Why You Keep Pulling Putts (And How to Fix It for Good)

Few misses on the green are as frustrating as a pulled putt. You step into the stroke feeling confident, pick a great line, and hit it solid—only to watch it yank left of the hole the moment it leaves the face.

For right-handed golfers, a pulled putt starts left and stays left. It doesn’t break, doesn’t lip out—it just misses wide, immediately.

Pulled putts are a silent killer of confidence because they often feel “pure.” The contact is good. The pace is fine. But the start line is off, which means the putt never had a chance.

While it might seem like a misread or a fluke, most pulls come down to a mechanical issue—and the good news is, that means they can be fixed.

In this article, we’ll break down the most common reasons why golfers pull their putts, how to fix your setup and stroke mechanics, and a simple drill you can use to start rolling the ball on your intended line again.

What Is a Pulled Putt?

A pulled putt is a putt that starts left of your intended target line and never gets back on track. For right-handed golfers, this means the ball immediately misses to the left of where you aimed—regardless of green slope or break. For left-handed golfers, the miss is to the right.

It’s important to understand the difference between a pulled putt and a misread. If you read a breaking putt poorly and the ball breaks more than you anticipated, that’s a green reading error. But if the putt misses left of your intended starting line—even on a straight putt—you’re dealing with a stroke issue.

Most pulled putts happen because the putter face is closed at impact, or because your stroke path is moving across the ball in an out-to-in direction.

Often, it’s a combination of both. This means that fixing a pull isn’t about changing your read or adding more break—it’s about identifying and correcting what’s happening in your mechanics.

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Common Causes of Pulled Putts

1. Closed Putter Face at Impact

This is the most common cause of pulled putts. Even a face that’s one degree closed can send the ball left of your intended line.

A closed face often comes from hand rotation or an overly active lead wrist. It can also stem from a grip that naturally points the face left at address.

2. Stroke Path Pulls Across the Ball (Out-to-In)

If your stroke moves across the ball, from outside to inside the target line, you’re setting up for a pull. This typically comes from over-rotation of the shoulders or arms through impact.

Golfers with open shoulders at setup often have a built-in leftward stroke path. You might not even realize your hands are cutting across the ball until you film your stroke.

3. Ball Too Far Forward in the Stance

When the ball is too far forward, the putter face may be closing as it reaches impact. This leads to a strike that starts left.

The farther forward the ball gets, the more likely you are to rotate the face shut without realizing it.

4. Poor Alignment – Open Shoulders or Hips

If your shoulders or hips are open at address, you may unconsciously pull the stroke to compensate. This sets up an out-to-in motion.

The result is often a solid-feeling putt that starts left and stays left.

5. Overuse of Lead Hand or Wrists

Excessive lead-hand involvement can twist the putter closed during the stroke. This usually happens when the lead wrist “breaks down” through impact.

Some players also flick their wrists as a timing move. Under pressure, that timing breaks—and the pulls get worse.

How to Fix Pulled Putts: Setup Corrections

Start by checking your shoulder alignment. Use a mirror, chalk line, or video to make sure your shoulders are square to the target line.

Next, verify ball position. It should be just forward of center—aligned roughly under your lead eye.

If it’s too far forward, slide it back slightly. This promotes a square face at impact rather than one that’s already closing.

Now check your grip pressure. If your lead hand is tense, you might be overpowering the stroke and closing the face too early.

Both hands should feel light and unified—no twisting, no forcing. Let the putter swing naturally with your shoulders guiding the motion.

Finally, ensure your eyes are over or just inside the ball. This helps you aim accurately and make a more neutral stroke down the line.

Stroke Fixes for Pulled Putts

To fix pulled putts, your goal is to match your stroke path and face angle to the target line. That starts with a smoother, more neutral motion.

Avoid swinging across the ball. Many players pull the putter too far inside on the backswing and then cut across on the way through.

Instead, focus on swinging the putter head down the target line. This doesn’t mean a perfectly straight-back stroke—just that it should feel balanced and centered.

Use two alignment sticks on the ground—one for your feet and one to guide the putter’s path. This visual helps train a stroke that stays on line.

If your wrists are active, try rocking the shoulders more and keeping the hands quiet. The less flicking or rotation, the easier it is to square the face.

For extra control, practice strokes using only your lead arm. This takes the trail hand out of the equation and helps calm any overactive movements.

As you groove this stroke, focus on controlling the face all the way through impact. Your roll will start to match your read—and that’s where made putts begin.

Drill: Gate and Chalk Line Fix for Pulls

This drill trains your ability to start the ball on line and catch pulled putts in real time.

Start by snapping a chalk line on a flat section of the green. This becomes your visual target line.

Place a tee gate 12 to 18 inches in front of the ball, just wider than the ball itself. This gate tells you whether the ball starts left, right, or straight.

Make your normal stroke and try to roll the ball down the chalk line and through the gate. If the ball hits the left tee, you’re pulling it.

Pay attention to your face angle and path. Adjust your alignment and motion until the ball consistently rolls through clean.

Once you’ve nailed 10 straight putts through the gate, add pressure. Try it with one ball. Try it with a score. Make practice feel like the course.

This simple drill trains your mechanics and your mind. It builds precision, confidence, and trust in your line.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Pulls Derail Your Stroke

Pulled putts can wreck your confidence fast—especially when they happen on short, makeable putts. But the fix doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It just takes awareness and the right adjustments.

Start by checking your setup: shoulders square, ball slightly forward of center, eyes over the ball. Then refine your stroke path and face control with simple drills like the chalk line gate.

Most pulled putts are caused by small issues that build into big misses. Clean up your mechanics and you’ll start seeing putts roll on line again.

Confidence follows consistency. And when you stop pulling putts, you start making more of them.

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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor