Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
If you aren’t hitting your golf shots anywhere near the intended target, then this could have a range of different reasons.
From wrong alignment to poor ball position, you may hit the ball on the right with your golf club but it goes to the left of your target.
In this article, the OurGolfClubs team takes a few shots into the right direction. We find out what causes your golf ball to go to the left, and how you can correct the ball’s direction.
Why Your Golf Ball Goes Left
There are a lot of different reasons why your club might go to the left when you hit the ball on the right.
Here are some of the most common reasons why you might pull a shot.
Poor Grip
Before you even look at your alignment and swing, it’s important to check your grip. If you don’t have a good grip on your club, then you won’t be able to control your iron easily.
If the grips are too small or too thin, then your hands tend to become more active shortly before they hit the ball.
This means that your club will hang on too long and you end up pulling the shot.
Wrong Alignment
The wrong alignment of your body, arms and hands can lead to pulled shots. You will need to get a good understanding which side is your weaker side.
The weaker side is usually the left side for right-handers and the right side for left-handers.
If you are a right-handed golfer aiming towards the left, then alignment plays a key role to get the shot into the right direction.
Wrong Ball Position
One of the most common causes of a pulled shot is the golf ball being in the wrong position.
The ball is either laying on a slope aligned with your feet or it’s too far forward from where you stand.
If your golf ball is too far forward, then your club iron will move towards the inside after impact.
Once your hands release, the clubface will rotate to the closed position hitting the ball too far forward.
This can result in a pulled shot that goes to the left.
Wrong Backswing
If your backswing is too steep, then this can lead to a misaligned swing path which means you end up pulling the shot from the right to the left.
Wrong Downswing
Th downswing is as important as the backswing. The downswing is not initiated with the upper body but with your lower body.
You will need to shift your weight to your leading leg slightly towards the target.
If you don’t aim towards the target and you keep your leg on the trail leg, then you will create a misaligned swing path which results in a pulled shot.
How To Improve Your Golf Shots
It takes a little bit of practice to swing a shot like a pro but we found that the below tip help to get your golf club shots aligned properly.
Improve Your Grip
You need to get a good grip on your club clubs to ensure that your shot is successful.
The best way to do this is by replacing the grip for one that is suitable for your hand size.
Improve Your Alignment
When it comes to avoiding pulled shots, it’s all about looking at the elements that you need before the shot.
Your body alignment is an essential factor in pulling a good shot. You can correct your body alignment with a few simple steps.
Stand in the normal way to your target and then put down an alignment stick at the tips of your shoes.
Now, line up your hips, shoulder and feet with the stick pointing towards the target.
You can also put a marker around one food ahead of your ball lining up with your target. This will help you to line up the clubface correctly.
Correct The Ball Position
If your ball is too far forward, then you can simply move it back.
This will help you improve the contact between club and ball, and you should also be hitting the ball in the right direction.
Improve Your Backswing
The right backswing path is essential for a good shot. Always remember that you should initiate a backswing with your upper body. The backswing shouldn’t come from your arms.
Make sure that you don’t swing the club back too flat. You can prevent this by tucking your leading shoulder under your chin.
Also keep an eye on your elbows. They should be close to your body, so to prevent the swing from being too steep.
Improve Your Downswing
The key to a good downswing is a correct backswing. When you use your lower body for the backswing, then your body will also be ready for a good downswing.
It’s important to that you move your hips an inch towards your target and make sure to transfer your weight to your leading leg.
Ensure that you keep your hands quiet during the downswing. They also shouldn’t rotate as this can cause the clubface to rotate, leading to a pulled shot.
Make sure that the clubface is square and your wrists are bowed until after the club hit the ball.
During the downswing, there can also be a lack of weight transfer to the ball. When a player stays back in the downswing, then the golf ball ends up being too far forward.
This can result in the golf ball going to the left.
You can only fix this issue by looking at your overall swing sequence and correct downswing as well as backswing.
Final Thoughts
Each pulled shot is frustrating and there can be a few different reasons why your golf club moves from the right to the left.
From the wrong ball position to a misaligned flight path, it’s important to keep an eye out for the reasons and then correct them with each shot.
