Pulling Putts left
The ball starts, or finishes, consistently left of the hole on putts that should be straightforward.
Why it happens
A pulled putt usually means the putter face is closed relative to its path at impact, or the path itself is moving left through the ball.
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.
1Ball positioned too far forward in the stance
This can catch the putter face after it has already begun closing past square, sending the ball left.
2Shoulders aimed toward the left at setup
A very common issue for golfers who stand too close to the ball, which tends to open the shoulders toward the target line and left of it.
3Pulling the putter too far inside on the backswing
An overly inside backswing often leads to an across-the-line, outside-in path on the way through.
4Grip pressure too tight in the left hand
Uneven tension between the hands can close the face slightly through impact.
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.