There’s nothing more maddening than flushing an iron shot, feeling that pure compression, only to watch the ball sail perfectly straight... directly into the greenside bunker on the right. That shot is the push. It’s not a wild, curving slice, it's a straight ball that simply starts on the wrong line and stays there. In this guide, we'll walk through exactly why this happens and give you practical, easy-to-understand drills to get your ball starting on target and flying toward the pin.
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First, Let's Understand the Push (It's Not a Slice)
Before we can fix the problem, we need to know what we’re fixing. Golfers often lump all shots that go right into the "slice" category, but a push and a slice are two different animals caused by different swing dynamics.
A slice is a ball that starts relatively straight (or even left of the target) and then curves significantly to the right during its flight. This is caused by an "out-to-in" swing path combined with a clubface that's open to that path.
A push is a ball that starts right of the target and flies straight on that line, with very little curvature. This is caused by an "in-to-out" swing path where the clubface is square to the path but open to the target line.
Think of it like this: the direction your ball starts is mostly determined by your clubface angle at impact. The direction it curves is the relationship between that clubface and your swing path. For a push, your swing path is moving out to the right, and your clubface is pointing right there with it. To fix it, we need to correct one or both of those elements.
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Root Cause #1: An "In-to-Out" Swing Path Gone Wild
An in-to-out swing path is the foundation of a powerful draw. But when it gets too extreme, it becomes the primary cause of the push. The clubhead travels from too far behind your body, approaches the ball from the inside, and then continues outward to the right of the target line after impact. Here are the most common reasons this happens and how to fix them.
Fault: Poor Setup and Alignment
This is the most frequent and easiest-to-fix cause. Many golfers who push the ball are simply not aimed where they think they are. They subconsciously align their entire body - feet, hips, and shoulders - to the right of the target. To hit the ball toward the hole, their brain then makes a compensation, forcing the club even more from the inside, leading to a classic push. To learn more about proper alignment, check out our guide.
The Fix: Use Alignment Sticks
Don't guess with your alignment, verify it. Head to the driving range with two alignment sticks (or two golf clubs).
Place one stick on the ground parallel to your target line, just outside of the golf ball. This represents the path for your clubhead.
Place the second stick on the ground parallel to the first one, but just inside your feet. This stick will guide your body alignment. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should all be parallel to this stick.
Run through your pre-shot routine and get set. Before you swing, step back and see where you were actually aimed. You might be surprised to find how far right you were pointing. Train your eyes to see what true "square" alignment looks and feels like.
Fault: An Aggressive Hip Spin from the Top
Power comes from the ground up, but a slight misunderstanding of this concept can destroy your swing path. Many amateurs start their downswing by aggressively spinning their hips open as fast as they can. While rotation is good, spinning open too early causes the right shoulder to dip down and back. This drops the club far too much "under the plane" and behind you, leaving you with no choice but to swing excessively outwards to the right. Your arms get stuck, and the push is practically guaranteed.
The Fix: Feel a Lateral Bump, Then Turn
The best golfers initiate the downswing not with a spin, but with a small lateral "bump" of their hips toward the target. This shifts their weight forward and creates space for their arms to drop down on the proper plane before the body fully rotates through.
Drill: The Step-Through Drill
Set up to a ball with an iron, using a comfortable, athletic stance.
Take a normal backswing to the top.
As you begin your downswing, focus entirely on stepping your trail foot (right foot for a righty) forward and across your lead foot, walking toward the target.
Hit the ball as you are "stepping through."
This drill makes it nearly impossible to spin your hips out early. It forces you to transfer your weight correctly toward the target, keep your body sequence in order, and allows the club to come down on a much more neutral path.
Root Cause #2: A Clubface That's Stuck Open
You could have a perfect swing path, but if your clubface is open to the target at impact, the ball will start to the right. Often, a push is a combination of an in-to-out path and an open clubface. Here's how to ensure you're squaring it up.
Fault: A "Weak" Grip
Your grip is your only connection to the club, and it’s the steering wheel for your clubface. A "weak" grip (which has nothing to do with grip pressure) is when your hands are rotated too far to the left on the club (for a righty). For the lead hand, this means you might only see one knuckle or even none when you look down. This position makes it very difficult for your forearms and wrists to naturally release and square the clubface through impact. Instead, the face tends to hang open.
The Fix: Adopt a Neutral Grip
Referencing a correct hold from the start can change everything. A neutral grip presets your hands for a proper release.
Left Hand (Lead Hand): When you place your left hand on the club, you should be able to look down and comfortably see at least two knuckles - the knuckle on your index and middle finger. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point roughly toward your right shoulder.
Right Hand (Trail Hand): Your right hand should cover your left thumb, with the V it forms also pointing toward your right shoulder. It should feel like your palms are facing each other.
Don’t be alarmed if this feels bizarre at first. A new grip is one of the most awkward-feeling changes you can make, but stick with it. It allows your hands to do their job without you having to add any extra manipulation.
Fault: A Failure to "Release" the Club
Many golfers are so focused on turning their body that they forget their arms and hands have a role to play. They hold the "angle" of their wrists for too long, essentially blocking the shot out to the right with rigid arms. A proper swing involves a release, where the trail forearm naturally rotates over the lead forearm through and after impact. This is what squares the clubface and delivers the clubhead’s full speed to the ball.
The Fix: The Split-Hands Drill
This drill is fantastic for feeling a natural release.
Take a 7- or 8-iron and grip it normally.
Now, slide your trail hand down the shaft about four to six inches so there’s a gap between your hands.
Make half-swings, from waist-high to waist-high. With your hands separated, you will immediately feel how your trail hand and arm have to "throw" the clubhead past your body to make solid contact. You'll physically feel the clubhead rotating and releasing.
After 10-15 swings, put your hands back together. Try to recreate that same feeling of the clubhead releasing through impact in a smooth, unforced motion.
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Putting It All Together: A Checklist to Stop Pushing
Next time you're on the range, don't get overwhelmed. Start slow and work through these checkpoints one at a time. The goal isn't to think about all of this during your actual swing, but to use these drills and concepts to build a better overall motion.
Alignment: Get your sticks. Are your hips, feet, and shoulders truly square to your target?
Grip: Check your hands. Can you see two knuckles on your lead hand?
Takeaway: Start with half-swings. Is the clubhead moving straight back, or are you pulling it inside immediately?
Transition: Feel the "bump." Let your weight shift forward slightly before unwinding your body. Picture your belt buckle moving towards the target first.
Release: Hit some small, slow shots focusing on letting your trail arm straighten and rotate over your lead arm after you hit the ball. Start by trying to hit small push-draws to get the feeling of the clubface closing.
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Annoying as it is, the push is a very fixable problem. It almost always comes down to an alignment, path, or grip issue that's causing you to deliver an open clubface from too far inside. By checking your setup, smoothing out your downswing transition, and making sure your grip encourages a natural release, you can turn that right-side miss into a piercing shot that flies right at the flag.
Of course, trying to diagnose your own swing mechanics on the range can be a challenge. Sometimes what you feel isn't what's real, and a second pair of eyes can make all the difference. That's a big reason why we built Caddie AI. It's like having a coach in your pocket. You can upload a swing video and our AI will analyze your mechanics to pinpoint the root cause of your issue, or even just ask it simple questions to clear up any confusion on the course. We designed it to take the guesswork out of getting better so you can play with more confidence and enjoy the game more.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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