How to stop a push?

[tazrestling27]

How can I stop a push with my driver. Someone told me today that when i swing with my driver I push the bull and thats why it slices left. I am a left handed hitter. Any drills?

[nlowplacez]

It depends on if its actually a push or a slice. Does it go strait left with no curve, does it start left and then curve even more left, or does it start right (or straight) and then curve drastically to the left. If its straight left its a swing path issue, and you just need to swing more down the line instead of to left field. A good way is to think starting your downswing with the upper body and keeping lower quiet. You may not actually do this but if your swing thought is to start the swing from the top down it will get your swing path in line. If there's any curve its a clubface being open issue. there a lot of ways to fix it, such as a grip change, again slowing the hips on the downswing, and a few other things you may need another set of eyes (preferably an instructor) to help you with. if its a true slice meaning it starts right and curves left a lot (the most likely if your a beginner) then you want to do the opposite of what i said earlier and swing a little more towards left field, start downswing with lower body a little more etc. it all depends on what your actual ball flight is. if you post again with the true ballflight and what you THINK your doing in your swing i can probably help a little more. Good luck buddy.

[tazrestling27]

It goes a 150 yds perfectly straight and then the slice to the left kicks in big time. It ends up like 250 yds but way to the left.

[ks8829]

I think the best drill for a push is to put your feet together and swing the driver. This will force you to take a full back swing.

You can also take a slower back swing.

I push a 5 iron and realized that I did not take a full turn with my hip and caused my hands to be late and therefore push my shot.

[hipcheck4u]

I have been playing for three years and have battled a push and slice. My handicap is high like yours, so take this advice for what it's worth. If you can afford the time and expense, take a few lessons. (I take lessons for only $25 per half hour, so it's not too expensive.)

What I've figured out through my instructor is that when I push or slice, it is because my hands are not releasing through the hitting area. When I slice, the hands problem is compounded by an out-to-in swing path caused by casting the club at the top of my back swing.

I have been working on slowing down my rhythm and shortening my swing in order to correct these problems, and I just shaved 1.6 shots off my handicap. Don't try to hit the ball further than the club can, and it will tend to go straight(er).

Good luck, and I commend you for having a 30+ handicap and working to lower it!

[tazrestling27]

Thank you for the advice... i am a lower handicap then that i just have not updated it. Yesterday was my lowest score yet, a 83... and before that was an 86... i just do not know how to do a handicap.

[twomey7]

I sometimes have that problem too. I found this site that helps with certain aspects of the game. It did great for me. Give recommendations for the problems and how to fix. As well as how to properly swing in the first place. Helped me a ton. I love it

http://www.tomsgolftips.com/

[swingcoach]

June 13, 2007 - What produces different ball flights?
NOTE: All scenarios assuming right handed golfer.

There are 2 main causes of differing ball flights:

1) Face angle at impact (assuming correct club path) - closed face will produce a right to left flight, open face will cause a left to right flight
2) Club Path Through Impact (assuming square face angle) - inside out will cause a right to left flight, outside in will cause a left to right flight

Different combinations of each will produce more extreme flights - PULL HOOK and PUSH SLICE.

1) Outside-inside path + Open face = Push Slice (ball goes right with a left to right flight)
2) Outside-inside path + Closed Face = Pull Hook (ball goes left with a right to left flight)
3) Inside-outside path + Open face = Slice (ball goes straight/slight right with a left to right flight)
4) Inside-outside path + Closed Face = Hook (ball goes straight/slight left with a right to left flight)

Even if your face angle is square to the ball and target at address, you can still have an open or closed club face at impact.

Open Face - Hands traveling too fast with late release. This can happen because of hand speed, hip rotation speed/sequence or delayed wrist action.

Closed Face - Early release or club head traveling past the hands at impact. This can happen because of slow hand speed, not enough hip rotation or early wrist action.

Another factor is ball position:

1) Ball too close to target - Right to left flight
2) Ball too far from target - Left to right flight
3) Ball too close to feet - Right to left flight
4) Ball too far from feet - Left to right flight

And, YES, there can be a combination of any cause (i.e. open face + ball too close + inside-outside path = shank). So, what can we do to minimize these variables?

1) Correct Left Hand Grip at address
2) Correct Hand Position at address
3) Correct Ball Position at address
4) Correct Posture at address
5) Develop a consistent Rhythm
a) Speed - overall speed
b) Tempo - Ratio between backswing and downswing
c) Sequence - Start the swing from the ground up, feet, knees, hips, shoulders, arms, hands, club head

Knowing these variables will not help you very much if you can't eliminate variables. You can only begin to eliminate possible causes when you have a consistent swing. You may think the cause is one thing, but it's really another. When you change one thing, and don't have a consistent swing, you might have swung the club a completely different way and thought that the "fix" didn't work. That's why golf magazines are still flying off the shelf. Take a look at the most recent cover and I'm sure you'll read "Get Rid of Your Slice Forever" or "How To Hit Far and Straight".

[907golfer12]

1) Outside-inside path + Open face = Push Slice (ball goes right with a left to right flight)

How does an Outside-inside path with an open club face cause a push slice, but an outside-inside path with a closed club face causes a pull hook?

[iacas]

How does an Outside-inside path with an open club face cause a push slice, but an outside-inside path with a closed club face causes a pull hook?

Cuz the guy's wrong.

Club path determines the initial direction of the ball. Face angle determines how (or if) it curves. A club path going outside to in with an open clubface (relative to the path OR the target line in this case) will result in a pull-cut or a pull-slice, depending on how open and across the face and path are. With clubface relative to swing path:

None

[swingcoach]

mistake - outside inside path with open face causes PULL slice. sorry.