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

The Frustration of a Push

There’s nothing more frustrating on the greens than watching a well-struck putt miss wide right—especially when you thought you read the break perfectly. You made a confident stroke, the pace felt right, but the ball drifted to the low side and never had a chance.

This type of miss, known as a push, is common among amateur golfers and can quickly erode your confidence.

The good news? A pushed putt is almost always a mechanical issue—something in your setup, stroke path, or face angle is slightly off.

Unlike misreads or misjudged speed, a push is a pattern you can diagnose and fix with a little technical awareness and the right practice drills.

In this article, we’ll break down what a pushed putt really is, the most common reasons golfers push putts, and the exact steps you can take to start rolling the ball on your intended line again.

With a few small adjustments, you can eliminate this frustrating miss and give every putt a true chance to drop.

What Is a Pushed Putt?

A pushed putt occurs when the ball starts right of your intended target line (for right-handed golfers) and stays there.

It doesn’t break back toward the hole. It doesn’t lip out or rim the edge. It just… misses wide right.

For left-handed golfers, the direction is reversed—the ball misses to the left.

This is different from a putt that misses due to a poor read or unexpected break. A pushed putt means you aimed correctly, but your stroke sent the ball off line from the start.

That’s why it’s so frustrating—it feels like you did everything right, yet the ball never had a chance.

Most pushed putts are the result of either an open putter face at impact, or a stroke path that swings out to the right. Sometimes it’s both. Even if the face is just one degree open, that’s enough to send the ball off line—especially on short putts where precision matters most.

Understanding that a push is a mechanical miss gives you power. You can start identifying patterns, diagnosing the cause, and working on corrections with purpose.

Resource: Get the All Access Pass. Learn about our training programs with step by step practice drills, weekly schedules and routines to follow so you can break 90, break 80 or scratch golf. Plus access our video lesson library in addition to following the practice plans.

Common Causes of Pushed Putts

If you consistently see your putts start right of the target and stay there, you’re likely dealing with one or more of the following technical flaws. The good news is that each of these issues is fixable—with a little awareness and the right drills.

1. Open Putter Face at Impact

This is by far the most common reason golfers push putts. Even if your stroke path is perfect, if the putter face is slightly open at impact, the ball will start right. This usually stems from one of three things:

• A faulty grip that leaves the face naturally open
• An early or late release of the putter head
• Excessive right-hand involvement that holds the face open through impact

Many golfers don’t realize they’re leaving the face open because it feels “square” at setup—but square at setup doesn’t always mean square at impact.

2. Stroke Path Moving Out to the Right

A less obvious cause of pushed putts is a stroke path that swings too far to the right of the target line. This often comes from overactive shoulders or arms, especially if the trail hand dominates the motion. Instead of keeping the stroke on a neutral arc or straight path, the putter gets pushed outward, sending the ball off line.

This is common when golfers try to “guide” the putt or steer it toward the hole, rather than letting the stroke flow naturally.

3. Ball Position Too Far Back

Ball position plays a major role in how the face meets the ball. When the ball is too far back in your stance, you’re more likely to strike it while the putter is still traveling slightly downward and before the face has had a chance to square up. The result? The face is open at impact, and the ball gets pushed right.

This is an easy fix—just inch the ball slightly forward in your stance and monitor the roll.

4. Eyes Not Over the Ball

When your eyes are positioned too far inside or outside the target line, your visual perception changes. This often causes you to misalign the face or make compensating strokes that manipulate the face angle through impact. If your eyes are too far inside the ball, your stroke may drift out to the right, encouraging pushes.

Getting your eyes directly over or just inside the ball can dramatically improve your aim and help correct this flaw.

5. Too Much Right-Hand Influence (for Righties)

When your trail hand (the right hand for most golfers) dominates the putting stroke, it tends to hold the face open or push the stroke path outward. This is especially common in golfers who are used to hitting full shots with power and carry that same hand action into their putting.

A strong right hand can be helpful for feel, but when it takes over during the stroke, pushed putts are a frequent result.

How to Fix Pushed Putts: Setup Adjustments

Before jumping into drills, it’s important to first look at your setup. Most pushed putts can be significantly reduced—or even eliminated—just by getting into a better position over the ball.

✅ Ball Position Check

Move the ball slightly forward in your stance if you’ve been playing it off your back foot or center. Ideally, it should sit just forward of center—roughly under your lead eye. This allows the putter face to square up and strike the ball on a slight upward arc.

✅ Eye Line Alignment

Your eyes should be directly over the ball or just inside it. If they’re too far inside, your perception of the target line becomes distorted, and you may subconsciously compensate by swinging the putter off line. Use a mirror or do the “eye drop test” by dropping a ball from your lead eye to see where it lands.

✅ Shoulder and Body Alignment

Make sure your shoulders, hips, and feet are all square to your target line. Many golfers unknowingly set up with their shoulders slightly open or closed, which affects the path of their stroke. Place a club or alignment stick on the ground parallel to your target line to check your posture.

✅ Grip Pressure and Hand Balance

Soften your trail hand and avoid squeezing the putter too tightly. Let the lead hand guide the stroke and reduce any twisting or pushing motion from the trail hand. The hands should feel unified, with minimal tension, so the stroke stays smooth and controlled.

By addressing these setup elements, you give yourself a much better chance of delivering the putter squarely to the ball and starting it on line.

Stroke Fixes for Pushed Putts

Once your setup is solid, the next step is evaluating your stroke mechanics. Even a perfect stance won’t save you if your path or face control falls apart during the stroke. Here are a few key fixes that target the motion itself:

➤ Neutralize Your Stroke Path

If your stroke is moving too far “out to the right,” you’re likely swinging the putter head away from the target line instead of letting it naturally arc or move straight back and through. A good stroke should feel like it’s staying low and on-plane, not being pushed away or across the line.

Use a chalk line or alignment stick on the ground during practice to give your eyes a reference for path. Rehearse slow-motion strokes along that visual to develop better awareness.

➤ Train a Square Face at Impact

Even with a good path, an open face can sabotage your putts. Focus on keeping the face square through the stroke and resisting the urge to manipulate the putter with your hands late in the motion.

A helpful drill: take a few strokes using only your lead hand. This removes the influence of your trail hand and forces you to control the putter face with your shoulders and core, not your wrists.

➤ Reduce Wrist Action

Many golfers unintentionally hinge their wrists during the putting stroke, especially under pressure. This action often leaves the face open through impact. To prevent this, work on keeping your wrists quiet and locked in place throughout the stroke. Imagine you’re rocking your shoulders like a pendulum and your arms and putter are moving as one connected unit.

➤ Use Impact Tape or Markers

If you want direct feedback, try placing impact tape on the putter face during practice. It will show you exactly where you’re striking the ball—and whether the face was open, closed, or centered. This kind of feedback is essential for building awareness and making real improvements.

Drill: Push Prevention Gate Drill

This simple but effective drill gives you instant feedback on your start line—and whether you’re pushing putts without realizing it.

Setup:

• On a flat part of the practice green, place two tees just wide enough for your putter head to pass through during the stroke.
• Then, 12–18 inches in front of the ball, set up two more tees just barely wider than a golf ball—this is your “start line gate.”
• The goal is to roll the ball directly through that narrow gate without hitting the tees.

Execution:

• Take your normal putting stroke, focusing on a smooth, square impact.
• If your ball hits the right gate tee or misses to the right, you’re pushing the putt.
• Pay attention to your face angle and path—those are usually the culprits.
• Make subtle setup or motion adjustments until you can roll 10 putts cleanly through the gate in a row.

This drill trains your ability to start the ball on your intended line and exposes subtle flaws that may go unnoticed in regular practice. It’s also great for pressure testing your stroke once you’ve made adjustments.

Conclusion: Get Back on Line and Make More Putts

Pushed putts are one of the most frustrating misses in golf—not because they feel bad off the face, but because they never had a chance. The stroke might feel solid, the read might be right, but when the ball rolls wide of the target from the start, it’s a clear sign that something’s off mechanically.

The good news? Most pushed putts don’t require an overhaul to fix. They’re usually caused by subtle setup issues or stroke path flaws: a ball too far back, an open face, or too much trail hand action. By adjusting your ball position, checking your alignment, and quieting your wrists, you can start rolling putts on line again with confidence.

Add in a few focused drills—like the gate drill or lead-hand-only stroke work—and you’ll retrain your body to deliver the putter face square through impact. Consistency starts to return. Confidence follows. And those frustrating misses to the right become a thing of the past.

Dial in your setup. Clean up your path. Square the face. Then watch the putts start dropping.

Golf Practice Plans to Follow

• How to Score in the 60’s Golf Training Plan
• How to Score in the 70’s Golf Training Plan
• How to Score in the 80’s Golf Training Plan
• All Access: Get Every Practice Plan (Lifetime Membership)

Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor