A pull with the driver is often very frustrating.
A pulled shot is one of my biggest pet peeves. At first it feels solid. You know you are in trouble when you see the ball going down the left.
You may be surprised to learn that pulling a driver is almost just as common as slicing one. Here are some ways you can help your driver stop pulling.
Sometimes, you may need to combine several fixes to get the driver straightened.
1. Your lower body stops rotating
Golfers often pull the ball because their lower body doesn’t rotate as they pass the ball. To create power in your golf swing, you must turn your body back. But, this rotation must continue back to the ball.
You will notice that the golf ball is being pulled if your lower body does not rotate at any time during the swing. Overactivity in the arms is often a problem when you are taking a shot with the driver.
How to Fix it
There are many drills you can do to continue rotating your lower body through impact zone. This mistake is most common in players who are too close to their ball.
When you’re getting ready to hit your driver, ensure that you don’t crowd yourself. When you do this, it’s hard to get the club to pass through impact and continue your rotation.
You should also focus on how you transfer your weight. As you reach the finish position, all your weight should be on your left foot. This ensures that your rotation is much better.
2. You’re Coming Over The Top
If you swing above the top and your clubface closes slightly, the chances of hitting a draw are very high. An over-the top swing is one in which the golf club is not on a proper plane when it approaches the ball.
Most of the time the club is high above the plane and swinging over the body. Sometimes, this over-the-top motion can cause a slice.
How to Fix it
It is not uncommon to have a crazy golf swing. You can expect to have a bad golf swing if the parts don’t work together.
A slight pause at each end of the golf swing is a great way to help players get over the top. This can help you feel the space needed to drop your club down on the correct plane.
Additionally, if your backswing begins with a turn, it will be easier to keep the hands and body in sync.
3. Your hands are too active in the swing
While the hands play an important role in golf swing, amateur golfers often get too involved in their swing. If you are working on trying to hit the ball straight, it’s best to have less activity in the hands and more arms and body working together.
You can sometimes use your hands to square up a face and hit a straight shot, but it’s certainly not consistent.
How to Fix it
To keep my hands from the swing, one of my favorite ways to do so is to stay connected. Put a headcover under each arm, just below the armpit. Now, take some swings and don’t let your headcover fall.
You don’t need to take actual shots, instead, use it as a drill and then step up to hit a shot. You will notice that your body is more connected, and that your chances of your hands pulling the ball or taking over are lower.
4. You’re Holding Weight Back
It’s a great thing that you transferred weight back onto your right side (for right-handed players). To be able to play great golf and have lots of power, your weight must also be transferred to the left side during impact.
Golfers who keep their weight to the right will send the club flying through impact.
How to Fix it
Learning how to transfer weight in golf is key to overcoming weight problems. This will require a lot of effort, not just hitting shots, but also trying to build muscle memory about how it feels to swing the club back and transfer that weight.
Once your weight is properly balanced, you are ready to go after the ball with power and speed.
This video explains the basics of a great Weight Transfer and how it can improve your game.
5. Your Clubface is Closed
Another reason to pull a golf shot is that the clubface is not closed. A square clubface and a straight club path are essential for long drivers.
Sometimes, during setup, a player will close the clubface in order to prevent a slice. Problem is that if the clubface is not closed to the target line it can create a pulled shot.
While you are checking on the angle of your clubhead, make sure that you are also looking at the ball’s position. For a driver, the ball position should be on the inside of your left foot. It could lead to a pull if you play it further back than this.
How to Fix it
This is one the simplest ways to improve your game of golf. You can see the squareness of a clubface by using a straightedge. Set up with the club on the straightedge to see how a 90 degree clubface looks.
On the takeaway, make sure you don’t adjust the shot and start closing the clubface down. A slice is a bad miss. However, if you overcorrect, you can end up with a pull.
6. Poor alignment
Amateur golfers often adopt a stance that puts them to the left of their target line. The pull shot is not always due to a mistake in the golf swing. It is usually caused at setup.
Use alignment sticks to improve your tee shot alignment while you work on your golf game on the driving range.
How to Fix it
Pick a line for your clubhead and ensure that your feet, shoulders and hips align with this line. You could be setting yourself up for a slice if your legs are too open and your clubface is too square.
If your feet are closed and you have a square clubface, chances are that you will pull your tee shot.
Take the time to prepare your setup. It’s one of the most important areas of the golf swing. You can set up your golf swing to achieve the best impact position. I like to incorporate my aiming practice into my pre-shot routine, so that it is the same every time.
7. Your grip is too strong
Grip is our only connection with the club. Golfers who grip well have their left hands turned to the right more than they should. This extra turn allows the club to fit the right hand better.
One hand is rotated more towards the bottom of the club. This gives it a more active role, making it easier for golfers to release the clubhead when impact occurs.
This has been a great way to quickly fix any player who slices the ball. Amateur players are more likely to overcorrect. If you overcorrect and your grip becomes too strong, it can lead to a pulled shot. These pulls can often turn into hooks.
How to Fix it
It is a skill to find the perfect grip for your golf club. Grip trainers are available that can help you see exactly where your hands should go on the club. However, it’s best to invest time in this process and learn how to grip the club in a neutral position.
Begin by making sure your left thumb is not too far to the right from the center of the grip. Instead, place your left thumb slightly further down the shaft.
Your left hand should be in this potion. The right hand should fit more above the club than below it. This position allows the right hand to be freed up a bit and allows you get your shot on the correct path.
I would like to keep the same grip for all clubs, except the driver.
