Push (starts and stays right)
The ball flies straight, with no curve, it just starts right of your target and stays there.
Why it happens
A push happens when your swing path and clubface are matched to each other (so the ball flies straight, no side spin) but both are aimed to the right 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 right of target at setup
Feet, hips, or shoulders aimed right of your actual target will send a well-struck shot in that direction without anything going wrong in the swing itself.
Lay two alignment sticks on the ground, one along your toe line, one on the target line, every few practice sessions to recalibrate your eyes.
02
Ball position too far back in your stance
Catching the ball earlier in the swing arc, before the club has fully returned to the target line, sends it right even on an otherwise solid strike.
Move the ball forward slightly, back toward the inside of your left heel, the standard driver position. A simple check: your driver should be the most forward ball position in your bag, if it's not clearly ahead of where you play your irons, it's still too far back.
03
Hanging back on your right foot
"Hanging back" keeps the swing path too far to the inside/right through the ball.
Practice finishing every shot with your weight fully on your left foot and your right foot up on its toe, a classic full-finish check, then work backward from that finish to how it should feel at impact.
04
Lower body sliding past the ball
Shifting your hips laterally toward the target in the downswing, instead of rotating, leaves the club stuck behind your body, so even a solid strike starts, and stays, right of target.
Feel your lead hip clearing out of the way (rotating open) rather than driving straight at the target, a good checkpoint is finishing with your belt buckle facing the target, not still facing right.
05
Early Extension (standing up through the downswing)
Any change in your spine angle through the downswing changes where the club is pointed as it arrives, and when the body gets in the way like this, the arms and hands take over to try to square the face, which often leaves the shot blocked out to the right instead.
Practice with an alignment stick along your spine at address, and focus on keeping that same tilt all the way to a full finish, rather than standing tall as you swing through.
Recommended video
HOW TO STOP HITTING PUSH AND PULL SHOTS
ChrisRyanGolf
How do you compare to the pros?
Fairways hit
A Push (starts and stays right) 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.