How is a pull different from a hook?

A pull starts left of the target and flies mostly straight. A hook curves sharply left, and a pull-hook starts left and then curves even farther left.

What causes a pull shot?

A straight pull usually happens when both the clubface and swing path are pointed left of the target at impact. Common causes include poor alignment, an outside-to-inside swing path, the body opening too early, ball position too far forward, or steering the shot with the upper body.

How can I tell if I am pulling the golf ball?

Place an alignment stick or club on the ground aimed at your target. If your shots consistently start left of that target line and fly straight, you are pulling the ball.

What Is a Pull Shot in Golf?

Q: What is a pull shot in golf?

A pull is a straight golf shot that starts left of the intended target for a right-handed golfer and stays left, with little or no curve. For a left-handed golfer, it starts right and stays straight.

A pull is a golf shot that starts left of the target and continues straight in that direction. For a right-handed golfer, the ball flight begins left and stays left, with little or no curve.

In other words, the shot is not hooking or slicing—it is flying straight, just on the wrong line.

For a left-handed golfer, the directions are reversed: a pull starts right of the target and stays straight.

What a Pull Looks Like

A pulled shot has three key characteristics:

The ball starts left of the intended target line.
The ball flight is straight, not curved.
The ball finishes left of the target.

If the ball starts left and keeps flying on that same leftward line, you are looking at a pull.

Pull vs. Hook

A pull and a hook can both finish left, but they are not the same shot.

Pull: Starts left and flies straight.
Hook: Starts either straight or right, then curves sharply left.
Pull-hook: Starts left and curves even farther left.

The important detail is curvature. A true pull has very little curve; it simply starts left and stays left.

What Causes a Pull?

A straight pull usually means the clubface and swing path are both pointed left of the target at impact. Because the clubface is relatively square to the swing path, the ball does not curve much—it just flies straight left.

Common causes include:

Aiming the body left of the target
Swinging across the ball from outside to inside
Shoulders or hips opening too early through impact
Ball position being too far forward
Trying to steer or guide the shot with the upper body

Quick Check: Are You Pulling the Ball?

To identify a pull, place an alignment stick or club on the ground aimed at your target. Hit a few shots and watch the initial direction.

If the ball consistently starts left of the alignment stick and flies straight, you are pulling the ball.

Key Takeaway

A pull is a straight shot that starts left and stays left. It is a direction problem, not a curve problem. Once you can recognize the ball flight, you can begin checking your alignment, swing path, and clubface direction to bring the shot back on target.