Harper Lin
In golf, a push or pushed shot is when the ball starts to the right of the intended target and continues in that direction without curving back. This is caused by a variety of factors, including the positioning of the golfer's body and the angle of the clubface when it hits the ball. Amateur golfers often struggle with alignment, with their feet, hips, and shoulders aimed too far to the right. Additionally, a weak grip can cause an open clubface at impact, resulting in a push. To correct a push, golfers need to work on their swing and the club path, ensuring that the clubface is square to the club path at impact.
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What You'll Learn
Misalignment
Amateur golfers often struggle with alignment because they do not look at the target when hitting shots. To correct misalignment, golfers can use alignment sticks or lay a club on the ground to ensure their body is aligned correctly. By setting up with the hands slightly ahead of the clubhead (known as forward shaft lean), golfers can also encourage proper alignment.
In addition to misalignment, a weak grip can also contribute to pushed shots. A weak grip, where the "V" shape between the thumb and forefinger points toward the lead shoulder, can cause the clubface to remain open at impact, resulting in the ball starting to the right. To correct this, golfers can modify their grip strength, usually by strengthening their grip slightly.
Another cause of pushed shots is an inside-out swing path. Golfers can fix this by focusing on taking the club back square instead of inside during the takeaway. Exaggerating the movement by taking the club back outside can help golfers get a feel for a square takeaway.
Pushed shots can also be caused by early extension of the lower body in the downswing, with the shoulders lagging behind. To correct this, golfers should focus on rotating their hips and shoulders first, allowing the club to stay on plane and the face to square naturally. It is important to remember that the hands do not square the face; instead, the body should be given time and space to rotate and square the face.
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Incorrect ball position
Understanding Ball Position
The ball position refers to the location of the golf ball in relation to the player's stance. It is crucial as it influences the shot's trajectory, distance, and the direction of the ball's spin. The ball position should be adjusted depending on the club you are using. For example, the driver is the club that is typically placed furthest forward in the stance, while wedges are generally positioned towards the centre or back of the stance.
An incorrect ball position can cause a variety of issues with your shots. If the ball is too far forward in your stance, you may add loft to your club at impact, resulting in high, spinning shots. Conversely, if the ball is too far back, it can be challenging to square the face before contact, leading to a loss of distance and accuracy.
Correct Ball Position for Different Clubs
For mid-irons, the ball is typically played from the centre of your stance, giving you more precision and control. With shorter clubs like short irons and wedges, the ball is generally positioned slightly behind the centre. For longer clubs, the ball position should be gradually shifted forward. Start with your feet together, then take a small step towards the target with your lead foot, and a larger step back with your trail foot. This will help you consistently place the ball in the desired position.
Alignment and Foot Position
Incorrect alignment and foot position can also contribute to issues with ball position. Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to your target line. Alignment sticks or a club on the ground can help with this. Additionally, the width of your stance and the angle of your feet can impact your shot, so pay attention to these details as well.
Experimentation and Consistency
As your skills improve, you may experiment with different ball positions to find what works best for you. The key is to find a position that consistently produces your desired shot shape and trajectory. Practising with different clubs and ball positions will help you develop a feel for the correct positions and improve your consistency.
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Poor wrist angles
The wrist action in the golf swing changes as you move from setup to backswing to impact. The wrists act as a hinge, connecting the arms and body to the hands and club. The grip is crucial; if the hands are not in the correct position on the club, the wrists will not be able to function optimally. A light grip is best, and the club should be held in the fingers, not the palms. This allows for the correct wrist action and the most power.
At the top of the backswing, the lead wrist should be in a neutral or flat position, which will allow for the easiest route back to the ball. However, some players will have a flexed wrist at this point. The angle between the lead arm and the shaft of the club should be around 90 degrees, but this can vary.
As the downswing begins, the wrist angle should be maintained, and the body should rotate. This will allow the club to release naturally, and the wrists will straighten out when you get to the ball. The lead wrist should be in flexion (bowed) as you approach impact. This closes the clubface and straightens the ball flight. Professional golfers will have bowed wrists at impact, which allows them to hit the ball further and with more control.
Amateur golfers often have their wrists in extension (cupped) before impact, which opens the clubface and can cause a push. This is due to a poor position at the top of the backswing, with too much extension in the lead wrist.
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Weak grip
A weak grip is a golfing technique where the left hand is rotated outward so that fewer knuckles are visible when looking down. This technique can cause a push, where the ball starts to the right of the target and continues in that direction without curving back. This is because a weak grip encourages an open clubface at impact, which can result in a higher ball flight and a slice.
A weak grip can cause a loss of control and accuracy, reduced power and distance, and an inconsistent ball flight. It can also lead to the hands separating too early on the downswing, resulting in a loss of power and a poor impact position. Additionally, it can cause the wrists to break down, which can affect the clubface angle at impact.
To fix a push caused by a weak grip, golfers can try modifying their grip strength. This involves slightly strengthening the grip to promote a closed clubface at impact, which can help to correct the inside-out swing path that often occurs with a weak grip. It is important to note that a strong grip can also have downsides, such as an increased chance of over-drawing or hooking the ball.
Another way to address a push is to focus on the wrist position. Amateur golfers tend to have their wrists extended (cupped) before impact, keeping the face open. By contrast, professional players move their lead wrist into flexion (bowed) as they approach impact, closing the face and straightening the ball flight. The HackMotion Motorcycle Drill can help golfers learn to square the clubface sooner in the downswing and add the necessary flexion.
Additionally, golfers can experiment with speed. Starting slowly and then increasing speed while retaining proper angles can help to improve the swing. It is important to focus on rotating the hips and shoulders, allowing the club to stay on plane and square the face naturally, rather than pushing the club with the hands.
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Incorrect swing technique
Lead Wrist Extension:
Many amateur golfers have their lead wrist in extension (cupped) before impact, which keeps the clubface open. Professional players, on the other hand, move their lead wrist into flexion (bowed) during the downswing, closing the clubface and straightening the ball flight.
Poor Alignment:
Misalignment can cause push shots. For right-handed players, if your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned too far to the right of the target line, your shot may fly directly where you are aiming, missing the target to the right.
Incorrect Ball Position:
Placing the ball too far back in your stance can make it difficult to square the clubface before contact, leading to a push.
Early Body Rotation:
If your lower body opens too early in the downswing while your shoulders lag, it can cause a push. The proper sequence is to initiate the downswing with a lower body rotation, followed by shoulder rotation, which keeps the club on plane and allows the face to square naturally.
Inside-Out Swing Path:
An inside-out swing path, combined with an open clubface, can result in a push. To correct this, focus on taking the club back square during the takeaway instead of inside, and ensure your clubface is closed at impact.
Correcting these swing technique errors can help you eliminate push shots and improve your accuracy in golf.
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Frequently asked questions
A push in golf is when the ball starts to the right of the target and continues in that direction without curving back.
A push in golf can be caused by a variety of factors such as poor wrist angles, incorrect ball position, weak grip, improper alignment, and sliding instead of rotating during the swing.
To fix a push, you need to work on your swing and the club path it produces. Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to your target line. Modify your grip strength and focus on rotating your hips and shoulders to keep the club on plane.
A push describes a straight shot that goes right or left of the target, while a slice refers to a curving shot that deviates from the point of contact.
