Why Do Golf Courses Aerate?
Golf course superintendents typically use two main methods:
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Nothing brings a round of golf to a screeching halt like watching your ball sail helplessly to the right. It’s a frustrating shot that can ruin your confidence and your scorecard. This guide will walk you through the real reasons your golf shots are going right and give you clear, straightforward fixes to get you back on track.
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First, Which "Right" Are You Hitting? The Push vs. The Slice
Before we can fix the problem, we need to know exactly what’s happening. "Going right" can mean two different things, and diagnosing the correct one is the first step.
- The Push: A pushed shot is a ball that starts to the right of your target and flies in a relatively straight line. It never curves back toward the target. In this case, your clubface was open to the target, but square to your swing path. It's an alignment or clubface issue.
- The Slice: A slice is the most common miss in golf. This shot typically starts straight or even left of your target before taking a dramatic, curving turn to the right (for a right-handed golfer). This is caused by a dreaded combination: an out-to-in swing path paired with a clubface that is open to that path.
Most golfers who hit it right are dealing with a slice. Let's break down the main culprits and how to fix them, starting with the simplest solutions.
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Cause #1: Your Grip and Clubface Are Open
The position of your hands on the club is the steering wheel for your shot. An incorrect grip is often the root cause of an open clubface, which sends the ball right. The most common error is a "weak" grip, where the hands are rotated too far to the left (counter-clockwise) on the club.
How to Check and Fix Your Grip
Let's build a proper, neutral grip from scratch. This may feel strange at first, but stick with it.
- Left Hand First (for Right-Handed Golfers): Stand the club up in front of you with the clubface pointing squarely at your target. Place your left hand on the grip so you can see two knuckles on the back of your hand when you look down. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder.
- Right Hand Joins: Bring your right hand to the club. The "V" on your right hand should also point towards your right shoulder, mirroring your left hand. The palm of your right hand should cover your left thumb.
- Connect the Hands: You can choose one of three common methods to connect your hands: the interlocking grip (right pinky and left index finger hook together), the overlapping grip (right pinky rests on top of the space between the left index and middle finger), or a simple ten-finger grip. None is "better" than the others, choose what feels most secure and comfortable to you.
A neutral grip like this makes it much easier to return the clubface to a square position at impact naturally, without having to manipulate it during the swing.
Cause #2: Your Swing Path is "Over the Top"
This is the classic slice-maker. An "over-the-top" swing is when you initiate your downswing with your shoulders and arms, casting the club outside your intended swing plane. From this position, your club cuts across the ball from out-to-in. When this path combines with an open face, you get that weak, curving slice.
The feeling is one of rushing from the top. Great golf swings start from the ground up: the hips initiate the downswing, letting the arms and club "drop" into place before rotating through impact.
Drills to Fix the Over-the-Top Move
You need drills that give you instant feedback. Here are a couple of powerful ones you can do at the range.
The Headcover Drill
- Take your setup.
- Place a headcover (or an empty water bottle) on the ground about a foot outside of your golf ball and slightly in front of it.
- Your goal is simple: hit the ball without hitting the headcover.
- If you swing over the top, you will almost certainly clip or knock over the headcover on your downswing. This drill forces you to feel the path of the club coming from the inside to hit the ball squarely.
The Towel Under the Arm Drill
- Tuck a small towel under your right armpit (for a right-handed golfer).
- Go through your swing trying to keep the towel in place until after impact. It will eventually fall out during your follow-through.
- If you start your downswing with your arms and shoulders, your right elbow will fly away from your body, and the towel will drop too early. This drill promotes a feeling of "connection," keeping your arms and body moving together.
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Cause #3: Faulty Setup and Alignment
Sometimes the problem is set in stone before you even begin your swing. Poor alignment is a silent killer of good golf shots.
Many slicers, knowing they hit the ball right, make a critical mistake: they aim their entire body far to the left of the target. While it seems logical, this actually makes the slice worse. By aiming your body left, you encourage yourself to swing even more "over the top" to get the ball back to the target line.
How to Check and Fix Your Alignment
Get yourself back to neutral. Use two alignment sticks or extra golf clubs to create a set of "railroad tracks."
- Place one stick on the ground pointing directly at your target. Your golf ball will be just on the inside of this stick.
- Place the second stick parallel to the first one, representing the line for your body.
- When you take your setup, your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders should all be parallel to the second alignment stick. This ensures your body is aimed parallel left of the target, which promotes an in-to-out swing path.
Check Your Ball Position
Ball position can also have a big influence. A ball played too far forward in your stance can cause you to reach for it, leaving the clubface open at impact. A good rule of thumb:
- Short Irons (Wedges, 9, 8): Position the ball in the center of your stance.
- Mid-Irons (7, 6, 5): Position the ball one or two ball-widths forward of center.
- Fairway Woods &, Driver: Position the ball just inside your lead heel.
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Cause #4: Your Body Stops Rotating Through the Shot
Power and accuracy don't come from your arms, they come from your body rotation. A common fault is seeing the golf ball as the finish line. Golfers swing at the ball instead of swinging through it. When your body stops turning, or "stalls," your arms are left to do all the work. They often flip or chicken-wing through impact, leaving the face wide open.
How to Encourage a Full Rotation
Think about the finish. Where does a good golf swing end? Not at the ball, but in a balanced pose facing the target.
- Focus on turning your "belt buckle" or chest to face the target in your follow-through.
- When you finish, almost all of your weight (about 90%) should be on your front foot.
- Your back heel should be off the ground, with only the toe providing some balance.
Practice hitting short, easy shots where your only goal is to hold a perfectly balanced finish for three full seconds. This will train your body to keep rotating through the ball, which keeps the clubface stable and square.
Final Thoughts
Fixing that dreaded shot to the right comes down to identifying the root cause, whether it's your grip, your alignment, an "over-the-top" path, or poor rotation. By methodically checking each of these areas and using the drills provided, you can learn to control your clubface and swing path to hit more fairways.
Sometimes, what you need is a trusted second opinion right there on the course. We designed Caddie AI to be that on-demand golf expert in your pocket. When you're facing a tough tee shot with trouble all down the right side, you can ask for a smart strategy to play the hole safely. If you find yourself in a tricky spot in the trees, you can even snap a photo of the lie and get instant advice on the best way to play it, helping you avoid those big mistakes that a slice can cause and play with more confidence.
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