How to Correct a Pull Golf Swing

That infuriating golf shot that starts left of your target and just keeps going, flying dead straight into the trees or the wrong fairway, is one of the most common and persistent frustrations in the game. You took a full, powerful swing, but the ball simply ignored your intentions. This guide is going to break down precisely why you pull the golf ball and give you a clear, step-by-step action plan with drills you can take straight to the range to finally get your shots starting on target.

First, What Exactly Is a Pull? (And Why It's Not a Hook)

Understanding the problem is the first step to fixing it. A pull is a specific type of mishit. For a right-handed golfer, it’s a shot that starts immediately left of the target line and flies relatively straight on that starting line. It doesn't have the significant right-to-left curve of a hook. Conversely, for a left-handed golfer, a pull starts right of the target and flies straight.

This distinction is important. A pull and a hook feel very different and are caused by a slightly different combination of swing path and clubface angle at impact. A hook curves because of spin, while a pull is all about the initial direction. If you're hitting pulls, the good news is you are delivering the clubface squarely to the path you are swinging on. The problem is that the entire path is aimed in the wrong direction.

The Two Core Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot

Nearly every pull in golf history can be blamed on one simple, destructive ingredient: an out-to-in swing path. This path, combined with the clubface angle, is the entire recipe for that shot you hate. Let's look at the two components.

1. Your Swing Path is "Over the Top" (Out-to-In)

The number one culprit for a pull is a swing path that travels from outside the target line to inside the target line through the impact zone. This is a classic "over-the-top" move. Imagine a line on the ground pointing at your target (the target line). An ideal swing path approaches the ball from slightly inside that line, strikes the ball, and then moves back to the inside of the line after impact.

With an out-to-in path, the opposite happens. Usually, this is triggered by the hands and arms initiating the downswing aggressively, throwing the clubhead outside the target line. From that position, your only choice is to swing across your body and cut across the ball, finishing to the left (for a righty). The swing path itself is literally directed to the left of your target.

• What it feels like: It often feels like a powerful, arm-driven swing. You might feel your right shoulder and hands lunge toward the ball from the top of your swing. Your finish will likely feel off-balance and your arms will feel disconnected from your body rotation.
• The Result: The club cuts across the ball, and the swing's momentum is traveling left of the target. This sends the ball starting in that same direction.

2. Your Clubface is Square or Closed to That Path

This is where new golfers get confused. How can the ball go straight if the swing path is so wrong? It's all about the relationship between path and face.

For a pull shot, your clubface at the moment of impact is aimed at the same place your swing path is going - to the left. The face is square to the out-to-in path. Since the face and path are aligned, they don't produce any significant side spin, and the ball flies straight on that pulled line. If your clubface were "open" relative to this out-to-in path, the conflicting angles would create massive side spin, resulting in a slice (a ball starting left and curving way right).

So, a pulled shot means:

• Swing Path: Moving out-to-in, left of the target.
• Clubface Angle: Aimed left of the target, matching the path.

To fix the pull, we need to fix the path. This is the root cause. Everything else is a symptom.

Your Step-by-Step Action Plan to Fix the Pull

Alright, enough theory. Let's get to work. Fixing this isn't about a single secret tip, it's about re-training your body to move correctly. Follow these steps methodically, and you’ll start seeing results.

Step 1: Check your Foundation - Alignment and Grip

Before you even make a swing change, you have to be sure your static setup isn't causing the problem. Sometimes golfers unconsciously set up in a way that encourages an over-the-top move.

Alignment Check

A common fault is aiming your body (feet, hips, shoulders) to the right of the target. Doing this fools your brain into thinking it has to "pull" the club back to the left to hit the target. Lay an alignment stick on the ground pointing at your target. Then place another stick parallel to it, about a foot inside, where your feet will go. Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are all perfectly parallel to your target line, not open (aimed left) or closed (aimed right).

Grip Check

A grip that is too "strong" (your top hand rotated too far away from the target) can cause the clubface to close too early in the downswing. For a righty, this would mean seeing 3 or 4 knuckles on your left hand when you look down. This can promote pulling the ball. Try neutralizing your grip so you only see two knuckles on your top hand. This helps the club stay square for longer.

Step 2: Correcting Your Swing Path (The BIG Fix)

Fixing your out-to-in swing motion is your main objective. The goal is to get the club approaching the ball from the inside. Spend 80% of your practice time on these drills. Start with small, slow swings to feel the correct motion before trying to add speed or power.

Drill 1: The Gate Drill

This is the best visual and physical feedback drill for swing path. It makes it almost impossible to come over the top.

1. Place a ball on the range mat.
2. Place an object a few inches on the outside and slightly behind your ball. A headcover or a bottle of water works well. This is the "outside gate."
3. Place another object a few inches on the inside and slightly in front of the ball. This is the "inside gate."
4. Your goal is to swing the clubhead between the two gate objects without hitting either one. To do this, you will be forced to bring the club down from the inside (missing the back headcover) and extend it out toward the inside-front object. If you swing over the top, you'll immediately clobber the outside gate.

Start with slow half-swings and graduate to full swings as you get comfortable. This drill retrains your ingrained path almost instantly.

Drill 2: The Right Elbow Tuck Feel

One of the primary causes of an over-the-top swing is when the right arm (for righties) disengages from the body on the downswing. This drill helps keep things connected.

1. Take a normal setup.
2. As you begin your downswing, the very first move should be to feel your right elbow dropping down and tucking in close to your right side or hip. This "tucking" motion automatically drops the club into the "slot" - an inside path.
3. In an over-the-top swing, the right elbow flies away from the body, pushing the club outside the line. By focusing only on tucking that elbow, the an_ti-pull motion happens naturally.
4. Take slow swings focusing just on this feel. It will seem strange at first, but it is the signature feel of an inside swing path.

Drill 3: The Headcover Under the Armpit

This is another classic drill for promoting a connected, body-led rotation instead of an armsy, over-the-top swing.

1. Take your setup and then place a golf glove or a headcover under your trail armpit (the right armpit for right-handed players).
2. Make some practice swings. To keep the headcover from falling out, you have to keep your upper arm connected to your chest during the backswing and, more importantly, the start of the downswing.
3. If you lunge at the ball with your arms and shoulders - the classic over-the-top move - the headcover will fall out immediately.
4. Hit small shots with this drill. You will feel a more rotational, centered swing and you will notice that the club approaches the ball from a much shallower, inside angle. This promotes a gentle draw or, at the very least, a straight shot, and makes pulling the ball very difficult.

Step 3: What to Expect Next - The Push

Don't be alarmed if, after working on these drills, you start hitting the ball straight right of your target (a "push"). This is actually a great sign! It means you have successfully changed your swing path from out-to-in to in-to-out. You’ve fixed the major problem. The ball is going right simply because your old clubface habit (being square to your path) is now being applied to a new path. Your face is now square to an inside path, sending the ball right.

To fix the push, you just need to feel the clubface releasing through impact. As you continue the 'inside out' feeling from the drills, try to feel your right hand naturally crossing over your left hand just after impact. This will allow the clubface to square up at the target and turn your push into a powerful, straight shot - or even a beautiful draw.

Final Thoughts

Correcting a pulled golf shot comes down to improving your swing mechanics, specifically moving from a destructive out-to-in path to a powerful in-to-out path. By checking your setup fundamentals and methodically practicing path-oriented drills like the Gate Drill, you can rebuild your swing and replace that left-bound missile with a shot that starts right at your target.

Of course, drills at the range are one thing, but taking that new swing to the course - with hazards and pressure - is another entirely. When old habits try to sneak back in, having support helps you stay confident. My goal with Caddie AI is to give you that expert-level guidance right in your pocket. If you're stuck on a tricky lie and tense up - a perfect recipe for a pull - you can snap a photo, and the app will give you a smart, simple strategy for how to play the shot, helping you commit to a better swing instead of a fearful one.