
A golf ball curves to the left when the club face is to the left of the swing path. It is a rather simple ball flight law that the ball will curve away from the swing path. For example, if your club face is to the right of the target line the ball will still curve left if your swing path is even further right.
Full Answer
Why does the ball go to the left in golf?
If your upper body rotates out of your backswing before your lower body, your angle of attack will be aimed to the left at the point of impact. As you finish your swing, the ball will fly in the direction you are now pointing, which is to the left.
Should the golf ball be placed forward or backward?
Having the ball placed forward also means impact with the ball is made later in the swing arc, and presumably after the swing has bottomed out. This will lower the odds of topping the ball but it will bring in the risks of hitting it fat and of skulling the ball.
Should you swing the golf club left or right?
Here's why. If you focus on swinging straight down the target line through impact, you'll restrict the natural release of the forearms and wrists. The clubface will stay open, resulting in a blocked shot or slice. By swinging the club left after contact, you'll roll over the arms and hands, squaring the clubface and hitting the mark.
What direction should you swing the golf ball in the swing?
You need to use your hips to turn toward the target, and that action should begin as soon as the backswing is complete. With great downswing rotation, it will be rather easy to swing to the left through the ball, as that is the direction that the lower half of your body will be moving.

Why is my ball going left in golf?
Ball Position: The ball might be too far forward (toward the front foot) in your stance. This causes you to catch the ball when the club is swinging back to the left. Backswing: The club is likely being pushed outside the target line on the way back. The club should track a gentle arc on the way back.
How do I stop pulling my golf ball to the left?
4:328:07How 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.
How do I stop driving the ball left?
2:3710:03Eliminate the Left Side of the Golf Course - Stop Hitting Left - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere. So make sure those hands are not forward we're trying to save the left by pushing the handsMoreHere. So make sure those hands are not forward we're trying to save the left by pushing the hands forward and that's gonna that's going to destroy us. So many of the avoidance.
Why am I hitting shots left?
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.
Why do I keep pulling my irons to the left?
0:505:42Why You Pull Your Irons + How to Stop It For Good! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's your club which travels. Over this direction then from out to in and the club face also.MoreSo it's your club which travels. Over this direction then from out to in and the club face also. Points off in this direction.
Why am I hitting the golf ball low and left?
Place more weight on your right foot. Hitting the ball too low can be caused by shifting your weight to your left side. By consciously planting your right foot and keeping your weight on it, you will prevent shifting your weight to the right.
What causes a golf club to make contact when it is still swinging to left field?
Ball Position: You might have the ball too far back in the stance. This causes you to make contact when the club is still swinging to left field. Backswing: You could be taking the club back too far inside, pulling the club away from the target line.
Where should the golf club be on the shoulder?
The club should be over your shoulder at the top, nor over your head. Downswing: Your arms might be pushing away from the body at the transition into the downswing. Keep your arms in so that they pass close to your right pants pocket on the approach to impact.
What is the best way to hit a push golf ball?
Set-up: Make sure you aren't aiming too far to the left of the target line, or that your shoulders are aligned too far to the left. Ball Position: You might have the ball too far back in the stance.
What is a pull in golf?
A right-hander whose ball starts to the left and flies left with no additional curve left (a straight shot to the left of the intended target) is hitting a pull. The divot, if there is one, will match the ball's direction. Here is Roger Gunn's checklist for a right-handed golfer hitting a pull: Grip: Not normally a factor.
What is a left-hander hitting?
A left-hander whose shots start to the left of the target line and continue flying left, on a straight line ( not curving left), is hitting a push. Again, the divot, if there is one, will match the ball's direction.
Who is the golf instructor who mishits?
Below, golf instructor Roger Gunn gives us a checklist of possible causes for these types of mishits, but the faults and fixes differ depending on the golfer's handedness.
Understanding The Ball Flight Laws
Why? If you understand the ball flight laws you can start to become your own swing instructor and make corrections on the range or the course by reading the flight of your golf ball. Too often golfers turn to the video of their swing when everything you need to know can be read off of your ball flight.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Golf
The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf. They explained it somewhat similar to this:
BONUS TIP: How to Increase Swing Speed
We know that fundamental #3 is to have enough power to play a course. Did you know that with SuperSpeed Golf you can see a 5-8% increase in swing speed in your very first session. This could be 20-30 yards for some golfers.
What does it mean when a golf ball is placed further back?
Positioning the ball further back will change the angle of the shaft in relation to the ground. Also known as the shaft lean, this will lead to a reduction in your clubface’s loft angle in contrast to what it would be if the ball was located in the centre. Ultimately, a reduced loft angle will lead to a lower flight path.
What does it mean when a golf club hits the ground before hitting the ball?
Indeed, a fat shot occurs when the club penetrates the ground before it makes contact with the ball. On the flip side, it will increase your chance of topping the ball. Topping the ball occurs when the club will strike the top half of the ball on a descending blow.
How does a ball forward affect loft?
Positioning the ball forward in your stance changes the normal loft angle in your club. Indeed, because contact is made past the middle of the stance the angle of the clubface will point towards the sky more than it normally would. This in turn will lead to a higher ball flight.
What is the meaning of "lower ball flight"?
Lower ball flight. In order for the ball to remain low and clear branches (or other obstacles), for example in a punch shot. In order to mitigate the effects of a strong headwind. Lower odds of hitting it fat. Useful for delicate chip shots.
How to position the ball forward in stance?
In order to position the ball forward in your stance you have to slide your feet and body away from the target slightly so that the left foot is closer to the ball than the right foot is.
How to move the ball back in stance?
Moving the ball back in the stance is achieved through moving your feet and body forward towards the target until the ball is closer to the right foot than it is to the left.
Where is the ball center in golf?
Ball Center. A normal – or default – ball position in golf would be one that sees it located in the middle of the stance, in the center. In other words, the ball is located the same distance from the left foot as it is to the right. The following adjustments can be made to that position with the associated consequences listed below.
Why does my golf ball curve left?
Even if your body is in proper alignment at the point of impact, your ball may curve to the left after you hit it. Known as a hook, this is due to a closed club face. A closed club face is one in which the toe of the golf club, or the point furthest away from you, reaches the ball before the inner half of your club. This will impart a right-to-left spin to the ball, causing it to curve towards the left as it heads away from you.
What does it mean when your golf ball flies in a straight line to the left?
If your ball flies in a straight line to the left, then your club face is striking the ball squarely.
What direction should your feet point when hitting a golf ball?
When you line up to hit your golf ball, your feet should point in a perpendicular line to where you want the ball to go. If your alignment at address is to the left, a correct golf swing will send the golf ball to the left as well.
What causes a bad golf shot?
Club Face Contact. Regardless of the swing mechanics that may cause a poor golf swing, the ultimate cause of any bad golf shot lies in the way the club face hits the golf ball. Any correction you make to your golf swing should have proper club fact contact as its ultimate objective.
What is the objective of golf?
By: John Csiszar. Published: 08 July, 2011. The objective of golf is generally to hit the ball in a straight line in an effort to achieve a low score. Hitting the ball right or left of the intended target is one of the fundamental causes of bad golf scores.
How to make proper club contact?
In order to make proper club contact, your upper and lower body should move as a unit through the golf ball. If your upper body rotates out of your backswing before your lower body, your angle of attack will be aimed to the left at the point of impact. As you finish your swing, the ball will fly in the direction you are now pointing, ...
Why do golfers hit curves?
By intentionally hitting a curve, golfers can rid themselves of the pressure of trying to hit the ball straight. With that said, you do want to be able to hit the ball relatively straight, even if you are using a fade or a draw at the same time.
What happens when you hit the ball at the apex of your swing?
At first blush, you might think this one is obvious – it makes the most sense to contact the ball perfect at the apex of your swing arc.
Why is my swing arc not going to trace the target line?
The problem is the fact that you are standing next to the ball , rather than directly on top of the target line. Since you are standing off to the side , your swing arc is not going to be able to trace the target line for very long.
What causes a slice in a golf swing?
Therefore, you assume that a clubhead traveling left after impact causes the dreaded banana ball. True, an over-the-top swing will send the clubhead left and the ball curving right. But if your swing is on line or, preferably, inside-to-out, ...
How to put a wedge in a golf club?
For your wedges, start by placing the ball right in the middle of your stance. As the clubs get longer, you are going to move the ball further and further forward in your stance – until you reach the driver, when the ball is placed just inside your left heel.
Do you need to match up swing path with face angle to chip the ball?
The story is largely the same when it comes to chipping the golf ball. Although your chip shots are going to get up into the air, they won't fly long enough for any spin on the ball to take effect. Therefore, you need to match up swing path with face angle in order to chip the ball toward the target.
Is a straight swing always going to be an arc?
With that simple explanation, you can put the idea of a straight swing path out of your mind once and for all. Your swing is always going to be an arc, and that arc is always going to have to meet the ball at a specific point along its path.
