The Push Shot Can Really be Annoying

The push shot is sometimes difficult to detect because your aim could be slightly right of target. I can think of many times where I have hit the perfect shot only to miss the green by inches to the right. Definitely a mistake worth correcting.

The club head is moving from the inside to the outside on this swing which is a good sign.

The reasons for a pushed shot are: wrong alignment at address, a closed club face on the back swing, not enough hip turn through impact, and keeping the head down for too long.

Improper alignment

The alignment of your hips, shoulders, and feet, are aimed right of your target putting you in a position to push the shot. This in fact makes your club head aim even further to the right.

This position blocks your hands and arms when you try to swing them on a line towards your target. Your arms and hands will rather tend to swing on a line that is parallel to your hips, feet and shoulders creating a pushed shot.

The Fix
To correct a push shot you need to aim your body more to the left of your target. This opening of the body will help you achieve more of a free swing with the arms and hands towards your target. Your left hip will be able to clear quicker giving your arms and hands the freedom they need to swing through the ball.

These changes at address will create the correct positions at impact and help you hit the ball straighter.

Try getting in the habit of aiming your club face first behind the ball then take your address position.





Closed clubface at address and in the takeaway

Addressing the ball with a closed clubface may seem like you will hook the ball but this is not necessarily the case. Most golfers who do this actually open the clubface at impact.

Mentally speaking when the clubface reaches the top of the back swing it will be instinctively opened to prevent a hook and a pushed shot will occur.

The Fix
To cure this fault you need to understand the grip/takeaway/ hinging of the right wrist first. With your right hand in the correct position at address it will encourage an opening of the hands and club face in the take away.

Remember to blend the movement of the arms and club together with the wrist hinge. No independent hand action should be felt.

Not enough hip turn through impact

Your problem may not be at address or takeaway but rather at the impact area.

Should your hips slide instead of turning to the left, the club head will not be able to close through impact resulting in a push shot. (It gets delayed in squaring up)

The Fix
You need to use a mental key of “Bump and turn”Bump the left side to the left and turn the hips left. It is a “one move feeling.” The bump I am referring to here is a slight lateral shift till the left hip is directly above your left foot. There will be enough lateral motion created in the turn too. Feel the hip turn pull your left arm into the impact area. They work in unison. Check the impact drill here.

Keeping the head down

Keeping the head down too long helps to create too much slide in the hips on the downswing. It also prevents you from getting you weight through to the left side properly. This is the same as blocking the shot.

The Fix
Swivel the head towards the ball’s flight as the hands move past impact. This helps to to square the club through the ball and automatically gets the weight to the left side.

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