How to Stop Pulling the Golf Ball
If you’ve been playing golf long enough, chances are you’ve found yourself in a phase where you are hitting pulled shots.
It’s an incredibly frustrating experience that most golfers make worse as they try to correct their golf swing flaw.
In an attempt to fix the problem, they alter their wrist angles, ball position, and swing path, but those adjustments rarely work.
So what can you do if you are creating pulled shots on the course?
One of the first (and best) things you can do is read this article, as we’ve put together a list of the most important questions and provided actionable advice to help you start to better control hitting shots along the target line immediately.
Why do I keep pulling the golf ball?
Three areas of the body cause a pulling of the ball. The right shoulder, right elbow, and right hand of the grip are three huge causes of the ugly pull hook for weekend warriors.
Shoulder
One of the biggest areas of concern we see in amateurs is starting the upper body too quickly on the downswing with the rear shoulder being the primary culprit of the pulled shot.
You want the upper body to stay relatively quiet as the hands and arms start the backswing by dropping to the hip, then the hips begin to fire pulling the body as it rotates through the shot.
Elbow
An errant elbow, also known as a “chicken wing,” can cause shots to travel left of the target line.
Along with the shoulder, a wild elbow can disrupt the downswing forcing golfers to adjust with the clubface closed at impact.
The combination causes golfers to hit pull shots more often than not. The elbow must remain quiet and relatively close to the body to stop pulling golf shots during the takeaway and downswing.
Grip
A strong grip can also cause a pull shot as the bottom hand shuts the clubface at impact pulling the ball to the left of the target area.
A neutral grip gives amateurs the best chance to square the clubface and stop pulling the ball.
How do you cure a pull in golf?
When you hit the golf ball to the left repeatedly, you are probably falling victim to one of a few familiar swing mechanics issues.
The first problem is a poor swing path to the ball. You want to feel the club coming from inside and finishing outside the target line.
If you can imagine a clock, you want the golf club moving from 7 o’clock on the dial to 1 o’clock with the follow-through.
Chances are high that you will approach the ball more at a 5 o’clock position and finish at 11 o’clock if you hit a pulled golf shot repeatedly.
If you feel like your club path is sound, then look at your lower body starting too quickly on the downswing.
Otherwise known as “early extension,” if you are engaging your lower half too quickly you can pull the back shoulder out of place and ruin any chance you have of sending the ball down your target line.
Try dropping your hands and arms first on the downswing and then rotating your lower half through the golf ball.
It may take practice and patience, but if you start your downswing with this trigger, you’ll find that you are getting a square clubface back to the ball more often.
How to stop pulling the golf ball?
To stop pulling the ball, you need to slow down your swing and work to smooth out the issues. A great way to start this process is by videoing your swing on the range.
Hit some mid-iron shots at about 80-90% power as this speed will help you better see any potential swing flaws.
How do I stop pulling my irons left?
One of the biggest ways to stop pulling the ball with your golf irons is by working on your swing path.
Golfers who pull the ball usually start the downswing with their rear shoulder causing a steep, outside-in swing path.
By keeping the shoulder in and bringing the hands down to start the downswing, you can keep the club face on an inside-to-outside path to the ball. By having the hands and arms start the downswing.
How do I stop picking the golf ball?
For amateur golfers, picking the ball is a dangerous proposition.
Since inconsistency is a hallmark of the mid-to-high handicapper, picking the ball from the turf puts the golfer at risk of topped shots or thin contact that doesn’t have the trajectory, spin, or ball speed necessary to reach the intended target.
While you want to hit the ball first, you shouldn’t avoid hitting the ground and creating a divot on the shot.
Can grip pressure affect my tendency to pull golf shots?
Grip pressure can play a part, but it’s more likely that your grip is far too strong with the bottom hand.
If you find yourself with a very strong grip, chances are you are finding inconsistent results with your swing.
Moving back to a more neutral grip, can help re-center your swing and help you to ultimately stop pulling golf shots.
How does club path influence ball direction in golf?
Club path influences everything about the results of a golf swing and can cause you to pull a golf ball left.
If the club path is too steep, then chances are the ball flies straight left or out to the right for right handed golfers.
A steep club path can also create thin or fat shots based upon the adjustments the golfer makes on the downswing to try and get the clubface square.
If the club goes from outside to in, golfers can begin pulling shots to the left of the target. The same holds true if you have a strong grip and you meet the ball with a closed clubface angle.
The ball flight will be left of the target with spin away from the hole, making a recovery shot even tougher.
What role does body alignment play in preventing pulled shots?
Body alignment plays an enormous role in preventing pulled golf shots.
Starting with the lower body, you want the feet to be square. Even if you like to flare your feet just a bit, ensure the toe line remains perpendicular to your target line.
A great way to prevent poor body alignment is through deliberate practice using an alignment stick to ensure the lower body remains in sync throughout the swing path.
By keeping the lower body relatively quiet until it’s time to rotate through the shot, you can stop pulling the ball left and hit more shots in a straight line toward the intended target.
Are there specific drills to help correct a pull shot?
Yes, there’s a great drill called the “Step Back Drill ” that helps you create an exaggerated upper body position to bring the club on an inside path to the ball.
First, you want to take your back foot and move it back six to nine inches from its normal position. Tee up the ball like you would on a par 3. Then take your 9-iron and begin to hit shots with this staggered stance.
Yes, your weight distribution will be off on the practice range, but this positioning has a purpose.
With your swing power registering at about 75%, try to move through the ball with the club going through the 1 o’clock position.
If you continue to hit pull shots with this drill, then film yourself and watch for any obvious flaws in your setup and swing.
With this staggered lower body position, you should hit balls to the center or center-right of your target on the driving range.
Another easy drill for the range to help you bring the club from the inside path only needs a second ball to execute.
On the range, place that second ball next to the ball you are hitting, but just outside the blade at address. If you are bringing the club from the inside, you’ll hit your ball, and never strike the additional ball.
How do different golf clubs require different techniques to prevent pulling?
If you are pulling the ball, chances are also high that you are misplaying your ball position in relation to your golf club.
You significantly increase the odds of hitting a pulled shot with a closed clubface by having an incorrect ball position with the point of address too far back in the stance.
On woods and long irons, you want the ball forward in the stance, just off the inner heel of the front foot.
But as you begin to work your way down the line, you want to move that ball more toward the center of your stance.
With wedges, we like for the ball position to be dead center, or if it’s more comfortable, you should place the ball slightly forward of the center line by no more than an inch or two.
Mid-and-long irons should fall in-between the front heel and the center line of your lower half.