what causes pop up pull shots in golf

Full Answer

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 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 does my tee shot pop-up?

The pop-up goes nearly vertical and lands much shorter than your usual tee shot. It typically occurs when the club hits down on the ball from a steep angle, with impact high on the clubface or even the top of the club. Lets examine some causes and cures:

Why do my drives pop up when I hit the ball?

If you're popping up your drives, with the club going under the ball through impact, you're probably swinging down too steeply. The club might also be coming from outside the target line. The cause of this problem is usually an overactive right hand, arm and shoulder on the downswing.

What causes a pop up drive in golf?

What Causes a Driver Pop-Up? The base cause is always this: The golf club gets under the ball at impact. In other words, the golfer swings the club into impact in such a way that the clubhead slides under the ball, rather than contacting the ball around the center of the clubface as is desired.

How do you fix a pop up in golf?

0:351:34The Golf Fix: Popping Drives Up | Golf Channel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd. Now I'm just going to move the club along the ground. And you can see when I do that that ballMoreAnd. Now I'm just going to move the club along the ground. And you can see when I do that that ball is not popped up in fact that was right in the center of the face. And look at that ball.

What causes me to pull my golf shots?

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,).

What causes hitting pop ups?

Taking a downward or level path to the ball actually decreases the time that the bat and ball are on the same plane. This increases the chance that a hitter will either hit the top of the ball and create grounders or clip the bottom of the ball and create weak pop-ups.

How do I stop hitting pop ups?

6:209:34Hitting Pop Ups Instead of Line Drives? Try This! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat issue well what you need to focus on is if you're consistently late. Get everything startedMoreThat issue well what you need to focus on is if you're consistently late. Get everything started earlier and get your front foot up. Earlier up earlier we don't want to get our front foot. Down.

Why do I raise up on my golf swing?

0:2210:50How To Stop Lifting Up In Golf Downswing More ConsistencyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo from down the line typically lifting up will indicate you're either early extending. Or pullingMoreSo from down the line typically lifting up will indicate you're either early extending. Or pulling your pelvis area closer to the golf ball. So it looks something like this as we make a back swing.

How do I stop pulling my driver?

1:594:23How To Stop Pulling Your Tee Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if I wanted to aim straight. And just pull one left like I did in the intro. I would do what heMoreSo if I wanted to aim straight. And 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.

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.

How do you fix a pull hook on a golf shot?

3:074:46Stop Pull Hooking the Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're going to have a ball slightly further forward in the stance our grip is going to be neutral.MoreWe're going to have a ball slightly further forward in the stance our grip is going to be neutral. And our body alignment is going to be parallel. So here we go.

Why do I keep hitting driver high on face?

They key thing to know about skying a driver, or hitting it high on the club-face, is that it means that your angle of attack is too steep and you are hitting down on the golf ball. The solution is simply to work on your angle of attack into the ball and focusing on a sweeping action to hit up on the golf ball.

Why do my drives go high and short?

Hitting the ball extra high with the driver is generally a sign of too much backspin. This can often be chalked up to your equipment, other times to your swing, and sometimes traced to a simple flaw in your setup.

How do I stop skying my drives?

0:586:17How To Stop Skying Your Driver - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo first of all if you're sky in the drive on the golf course. Rather than change your golf swingMoreSo first of all if you're sky in the drive on the golf course. Rather than change your golf swing one very simple thing is to do is just tea that ball low.

Why am I hitting the ball with the top of my driver?

They key thing to know about skying a driver, or hitting it high on the club-face, is that it means that your angle of attack is too steep and you are hitting down on the golf ball. The solution is simply to work on your angle of attack into the ball and focusing on a sweeping action to hit up on the golf ball.

Why do I pop up my 3 wood off the tee?

That means teeing the ball so half of it is visible over the crown, or top, of the club head. Teeing the ball too high can result in swinging under it, causing the ball to pop up.

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...

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.”

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 Causes a Pull?

For a shot to produce no side spin, the clubface must hit the ball with an angle that is square to the club path.

Why is the ball aiming left of the target?

And because the ball shoots left of the target, it means the clubface was closed at impact and was also aiming left of the target. But it also means the swing path was outside-to-in, resulting in a clubface that is square to the club path and ultimately a pulled shot. Likely Reason #1:

Why do golf balls shoot left?

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.

Why do small grips close?

Generally speaking, small grips promote an active release of the hands ahead of impact, which can cause the clubface to close .

How to avoid over the top swing path?

In order to avoid an over the top swing path you will need to focus on the downswing. Rather than pushing the club outside of the target line as you begin the downswing you will need to focus on bringing the club down from inside of the target line as it should, rotating around your body in the process.

Why is it important to aim with specific clubs?

Aiming right with those particular clubs will help your shots reach the target without changing your whole swing.

What is a pull shot in golf?

In golf a pull – or a pulled shot – is one that sees the ball starting left of the target initially and continuing on straight that line, without lateral spin. It is in effect a straight shot that misses left of the target. Because it ultimately misses the target it constitutes a golf shot error and should be avoided.

How to control a golf club face?

If your lower body isn’t doing its job during the downswing, the club face will likely rotate too quickly and end up in a closed position. The rotation of your body in the downswing not only serves to build power, but also to control the position of the club face and keep it square with the target line. As soon as your lower body stops turning toward the target, the club face will quickly ‘flip over’ and wind up pointing well to the left. The first thing you should do when you realize that you are dealing with a pull is make sure that your lower body is doing its job correctly.

What happens if you hit a pull hook off the tee?

If you hit a pull hook off the tee, for example, there is a good chance that you won’t find that golf ball. If you do, don’t expect to have a very good shot at the green. Pulled golf shots can sneak into your game at any point along the way, and for any shot during a round.

How to improve distance in golf?

The solution? Better tempo. Distance isn’t a result of raw power, but rather an even tempo that allows you to build speed gradually throughout the swing. Your focus should always be more on making solid contact than hitting the ball as far as possible. Control is more important than power in golf, so focus your efforts on creating a reliable swing that has an even tempo from start to finish. You just might be surprised at how far you are able to hit the ball when you don’t even feel like you are swinging that hard. And best of all, the pull hook should be a thing of the past.

How to get rid of pulled shots in golf?

When you hit a punch shot, it is easier to feel the position of the club face at impact because you aren’t swinging as aggressively up into a full finish. For that reason, hitting a few punch shots can help you to get rid of the pulled golf shots from your game. Use the same seven iron you used for the previous drill and set up on the range to hit a few punch shots at a specific target. These shots should fly lower than your normal swings, and they will hopefully track straight toward your target. Choke down slightly on the club for control before starting your swing. If you notice that you are struggling with the pull even on your punch shots, try using your hands less during the swing until the ball flights straighten out. Just like with the drill above, start to work from a punch shot back up to a full shot gradually. Make longer and longer swings until you arrive at your full swing and you are still hitting the ball straight at the target.

What is pull hook golf?

The pull hook is one of golf’s most devastating maladies because on top of the misdirection, a ball hit with right-to-left sidespin will run for days; plus, pull hooks fly low, so they roll even farther. In other words, a case of the pull hooks must be dealt with and defeated ASAP. Pull hooks results from an over-the-top (or outside-to-inside) ...

What are the two types of pulled golf shots?

In general, there are two kinds of pulled golf shots that you need to deal with – the straight pull, and the pull hook. Both of these shots can be damaging to your score, but the pull hook is particularly troubling because the ball starts off line, and then continues to turn even farther away from the target.

What is a good grip for golf?

Strong grip. The golf grip is a personal thing that will vary greatly from one player to the next. However, if you use a particularly strong grip to hold the club, you will always be in danger of hitting a pull. A strong grip makes it easier for your hands to rotate the club through impact, meaning it will take less effort for you to hit a pull than it will for someone with a weaker grip. Should you decide to use a strong grip in your game, it will be even more important that your lower body is able to do its job and rotate aggressively toward the target during the downswing. Without that rotation, a pulled golf shot is almost sure to result.

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 golfers tee the ball up?

If you watch any golf on TV, you will notice that the vast majority of professionals tee the ball up rather high when hitting a driver. The reasoning for that is simple – they want to be able to hit up into the shot at impact. Unlike an iron shot, where you want to hit down through the ball, it is best to hit your driver shots while swinging on a slightly upward angle. Allowing the driver to bottom out prior to reaching the ball will enable you to produce the combination of low spin and high launch that is so effective for generating great distance. In order to do this successfully, you have to tee the ball up high enough to create space for your driver to be moving up at impact and still strike the sweet spot of the club.

How to get a vertical shot on a golf ball?

This vertical action delivers a vertical shot. Place the ball so that about half of it sits above the clubs top line, which will put your swing on a flatter path.

What happens if you land a golf ball in the rough?

After the ball lands, you will still have to deal with nearly the full distance of the hole and you wont be able to tee the ball up again. Should the ball happen to land in the rough around the tee box, you will have even more trouble recovering to make a good score.

How high should a driver tee be?

That means that when you set the driver down behind the ball at address, half of the ball should be higher than the top line on the face of your club. Assuming you use a modern driver with a 460cc head, you will need to tee the ball up rather high to find this position. Make sure you have some long tees in your bag before you head out onto the course, because the traditional length tees that are carried in many golf shops simply aren't long enough to get the job done anymore.

What is the most overlooked aspect of golf swing?

Without a doubt, balance is the most-overlooked aspect of the golf swing. Most average golfers could greatly benefit from simply thinking about their balance and spending some time on the practice tee correcting basic balance mistake. If you are hitting pop-ups with your driver, there is a very high likelihood that you have some sort of balance issue in your swing. Once you take care of that problem and get your balance under control, you can expect the pop-up problem to pretty much take care of itself.

Why does my driver swing pop up?

Balance is a key to playing good golf, and an improper weight shift during your driver swing could contribute to hitting a pop-up from time to time . Before you change any other parts of your swing, take a good look at your balance to see if it might be the root cause of your problems off the tee.

How to release a golf club?

Ideally, the release through impact will just happen naturally, and you wont have to consciously think about making it happen. However, if you are struggling with pop-ups, it might be necessary to force your right hand into action. The pop-up drives that you are hitting could be a result of pulling the club down toward impact too much with the left hand only. At some point, the right hand needs to get involved and release the club through the shot. Try hitting a few drives on the practice range where you think about actively using your right hand as the club approaches impact. If you like the results that you get with this approach, continue to work on your release until it becomes natural and you no longer need to think about making it happen.

What happens when you put your left hand on a golf club?

Plus, with only your left hand on the club as it swings into impact, the club's path will become shallower and travel more from the inside, which will improve the quality of contact. Also, your left hand will lead the clubshaft through impact, delofting the face and allowing it to turn down.

How to practice hitting drivers on the range?

A good solution is to practice hitting drivers on the range while releasing your right hand from the club just before impact ( right ). This drill trains the left arm to become the master arm, so it controls the speed and angle at which the clubhead swings into the ball.

What happens if you pop up your drives?

If you're popping up your drives, with the club going under the ball through impact, you're probably swinging down too steeply. The club might also be coming from outside the target line.

Where is Jim Flick?

JIM FLICK, ranked in the top 10 on Golf Digest's list of America's 50 Greatest Teachers, is based at the TaylorMade Learning Center in Carlsbad, Calif.