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Why do I keep pushing and pulling my putts?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 22, 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.

Why do I keep pulling putts?

Early head movement is a common cause of pulling putts because many golfers are eager to see where the ball is going. And so keeping your head still for long enough can be very helpful when dealing with pulling. Keep your head still and the eyes down through the swing until the putter comes to a stop.

Why do I struggle with putting?

One of the most common causes of putting woes is too much movement, whether in your knees or torso and head. This can make it very difficult to control both distance and direction. A good general rule is if your putter is moving, your head should not be — stroke, then look. This can feel unusual and anti-human nature.

Why can't I make short putts?

Overactive hands

You should be able to hit putts straight with one hand; overactive hands can twist the face and cause short putts to miss their intended starting line. Once you practice starting your putts on line with one hand, you can move to your regular grip.

How do you gain confidence in putting?

5 steps to building confidence in your putting

  1. Take an honest look at your putting. ...
  2. Practice your putting strengths and areas for improvement equally. ...
  3. Always end your practice session on a positive note. ...
  4. Recognize your successes. ...
  5. Develop and practice your pre-putting routine.
31 related questions found

Do I have the yips?

The most common symptom associated with the yips is an involuntary muscle jerk, although some people experience tremors, twitches, spasms or freezing.

Is the yips curable?

While a lot of golfers think the yips as cancer to your game, think of them as the benign kind of tumor. Yes, you read that right… the yips ARE curable. While it's easy to think they will infect all other areas of your game like a malignant tumor, it's not true.

What is a yip in golf?

What Are The Golf Yips? The simplest definition of the golf yips they are an involuntary flinch or spasm in your wrist that impacts your putting and/or chipping. The other type of golf yip is the inability to start your swing.

Why do I keep leaving my putts short?

One of the biggest reasons for a player “coming up short” especially on longer putts is because the strike has occurred too low on the putter face. This type of contact transfers less energy to the golf ball than if it was struck out of the 'sweet spot' or centre of the face.

Who invented the claw putting grip?

It started with Chris DiMarco and former major winners Mark Calcavecchia and Mark O'Meara. Slowly, the claw became more embedded in golf's mainstream. It seemed to hit a high point during the 2018 Ryder Cup: Four of the 24 players involved – Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia and Webb Simpson – used the claw.

What are the full swing yips?

Stenson developed the full-swing yips—an issue that has sent an all-star cast of players into retirement (and often the broadcast booth) in the past two decades.

What does the yips stand for?

In sports, the yips (in gymnastics, lost move syndrome or the twisties) are a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes.

Why is it called yips?

Although the origin of the term is unclear, “yips” may have been popularized by former golf player and coach Tommy Armour. The yips can also affect those who play sports such as baseball, cricket, bowling, archery, or darts. At one time, the yips were thought to be associated with performance anxiety.

What do you think about while putting?

As you stand over the ball preparing to hit a put, think about your grip pressure first and foremost. If you are able to maintain a light grip pressure on the handle of the putter throughout your stroke, all of the mechanics you need to hit good putts will likely fall into place.

How can I improve my lag putter?

Drills to Improve Your Lag Putting

  1. Go to that course and take a bucket of balls onto the putting green. ...
  2. Then, set up on one side of the putting green. ...
  3. Then start hitting some putts.
  4. Try to focus on the pendulum, back and forth, of your putting stroke.

Why do I miss so many short putts?

Follow through the ball, forcing yourself to not decelerate as you impact the ball. So many short putts are missed because they were hit too soft, breaking just before the cup to the left or right. Hitting a short putt with confidence and normal putting stroke will increase your make percent at an alarming rate.

Where should the ball be when putting?

Your ball should be positioned just forward of the middle of your stance. Determining how close the ball should be to your body is a bit more complicated. It is generally agreed that you should set your putting posture so that your eyes are positioned directly above or just slightly inside of the ball.

How do you make a short putt every time?

Making short putts is one of the most effective ways of lowering your scores.
...
10 tips to help golfers make all their short putts

  1. Aim the putterface well. ...
  2. Get a grip. ...
  3. Good posture. ...
  4. Stroke, and then look. ...
  5. Your stroke is circular. ...
  6. Limit your backstroke. ...
  7. Minimize moving parts. ...
  8. Read every putt.

How do I get rid of yips irons?

If you have the yips in the long game, try thinking about chipping the ball forward in a straight line off the front of the tee. If it's the full swing that causes the yip, convince yourself that you just want to bunt the ball forwards, but then hit through much harder, so that the 'chip' becomes a full shot.

What is a hitch in golf swing?

A hitch can take the form of a jerking motion or a pause or a wiggle during the swing. But usually, a hitch refers to a non-smooth motion early in the downswing, typically to adjust the swing plane from what it was at take-away to what is desired at impact.

How does Phil Mickelson hold his putter?

“The longer grip allows him to grip down a little more than the original wrist-lock grip.” The putter Mickelson used in Memphis, Tennessee, was 40.75 inches. By adding a quarter-inch to the putter and extending the grip, Mickelson is effectively “choking down” on the putter more.

How does Tiger Woods grip the putter?

As for Tiger Woods grip with the putter, it's a conventional reverse-overlap style, right hand below the left, with both hands in a neutral or square position. He places his thumbs straight down the center of the putter grip.