How to Stop Pulling the Golf Ball (Causes, Fixes, & Tips to Stop Pulling Shots)

A pull is a golf shot that starts left of your target and stays on that line until it lands. Pulled shots often feel good and travel a long way, but they don’t give you the accuracy you need to get the ball close to the hole.

Sound familiar?

If you struggle with pulling shots, this guide will show you how to stop pulling golf shots using some of the best tips and tricks. Most importantly, you’ll learn why this pull happens, helping you better understand your game and make smarter course management decisions.

Pulling Golf Shots (Key Takeaways)

If you need to save this guide to read later when you’re out on the range, that’s understandable. For now, here are a few key points to know about pulling a shot and how to fix it:

• A pull shot is caused by the clubface being closed to the target, and swinging outside to inside for right-handed golfers will result in a pull to the left.
• The pull can be caused by improper alignment, a grip that’s too strong, ball position too far forward, or improper wrist angles throughout the swing.
• A pull shot can also lead to a pull slice or a pull hook.
• To fix a pull, you must match your clubface to the proper path; the direction of the clubface is influenced by the angle of the wrists at impact.
• Wearing your HackMotion while practicing can help you fix your pull by providing valuable data and insights, acting like a coach on the range.

If you prefer to learn from watching a video, this complete guide on why you pull your iron shots should have the visuals you need.

What is a Pulled Shot in Golf?

To fully understand the pull, you must know a bit about the ball flight laws.

A pulled golf shot starts left of the intended target (for righties) and continues left. There is no curve to the shot. Instead, it flies on a straight line, left of your intended target.

Variations of the pulled shot include a pull slice and pull hook.

The clubface at impact, in relation to the target line, determines the start direction of the ball.

The swing path, in relation to the clubface, will determine curvature. Therefore, the clubface becomes very important.

• Pull Slice – Face is closed to the target and open to outside to inside path.
• Pull Straight – Face is closed to target, and square to outside to inside path.
• Pull Hook – Face is closed to target and closed to straight path.

Notice with the pull shot, the clubface is always closed to the target.

What Causes a Pulled Shot in Golf?

As you can see from the new ball flight laws above, the primary reason why pulled shots happen is a clubface that is closed to the target line.

Additionally, a path that is outside to inside, or “over the top,” combined with that closed clubface, will dictate the ball’s curvature.

Closed Clubface at Impact

When the clubface is closed on the downswing and on through impact, the lead wrist will be in flexion or bowed.

Although flexion can be positive, you still need to match your clubface angle to the club path.

You want a flat lead wrist at impact. Check out the following video below from HackMotion. Additionally, your lead forearm could be moving into pronation too soon as you move into impact.

Strong Grip

If your grip is too strong, it could be the reason for your clubface closing too soon. You want to ensure that you have a neutral grip.

More importantly, the neutral grip is where the trail and lead hands can return the face of the club into the ball squarely at impact.

To obtain a more neutral grip, you want the V’s created with the thumb and index fingers on both hands to point over the center of your trail shoulder.

Poor Ball Position

Inconsistent or incorrect ball position can lead to poor contact and off-target shots. When the ball is positioned too far forward, it often results in pulled shots.

This occurs because, at impact, the clubface is already beginning to close as it completes its swing.

Poor Alignment

Alignment matters more than you think. To hit a pull shot, you may be aligned too far to the left of your target. Use alignment sticks on the driving range to ensure you are lined up to your target.

Even the professionals go back to these components of the game.

Outside to Inside Path on Downswing

As noted above, in my breakdown of the ball flight laws, an outside-to-inside swing path will start the ball left of your target. The ideal swing path in golf is one where the club moves from the inside to the outside on the downswing.

The culprit, often for a path from the outside, is a takeaway that goes too far to the inside. Instead, you want to focus on the club starting back square to your target line, with the face square.

Another cause of an over-the-top swing is your swing getting out of sequence as you transition down from the top.

Remember, the proper sequence of events on the downswing is – hips first, chest second, hands next, and the club last.

How to Stop Pulling Shots in Golf

Now that you have the causes of pulled golf shots down, let’s look at some ways you can fix a pull.

The good news is your clubface is closed, which is something that many golfers are not capable of doing.

Focus on Pre-Swing Fundamentals

As noted above, and as the best players in the world know, many issues in the swing start with poor pre-swing fundamentals.

Therefore, you must focus on the following to lessen your game’s swing issues, such as pulling the ball.

• Grip – Neutral grip with proper grip pressure. Make sure the hands are working together.
• Posture – A good athletic posture with good balance and weight distribution.
• Alignment – A massively critical component to playing good golf. In general, your body must be parallel to the left of your target line (for right-handed golfers).

Work on Wrist Angles

We established earlier that the hands, particularly the wrists, play a significant role in how the clubface comes into the ball at impact.

Therefore, when trying to combat the pulls, having better control of the clubface will likely be something to work on.

One of the best ways to do this is to work on your wrist angles. The best way to do this is to use the HackMotion wrist sensor. It’s like having a coach with you at the driving range.

If your pull is caused by coming over the top, these additional drills can help you get the club on the right path and make solid contact.

4:30 Drill to Stop Pulling

If you are a visual learner, the 4:30 drill is a great way to stop pulling your golf shots.

Simply set an alignment stick on the ground and have it point to a position representing 4:30 on the clock. Place this in your backswing.

As you start swinging down, ensure the club matches up to this position as part of the downswing.

The Justin Rose Drill Modified

PGA Tour star Justin Rose has been seen many times rehearsing his transition down from the top. When he does this, he wants to ensure his lead arm stays close to his chest; his hand path steepens, and his club shallows.

This Justin Rose rehearsal or drill helps the club enter the ball with an inside-to-outside path.

When making this rehearsal move, you want to feel as though your lead arm stays close to your chest and almost brushes down it as you work your hands down from the top of your swing.

When you practice on the range, my modification is to stick an alignment stick in the ground, a few feet right of your target line, to use as a visual.

The Two Ball Gate Drill

This final tip is something you can do on the range. It doesn’t require a training aid or anything else except a couple of extra golf balls. This simple yet effective drill gets you on a better downswing path and helps you stop pulling the ball.

Put one ball just to the right of the ball you will be hitting, about an inch outside from the toe of your club. Next, place a second ball slightly ahead, and on the heel side of the ball you will be hitting.

You are setting up a gate your clubhead must follow as you move into the ball at impact. The more comfortable you get with this, the closer you can place the outside and inside balls.

Towel Under Arm Drill

For this drill, you can use a headcover or a towel. The goal is to keep the towel or headcover in place (tucked under your left arm for right-handed golfers) while you swing.

This position will help ensure your club does not get too far out and away from you and come over the top.

The over-the-top golf swing is one where the arms are disconnected from the body. Combine this with a closed clubface, and you’ll have your pull.

While you swing with this headcover and towel in place, make sure you are also wearing your HackMotion and recording wrist angles in your golf swing.

Summing It All Up

Hitting pulled shots in golf can indeed be frustrating. Hopefully, you understand what a pulled shot is and why it happens.

Now, get out to the practice range with your HackMotion and see what you can do to fix your pull shots and improve your wrist angles and path.