Stop Pushing the Golf Ball: 8 Actionable Tips & Drills for Straighter Shots
Whether it’s with the driver or an approach shot, pushing the ball won’t leave you in an optimal spot.
Golfers who push are relatively close to being able to hit a straight shot. With a few adjustments to your stance and wrist angles, you could be just minutes away from hitting straighter shots.
In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about why you’re pushing the ball, how to fix it, and the best ways to practice and improve.
How to Stop Pushing the Golf Ball – Key Takeaways
Sometimes, it’s easier to dive into the specifics of how to stop pushing the ball when you have time to work on it at the driving range. If you want some of the basics right now, here are the most important things to know about eliminating the pushed golf shot.
- When setting up to hit an iron shot, lean the shaft slightly forward to promote a square or even slightly closed clubface.
- The grip at setup should be neutral to encourage the ability to rotate the wrists through impact.
- At the top of the backswing, the lead wrist position should be flat or even slightly flexed; most amateur players are in an extension position, making it hard to square the clubface at impact.
- Check alignment and ensure that your feet, shoulders, and hips are all on the same line, parallel to the target.
- When taking the club back and away from the ball, be sure your shoulder is turning along with the lower body; getting the club to square at the top is easier if the shoulder has turned.
- Check the ball position to ensure that it is not too far back in the stance; if the club is making impact before you have had a chance to rotate it to square, the shot will push right.
If you want to learn some of these tips and drills through watching a video, check out this complete guide on how to stop pushing the golf ball.
Contents
Why Am I Pushing the Golf Ball?
There are a few major reasons you can push the golf ball. Depending on your swing and experience level, here are the reasons you may be pushing the golf ball.
- Lower body opening excessively during the downswing – the hips and knees open up.
- Club is traveling on an outside swing path to the right when the clubface strikes the ball.
- Left shoulder not rotating through impact.
- Clubface open at impact due to too much extension in the lead wrist.
- Incorrect ball position – too far back in the stance.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
How to Stop Pushing Golf Shots Right
1. Neutral Grip
A weak grip, where the “V-shape” aims to the left of your head, can reduce clubface control.
The best solution is a neutral grip position where the “V shape” aligns with your nose. If you start out with a weak grip, you rotate your left hand counter-clockwise until the “V: aims at your nose.
Golfers operating with a neutral grip who continue to push golf shots right should consider slightly strengthening their grip.
2. Ball Position Forward of Center
If you’ve gotten into the habit of placing the ball back in the stance excessively, it could cause a push shot. This position leaves no room to square the clubface at contact.
You need sufficient room on each swing to optimize clubhead lag and rotational force and promote a square clubface.
When the ball sits too far back, there isn’t enough time to get the club on the right path and make that clean contact.
3. Get the Body Positioned Correctly
Set up with a square clubface to the target. Then, you will get your feet and shoulders parallel to your intended landing zone.
If your feet aim at the flagstick or your landing zone, the clubface points to the right of the target.
Failing to adjust this position at impact will see your ball flying directly to the right, which is more of a straight miss than a push.
Instead of striking the ball with an angled clubface, your incorrect alignment caused the ball to fly right of the target.
Start using alignment sticks on the ground at the driving range to help you set up the target properly.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
4. Set Up with Forward Shaft Lean
Forward shaft doesn’t guarantee you’ll hit the ball straight, but it starts you off on the correct path.
A forward press swing promotes enhanced compression at impact, leading to optimal rebound off the clubface and explosive ball speed.
However, as far as how to fix a push in golf goes, the forward shaft lean delofts the club, prompting it to marginally close at impact and induce a desirable right-to-left shape.
You may have too much forward shaft lean if you start hitting your shots too low.
5. Flex Wrists Before Impact
Optimized wrist angles are pivotal in controlling the clubface from address to impact.
The HackMotion guides you through generating sufficient flex and extension at critical points in the swing.
It’s like bringing your coach to the range when you practice.
Golfers who push the ball tend to cup the wrists before impact. This action steepens the shaft and your attack angle. Then, it props open the clubface, promoting an outwards path as you strike the golf ball.
With HackMotion, we have analyzed more than 1,000,000 golf swings to help determine the proper wrist position for golfers.
The best players are moving towards flexion before impact. At impact, their lead wrist is flexed and not extended.
6. Pull the Club Down and Through
Pulling the club down and through can be achieved using the momentum of your hip and shoulder turn.
Generating optimal shift from the top of your swing and shoulder turn before contact causes you to pull the club down to the ball and generate increased lag.
Plus, it leaves you ample time to square the face as it strikes the ball.
Many amateur golfers have a tendency to push the club down to the ball, which results in casting the club.
7. Rotate Upper Body Around the Spine
Golfers who push often have their chest slide towards the target as they make their way through impact.
While shifting weight from your trail side to your lead leg, start turning your left shoulder. Rotate the body around the spine.
Doing this will help ensure you have time to square the clubface and make a more consistent impact with a square clubface.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
8. Check the Lie Angle on Your Equipment
Correcting your grip, ball position, and wrist angles is the most effective way to fix a push in golf.
However, if you still struggle, you may consider decreasing the lie angle of the clubface to achieve a more upright position.
An upright lie angle marginally closes the clubface compared to its original setting, promoting a more draw-biased flight. Altering the lie angle of your clubface requires the work of a club fitter, who will determine the best setup for your swing.
If you have had your golf clubs for a long time and they don’t seem to work for you, go for a fitting and see if the lie angle is the issue.
Drills to Stop Pushing the Golf Ball
Now that you have all these fixes down, here are additional drills to help ensure you stop pushing the ball and significantly increase your accuracy.
Drag the Alignment Stick Drill
Here’s a great way to use your alignment stick to help train power and proper wrist and body positions through impact. It helps ensure your hands stay ahead of the clubhead, reduces pushes, and improves strike consistency.
- Video timestamp – 2:29
Drag the Alignment Stick Drill – Step by Step:
- Set Up the Stick: Place an alignment stick on the ground behind you, angled along your swing path.
- Grip the Stick: Hold the top end of the alignment stick like a golf club.
- Drag Through Impact: Pull the stick along the ground through the impact zone while shifting your weight forward.
- Maintain Wrist Angles: Keep your lead wrist flexed (bowed) and arms extended for proper shaft lean and compression.
- Finish Strong: End with your chest facing upward and arms parallel to the ground, holding your wrist angles.
Alignment Stick Extension Drill
This drill helps synchronize your arms and body rotation through impact, eliminating pushes by reinforcing correct club path and rotation.
- Video timestamp – 7:29
Alignment Stick Extension Drill – Step by Step:
- Insert the Stick: Place an alignment stick into the butt end of your club grip so it extends out behind you.
- Set Position: At setup, position the extended stick just outside your lead hip.
- Hit Small Punch Shots: Make small swings, focusing on keeping the stick from hitting your side during the follow-through.
- Rotate Through Impact: Turn your body through the shot to control the club path and prevent the clubface from staying open.
- Build Awareness: This drill encourages proper rotation and helps eliminate excessive clubface manipulation at impact.
Headcover Path Drill
This drill addresses club path issues that lead to pushing the ball by creating a visual and physical guide to keep your swing path neutral. It’s simple to set up, and all you need is a headcover from a fairway wood or hybrid.
- Video timestamp – 7:37
Headcover Path Drill – Step by Step:
- Set the Headcover: Place a headcover on the ground just inside the golf ball, slightly behind it.
- Create a Visual Obstacle: Position the headcover to discourage an excessively inside-out swing path.
- Make Practice Swings: Swing through without hitting the headcover, focusing on a more neutral club path.
- Add Golf Balls: Gradually progress to hitting shots, maintaining the correct swing path and avoiding the headcover.
- Reinforce the Feel: Repeat for multiple swings to build consistency and a better path through impact.
Summary
You stop pushing your shots in golf by applying a neutral grip, forward of center ball position, and a square clubface at contact.
In addition, you flex your wrists before impact and enhance your left shoulder turn to give you room to get the ball square to the target.
Flexing your wrists before impact shallows the shaft and slightly closes the clubface, prompting a straighter shot.
The HackMotion wrist sensor is equipped to guide you to superior clubface control, velocity, accuracy, and distance.
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