What Do You Call a Golf Shot That Goes Right?

A golf shot that flies dead right of your target can be a scorecard killer, but knowing exactly what to call it is the first step toward fixing it for good. The reality is, not all shots that go right are the same. This article will break down the two main types of right-misses, help you identify which one is plaguing your game, and give you clear, actionable steps to get your ball flying toward the pin again.

Push vs. Slice: Identifying Your Right-Miss

For a right-handed golfer, any shot that ends up right of the target is a problem. However, the way it gets there tells you everything you need to know about the root cause. You’re likely dealing with one of two frustrating culprits: the push or the dreaded slice. Understanding the difference is vital because the fix for one can actually make the other worse.

What is a Push?

A push is a golf shot that starts right of the target and flies in a relatively straight line, never curving back.

Imagine your target line is a straight stripe on the range. A pushed shot starts to the right of that stripe and flies parallel to it. The ball flight itself is straight, but its starting direction is wrong. This happens when your swing path - the direction your club is moving through impact - is traveling too much from inside-to-out, while your clubface remains square to that path. It’s a path problem, not a spin problem.

What is a Slice?

A slice is a golf shot that has significant rightward spin, causing it to curve aggressively to the right during its flight.

This is the most common miss for amateur golfers. A slice can start on target (or even left of it) before making a dramatic banana-shaped turn to the right. This happens because of a poor relationship between your clubface and your swing path. Typically, a sliced shot is the result of an "out-to-in" swing path where the clubface is open to that path at impact. You're essentially cutting across the golf ball, putting sidespin on it just like you would slice a tomato on a cutting board.

How to Diagnose Your Shot

Next time you're at the range, pay attention to the ball's starting line versus its final destination.

• Does your ball start right and stay right on a straight line? You have a push.
• Does your ball start relatively straight (or left) and then curve hard to the right? You have a slice.

Once you know which issue you're facing, you can start working on the correct fix.

How to Fix the Slice: Taming the Banana Ball

The slice is so common because it often stems from a combination of fundamental issues, most notably a weak grip and an "over-the-top" swing motion. Let's tackle them one by one.

Step 1: Get a Grip (A Proper One)

Your hands are your steering wheel. The way you hold the club has the single biggest influence on where the clubface points at impact. A "weak" grip, where the left hand is rotated too far underneath the club (for a right-handed player), makes it incredibly difficult to square the clubface through impact. It almost guarantees an open face.

To neutralize your grip:

1. Place your left hand on the club primarily in the fingers, from the middle of your index finger down to the base of your pinky.
2. When you look down, you should be able to see at least two knuckles on the back of your left hand. If you only see one or none, your grip is likely too weak.
3. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder or even slightly outside of it.
4. Let your right hand meet the club from the side, fitting the palm over your left thumb. The "V" on your right hand should also point toward your right shoulder.

Fair warning: If you've been playing with a weak grip, this new position will feel incredibly strange and "strong," as if you're going to hook the ball. Trust it. Hit dozens of short, easy shots to get comfortable with the feel. This change alone can often tame a slice significantly.

Step 2: Correcting the "Over-the-Top" Swing Path

An "over-the-top" move is exactly what it sounds like. It happens when your first move in the downswing is to spin your shoulders open, throwing the club "over" the ideal swing plane and causing it to cut across the ball from out-to-in. This movement is often a subconscious attempt to generate power, but it's the primary engine of a slice.

The goal is to reverse this motion so the club approaches the ball from the "inside."

Drill: The Headcover Gate

This simple drill provides instant feedback to retrain your swing path.

• Place your ball on the ground as you normally would.
• Take your driver's headcover (or an empty sleeve of balls) and place it on the ground about six inches outside your ball and six inches behind it, forming a "gate."
• Your goal is simple: swing and hit the ball without hitting the headcover.
• If you make your normal "over-the-top" move, you'll smash the headcover on the way down. To miss it, your body has no choice but to drop the club more "from the inside" on a path that promotes a straighter shot or a draw.

How to Fix the Push: Straightening Your Starting Line

A push feels less disastrous than a slice, but it’s just as effective at finding the right-side trees or water hazards. The good news is that the fix is often simpler and starts before you even swing.

Step 1: Check Your Alignment

Nine times out of ten, a consistent push is an alignment problem. Many right-handed golfers incorrectly align their body - shoulders, hips, and feet - to the right of their target. Since the club follows the body, the swing path naturally travels out to the right, and the ball follows suit.

You may think you're aimed at the flag, but your eyes can deceive you. Never assume your alignment is correct.

Drill: The Railway Tracks

Pro golfers live by this drill for a reason.

• Go to the driving range and pick a clear target.
• Lay one golf club or an alignment stick on the ground, pointing directly at your target. This is your ball-to-target line.
• Place a second club or alignment stick on the ground parallel to the first one, but where your feet will be. This is your body line.
• Address the ball with your clubface square to the target line and your feet, hips, and shoulders all parallel to the body line.

Practice hitting shots using these "railway tracks." This will retrain your eyes to see what true, square alignment actually looks and feels like. For many players, it will initially feel like they are aimed way too far left.

Step 2: Improve Your Downswing Sequence

If your alignment is good but you still push the ball, the issue might be in your transition. Sometimes golfers get "stuck" on their back foot, failing to shift their weight forward to start the downswing. This causes the upper body to tilt back while the club gets pushed out and away from the body, leading to an aggressive in-to-out path.

The solution is to start the downswing from the ground up.

Drill: The Step-Through Swing

This drill actively promotes the feeling of proper weight transfer and torso rotation.

• Set up to a ball with a mid-iron.
• Make your normal backswing.
• As you swing through impact, intentionally take a step forward with your back (right) foot, so you finish "walking" toward your target.
• You can't do this without properly shifting your weight onto your left side. It prevents you from hanging back and forces your body to rotate through the shot instead of getting stuck. Hit a few balls this way to ingrain the feeling of a dynamic weight transfer.

Final Thoughts

Understanding whether your golf shot goes right because of a push or a slice unlocks your ability to practice with a purpose. A push is a path problem often rooted in alignment, while a slice is typically caused by a poor grip combined with an over-the-top swing. Use the drills in this guide to transform your right-miss into a reliable, target-seeking shot.

Of course, diagnosing your own swing on the fly can be tough. It can be hard to tell what's really happening in real-time, especially when you're under pressure on the course. We designed Caddie AI to be your personal on-demand coach for exactly these moments. You can describe your shot pattern and get instant, simple advice on what might be causing it, or even snap a photo of a challenging lie to get a smart strategy. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of the game, helping you make smarter decisions and swing with much more confidence.