Pushing Putts right
Putts consistently start or finish right of the hole.
Why it happens
The putter face is open relative to its path, or the path itself is pushed to the right through impact.
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
Ball positioned too far back
Contacting the ball before the face has closed back to square sends it right of the intended line.
Move the ball forward slightly, toward the center of your stance, so the face has fully squared up by the time it reaches the ball. A simple check: the ball should sit under your left eye, or very slightly behind it, not further back.
02
Weight favoring the right
This can leave the face open at the moment of contact.
Balance your weight evenly, or favor the left very slightly, and keep it there through the stroke.
03
Decelerating through the stroke
"Hitting at" the ball instead of stroking through it tends to leave the face open at impact.
Focus on a smooth acceleration through the ball, with a backswing and follow-through of roughly equal length.
04
Aiming toward the right without realizing it
Putter aim is notoriously easy to misjudge by eye.
Check your alignment periodically with a mirror or laser-aiming aid, especially if the miss is a consistent pattern.
Recommended video
Putting: Stop Pushing Putts to the Right | Fix Finder #127
Golf.com
How do you compare to the pros?
Putts per round (lower is better)
Pushing Putts right is one of the most common reasons recreational golfers take several more putts per round than tour pros.
Sources: PGA Tour putts per round, official 2022-23 season stats (about 29); Break X Golf amateur data aggregate, 15-handicap band (about 34.8).
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.