A golf push happens when the ball starts to the right of the target (for a right-handed golfer) and keeps going straight or curves slightly further right. Yes, you absolutely can fix a push shot in golf by looking at your swing path, clubface angle, and grip.
Fixing a golf push often seems tricky. Many golfers struggle when the ball starts where they aim but heads far off-line. This shot ruins scores. It comes from a few main issues in your swing. We will break down these problems simply. Then, we will give you clear steps to fix them. Getting rid of that push means better direction. It leads to more fairways and greens.
Deciphering the Causes of Golf Push Shot
To stop the push, we must first know why it happens. A push occurs when the clubface is pointed right of the target at impact. But the path of the swing is usually neutral or slightly in-to-out. If the path is too far right (out-to-in), that makes a slice, not just a push. A push is often simpler: the clubface is aimed too far right at the moment the club hits the ball.
Here are the main causes of golf push shot:
- Clubface Aim: The clubface points right of the target at impact. This is the primary cause.
- Swing Path: The swing path is generally straight or slightly right of the target.
- Grip Issues: An overly strong (turned too far right) or weak (turned too far left) grip can influence face angle.
- Alignment Errors: The body might be aimed too far right of the target line.
Analyzing the Impact Zone
The ball flight is determined by two main factors at impact: the clubface direction and the swing path.
| Ball Flight Result | Clubface Direction Relative to Path | Swing Path Relative to Target |
|---|---|---|
| Push | Points Right of Path | Neutral or slightly Right of Target |
| Pull | Points Left of Path | Left of Target |
| Hook | Points Significantly Left of Path | Neutral or slightly Right of Target |
| Slice | Points Significantly Right of Path | Far Right of Target (Out-to-In) |
For a push, think of the face being pointed right of where your hands are swinging the club. This means the face is open relative to the target line itself.
Step 1: Adjusting Golf Grip for Push Issues
Your grip is your only connection to the club. Small changes here have big results downrange. If your grip promotes an open clubface at impact, you will push the ball.
Checking Your Grip Strength
A weak grip means the lead hand (left hand for a righty) is turned too far toward the target. This makes it hard to square the face at impact. It often leads to an open face, causing a push or a slice.
- Test: When you look down at your left hand (for righties), you should see two or three knuckles.
- Correction: If you see fewer than two knuckles, your grip is weak. Turn your lead hand slightly more to the right (clockwise) until you see those two or three knuckles. This is adjusting golf grip for push.
A very strong grip (too many knuckles showing) usually closes the face too early, leading to hooks. However, sometimes a strong grip can cause the hands to flip aggressively, leading to an open face late in the swing, resulting in a push. Check that your grip is neutral first.
Heel-to-Toe Pressure
Focus on applying even pressure. Too much pressure in the fingers, especially the pinky side of the trail hand, can cause tension. This tension fights the natural release of the club, keeping the face open too long, leading to the push. Hold the club firmly, but not too tight. Use a pressure gauge setting of about 5 out of 10.
Step 2: Golf Swing Plane Correction – The Key to Direction
The swing plane dictates where the club travels. For a push, the plane is often too flat (too far under the intended line) or the club gets “stuck” behind you, causing an outside path. We need a golf swing plane correction.
Shallowing the Takeaway
Many pushers have a takeaway that moves the club too far outside the hands immediately. This sets the club on an outside path right from the start.
- Fixing the Start: Focus on rotating your shoulders and keeping your arms quiet in the first few feet. The clubhead should stay slightly behind your hands as you turn your body away from the ball. Avoid lifting the club quickly with your hands.
At the Top of the Swing
If the club goes too far inside or too flat at the top, it forces you to throw the club from the outside on the downswing. This results in an outside-in path, which, when combined with an open face, causes a major slice, or if the face is square to the path, a push.
- Drill Focus: Try to feel like you are taking the club back “around” your body rather than “up” with your hands.
Fixing the Downswing Plane
This is crucial for fixing golf push slice. The goal is to drop the club onto a neutral or slightly in-to-out path.
- Transition Move: Start the downswing with your lower body turning toward the target. This shift in weight helps drop the club down underneath the plane.
- Avoid Casting: Casting means throwing the hands forward early, which forces the club outside the line. Resist the urge to swing hard with your arms first. Let your body rotation pull the arms down.
Step 3: Improving Golf Clubface Contact and Alignment
Even with a perfect path, if the face is open, the ball pushes right. Improving golf clubface contact is about mastering the release of the wrists.
Checking Setup Alignment
Before you even swing, check where your body is aimed. If your feet, hips, and shoulders are aimed significantly right of the target, the club will naturally swing along that line, making a push highly likely, even if the face is square to your body.
- Alignment Check: Set up to an intermediate target (a blade of grass a few feet in front of the ball). Ensure your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders all point parallel to that line, pointing slightly left of your actual target (for a right-hander).
Release Mechanics
The release is the final action before impact. For a push, the golfer often holds the face open too long, maybe trying hard not to slice.
- Feeling the Turn: Feel both hands rotating over each other through impact. The left palm should feel like it is turning down toward the ground just after impact. This squares the face naturally. If you feel like you are “holding off” the turn, you are forcing the face to stay open.
Essential Golf Push Drills for Practice
To make these changes stick, practice specific movements. These drills target the common faults leading to a push. Use these drills when practicing fixing a golf push slice naturally.
The Gate Drill for Path Control
This drill helps enforce an in-to-out or neutral path, keeping the club from swinging too far out-to-in.
- Setup: Place two headcovers or alignment sticks on the ground. One is just outside the ball, near the target line. The other is a few inches inside the ball, further away from the target line.
- Goal: You are creating a small gate. The club must pass between these two objects on the downswing.
- Execution: Hit balls focusing only on swinging the club smoothly through this gate. This encourages a slightly in-to-out path, neutralizing the outside-in tendency that contributes to pushes.
The Towel Drill for Face Control
This drill forces you to square the clubface using your body rotation, not just your hands.
- Setup: Place a small towel or headcover directly under your lead armpit (left armpit for righties).
- Execution: Swing, trying to keep the towel pinched between your arm and your chest until after impact.
- Result: If you cast or throw your hands too early, the towel will fall out immediately. This drill promotes better connection and helps ensure the body leads the arms, which naturally squares the face better.
The “Hold Off” Drill (For Righties)
This drill is excellent for troubleshooting inconsistent golf shots caused by flipping the hands too early.
- Setup: Address the ball normally.
- Execution: Take a normal swing, but focus on feeling like your lead wrist (left wrist) stays flat or slightly bowed through impact. Do not consciously try to rotate your hands or scoop the ball.
- Goal: Hitting balls with a flat or slightly bowed lead wrist helps keep the face closed relative to the swing path longer, preventing the rightward push.
Correcting Path and Face Separately
When troubleshooting inconsistent golf shots, it helps to isolate the problem. Are you swinging outside-in (path problem)? Or is your face aimed right (face problem)?
Focus on Path Only (Neutral Face)
If you suspect your path is too far out-to-in, use the golf push to fade drill. A slight fade is often a result of a neutral path with a slightly open face. To practice path correction:
- Aim your clubface exactly where you want the ball to start (the target).
- Now, try to swing the club path slightly left of that target (an in-to-out path).
- If you hit a straight shot or a slight draw, your path is fixed. If you still push it straight, the face is the main culprit.
Focus on Face Only (Neutral Path)
If your path is generally good (straight or slightly in-to-out), but the ball rockets right, the face is open.
- Aim your body and feet slightly left of the target (aiming left).
- Keep your swing path going straight toward that left alignment.
- Focus intently on the clubface being square to the target line at impact. If the ball flies straight down the original target line, your path is corrected, but your face was aimed too far right initially. The drill is to get the face square to the target, regardless of where your feet are aimed for now.
Advanced Considerations: Tempo and Transition
Poor tempo often masks underlying swing faults. A sudden, jerky transition from backswing to downswing causes the arms to fire too early, leading to that dreaded outside-in move or an open face.
Tempo Matters
A smooth tempo allows the body rotation to dictate the swing, naturally dropping the club into the correct slot.
- Pace Setting: Try counting “One (backswing), Two (transition/impact).” This forces a slower, more controlled transition. A quick transition from the top is a common reason for golf swing path adjustment difficulties.
The Importance of Wrist Hinge Retention
If you lose your wrist hinge (release the wrist angle) too early, the club decelerates, and the face often flips open violently, causing major pushes or shanks.
- Feeling Delay: Feel like your wrists stay “loaded” longer, delaying the squaring action until the last possible moment. This keeps the club in front of your body longer, leading to better compression and face control.
Summary of Fixing a Golf Push Slice Naturally
Fixing this shot requires patience and breaking down the swing into small, manageable parts. It is rarely one single issue.
| Problem Area | Recommended Action | Key Drill Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | Ensure 2-3 knuckles visible on the lead hand. | Grip pressure check. |
| Alignment | Check feet, hips, and shoulders are square to the target line. | Intermediate target alignment. |
| Swing Path | Focus on dropping the club underneath the plane in transition. | The Gate Drill. |
| Clubface | Focus on rotating the hands through impact (release). | The Towel Drill. |
Consistent practice with these elements, paying close attention to golf swing plane correction, will lead to straighter shots. If you can maintain a neutral path and control the face angle, the push will vanish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I quickly tell if my push is caused by my grip or my swing path?
If your grip is extremely weak (few knuckles showing), it strongly suggests a face-related issue. To test the path, set up with an open stance (feet aimed left) but point the clubface exactly at the target. If the ball still pushes right, the path is still too far out-to-in. If it flies straight or draws, the path was fine, and your usual setup alignment was the problem.
Can I fix a push by just aiming further left?
Yes, you can aim left to compensate for a persistent push, but this is not fixing the root cause. It is masking the error. If you constantly have to aim 20 yards left, you are sacrificing accuracy and risking a pull if you try to overcorrect. True golf swing path adjustment is necessary for long-term success.
What is the difference between a push and a push slice?
A pure push starts right and flies straight or curves slightly right (the face is pointed right of the path). A push slice starts right (due to an open face) and curves even further right (because the path is out-to-in). Fixing a golf push slice requires correcting both the path (bring it more in-to-out) and squaring the face.
How long does it take to stop pushing the ball?
For dedicated practice (3 sessions a week focused only on the correction), you might see significant improvement within 3 to 4 weeks. Significant changes in muscle memory require repetition. Be patient with the initial feeling of awkwardness when adjusting golf grip for push or changing your path.
Should I use a softer ball to combat a push?
No. The ball itself does not determine the direction; your swing does. Softer balls might reduce side spin slightly, but they won’t fix the underlying issue related to improving golf clubface contact or path. Focus on the swing mechanics first.