Why Is My Golf Swing Going to the Right?

Nothing sinks that feeling of excitement on the tee box faster than watching your ball slice helplessly to the right. It’s a frustrating and all-too-common problem, but it’s one you can absolutely fix. This guide will walk you through the real reasons your golf swing sends the ball right and give you clear, actionable steps to start hitting straighter, more powerful shots.

First, Which "Right" Are We Talking About?

Before we can fix the problem, we need to properly diagnose it. A ball that ends up right of your target usually gets there in one of two ways. You need to know which one is yours, because the fixes are slightly different.

• The Slice: This is the big, curving shot that every golfer dreads. It starts straight or even a little left of your target, then makes a dramatic right-hand turn in the air (for a right-handed golfer). This is overwhelmingly a high, weak shot that robs you of distance.
• The Push: This shot starts right of your target and flies on a relatively straight line, just in the wrong direction. It doesn't curve much, it just starts out of position. This is often called a "push" or a "block."

Take a moment to picture your typical miss. Does it curve wildly, or does it fly straight but offline? Knowing this is the first step, because a slice is almost always a clubface problem combined with a swing path issue, while a push is primarily a swing path problem.

Cause #1: The Open Clubface

Let's get this out of the way first: a slice is physically caused by an open clubface at impact relative to your swing path. Think of the clubface like a tennis racket. If you hit the ball with the face pointing to the right, it’s going to put sidespin on the ball, making it curve right. For 90% of golfers struggling with a slice, an open clubface is the main culprit.

So, what causes that face to be open?

The Problem: Your Grip is Too "Weak"

The way you hold the club is the steering wheel for your shot. The most common cause of an open face is a grip that is too "weak" - meaning your hands are rotated too far to the left (for a right-handed player) on the handle.

When your hands are in this position, their natural tendency during the speed of the downswing is to return to a position that leaves the clubface wide open. You are setting yourself up for failure before you even start the swing.

The Fix: Find a Neutral Grip

Let’s build a better grip that encourages a square clubface.

1. Place the club on the ground with the face pointing at your target.
2. Bring your lead hand (left hand for righties) to the club. Don’t place it from the side, let it hang naturally from your shoulder and place it on top of the grip. The handle should run through your fingers, not your palm.
3. When you look down, you should be able to see the knuckles of your index and middle fingers on your lead hand. If you see only one or none, your grip is too weak. If you see three or four, it might be too strong (which can cause a hook).
4. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger on your lead hand should point roughly toward your trail shoulder (your right shoulder for a righty).
5. Now, add your trail hand (right hand). The palm of this hand should sit snugly on the side of your left thumb. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point toward your trail shoulder.

This will feel strange at first. Very strange. But stick with it. This neutral position gives your hands a fighting chance to deliver a square clubface at impact without you having to manipulate it.

Cause #2: Your Swing Path is "Over the Top"

Your swing path is the direction your club is traveling as it approaches the ball. For a slice, the common flaw is an "out-to-in" path. This is also called coming "over the top."

The Problem: Attacking the Ball Out-to-In

Imagine two lines running from behind the ball, through the ball, and towards your target - like railroad tracks.

• An out-to-in path means your club starts its downswing outside of the target line and cuts across the ball towards the inside of the target line.
• When you combine this out-to-in path with an open clubface, you get the classic, banana-ball slice. The path starts the ball left, and the open face spins it wildly right.

This move is almost always initiated by an aggressive start to the downswing with the upper body - your shoulders and arms spin open too early, throwing the club "over the top." In contrast, a push is often caused by a swing path that is too much "in-to-out," without the clubface getting squared up in time.

The Fix: Promoting an Inside-Out Path

We need to retrain your swing to approach the ball from the inside. This will not only straighten out the ball flight but will also generate more power.

• Body First, Arms Second: From the top of your backswing, your first move down should be a gentle shift of your lower body towards the target. Feel your hips start to unwind *before* your arms and shoulders. This drops the club into the "slot" - an inside path - and prevents you from throwing it over the top. It’s a sequence of hips, then torso, then arms.
• The Headcover Drill: This is a fantastic visual aid. Place an empty headcover (or a rolled-up towel) on the ground about a foot outside of your golf ball, and slightly behind it. If you come over the top, you will hit the headcover on your downswing. The goal is to miss the headcover by swinging from the inside. This forces the feel you need.
• Feel the Trail Elbow: As you start the downswing, try to feel your trail elbow (right elbow for righties) tucking in towards your side. Players who come over the top let this elbow fly away from their body. A tucked elbow is a tell-tale sign of an inside path.

Cause #3: Your Setup is Pointing You Right

Sometimes, the problem isn’t our dynamic swing at all, it’s our static setup. Many golfers carefully aim their clubface at the target, but then unconsciously align their bodies to compensate for a slice, which only makes the slice worse.

The Problem: Crossed-Up Alignment

A common fault is aiming the clubface at the target but aiming your feet, hips, and shoulders way to the left. The idea is that you'll "play for the slice." But what this actually does is promote the very out-to-in swing path we just talked about. Your body is essentially pre-programmed to swing across the line.

Conversely, some players who hit a push are simply aimed right from the start. They think they're square, but their entire body is pointed at the right rough.

The Fix: Use Railway Tracks for Alignment

Proper alignment is non-negotiable for straight shots.

1. Get a couple of alignment sticks (or two golf clubs). Place one on the ground pointing directly at your target. This is your ball-to-target line.
2. Place the second stick parallel to the first, just inside it. This is your body line.
3. Now, when you set up, your clubface should be square to the ball-to-target line, and your a-shoulders should be parallel to the body line. They are two parallel tracks of a railroad.

Do this diligently on the driving range. It will train your eyes to see what true parallel alignment feels like, so you can take it to the course.

The Problem: Poor Ball Position

Where you place the ball in your stance has a huge effect on both clubface and path. If the ball is too far back in your stance (closer to your trail foot), your club doesn’t have enough time to square up. Your club path will also tend to be more in-to-out, which, combined with an open face, is the perfect recipe for a push or a block.

The Fix: Standardize Your Ball Position

As a general rule of thumb for consistency:

• Short Irons (Wedge - 8-iron): The ball should be in the exact center of your stance. Right under your sternum.
• Mid Irons (7-iron - 5-iron): The ball moves slightly forward, about one to two ball-widths ahead of center.
• Woods and Driver: The ball moves progressively more forward, with the driver being played off the instep of your lead foot.

By keeping your ball position consistent for each club type, you allow the club the proper amount of time and space to return to a square position at impact.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a shot that goes right boils down to two things: squaring the clubface and getting your swing path on a more neutral or inside track. Start by checking your grip and setup - these are static fixes that can have a massive impact. From there, work on the feeling of starting your downswing with your lower body to prevent that "over the top" move.

Understanding these concepts is the first step, but seeing your own swing is where real progress is made. For that, we built Caddie AI to act as your personal coach right in your pocket. You can get instant, actionable feedback by analyzing your swing videos or even get a second opinion on a tricky lie just by snapping a photo. It’s designed to help you diagnose your own patterns - like whether your miss is a push or slice - so you can focus on the right fix and start playing with game-changing confidence.