How to Stop Pulling Left in Golf

Watching your golf ball start left and stay left is one of the game's biggest frustrations, turning what felt like a good swing into a result that's anything but. That shot, known as a pull, can wreck scorecards and confidence. This article will break down exactly why you’re pulling the ball and provide a simple, step-by-step plan with practical drills to get your shots starting right on target.

First, Let's Understand the "Pull Shot"

Before we can fix it, we need to be sure we’re talking about the same thing. A pull is a golf shot that, for a right-handed player, starts left of the target line and flies relatively straight on that initial path. It doesn’t curve a lot, it just begins in the wrong direction from the moment it leaves the clubface.

This is different from a hook, which is a shot that might start on or even to the right of the target before curving aggressively back to the left. The a pull and a hook feel similar in that the ball goes left, but the underlying causes - and therefore the fixes - are different.

• A Pure Pull: Swing path goes to the left of the target (out-to-in), but the clubface is square to that path.
• A Pull-Hook: Swing path goes to the left of the target (out-to-in), and the clubface is closed (pointing even more left) relative to that path.

For today, we're focusing on that straight pull. The good news is that the fixes are often directly related to setup and swing sequence, both of which are highly trainable.

The Real Root Causes of a Pulled Golf Shot

A pulled shot rarely comes from a single mistake. It's usually a chain reaction where one small error at the start leads to a bigger one during the swing. Let's look at the most common culprits, starting with the one that fools the most golfers.

Fault #1: Poor Alignment

This is without a doubt the most common cause behind a pulled shot. You might think you're aimed perfectly, but your body is actually pointing left of the target. Your brain, being the brilliant problem-solver it is, knows that a square swing from this setup will send the ball exactly where your body is aimed: left. So, subconsciously, you make compensations during the swing to try and guide the ball back toward the flag, but often the ball just follows your body's alignment.

Your shoulders, hips, and feet all play a part. Very often, golfers will have their feet aimed at the target but allow their shoulders to open up, pointing left. The swing follows the line of the shoulders, leading to a pull.

Fault #2: The Dreaded "Over-the-Top" Swing Path

This is the classic swing fault you hear about all the time, and for good reason. "Over-the-top" describes what happens at the very start of the downswing. Instead of the club dropping down behind you onto a good "inside" path, the first move is with the right shoulder and hands pushing the club outward and away from your body.

This motion forces the club onto a steep, "out-to-in" path relative to the target line. The clubhead approaches the ball from outside the target line and cuts across it through impact. If the clubface is square to that path, the ball shoots straight left. This move is instinctive for many players because it feels powerful - it’s an aggressive “chopping” motion from the top - but it robs you of both consistency and true power.

Fault #3: A Stalled Body Rotation

What causes that over-the-top move in the first place? Often, it’s a failure to use your body correctly. The golf swing should be powered by the rotation of your hips and torso. When players get to the top of their backswing and initiate the downswing purely with their arms and hands, the body "stalls" and stops rotating.

With the body stopped, the arms have no choice but to fling the club over the top and across the ball. To generate power, the body has to lead the way by unwinding. When the bigger muscles - the hips and core - initiate the downswing, they create space for the arms and club to drop onto the correct inside path. If they don’t turn, the arms take over and the result is almost always an out-to-in path.

Fault #4: Incorrect Ball Position

While less common as the primary cause, ball position can certainly contribute to a pull. Particularly with your irons, if the ball is positioned too far forward in your stance (closer to your left foot), your swing arc will have already started moving back to the inside by the time you reach the ball. Striking the ball at that point in the arc sends it left.

The bottom of your swing arc should be in the middle of your stance for middle irons. Getting the ball position correct ensures that you contact the ball just before the lowest point of your swing, promoting a squarer path at impact.

Actionable Drills to Stop Pulling Your Shots

Okay, enough theory. Let’s get to work with some simple, effective drills you can take to the driving range. We’ll attack each of the faults we just discussed.

Drill 1: The Alignment Station

You can't fix what you can't see. This drill makes your alignment undeniable.

What you'll need: Two alignment sticks or two golf clubs.

1. Place one alignment stick on the ground, pointing directly at your target. This is your target line.
2. Place the second alignment stick parallel to the first one, but just inside it, where your toes would be. This is your body line.
3. Step into your stance so the tips of your toes are right up against the second stick. This ensures your feet are parallel to the target line.
4. Now for the important part: place a club across your shoulders and check where it's pointing. Is it matching the alignment sticks, or is it aimed left? Adjust until your shoulders are also parallel to the target line.

Do this for 10-15 shots to recalibrate what "square" actually feels like. You might be surprised at how much to the "right" it feels initially. That means it’s working.

Drill 2: The Headcover Gate

This is the best drill for receiving instant feedback on an over-the-top swing. You’ll know immediately if your path is wrong.

What you'll need: An empty headcover from your woods.

1. Address the golf ball as you normally would.
2. Place the headcover on the ground on the "outside" of your target line, about 6-8 inches outside of the ball and about 6 inches behind it.
3. Your goal is simple: swing and hit the ball without hitting the headcover.
4. If you come over the top, your club will chop down on an out-to-in path and you will inevitably clip the headcover.
5. To avoid it, your body and mind will be forced to find a different solution: letting the club drop more from the inside, approaching the ball on a path that steers clear of the obstacle. You’re teaching yourself the proper sequence and path through positive reinforcement.

Drill 3: The "Pump" Drill for Sequencing

This exaggerates the feeling of dropping the club into the "slot" and gets your body leading the downswing, not your arms.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Take your normal setup and make your full backswing. Stop and hold at the top.
2. From the top, initiate a slow-motion downswing, but only bring the club down until your hands are about waist high. The key feeling here is that your hips have started to turn and your arms have "dropped" down behind you. The club should be lagging behind. This is the first "pump".
3. Return to the top of your backswing.
4. Repeat the "pump" motion a second time, really ingraining the feel of the hips starting the sequence.
5. Finally, on the third go, return to the top and then make a fluid, full swing through the ball, trying to replicate that same feeling of dropping the club 'into the slot'.

This syncs up your body and arms and promotes the powerful in-to-out swing path that produces straight shots and soft draws, not pulls.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a pull comes down to correcting your alignment, refining your swing path, and improving your body's sequencing. By using alignment sticks, the headcover drill, and the pump drill, you're not just hoping for a different result - you’re actively re-training the core movements that will eliminate the pull for good.

Understanding these faults is a game-changer, but sometimes you need real-time support on the course or a quick diagnosis at the range. With Caddie AI, you can get just that. If you're struggling with a recurring pull during a round, you can ask for a quick drill or a swing thought to get you back on track. For trickier situations, like when you've severely pulled it into trouble, you can even take a photo of your ball's lie and we can provide you with strategic advice on the smartest way to recover and save the hole.