Golf-FAQ.com

why am i pulling the golf ball left

by Prof. Rylee Little DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Why Do I Hit the Golf Ball to the Left?

  • 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 ...
  • Upper Body Rotation. One of the most common causes of hitting a golf ball left is an over-rotation of your upper body. ...
  • Closed Club Face. ...
  • Alignment. ...
  • Ball Flight. ...

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.Jun 8, 2020

Full Answer

Why does my golf club swing to the 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.

Why do I pull the golf ball?

Most golfers that pull the golf ball do so because of an over the top golf swing. However, a closed clubface at impact can be just as destructive and will send your golf ball further and further left depending on the degree of the clubface angle.

What does it mean to hit a pull in golf?

Right-Handed Golfer Hitting It Left Is Hitting a Pull. 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.

Why is my golf ball lying above my feet?

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.

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How do I stop pulling my golf ball to the left?

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.

Why am I pulling the ball to the left?

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.

Why am I 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 you fix a pulled ball left?

1:192:47Stop Pulling Golf Shots Left - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition. Back in the stance a little bit so the ball position for your iron should just be slightlyMorePosition. Back in the stance a little bit so the ball position for your iron should just be slightly left to center in your stance.

Why am I pulling my irons to the left?

Another reason your swing is producing pulled shots might be that the ball is too far forward in your stance. A ball that is too far forward makes it hard to release the club as it's happening to far up in your swing.

How do I stop pulling my short irons left?

3:566:25Pulling Short Irons Left Hit Them Laser Straight - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat you make sure you get those hips and those shoulders rotating properly make sure you get theMoreThat you make sure you get those hips and those shoulders rotating properly make sure you get the full turn depending on obviously how far you've got to hit it but get the full rotation.

Why am I hitting my driver low and left?

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.

How do you fix a pull draw in golf?

0:316:36George Gankas' Pull Draw Golf Lesson - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut it was a draw it was a good draw but my path was a little bit more out to the right now why isMoreBut it was a draw it was a good draw but my path was a little bit more out to the right now why is it more out to the right. Because when i hit down on it that's going to push me out to about. Here.

How do I stop pull hooking my driver?

2:566:28Quick Fix: Pull, Hook & Pull Hook. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDoing the move people are still hitting the golf ball left. And there's really one simple antidoteMoreDoing the move people are still hitting the golf ball left. And there's really one simple antidote to that get these hips turned. If you don't turn the hips enough the club will overtake.

How do you cure a pull in golf?

Golf swing tips - 4: How to cure a pullDon't twist your hands over. Similar to the hook shot, if your hands are twisted around (left-hand image of Fig. ... Put the ball further back in stance. ... Make sure you're not aiming left. ... Have a wider stance. ... Increase your leg flex.

Why does my golf club face close?

If your stance is too closed, meaning your front foot is too far forward, it can also cause your club face to close at impact. 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Why do golfers pull their arms 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. It is critical for the arms to stay more passive in the early stages of the downswing so ...

Why do the arms of a golf club close prematurely?

But when the body stops its rotation, the arms will be flung past due to centrifugal force. This causes the arms to outrace the body and the club face to close prematurely.

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.

What is the spine in a golf swing?

In the Rotary Golf Swing, the spine is acting like an axis for the body and arms to rotate around. Because they arms and club are furthest away from the axis, they, of course, move the fastest. This, in turn, makes them more difficult to control through impact.

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 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.

Why do you stand closer to the ball?

Or, if you’ve got too much bend in your knees, you might find that you need to stand closer to the ball, or stand more upright in general, in order to keep your club on the right angle. When the toe points up, you get behind the outside of the golf ball more easily and pull your shot.

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.

Why does my golf ball always go left?

Regardless of how good your path is coming into the golf ball, if the clubface is closed the ball will always go left. Most golfers that pull the golf ball do so because of an over the top golf swing.

Why does my golf club cut across the ball?

Most golfers tend to spin their hips and their shoulders open too early in the downswing which causes the club to cut across the golf ball and drag it left . Slices of the golf ball are notorious for this move. Instead, on the downswing try keeping your arms quieter and your back to the target a bit longer. This will force the clubhead ...

Why is it important to fix your pulled golf shots?

Fixing your pulled golf shots is just as important as fixing your golf slice as both cause lots of problems for golfers. The lag shot golf training aid helps straighten out your ball flight and hit your targets. You often make good contact with the golf ball and don’t understand why the golf ball keeps going left?

What happens when your arms and hands get too active?

When your arms and hands get too active they release the clubhead too early and close the face which leads to lots of pulled shots. Swing the golf club with the bigger muscles and let them lead the arms and hands through the downswing letting them catch up.

How to stop pulling golf shots?

Simple drill to stop pulling golf shots. Place an alignment stick or a thin piece of wood in the ground a few metres in front of where you are set up. Set yourself up parallel to this target with your feet and shoulders. Practice hitting shorter shots aiming at the alignment stick, but importantly get the ball to start on a path to the right ...

What is the role of the right shoulder in golf?

For a right handed golfer the right shoulder plays a major role in the downswing. As explained above when the shoulders spin too quickly it can lead to a steep downswing which results in the club path coming across the ball too much leading to a pull.

How to cure a pulled shot in golf?

Try this out in your backyard! Grab a head cover or anything that can be used as a visual reference and place it about 10 inches behind 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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 hook the ball?

Many golfers hook the ball because they flip their wrists through impact, which closes the clubface.

How to flatten your lead wrist?

Once you have that down, try rotating your hips open and pushing the board straight down the line with the clubhead. This will help you flatten your lead wrist—the opposite of that flipping motion. Add this into your practice routine to stop losing shots to the left.

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