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why do i keep pulling my golf shots to the left

by Gussie Grady DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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If you’re finding that all your golf shots are going left, it’s likely because you’re not keeping your weight on the balls of your feet. This causes a loss in balance and stability and leads to poor ball contact.

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 do my golf shots slices and pulls?

This is a common move often caused by too much upper body movement and will result in sliced drives and pulled iron shots explaining why slices and pulls are linked. A great drill is to place an alignment stick straight into the ground, leaving a space between your lead hip and the stick of around a hand’s width. Swing to the top as normal.

Are You pulling or pushing your golf shots?

Are you hitting lots of golf shots that start out left of the target and continue flying left, on a straight line, until they land left of your intended landing area? If you are right-handed, you are pulling the ball or pulling the shot; if you are left-handed, you are pushing the ball or pushing the shot .

Why do I pull my 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. Indeed, 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 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.

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How do I stop pulling my golf shots left?

4:347:25Stop PULLING Iron Shots! | Tuck & Turn Shoulder Drill - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNo matter how hard you rotate through it you're going to feel like that ball is going to go straightMoreNo matter how hard you rotate through it you're going to feel like that ball is going to go straight. It's not going to go a pull to the left.

How do I stop pulling my irons to the left?

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.

Why do I pull my irons to the left?

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.

How do you fix a pull in a golf swing?

5:5812:27How to Cure a Golf Pull - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we can hit down on the golf ball. We start to tilt too far to the left and now when I make aMoreSo we can hit down on the golf ball. We start to tilt too far to the left and now when I make a swing doing this you can see that it's easy to pull a shot to the left every single. Time.

How do you fix a pull in golf shot?

0:031:45The Golf Fix: Drill to stop golf swing from pulling | Golf Channel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHe says a drill to stop from pulling. And pull looking the ball right so let's just start with theMoreHe says a drill to stop from pulling. And pull looking the ball right so let's just start with the pull the pull. Shot is a shot where the pass of the golf club is coming across the ball. So we'll

How do I stop swinging to the left?

5:028:343KEYS TO STOP SWINGING LEFT - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I'm starting to move my pelvis a little bit more towards the target. Those. Two things willMoreAnd I'm starting to move my pelvis a little bit more towards the target. Those. Two things will effectively. Mean you hit that ball earlier in its arc. And if you hit the ball earlier in its arc.

Why does my shot 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. It is like everything else went right except for the direction ...

What is pulled shot in golf?

The pulled golf shot, also known as the “yank” or the “tug”, can be one of the most annoying things to happen to your golf swing. A pulled shot is not just a shot that ends up left of your target.

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.

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.

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.

Why are the arms flung past in golf?

But when the body stops its rotation, the arms will be flung past due to centrifugal force.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 the difference between right and left handed golfers?

Are you hitting lots of golf shots that start out left of the target and continue flying left, on a straight line, until they land left of your intended landing area? If you are right-handed, you are pulling the ball or pulling the shot; if you are left-handed, you are pushing the ball or pushing the shot .

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.

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 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 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 does it mean when you pull a golf club out of your bag?

The club you pull out of your bag indicates where the ball should sit in relation to your stance.

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.

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 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 a golfer pulls a shot?

A pull is a straight shot that travels left of where the golfer is aiming and is the result of an incorrect swing -- an out-to-in path. But you can cure the pull by attending to some simple fundamentals.

How to get a more violent pull in basketball?

Practice making your backswing while keeping your right knee bent. Hold a ball between your knees and try to drop it by moving your left knee first on the downswing.

Why should your spine be leaning toward the ball?

At the top of the swing, if you lean toward toward the target, either because your hips move away from it (a sway) or your shoulders move toward it (a reverse pivot), your right shoulder gets too high.

What is connected swing?

In a connected swing, your triceps rest lightly against your chest throughout most of the swing. Your right arm moves slightly away at the top of the backswing, then reconnects until the left arm moves away at the finish. Connection during your swing helps keep your arms from moving out at the beginning of the downswing, which can cause an out-to-in swing path.

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.”

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.

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, ...

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.

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