It is very frustrating to hit a good shot onto the green and then miss an easy putt. If your ball often misses to the right or the left, you are not alone. This is the most common problem for golfers.
The good news is that it is a problem you can fix. You stop pushing and pulling putts by fixing the path of your stroke and the angle of the putter face. A push or a pull is not just bad luck. It is a clear sign of a small mistake in your technique. Once you understand the cause, you can practice the right way to make a better stroke.
This guide will help you understand why your putts go off line and give you simple steps to build a putting stroke you can trust.
Understanding the Problem: What is a Push and a Pull?
Before we can fix the problem, we need to name it correctly. Knowing exactly what kind of miss you have is the first step to fixing it.
The Simple Difference
For a right-handed golfer:
- A push is when the ball starts to the right of your target and keeps going right.
- A pull is when the ball starts to the left of your target and keeps going left.
The most important thing to notice is where the ball starts. The starting direction of the ball tells us exactly what the putter face was doing at the moment it hit the ball.
Why the Ball Goes Where It Does
The direction of your putt is controlled by two main things:
- The Path of Your Putter: This is the direction the putter head is moving during the stroke—like a swing path.
- The Face Angle of Your Putter: This is the direction the flat part of the putter (the face) is pointing at the moment of impact.
Think of it like this: the ball will start rolling mostly in the direction the putter face is pointing. The path of the stroke has a smaller influence. This is a very important fact in golf.
The table below shows what happens when the face and path are not perfectly matched.
| If the Putter Face is… | And the Putter Path is… | The Ball Will… |
| Pointing straight (Square) | Moving straight (Straight) | Start straight and roll straight. |
| Pointing right (Open) | Moving straight (Straight) | Push – start right and go right. |
| Pointing left (Closed) | Moving straight (Straight) | Pull – start left and go left. |
| Pointing right (Open) | Moving right (In-to-Out) | Big Push – start even farther right. |
| Pointing left (Closed) | Moving left (Out-to-In) | Big Pull – start even farther left. |
As you can see, the face angle is the main boss. If your face is open, you will likely push the ball. If your face is closed, you will likely pull it. The path can make the problem much worse.
The Two Biggest Reasons for Pushed and Pulled Putts
Now that we know about face angle and path, let’s look at the most common mistakes that cause them to go wrong.
Reason One: A Steep, Cutting Stroke (The Pull)
This is a very common mistake. An “out-to-in” path means you take the putter back too much to the outside of the target line and then swing it back across the ball towards your body.
What it feels like: It often feels like you are “steering” the ball. You might feel a chopping or cutting motion.
Why it causes a pull: This path naturally encourages the putter face to close (point left). Even if you try to keep it square, the movement of your body can easily shut the face, causing a pull.
How to Fix a Pulling Stroke?
The goal is to train a smoother, more rounded stroke path.
The Gate Drill
This is the best drill to fix an out-to-in path.
- Find a straight putt on the practice green.
- Take two golf tees. Push them into the green so they form a “gate” that is just a little wider than your putter head. Place the gate a few inches in front of your ball, on your target line.
- Now, practice your stroke. Your goal is to swing the putter back and through the gate without hitting the tees.
This drill gives you instant feedback. If you swing over the top (out-to-in), you will hit the left tee. This will teach your body what the correct, straight-back-straight-through or slightly inside path feels like.
Reason Two: A Swinging Stroke That Doesn’t Release (The Push)
The opposite problem is an “in-to-out” path. This means you take the putter back too far inside the target line and then swing out to the right after impact.
What it feels like: It can feel like you are “swinging from the inside.” Some players feel like they are stuck and cannot get the putter back to the ball squarely.
Why it causes a push: This path encourages the putter face to stay open (pointing right). Because the stroke is moving so far to the right, it is hard to square the face up. The face remains open, and the ball is pushed out to the right.
How to Fix a Pushing Stroke?
The goal here is to learn how to let the putter release naturally, squaring the face at impact.
The Toe-Up Drill
This drill helps you feel the proper release of the putter.
- Take your normal putting stance without a ball.
- Make a slow-motion putting stroke. On your backswing, stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground. Look at the putter head. The toe of the putter (the end farthest from you) should be pointing straight up to the sky.
- Now, swing through. Stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground on the follow-through. The toe should again be pointing straight up to the sky.
This “toe-up, toe-up” feeling means the putter is swinging on a good path and is releasing correctly. It is not being held open. Practice this feeling slowly, then try it with a ball.
Other Important Factors That Cause Putting Mistakes
The path and face are the main culprits, but other things can cause the same problems. Fixing these can make it much easier to have a good stroke.
Your Grip: Too Much Tension
How hard you hold the putter is very important. If you hold the putter too tightly, you create tension in your hands, wrists, and arms.
The Problem: This tension kills the natural feeling of the stroke. It makes it very hard to release the putter face properly. A tight grip often leads to a push, because the hands cannot rotate to square the face.
The Fix: Hold the putter gently. Imagine you are holding a small bird—you don’t want to crush it, but you don’t want it to fly away. A light grip pressure allows for a smoother, more responsive stroke.
Your Body Alignment: Are You Aimed Correctly?
If your body is not aligned properly, your stroke will try to compensate, leading to path problems.
The Problem: If your shoulders, hips, and feet are aimed left of the target, your body will naturally swing the putter along that leftward path, causing a pull. If you are aimed right, your stroke will go to the right, causing a push.
The Fix: Check Your Alignment with a Stick.
- Place an alignment stick or even a golf club on the ground, pointing directly at your target.
- Set your feet so they are parallel to the stick. Your shoulders should also be parallel to the stick.
- Practice this setup every time. This trains your body to understand what “aimed straight” really feels like.
Your Eyes and Head: The Need for Stability
Where your eyes are and how still you keep your head are critical for consistency.
The Problem: If your eyes are positioned too far inside the ball (towards your feet) or too far outside the ball (away from your feet), it can change your perception of the target line and cause a faulty stroke. Also, if you move your head or peek at the hole too early during the stroke, you will move your shoulders, which changes the path.
The Fix: A simple check is to take your setup and then drop another golf ball from the bridge of your nose. If it lands on or very close to the ball you are about to putt, your eye position is good. During the stroke, focus on keeping your head perfectly still until well after you have hit the ball.
Common Myths About Putting That Can Hurt You
There is a lot of advice about putting. Some of it is not helpful. Let’s clear up a few myths.
Myth 1: “Just Keep Your Head Down”
This is the most common piece of advice, but it is incomplete. The goal is not to freeze your head in place forever. The goal is to avoid moving your upper body during the stroke. The real key is to keep your shoulders steady. Telling someone to “keep their head down” can make them stiff and tense.
Myth 2: “You Must Guide the Putter with Your Hands”
Trying to actively steer the putter with your hands is a recipe for inconsistency. It adds too much movement and often leads to a jerky stroke. A better thought is to let your shoulders and arms swing the putter like a pendulum. Your hands should be quiet, not active.
Myth 3: “The Only Good Stroke is Straight Back and Straight Through”
While this is one effective method, it is not the only one. Many of the best putters in the world have a slight arc in their stroke. Trying to force a perfectly straight path can create tension. It is more important to have a path that is consistent and matches your putter face.
A Simple Practice Plan to Build a Reliable Stroke
Knowing what to do is not enough. You need a plan to practice. Here is a 15-minute routine you can do every time you go to the practice green.
Minutes 1-5: The Gate Drill for Path
Start with the gate drill described earlier. Don’t even worry about making putts at first. Just focus on making smooth strokes that do not hit the tees. This will train the correct muscle memory for your path.
Minutes 6-10: The Toe-Up Drill for Release
Next, practice the toe-up drill. Start without a ball, feeling the putter release. Then, hit very short putts (only 2-3 feet) while focusing on that “toe-up” feeling in the follow-through. This builds confidence in your ability to square the face.
Minutes 11-15: Putting It All Together
Now, combine everything. Putt to a hole from about 10 feet away. Don’t focus on making every putt. Instead, focus on your one or two key thoughts from practice. It could be “smooth stroke through the gate” or “soft hands and release.” Pay attention to the quality of your stroke. A good stroke that misses is better than a bad stroke that goes in by luck.
Questions You Might Have
Is one mistake more common than the other?
It depends on the player. Often, golfers who are anxious or tense tend to pull the ball. Golfers who are too passive or “wristy” tend to push the ball. The most important thing is to watch your own ball and see what it tells you.
Does my putter type matter?
It can. A mallet-style putter is often more forgiving than a blade. It is harder to twist, which can help if you don’t hit the ball in the center of the face. However, no putter can fix a major mistake in path or face angle. Good technique is always more important than the equipment.
How much of putting is mental?
A very large part. After you build a good stroke with practice, the game on the course is about trust. If you are worried about missing, you will become tense. Tension causes the very mistakes we talked about. On the course, trust your practice. Pick your spot, do your routine, and make a smooth stroke without thinking about the outcome.
Why do I putt well in practice but poorly on the course?
This is almost always because of tension and a change in focus. On the practice green, you are thinking about your stroke. On the course, you start thinking about the score, or what other people will think if you miss. This adds pressure. The key is to stick to your pre-shot routine and focus on the process (making a good stroke) instead of the result (whether the ball goes in the hole).
Conclusion: You Can Become a Great Putter
Pushing and pulling putts is a solvable problem. Remember these key steps:
- Diagnose: Watch your ball to see if it’s a push or a pull.
- Understand: Remember that the putter face angle is the main reason for the starting direction.
- Practice: Use the Gate Drill and the Toe-Up Drill to train the correct path and release.
- Check: Make sure your grip pressure is light, your body is aligned, and your head is steady.
Be patient with yourself. Improving your putting takes time and practice. But by following this clear plan, you will start to see more putts rolling straight and true, and you will have more confidence on the green.