions for curing your pull.
How to fade a golf ball?
1. Pull Fade/Slice. A pull fade/slice is when the ball starts left and then moves back toward athe right. You may be thinking that this is what you want your ball to do, but the problem is when you pull the ball just to fade it back towards the target, you lose a lot of distance and accuracy.
What happens if your golf club shaft is too short?
If your shaft is too flexible or not flexible enough, you can pull the ball. Also, if your clubs are too short and make you reach or too long and force you to put the ball too far forward in your stance, you have the wrong clubs. I would suggest getting fitted for clubs and allow the golf pro to tell you which clubs fit best with your height, power, and swing.
How to know if your downswing is strong?
Your takeaway is actually one of the best indicators of how strong your downswing will be. Start the club slowly, don’t rush into mistakes. Keep the club wide during your takeaway so that you will be able to come through with an inside-out swing.
What is the first move in golf?
Your first move when you start the swing, your takeaway, usually dictates how your downswing will go. Many golfers, when they are struggling with their golf game, immediately try to fix what is wrong at the top of their swing or during their downswing.
What does it mean when a golf club is pointed in the right direction?
Alignment sticks (or a golf club pointed in the right direction) can show you the natural direction the ball should be taking based on where you are aiming. If you are aiming left, you may not actually be pulling the ball, you may just be hitting a good shot aimed in the wrong direction.
How to get a better grip on a golf club?
If your grip is too strong for your swing, you may just have to move to a more neutral grip. Simply rotate your hands backward on the club until the “V” shape between your thumb and index finger are pointing straight down or slightly backward. A strong grip helps players who slice the ball or who desire to draw the ball, but it can also cause your club face to be closed at impact.
What happens when you land on a sidehill?
If you land on a sidehill, you run the risk of swinging down the hill and basically scooping the ball back towards you. Butch Harmon tells his golf students to lean towards the slope and swing up the slope.
How to keep your golf shot clean?
This results in a pulled golf shot. Keep your right shoulder in a bit as you start your downswing. Don’t let it flare out more in the direction of the ball. This will help you maintain your swing line to hit the ball cleanly.
How to pull a golf ball?
Loosen your grip; it should be firm, but not tight. Take an entire knuckle out of the grip on your front hand. For more on this, check out our breakdown on How to Grip a Golf Club Like the Pros.
What is crooked shot?
Crooked shots are the number one barrier inexperienced golfers face that holds them back from playing the game at the next level. Try as you might, there’s no way to “compensate” for badly pulled or sliced golf shots. At the end of the day, if you don’t get that shot straightened out, you’re never going to win a match.
What happens if you hit a golf ball too far ahead?
If your ball is too far ahead of you, you’ll double down on pulling because not only will you strike it with a closed club face, but you’ll be hitting it with the part of your swing that should really be part of the follow-through. I.e., you won’t make square contact with the ball.
What is a pulled golf shot?
A pulled golf shot is one that beelines off the tee to the left like a hard-hit line drive to left field. A regular pulled shot doesn’t curve in mid-air; that’s an even more serious problem with more mechanics involved. We’ll talk about cuts and hooks later, but for now, let’s talk about left-side misfires in general.
How to get your golf club to flush with the ball?
Address the ball with your natural grip. Then , rotate your back arm a bit such that the sensitive part of inner elbow is facing more towards the ball and upwards, without moving your hands from their position on the grip. This will pull back the head of the club and open the face up to be more flush with the ball.
Why do I pull my iron shots?
It's a question many golfers often ask themselves: why do I pull my iron shots? The first thing to understand is that the clubface, by and large, dictates the start line. So, if you're consistently starting your irons left of target, that's probably why.
How to know if your alignment is good?
If your alignment is good, check your ball position and if it is too far forward set it further back in your stance and that should help.
How does a golf club work on an arc through impact?
This exists because you are swinging the club around your body so it stands to reason that if the ball is forward in your stance the face will be slightly closed at impact.
What happens when you yank a golf ball?
This naturally forces the club face to roll forward ever so slightly and make contact with the outside cover of the golf ball. As a result, the ball is yanked on a tight rope across the body and well off line with your desired target.
What happens when you hit a golf ball too far forward?
When the golf ball is too far forward in your stance, the club face has more time to release before impact, causing a closed club face at the point of contact and a pulled shot.
How to keep your golf club face square?
To keep the club face square, hit practice shots with your dominant palm open behind the shaft of your club pointing directly at the inside cover of the ball. With this technique, obviously, these shots won’t travel nearly as far as a full golf shot, but this practice technique will train your hands and wrists to get a better feel of making successful impact and hitting the ball on target.
How to fix a ball that is not moving?
An easy fix to this issue is to address the ball how you normally would, and then move it back in your stance an inch or two, no matter how uncomfortable this might feel .
What happens if the toe of the golf club face points up?
Upon addressing the ball, if the toe of your club face points up, you’ll increase your chances of connecting with the outer-cover and pulling the golf ball. To correct this, ensure that the heel of your club face lays flat on the grass.
What happens if you hold your golf club too tight?
More often than not, such a tight grip will cause the club face to close during the downswing and through impact.
What does it mean when you pull an iron?
As previously mentioned, pulled iron shots are a direct result of making impact with the outside cover of the golf ball. Occasionally, this occurs when a players’ swing is coming from “over the top.”
What is a hook shot in golf?
When a right-handed golfer’s tee shot curves to far to the left, the shot is described as a “hook.”. This shot typically occurs when the club head moves across the ball from left to right, imparting side-spin on the ball.
How to avoid hooking the ball off the tee?
To avoid hooking the ball off the tee, all-time golf great Jack Nicklaus recommends playing a controlled fade, a shot which moves from left to right. To hit this shot take a smooth backswing “with very little wrist action,” Nicklaus says. At impact, be sure the palm of your right hand faces the target, and keep your right hand below ...
How to avoid hooks in golf?
To combat a hook, Spearman suggests widening your stance on the tee by moving the right foot back -- away from the target -- several inches. Also, as a drill, take a 6-iron to the practice tee and grasp the club near the bottom of the grip. Hitting the ball properly will require keeping your hands low and your rear end down, Spearman explains, rather than straightening up.
How to combat hooks?
To combat a hook, Spearman suggests widening your stance on the tee by moving the right foot back -- away from the target -- several inches. Also, as a drill, take a 6-iron to the practice tee and grasp the club near the bottom of the grip. Hitting the ball properly will require keeping your hands low and your rear end down, Spearman explains, ...
Why do golfers flip their wrists on the downswing?
By failing to rotate fully on the backswing, golfers don’t shift their weight properly and tend to compensate by flipping their wrists on the downswing, striking the ball with a closed club face that may cause a hook. Woods suggests that players visualize the triangle created by their hands, arms and chest at address, then make sure that relationship “remains intact throughout the swing.”
What does Rick Smith mean by "keep turning"?
Teaching pro Rick Smith says a slow body turn is often the culprit when a player hits a hook. He advises players to “keep turning” on the follow-through. Smith says the midpoint of your body -- he refers to the “shirt buttons and belt buckle” -- should be aimed to the left of your target when you’ve completed your follow-threw.
Can a golfer throw a curve ball to the left?
This is the same method by which a baseball pitcher throws a curve ball, but in the golfer’s case the excessive spin is unintentional. There are mechanical fixes that can help prevent a right-handed golfer from hooking the ball to the left, or a lefty from driving the ball too far to the right.
How to stay down on a golf club?
To help you stay down, think about keeping your right knee flexed and your right heel on the ground for as long as possible. This encourages you to stay bent at the hips and prevents your legs from straightening and lifting the clubhead farther off the ground.
What causes a ball to swing over the top of the ball?
FAULT 1. EARLY EXTENSION. As you approach impact, you lose your original address posture and spine inclination to the ground, which causes you to practically swing over the top of the ball. This is often caused by the urge to help the ball into the air. FAULT 2.
How to get a fuller shoulder turn?
When viewed from behind, you should be able to see just a little bit of your left forearm. This setup adjustment promotes a fuller, deeper shoulder turn and, as a result, a more inside downswing path and delivery.
Is it embarrassing to dribble off the tee?
Few shots in golf are more embarrassing than the topped tee ball. Unfortunately, there’s more than one way to dribble the ball off the tee. You can swing too steeply from the outside and skim across the ball, or even drop-kick it from the inside. Or, as so often happens with amateurs, you can come up out of your posture at impact and all but whiff.