Nina Caldwell
In golf, the terms push and pull are used to describe the path of the ball after it is hit. For right-handed golfers, a push occurs when the ball moves straight to the right, while a pull happens when the ball moves straight to the left. These terms are used to describe the direction of the ball in relation to the golfer's body. The concept of push vs. pull is derived from Sir Isaac Newton's principle that all movement is either a push or a pull, with a push moving an object away from the body and a pull bringing it closer. In golf, understanding the push and pull can help create centered rotation and improve the accuracy of shots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of Push and Pull | A push moves the ball away from the golfer's body, and a pull moves the ball back toward the golfer's body. |
| Direction of Ball Movement | For right-handed golfers, a push moves the ball straight to the right, and a pull moves the ball straight to the left. For left-handed golfers, a push starts out to the left and ends up left of the target. |
| Clubface Angle | With a push, the clubface is open to the target but on a straight path. With a pull, the clubface is closed to the target at impact. |
| Cause of Push and Pull | A push can be caused by a weak grip or incorrect swing plane. A pull can be caused by an incorrect grip position, an over-the-top swing, or improper lower body rotation. |
| Fixing Push and Pull | To fix a push, ensure proper alignment and ball position. To fix a pull, check and improve alignment, grip, body rotation, and release of the golf ball. |
| Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces | Centripetal force is necessary to keep an object moving in a curved path toward the center of rotation. Centrifugal force is the apparent force felt by an object moving in a curved path away from the center of rotation. |
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What You'll Learn
Push and pull describe the path of the ball
The concepts of "push" and "pull" in golf are derived from Sir Isaac Newton's determination that all movement is either a push or a pull. In the context of golf, these terms describe the initial path of the ball immediately after impact with the clubface.
A "push" shot in golf refers to when the ball goes to the right of the target line, moving away from the golfer's body. This occurs when the clubface is open to the target but on a straight path, resulting in a shot that feels solid yet misses the intended target.
On the other hand, a "pull" shot describes the ball going to the left of the target line, moving towards the golfer's body. This happens when the clubface is closed to the target at impact, causing the ball to go directly left without turning.
The direction of the ball, whether it is pushed or pulled, depends on the relationship between the clubface's direction and the target line. The clubface angle at impact plays a crucial role in determining the ball's initial path.
Understanding the concepts of push and pull is essential in golf as it helps golfers identify and correct common mistakes. By recognising whether their shot resulted in a push or a pull, golfers can make adjustments to their alignment, grip, body rotation, and release of the golf ball to improve their accuracy and consistency.
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Push and pull are opposite actions
The concepts of "push" and "pull" are central to the Rotary Swing Tour. In golf, these terms describe the path the ball takes. For right-handed golfers, a push shot starts out to the right and stays on a straight path to the right of the target. Conversely, a pull shot goes directly left of the target right from impact.
The direction of the shot is related to the movement of the golfer's body. When a golfer pushes through impact, their hands close the clubface, and the ball goes left. Conversely, when they pull through impact, the clubface opens, and the ball goes right.
The difference between pushing and pulling can also be understood through the example of a pull cart. When pulling a cart, the force acting upon it is always moving it toward a centralized point – the person doing the pulling. Conversely, when standing behind the cart and pushing it, it could move in any number of directions, a full 360 degrees away from the center.
When we apply these concepts to the golf swing, interesting things begin to appear. For example, the old instruction adage of "getting your left shoulder under your chin" becomes obsolete. Instead, the golfer would be told to pull his right shoulder behind his head. This is because one of the goals in the golf swing is to create centered rotation around the spine, which serves as a perfect axis to rotate and stay centered.
To accomplish this centered rotation, golfers need to introduce the concepts of centripetal and centrifugal force. Centripetal force is the force necessary to keep an object moving in a curved path, directed inward toward the center of rotation. Centrifugal force, on the other hand, is the apparent force felt by an object moving in a curved path, acting outwardly away from the center of rotation.
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Push and pull are easier to fix than a hook or slice
Golfing terms like "push", "pull", "slice", and "hook" refer to the path of the ball and the direction in which it curves during its flight. A push shot goes to the right of the target, while a pull shot goes to the left. A slice is a shot that curves to the right, and a hook is a shot that curves sharply to the left.
Push and pull shots are generally easier to fix than hooks and slices because the degree to which the swing needs to be corrected is usually less. Pushes and pulls are caused by the clubface being open or closed to the target, respectively, at the moment of impact. This is a relatively simple issue to address, and it is possible to fix a push or pull by checking and improving alignment, grip, body rotation, and release of the golf ball.
On the other hand, slices and hooks can be caused or worsened by incorrect setup and ball position, which is more complicated to fix. A slice is often the result of a steep, over-the-top downswing, which leads to an open clubface. A hook is caused by the clubface being closed to the target, which can be made worse by an overly inside-to-outside swing. While a weak or strong grip can lead to a clubface that is too open or closed at impact, it is easier to fix than issues during the backswing or downswing.
To fix a slice, golfers can use training aids such as the Lag Shot golf club, which has a flexible and heavy shaft, allowing golfers to feel what it is like to create lag in their downswing. This can help golfers create a more in-to-out swing, instead of an out-to-in swing that produces a slice. Analyzing the swings of top PGA Tour professionals using 3D motion capture can also provide insights to improve one's swing and setup.
In conclusion, while pushes and pulls can lead to big misses, they are generally easier to fix than hooks and slices, which require more complex corrections to one's swing, grip, and setup. By understanding the causes of these errors and utilizing training aids and swing analysis, golfers can improve their consistency and accuracy.
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How to fix a push or pull shot
In golf, a push or a pushed shot is when the ball starts to the right of the target and continues in that direction without lateral spin. Similarly, a pull or a pulled shot is when the ball starts to the left of the target and continues straight in that direction without lateral spin. These shots are considered errors as they miss the target.
To fix a push shot, you need to work on your golf swing and the club path it produces. To fix an inside-out swing, take your club back square instead of taking it back inside. You can practice this by exaggerating the movement and taking it back outside to get a feel for a square takeaway. Once you've fixed the club path, you need to fix the clubface angle at impact. The easiest way to fix an open clubface at impact is to modify the strength of your grip.
To fix a pull shot, you also need to work on your golf swing and the club path. Fixing an outside-in swing starts at the takeaway, where you take your club back square instead of back outside. You can practice this by performing drills that focus on taking the club back inside to get a feel for a square takeaway. During the downswing, avoid pushing the club outside of the target line and instead bring the club down from inside the target line, rotating it around your body. To fix the clubface angle, modify the strength of your grip slightly.
Some additional tips to fix a pull shot include maintaining a constant knee flex during the swing, keeping your hands lower during the backswing to get more depth, and practicing a feeling of moving your hands towards your trail thigh during the takeaway.
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How to avoid an overactive upper body causing a pull
Golfers who tend to pull shots due to an overactive upper body can correct this in several ways. One of the most frequent causes of pulled golf shots is having the ball placed too far forward, as this results in the clubface being closed at impact. To prevent this, ensure the ball is not too far forward in your stance, which can encourage a swing that bottoms out too soon and result in a pull.
Another way to avoid an overactive upper body is to focus on a smooth, controlled downswing. Many golfers tend to rush the swing with their arms and shoulders, causing the club to come over the top. Instead, initiate the downswing with your lower body, particularly your hips. This helps you stay on the correct swing plane and prevents pulling. A drill to help with this is the Step-Through Drill: Take your normal setup, but as you swing through the ball, step forward with your back foot. This helps engage the lower body properly and discourages an overactive upper body.
To prevent an overactive upper body, you can also work on relaxing your grip and loosening your shoulders. A tight grip can lead to an overactive upper body and disrupt the swing path. Check your grip strength: a grip that's too strong can lead to a closed clubface. Ensure you can see 2-3 knuckles on your left hand (for right-handed golfers) at address. Experiment with a neutral grip to promote a square clubface at impact. Practice swinging with a lighter grip pressure and staying relaxed throughout the swing. This will help you maintain better control and avoid pulling the ball.
To improve your swing, you can also practice hitting shots using only your trailing arm (right arm for right-handed golfers). Place a headcover just outside the target line behind the ball. This forces you to swing inside the line, encouraging an inside-to-out swing path and preventing pulls.
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Frequently asked questions
A push or pull in golf refers to the path the ball takes after being hit. A push moves the ball away from your body, whereas a pull moves the ball back toward your body. For right-handed golfers, if the ball moves straight right, it is a push, and if it goes straight left, it is a pull.
The terms push and pull come from the notion that pushing things generally make them move away, and pulling things bring them closer. Thus, in the context of golf, a push moves the ball away from the reference point (the golfer), and a pull moves the ball towards the reference point.
To fix a push or pull, you must check and improve your alignment, grip, body rotation, and release of the golf ball. For a push, ensure your swing path is more in-to-out, and for a pull, start with alignment to ensure your golf club is not aimed too far to the left of the target at setup.
