A push in golf can be incredibly frustrating — especially when you feel like you made great contact, only to watch your ball start right of the target and stay there. While the shot may feel solid, it’s not heading where you want it to. Fortunately, a push is one of the more predictable and correctable ball flights once you understand what causes it.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what causes a push, how it differs from other shot shapes like slices and blocks, and what you can do to correct it. We’ll also include advice from PGA instructors and helpful drills to retrain your path and face control — so you can start hitting straighter, more consistent shots.
What Is a Push in Golf?
A push occurs when the golf ball starts to the right of your target (for a right-handed golfer) and travels straight — with little to no curvature — missing the target to the right. It’s not a slice, because the ball doesn’t curve; it simply flies on the wrong line.
Ball Flight Characteristics of a Push:
Ball starts right of the intended target
Ball flies straight (no significant fade or draw)
Feels solid, but ends up right of target
More common with irons and driver
Push vs Slice vs Block: What’s the Difference?
| Shot Type | Clubface at Impact | Swing Path | Ball Flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push | Square to path | In-to-out | Starts right, stays right |
| Slice | Open to path | Out-to-in | Starts left/right, curves hard right |
| Block | Open to path | In-to-out | Starts right, fades further right |
A push typically occurs when the clubface is square to the swing path, but the swing path itself is moving to the right of the target line. In other words, you’ve executed a clean swing — but your entire motion is aimed right of your target.
Primary Causes of a Push
Let’s break down the root causes of a push, especially for right-handed golfers.
1. In-to-Out Swing Path
This is the most common culprit. If your swing path travels from inside the target line to outside, and your clubface is square to that path, the ball will start and stay right.
Golf instructor Adam Young, author of The Practice Manual, explains:
“A push is a classic result of a path that’s too far to the right of the target. When the clubface is square to that path but not square to the target, the result is a straight push.”
This often happens when golfers overcorrect a slice and start swinging too far from the inside.
2. Alignment Errors
If your shoulders, hips, or feet are aimed right of the target at address, even a square swing will send the ball in that direction.
A study of amateur swings by Golf Digest Schools found that over 40% of amateur golfers aim too far right, especially with longer clubs. This unintentional misalignment leads to pushes — even when the swing itself is mechanically sound.
3. Ball Position Too Far Back
When the ball is too far back in your stance, your swing path is likely to still be moving out to the right at impact. This is especially problematic with drivers and long irons.
A too-back ball position can:
Cause the clubface to remain open to the target
Promote an inside-out path
Decrease loft and launch angle
4. Early Extension or Poor Rotation
If you stand up during the downswing (early extension) or fail to rotate your hips and shoulders through impact, the club can get stuck inside — producing a push.
This often occurs when:
The lower body stalls or stops rotating
The upper body tries to compensate, but trails behind
The swing exits right and never gets back on plane
5. Clubface Manipulation or Lag Block
Some better players or strong-arm swingers may hold onto lag for too long or delay the release, leaving the face slightly open or square to an inside path. This produces a push — or sometimes a block-fade.
How to Diagnose a Push: Key Questions to Ask
To identify the root of your push, ask yourself the following:
Where was the ball in your stance? Too far back?
Where were your shoulders/feet aimed? Use alignment sticks to find out.
Does the shot curve? If not, it’s a push. If it fades, it’s a block.
Are you rotating fully? Or are you standing up through impact?
Is your swing path too far in-to-out? Video can confirm.
Recording your swing from down-the-line and face-on can be extremely helpful in spotting alignment and path issues. Even using a smartphone and a tripod can reveal what’s happening during those key impact moments.
How to Fix a Push in Golf
1. Check and Correct Your Alignment
This is the fastest fix and most often the problem.
Use alignment sticks at the driving range
Set one along your foot line and another along the ball-to-target line
Shoulders, hips, and feet should be parallel to the target line — not pointing right of it
Tip: Use a video or mirror to verify shoulder alignment — it often shifts without you realizing it.
2. Neutralize Your Swing Path
If you’re swinging too far in-to-out, you’ll need to adjust your path more toward the target.
Drill: “Gate Drill”
Place two tees or alignment sticks in a gate, a few feet down your target line
Try hitting through the center of the gate
Focus on letting your club travel more down the line, not excessively inside-out
Another helpful swing thought is:
“Extend the clubface down the target line” after impact — not out to right field.
3. Recheck Ball Position
Ball position should vary slightly by club:
Short irons: Center of stance
Mid irons: Slightly forward of center
Driver: Inside your lead heel
Too-far-back ball positions can promote a push by catching the ball too early in the arc. Move the ball slightly forward and observe the change in your start line.
4. Fix Early Extension
If you’re standing up or losing posture in the downswing, you might be stuck underneath the ball, pushing it right.
Drill: Wall Rotation Drill
Stand a few inches from a wall with your trail hip close to it
Rotate your hips in the backswing and feel your rear stay close to the wall
On the downswing, rotate through without your hips coming off the wall
This trains proper rotation and maintains spine angle — both crucial to staying on-plane and avoiding a push.
5. Release the Club Properly
Holding onto the club too long or delaying your release may cause the face to stay too square to an in-to-out path.
Practice half-speed swings focusing on:
A full body turn
Releasing your forearms naturally
Squaring the clubface through impact
Impact Bag Drill:
Use an impact bag or towel
Swing to the bag, stopping at impact
Check that your hands, hips, and shoulders are facing slightly left of the ball — not frozen inside
Expert Insights: What Instructors Say
Butch Harmon, coach to Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler, teaches:
“A push usually means you’re stuck — either with your path too far right or with poor rotation. Realign your body and focus on moving the club more down the target line.”
Sean Foley, former coach to Justin Rose and Tiger Woods, adds:
“When you push the ball, the swing is likely too much in-to-out. The key is to feel like your chest is chasing the ball through impact — that keeps your swing path from going too far right.”
Summary Chart: Push Shot Fixes
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| In-to-out path | Swing more down the line |
| Rightward alignment | Use alignment sticks, mirror check |
| Ball too far back | Move ball forward in stance |
| Early extension | Rotate through, maintain posture |
| No release of club | Work on proper wrist rotation |
Final Thoughts: How to Eliminate the Push for Good
While a push may feel like a solid strike, it signals an issue with alignment, swing path, or clubface orientation to your target. The good news? These are all fixable with simple adjustments and deliberate practice.
To eliminate the push:
Start with alignment — it’s often the fastest correction
Train your swing path to be more neutral
Maintain posture and rotate fully
Work on timing your release
With a few range sessions focused on these fundamentals, you’ll stop watching solid shots sail off target — and start hitting straighter, more controlled golf shots that find fairways and greens.
