How to Stop Pulling the Ball, Golf Shot Pull Tips

Stop Hitting the Ball Left with Correct Downswing Aim

Jul 12, 2009 John Hoskison

Pull shots are caused by incorrect aim or bad golf body action. Stop pulling golf shots by checking aim of the backswing and on the downswing moving shoulders in plane.

Hitting a straight pull means the swing path at impact is aiming left of target. Not only will the ball fly left but divots will also end up left of the target line. There are several possible causes for a pull and before a golfer can change the root cause, they must find the reason behind why they are hitting shots left.

How to Stop Pulling with Alignment Check

The first thing a golfer has to check is the aim at address. Rarely is the reason for shots going left or pull shots as simple as miss-alignment but aim has to be checked.
Take up your stance and put a club against the toes of your feet to find out where they are aiming. Then without moving from your address position place a club across your shoulders to make sure your upper body is aiming at the target.

Check Top of Backswing Aim

If the address position is correct then the other alignment check that must be carried out is to see where the club shaft is pointing at the top of the backswing.
Where the club is aiming indicates the general line of swing. If the club is aiming left or ’laid off’ the golfers hand action during the backswing has probably been incorrect.
The most usual reason is the hands over rotate when trying to move the club onto plane sending the club into a flat laid off position which is often where a pull shot starts from.
To find out if your hand action is correct stand with your backside a few inches from a wall and make a backswing. If you swing the club onto the correct plane the club will not make contact with the wall half way back. If you over rotate the hands the club head will hit the wall at hip height.
Make sure the club aims at the target at the top of the swing to stop a pull shot.

Shoulder Action on Downswing

If the stance alignment is correct and the club points at the target then the other major cause of a pulled shot is a bad body action on the downswing.
If the shoulders swing open too fast at the beginning of the downswing the swing line gets thrown onto the outside and the swing path will be travelling left of target at impact. This results in a pull shot, or a slice if the golfer forces open the hands.
The key to stopping the pull shot cased by a bad body action is to start the downswing slowly to make sure the arms fall onto the correct line and plane. This is more of a rhythm and timing modification more than a technical change.
Have a few practice swings to begin with taking a divot to show the line of the swing path through impact. If your divots are flying at the target your shoulders will not be swinging open at the start of the downswing.

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