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golf why do i pull the ball

by Noble Hyatt V Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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With that in mind, here are a few reasons why you might be pulling the golf ball:

  • Positioning the ball too far forward, or “up” in your stance.
  • Swinging the club from outside the target line.
  • Having a strong or tight grip.
  • Misaligning your body to the intended target.

The only way you can pull a shot is to make contact with the outside part of the ball. Sometimes this comes from swinging into impact from outside the target line, called "coming over the top," but other times the right wrist simply straightens too soon, which causes the toe of the club to rotate closed (above, left,).Feb 24, 2013

Full Answer

Why do I pull the ball when I putt?

A strong, tight grip is among the most common reasons golfers pull the 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. This happens, too, when you’re misaligned with your target.

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.

Why do I pull the ball on my Irons?

Why You’re Pulling the Golf Ball 1 The Ball is Too Far Forward, or “Up” in Your Stance. Examining your ball position should be the first thing you address if you are pulling your irons. ... 2 Swinging the Club from Outside the Target Line. ... 3 Having a Strong or Tight Grip. ... 4 Misaligning Your Body to the Intended Target. ...

Why do golf balls go to the left on a sidehill?

Golf balls lying above your feet, on a sidehill, have a tendency to shoot left of the target. The reason they do is because the sidehill will promote a flatter swing that will leads to a more aggressive release of the hands. This will naturally close the clubface and send the ball to the left of the target. FIX: Aim right of the target.

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How do I stop pulling the golf ball?

4:308:07How to Stop Pulling The Golf Ball | Cure Your Pulled Golf ShotsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTowards the target in the transition. The arms are naturally dropping underneath their body thatMoreTowards the target in the transition. The arms are naturally dropping underneath their body that right arm for the right handle would be straightening.

What causes you to pull the ball in golf?

Work On Keeping Your Swing Closed Longer | One common cause of pulling your ball is opening your shot too early and not keeping your back to your intended target long enough. By opening your swing too early, your arms move too much, and your swing gets out of whack, which can cause you to pull the ball.

Why do I keep pulling my golf shots?

Most professionals pull the ball when they leave their weight too much on their back leg at impact. This makes their club turn over too quickly through impact, and the swing path moves across the ball.

How do I stop pulling my golf driver?

4:526:58Video Lesson Tip: Fix Pulls to the Left Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to catch it too late in the swing your clubs going to be swinging to the left you'reMoreYou're going to catch it too late in the swing your clubs going to be swinging to the left you're going to tend to pull it. So put the ball a little bit further back in your stance.

How do I stop hitting pull hooks?

0:001:25How to Stop Hitting Pull Hooks | Breaking Bad Scores | Golf DigestYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd draw new swing arc I'm Jason Gus. And this is Breaking Bad scores. The problem the ball startsMoreAnd draw new swing arc I'm Jason Gus. And this is Breaking Bad scores. The problem the ball starts left and continues to go left the cause the ball is too far forward in your stance. The fix.

Why do I keep pulling my driver 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 I stop pulling my irons?

2:435:42Why You Pull Your Irons + How to Stop It For Good! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSet up and then trying to move the club. Inside hitting the ball and avoiding. That head cover. I'llMoreSet up and then trying to move the club. Inside hitting the ball and avoiding. That head cover. I'll take that. Now that's not too bad at all so I just move the club slightly.

How do you fix a pull hook in golf?

3:464:46Stop Pull Hooking the Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown don't try and start you know don't try and hit the ball further to the right you need to do theMoreDown don't try and start you know don't try and hit the ball further to the right you need to do the opposite to what you think it's a good grip. Good stance right foot square left foot turned.

How do you fix a pull draw?

0:234:29Pull Draw Golf Tip and Aim - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's call that a pull draw it starts left and curves left. Now if your ball is curving a littleMoreSo let's call that a pull draw it starts left and curves left. Now if your ball is curving a little bit right to left in the air. You need to be starting the ball down the right.

How do you fix a pull hook in golf?

3:464:46Stop Pull Hooking the Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGood stance right foot square left foot turned. Out ball slightly further forward i'm going to turnMoreGood stance right foot square left foot turned. Out ball slightly further forward i'm going to turn my body hard to the left as i feel as i'm keeping that face slightly.

How do I fix a pull in my iron?

0:125:42Why You Pull Your Irons + How to Stop It For Good! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow the first thing we need to do is get our terminology bang. On a pull shot is one that starts toMoreNow the first thing we need to do is get our terminology bang. On a pull shot is one that starts to the left of your target. And then fly straight and carries on left at the target.

How do you fix a straight pull in golf?

Instead of pulling the golf ball you're actually hitting it dead straight. To check alignment, use two alignment rods or clubs to make sure you are setting up square to the target. While you could be aiming left, sometimes you might be aiming 10-30 yards right and pulling the ball back toward the target.

How do you fix a pull draw?

0:234:29Pull Draw Golf Tip and Aim - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's call that a pull draw it starts left and curves left. Now if your ball is curving a littleMoreSo let's call that a pull draw it starts left and curves left. Now if your ball is curving a little bit right to left in the air. You need to be starting the ball down the right.

Why does a pull happen?

If you boil it down to a single sentence, a pull happens because the club face is closed at impact. That is the easy part. The difficult part is figuring out why the club face is coming to a closed position at impact. In general your club face is closed at impact for 2 main reasons:

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.

What is a pull fade?

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.

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.

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.

Why is a good stance important?

A good stance allows for a controlled and athletic swing, but a poor stance forces you to reach or adjust your swing when the ball is too close or too far away. 5. Swing Plane. If it is your swing that is causing you to pull the ball, then you are probably coming from too far over the top on your shots.

Ball position

The most common reason for a consistent pull is a poor ball position. An easy way to demonstrate how the club works on an arc through impact is laying down balls as pictured below.

Downswing drill

If your alignment and ball position are both good, the issue is likely with the swing itself. The first port of call would be to make sure you are not throwing the club outside the line at the start of the downswing.

Why do golfers pull their irons?

There exists only one reason why golfers pull their iron shots like baseball players smacking an inside fastball down the third-base line: they strike the outside cover of the golf ball.

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.

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.”

Why do I hit a shot not where it was supposed to go?

It’s one of the most common, yet ignored, reasons why all of us hit a shot not where “it was supposed to go”: misalignment. Every time I misfire a shot that was yanked left, I instantly stare at the ground.

Is the ball too far forward?

The Ball is Too Far Forward, or “Up” in Your Stance. Examining your ball position should be the first thing you address if you are pulling your irons. This is a common mistake amongst almost every golfer who has ever teed it up.

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.

How to pull shot golf?

The only way you can even achieve a pull shot is by striking the ball on the outside face first. That is, the face of the ball that’s pointing away from your body. The ball can’t have any spin on it for it to stay on a straight flight path the way that it does. This means you’re hitting the ball at a squared off angle with the face of the club.

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.

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.

What are the issues with golf swings?

A common fundamental issue some new golfers face is too much tension and motion in the lower body. While you definitely want to rotate and swing through all the way, the motion has to happen at the right time. One thing to watch out for – your knees. Keep them flexed throughout your follow-through.

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.

How far will a golf ball curve if you drive it 250 yards?

Have an 5 degree right swing path (and square face) The ball will curve 50 yards to the left. For reference, here’s a 5 degree right swing ...

What is a golf hook?

The dreaded golf hook – a ball that can start any direction, but curves dramatically to the left (for a right-hander) – often into the trees or out of bounds. Amateurs try all sorts of things to fix their hook;

What is swing path?

Swing path refers to the direction the club is moving through impact (more right or left). All else being equal, a swing path that is more right will send the ball more left – a game of opposites.

Why do I get hooks on my swing?

Probably the most common swing-related cause of the hook is an inactive lower body. If you struggle to transfer your weight during the downswing, your hands will take over and a quick hook is very much on the cards.

Why do I get hooks in my hands?

Rotate your body. Another common cause of the hook is an early release of the angle in the hands through impact. In my experience, this happens because golfers stop rotating their bodies. A great tip that will help is simply to turn your left foot out a fraction at address (as above).

How to make a grip change?

In this instance, start with seeing one and a half knuckles on your right hand and hit some half shots. You should begin to see and feel a difference. From there, work towards grooving a more neutral grip and you’ll kill your hooks for good.

What happens if you struggle to transfer weight during the downswing?

If you struggle to transfer your weight during the downswing, your hands will take over and a quick hook is very much on the cards. RELATED: How to stop toe strikes. If this sounds like you, take your normal address position and slightly close the face of your iron – it sounds counterintuitive, but it works.

How to tell if you have a strong grip on a hook?

If, for example, you can see three on the left but only one on the right, you have a strong grip and that could be causing the hook.

What ruins a golf swing?

Nothing ruins a great golf swing like a loss of balance. Assuming you’re in a good set up to start, it only takes a small loss of balance to cause you to top the ball. A good check of balance is holding your finish until your golf ball lands.

Why is my ball not rolling across the ground?

In simplest terms, in order to get the ball up into the air — and not rolling across the ground — is to hit down into the dirt. (GETTY) If that’s not happening, there may be a few reasons why. Here are some of the most common I see: 1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact.

How to throw a golf club toward the ground?

It can be helpful to practice this by placing a ball in your right hand, from your golf posture. Allow the elbow to fold as it would in your backswing and then throw the ball so that it hits the ground.

How to get the ball down to the ground?

1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact. Bowing forward from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders can put you in balance and also get the club down to the ground. Too much knee flex or squatting can often make it extremely difficult to get the club down into the turf, and therefore get the ball into the air.

How to brush grass without a club?

Keeping your hands away from your sternum can help to maintain the width of your backswing, making it easier to brush the grass. One of my favorite drills for feeling this is to hold your lead wrist with your trail hand. From here, make your backswing without a club and feel your trail arm pull your lead arm wide.

Why is it so hard to keep your head down?

The problem with keeping your head down is that it limits your body’s ability to move athletically. If you attempt to keep your head down, it’s very difficult to allow your body to rotate properly on your downswing to get the club down to the ground and the ball into the air. 7. Tension in hands and arms.

What happens if you stand too far away from the ball?

If you stand too far away from the ball at address, it’s almost difficult not to top the ball without a heroic move. Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top.

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