Imagine this: you’re on the golf course, anticipating that perfect straight shot, but as you swing, the golf ball goes to the right unexpectedly, missing your target by a mile. It’s a frustrating experience that plagues many golfers.
Why does my golf ball go right?
Don’t worry! We’re here to answer your questions.
Let’s unpack the nine common reasons behind your golf ball taking an unexpected turn to the right and, more importantly, provide quick fixes to get your game back on track.
In this article, we will explain the following possible reasons and offer some tips for fixing them:
- Reason 1: Out-to-In Swing Path
- Reason 2: Excessive Club Lifting
- Reason 3: Weight Shift
- Reason 4: Open Clubface
- Reason 5: Ball Position
- Reason 6: Hand Position
- Reason 7: Grip
- Reason 8: Mental Game
- Reason 9: Seek Professional Guidance
Let’s get started!
9 Reasons Why Your Golf Ball Goes To The Right
Reason #1: Out-to-In Swing Path – A Common Culprit
One of the most common reasons for your golf ball heading to the right (for a right-handed golfer) is an out-to-in swing path, also known as “coming over the top.”
This swing path can lead to shots with too much spin and curve away from you, resulting in slices or fades.
Quick Fix: To counter this issue, keep the clubhead behind your hands for as long as possible during your swing.
If the clubhead gets ahead of you halfway through the swing, it’s a sign of coming over the top. Practicing a more inside-out swing path will help you hit straighter shots.
Imagine your swing as a clock face where 12 o’clock points towards your target and 6 o’clock points away from it.
You’d ideally want your clubhead to pass through the 6 and 12 o’clock positions while the clubface remains square for a straight shot.
Reason #2: Excessive Club Lifting – Bringing Your Hands In
Another factor that can impact your golf shots is lifting the club excessively during your swing. When you lift the club too much, your shots are prone to veer off course – potentially causing your golf ball to go right.
Quick Fix: Concentrate on bringing your hands in and around your body instead of lifting them high.
This adjustment reduces the space between your upper arm and chest at the top of your backswing, promoting a more controlled and accurate swing.
Reason #3: Weight Shift – Maintaining Front Foot Balance
Golfers frequently shift weight during their swings, transferring their weight from the back foot to the front.
While this technique is essential for generating power, it demands impeccable timing and coordination, often leading to inconsistencies in ball striking.
Quick Fix: An effective solution is to experiment with maintaining a more consistent distribution of your weight on your front foot throughout your swing.
Start with approximately 60% of your weight favoring the front foot at your address position.
As you progress into your swing, subtly increase this weight distribution to around 70% at the peak of your backswing.
Finally, when you make contact with the ball, aim to have roughly 90% of your weight anchored on your front foot.
This approach effectively minimizes the need for dramatic weight transfer during the swing, resulting in enhanced swing stability and more consistent ball striking.
Reason #4: Open Clubface – Correct Your Impact
Another common culprit responsible for shots veering to the right is an open clubface at impact.
When your clubface isn’t square to the target line at the crucial moment of impact, it significantly increases the chances of your shot curving to the right.
Quick Fix: To address this issue, focus on ensuring your clubface is square or slightly closed at the top of your backswing. This simple adjustment can be pivotal in preventing the ball from curving off course to the right.
Pay close attention to your clubface’s position at the peak of your backswing.
Ideally, you want it to be square or slightly closed (pointing a bit to the left of your target for a right-handed golfer). Many professional golfers consistently achieve this position.
An open clubface is often associated with a “cupped” wrist at the top of your swing. This means your lead wrist is excessively bent backward.
In contrast, a slightly closed clubface is associated with a “bowed” wrist, where your lead wrist is in a more neutral or slightly flexed position.
Practicing this adjustment can lead to a more consistent and accurate ball flight, preventing those frustrating rightward curves.
Reason #5: Ball Position – Finding the Sweet Spot
The placement of the golf ball in your stance can also affect the direction of your shots. Positioning it too far back can lead to a lack of time to square the club.
Quick Fix: Focus on placing the ball optimally within your stance.
Envision the clubhead resting just inside your front heel for most of your clubs.
This adjustment allows for better timing, enabling you to square the clubface more effectively.
However, when using the driver, shift your approach and position the ball level with your front toe. This slight alteration offers the extra split-second needed to ensure that clubface alignment is on point.
By fine-tuning your ball position, you enhance your ability to consistently hit straighter and more accurate shots.
Reason #6: Hand Position – Maximizing Impact
The way you position your hands when striking the ball can have a big effect on how your golf shots turn out. Specifically, if your hands are perfectly lined up with the clubhead and shaft, getting the desired forward shaft lean at impact can be hard.
Quick Fix: Position your hands slightly to the left of the clubhead (for right-handed golfers). This small change will make sure that you get the important forward shaft lean at impact, which will help compress the ball better and, in turn, make your shot go farther.
This technique can make a huge difference in your golf game without making any big changes to your swing.
Reason #7: Grip – Finding the Right Balance
Your grip can significantly influence your shots. A grip that’s either too weak or too strong can result in compensations during your swing.
Quick Fix: Aim for a neutral grip. Assuming you play golf with your right hand, the “v” shape between your thumbs and middle fingers should point toward the space between your back, eye, and ear.
By using a neutral grip, you can shorten your swing and make fewer changes in the middle of the swing. This change lowers the chance of hooking or slicing the ball and makes shots more regular and accurate.
Reason #8: Mental Game – Staying Focused and Positive
There’s no doubt that the mental side of golf has an effect on how accurately you hit the ball. To avoid shots that go off to the right, you must always keep your focus, confidence, and positivity steady.
Quick Fix: Practice visualization techniques to visualize your shots going straight. When you do this, picture your shots flying straight ahead without any deviation.
At the same time, keep an upbeat attitude and focus on the process goals you’ve set. One of these might be the goal of always having a smooth and beautiful swing.
Inserting short breaks between your shots is another very useful technique. These breaks aren’t just short breaks; they’re effective ways to reset your emotional state.
They give you a chance to refresh your focus, which will help you do better on the golf course
Reason #9: Seek Professional Guidance – PGA Lessons
If you continue to struggle with your shots veering to the right, consider seeking professional guidance.
PGA professionals specialize in helping golfers refine their techniques and overcome persistent issues.
Quick Fix: Invest in lessons from a qualified PGA professional. By doing this, you’ll be able to get unique feedback and expert advice that will help you fix the problems with your swing.
This focused method can help you get better at hitting the ball straight and consistently on the golf course.
Key Takeaways
Mastering golf often involves addressing shots that curve to the right. To answer your question, “Why does my golf ball go right?” Remember these key takeaways to regain control of your game and enjoy straighter, longer shots.
Focus on keeping the clubhead behind you for as long as possible during your swing.
Next, bring your hands around your body to reduce club lifting, promoting a more controlled and accurate swing.
Try to experiment with maintaining more weight on your front foot throughout your swing to enhance stability and consistency.
Adjusting your ball position can have a substantial impact on shot accuracy. Position the ball with the clubhead inside your front heel for most clubs.
Make sure to aim for a neutral grip to simplify your swing and minimize compensations. This helps maintain a consistent clubface orientation throughout the swing.
Lastly, professional guidance can be immensely beneficial.
Consider taking PGA lessons to receive personalized feedback and guidance from experts who can help you address persistent swing flaws.
Applying these tips to your golfing routine can help fix your missed shots. You won’t have to worry about your shots veering right.
Have you tried these techniques to fix your bad aim? Let us know what works best for you!
