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What is a push when putting?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 10, 2026

Pushing Putts is a common flaw for many golfers. A push will most likely happen when a golfer has a shorter putt from inside ten feet. The push for a right handed golfer is when the putter face at impact is open to the target line either from an incorrect swing path or there was too much hands and wrists in the stroke.

What is pushing in golf?

The "push" or "push shot" in golf is a type of mishit that results in the golf ball starting out to the right of the target (for a right-handed golfer) and flying in a straight line to wind up right of the target.

Can you push the ball when putting?

The push putt is an illegal stroke for putting. To be legal there must be a backswing... It is legal however if you add in a short backswing and then visualize pushing the ball into the hole. Use a slow compact back stroke and then push the ball on your chosen line.

What is pushing the ball?

In golf a push – or a pushed shot – is one that sees the ball starting right of the target initially and continuing on straight that line, without lateral spin. It is in effect a straight shot that misses right of the target.

What happens when the ball is pushed?

Answer: In flight, the ball rotates about the center of gravity. Newton's laws of motion describe the translation of the center of gravity. As the ball moves through the air, the air resists the motion of the ball and the resistance force is called drag.

35 related questions found

Why do I push my driver right?

Some players think a push comes from shifting too far toward the target, but this spin-out move is the real cause. When you spin open, your right shoulder tilts down and the club gets stuck to the inside. From there, the ball can only go right. So close your stance, and feel your arms swing past you.

Should your elbows touch your body when putting?

Interlace your fingers, clasping your hands in front of you. Then, get into your putting posture, and place your hands over your belly button, your elbows bent outward at 45 degrees. Keeping your lower body quiet, engage your core muscles and use them to rock your arms and shoulders back and forth.

Where do you look when putting?

Look at Hole

It is easier to execute a free flowing stroke when looking at the hole rather than with your eyes down. The idea is that you should look at the hole, not the ball, from the moment you set your putter down until you complete your putting stroke.

Can you stand directly behind someone putting?

A caddie is NO longer allowed to stand behind the player to help with alignment. At the moment the player begins to take his stance, the caddie must not deliberately stand directly behind the player. The penalty is two strokes in stroke play. There is one exception which applies only on the Putting Green.

What causes a pushed putt?

Pushing Putts is a common flaw for many golfers. A push will most likely happen when a golfer has a shorter putt from inside ten feet. The push for a right handed golfer is when the putter face at impact is open to the target line either from an incorrect swing path or there was too much hands and wrists in the stroke.

How does toe hang affect putting?

As Rife explains, toe hang putters have more head weight on the toe side. During the putting stroke, that toe-heavy weight distribution causes the putter head to open on the backstroke. As you change direction to make the forward stroke, the putter head continues to lag, causing the putter head to remain open.

Why do I keep pushing my irons right?

Ball Position

This is normally the main cause behind pushed iron shots. What you often see with 'pushers' is the ball too far back in the stance. The problem here is that the club strikes the ball too early on its arc. The club will naturally be pointing a little right in this scenario.

What is the difference between a push and a pull in golf?

If a right-handed player's divots are angled to the right, you're pushing the ball due to an inside-out swing. But if your divots point to the left, you're pulling the ball because of your outside-in swing.

Why do all my golf shots go right?

If your clubface is facing to the right of the target at impact, your ball will start to the right. The path of the club in relation to the clubface will determine the spin. If your golf ball curves from left to right, the path of your club is moving more left than where your clubface is pointing.

Why am I pulling my driver left?

If it's a pull, there are two likely reasons why the ball is starting left: 1) your body and clubface are aimed left of the target at address, which promotes an out-to-in path; or 2) you're aiming properly but the clubface is closed too much at the point of contact.

Should I look at the ball or hole when putting?

Don't make yourself look at the hole on every putt. Start by looking at the hole on your practice strokes, and then eventually on short putts. If you feel like you don't want to look at the hole on certain putts, that's ok. Look at the ball instead.

How do you hit straight putts?

The key to hitting a straight putt is in the position of your putter's face. The putter's face at impact has a very large influence on the starting line of your ball, and if the face is open or closed, the ball will start wherever it's pointed.

Should eyes be directly over ball when putting?

When you turn your head to look at the hole, it will appear left of its actual position, which can result in a pull for right-handed players. Instead, you should keep your eyes over a spot just inside the ball, a few inches toward your feet.

Should my arms be straight putting?

If you have had problems controlling your distance or difficulty keeping the face square, try making sure your arms are straight (but not rigid) when you set up and keep them that way throughout the stroke. When putting, avoid a forward press at set up. It opens your shoulders to the line and delofts your putter.

Where should you put your weight?

Your weight should be on the balls of your feet rather than on your heels or toes. If your weight is either too far back on your heels or too far forward on your toes, your putter path will tend to follow the direction that your weight is tilted rather than that of your aimline.

What is a slice in golf?

A slice happens when a sidespin is put on the ball, causing it to curve to the right for a right-handed player and to the left for a left-handed player. Sidespin to the right is caused when the clubface is open (pointed right) relative to the path the club is traveling as the club impacts the ball.

What does a strong grip look like in golf?

What is a 'strong' grip? A strong grip means that the 'V' shapes made with your thumbs and your hands are pointing somewhere to the right side of your head. This is generally how I direct my students to grip the club. A strong grip can cure someone who swings over the top and/or struggles with slicing the ball.