A pull is a shot that starts left of the target for right handed golfers and stays on that line without curving back. It feels solid but travels in the wrong direction which can quickly lead to missed greens and difficult recovery shots. Spine Align Golf outlines the most common reasons golfers pull the ball and the simple adjustments that straighten your starting line.
A pull occurs when the swing path moves too far from outside to inside at impact while the clubface remains fairly square. This combination launches the ball straight but left of where you intended. Poor alignment ball position that is too far forward and upper body dominance in the downswing are often behind this mistake.
Golfers who unknowingly aim left create a swing path that follows that direction. If your feet, hips and shoulders are set left of the target line the ball will usually start left as well. Square your stance so your body lines are parallel to the target.
If the ball is positioned too far forward the club meets it after the path has already begun moving left. A small adjustment with the ball placed more centrally promotes a straighter path.
Many pulls happen because the upper body dominates the downswing while the lower body stalls. This forces the club to swing across the target line. Focus on starting the downswing by shifting pressure to your lead foot then allowing the hips to rotate naturally.
If the club moves too far to the outside during the takeaway it will often return on that same path leading to a pull. Keep the clubhead slightly inside your hands during the first part of the backswing.
When the shoulders level out or tilt incorrectly golfers tend to swing across the line. Ensuring the lead shoulder moves downward slightly during the backswing helps maintain better swing direction.
Over controlling the hands can send the club across the target line. Allowing the club to release through impact encourages a more neutral path and more centered contact.
A pull shot is often the result of minor setup mistakes or an overly aggressive upper body during the downswing. With small adjustments to alignment ball position and body rotation you can return the ball to a straighter starting line. For further improvement check out our guide on How to Fix a Hook or download the Spine Align App for real time feedback on alignment and swing path. You can also visit the Spine Align Golf Academy for structured tutorials and step by step training.
Shot Errors
Shot Errors
