Seeing that golf ball fly dead right of your target without a hint of a curve is one of the most frustrating shots in golf. One moment you're visualizing a perfect iron shot landing softly by the pin, and the next you're watching it sail harmlessly - or harmfully - into the right-hand rough or a bunker. This article will break down exactly why you’re pushing the ball to the right and, more importantly, give you a clear, step-by-step plan to get your shots flying straight at the flag again.
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First, Let's Be Clear: A Push is Not a Slice
Before we go any further, it's vital to know the difference between a "push" and a "slice," because they have different causes and different fixes. Think of it like this:
A push is a shot that starts right of the target and flies straight on that line, with very little side-spin or curvature.
A slice is a shot that can start left of the target, at the target, or even right of it, but then curves dramatically to the right during its flight.
A slice is caused by an open clubface in relation to the swing path. A push, however, is a path problem. Your clubface is actually square to the path you're swinging on, but the entire path itself is pointing right of your target. Your shot is telling you the truth: you swung the club to the right. Our goal today is to fix that path.
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At its core, a push is almost always the result of a swing path that travels from too far inside the target line to too far outside the target line through the impact zone. Imagine a straight line running from your golf ball to your target. To hit a straight shot, the clubhead should travel down this line (or very close to it) as it strikes the ball. When you push it, your clubhead is approaching the ball from behind you and inside that line, and continuing out to the right after impact.
The good news is that this is often caused by just one or two small issues in your setup or swing. Let's diagnose them one by one.
Common Setup Faults That Lead to a Push
Many pushes are born before you even start the swing. Your body is an incredible machine that will instinctively try to get the club back to the ball, and if you set up incorrectly, it often finds a way by forcing an in-to-out path. Check these three setup fundamentals first.
1. Ball Position is Too Far Back
This is a classic culprit. The golf swing moves on an arc. The clubhead starts on the inside, moves to the ball, and returns to the inside on the follow-through. If your ball position is too far back in your stance (closer to your trail foot), you will make contact with the ball while the clubhead is still traveling on the "in-to-out" portion of that swing arc. By simply moving the ball to the correct position, you allow the club to "catch up" and reach the ball at the bottom of the arc, where it's traveling straight toward the target.
For short and mid-irons (Wedge to 8-iron): The ball should be positioned in the very center of your stance. An easy way to check is to take your setup and bring your feet together, the ball should be right between them.
For longer irons and hybrids (7-iron to 4-iron): Move the ball slightly forward of center, about one or two golf balls' width toward your lead foot.
For fairway woods and your driver: The ball position moves even further forward, with the driver being played off the instep of your lead heel.
2. Poor Alignment
You can hit a perfectly straight shot, but if your entire body is aimed at the right-hand trees, that’s where the ball is going to go. It's incredibly common for golfers who fight a slice or a pull to subconsciously start aiming right to compensate. This temporary fix can easily bake itself into your regular setup, causing you to aim right without even realizing it. The push is the result of your body delivering the club exactly where you aimed.
Actionable Fix: The Railway Track Drill
This is the oldest drill in the book for a reason - it works.
Place an alignment stick (or a golf club) on the ground, pointing directly at your target. This is your "ball line."
Place a second alignment stick parallel to the first one, but where your feet will be. This is your "body line."
When you take your stance, ensure your toes are lined up with the second stick. This forces your feet, hips, and shoulders to be parallel to your target line, making it much harder to swing out to the right.
3. Leaning Away From the Ball at Address
Sometimes, a bit of right-side body tilt (for a right-handed golfer) at address can be a good thing, especially with the driver. However, if you overdo it with your irons, your spine can be tilted too far away from the target. This pre-sets your body to swing on a flatter, more rounded plane from the inside. Think of it as already leaning back behind the ball - from there, the only way to swing is from the inside out.
Check yourself in a mirror or with your phone's camera. Your spine should be relatively neutral, with only a slight bit of tilt away from the target. Your weight should feel 50/50 between your feet.
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If your setup is solid, the push is likely being caused by a motion during the swing itself. Here are the most common offenders.
1. Hips Spinning Out Too Early
This may well be the number one cause of the push among amateur golfers. In an effort to generate power, many players initiate the downswing by spinning their hips open as fast and as hard as they can. When the lower body spins out aggressively, the arms and club, which haven't had time to drop down from the top, get "stuck" behind your body. From this stuck position, the only path available to the ball is a severe in-to-out one. You might even feel like your timing is "off" or you're "trapped."
Actionable Fix: Feel the 'Drop' First
Your downswing sequence is everything. Instead of an aggressive spin, the first move down should be a gentle shift of your weight to your lead side, allowing your arms to feel like they are simply "dropping" down in front of your chest. Only then should your torso and hips powerfully rotate through toward the target. This gives your arms the space they need to swing down the correct path, not from behind you.
2. Too Much Lateral Sway in the Backswing
While the swing is rotational, it needs a stable axis. If you slide your hips and upper body too far to the right (away from the target) during your backswing, you are moving off the ball. You now face an impossible task: you have to slide your entire body back to the left to get back to the ball in the split second it takes to swing down. More often than not, a player who sways won’t get all the way back. Their body’s center is still hanging back behind the ball at impact, which again forces that in-to-out path.
Actionable Fix: The Lead Leg Anchor Drill
At the practice range, place an alignment stick in the ground just outside your lead foot. As you make your backswing, focus on keeping your lead knee pointing at the golf ball or slightly inward. You should feel pressure building on the inside of your trail foot, not the outside. The goal is to rotate around your spine, not slide away from the ball.
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If you're looking for one drill that addresses the path issue directly, this is it. It immediately forces your body to correct the in-to-out habit.
The 'Gate' Drill
Set up to your golf ball as you normally would.
Take a spare headcover (or a rolled-up towel) and place it on the ground about a foot behind and a foot outside your golf ball. This creates an "outside gate."
Take another headcover and place it about a foot in front and a foot inside your golf ball's target line. This creates an "inside gate."
The goal is simple: make practice swings (and then hit balls) without hitting either headcover.
If you are coming from too far inside, you will hit the second headcover after impact. To avoid it, you'll be forced to allow the club to swing back to the inside after impact, fixing your path. This drill provides an amazing visual and gives you instant feedback on every swing.
Final Thoughts
Fixing a pushed golf shot is about understanding that you are swinging the club to the right of your target, and then systematically checking your setup and swing sequence to correct the path. By addressing your alignment, ball position, and the way you start your downswing, you can straighten out that ball flight and start firing at the pin with confidence.
Working on your swing can sometimes feel like trying to solve a puzzle with a million pieces. Our app, Caddie AI, is designed to simplify that process. For problems like a push, you can describe your shot or even upload a video of your swing and get instant, clear advice tailored to you. It's like having a personal coach on call 24/7 to help you understand the cause and the fix, so you can spend less time guessing and more time hitting great shots.
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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