Pull (starts and stays left)
The ball flies straight with no curve, but it starts left of target and stays on that line.
Why it happens
A pull happens when your swing path and clubface are matched to each other (so the ball flies straight, with no side spin) but both are aimed to the left of your intended target.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
01
Alignment aimed left of target at setup
Shoulders or body lined up left of target is the single most common cause of a pull.
Lay two alignment sticks on the ground at the range, one along your toe line, one pointing at the target, and check that your feet, hips, and shoulders all match the toe-line stick.
02
Swinging over the top with a matched (square) face
An outside-in path with a face that's square to that path produces a straight ball, but the whole path, and shot, is left.
Feel like you're "dropping the club into a slot" on the way down rather than throwing it out and over, a sidearm-throw feel can help ingrain this.
03
Ball position too far forward
Catching the ball after the swing's natural bottom has already started moving left pulls the shot in that direction.
Move the ball back slightly in your stance, re-anchoring to just inside your left heel, the standard driver position. Lay an alignment stick on the ground at that spot so it's a visual check every time you tee it up, not a guess.
Recommended video
HOW TO STOP HITTING PUSH AND PULL SHOTS
ChrisRyanGolf
How do you compare to the pros?
Fairways hit
A Pull (starts and stays left) is one of the most direct hits to this number, since the ball starts or curves outside the fairway instead of down the middle.
Sources: PGA Tour driving accuracy stats (season average, about 60 to 61%); Shot Scope and Break X Golf amateur data aggregates (about 42 to 48% depending on handicap band).
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.