Hooks and slices are commonly mentioned in the golf world when golfers discuss hitting bad shots and missing their targets.
There is another common mishit that occurs on the course: blocking golf shots.
If you’ve ever been in a pressure situation or are trying to beat your personal best score and block the ball into the trees or hazard, you certainly aren’t the first person to do that. So don’t be too embarrassed.
This article will delve into how to fix blocked shots and introduce techniques that will help your swing in big moments.
Blocking or Blocked Golf Shot: Problem Defined
What Is A Block In Golf?
A blocked golf shot is when a golfer who is right-handed hits the ball and shoots it straight right of the target they were aiming at.
The ball then holds the line throughout its flight. The ball is hit straight, but it is straight right, thus inaccurate.
It happens often when the face of the club is normal and square. During the swing the motion is drastically inside to out causing the ball to go immediately to the right.
A synonym for a block that many golfers use is a “push”. For example, one might say “I pushed it right.”
There is no spin to the left on the ball known as draw-spin when a blocked shot is hit.
Since the face is matching the path of the inside and out swing, no draw-spin will be put on the ball. A spin to the left would allow it to reach its target by drawing in and flying left.
If you were to know how and purposely hit a draw, then you could aim right of your target.
Should the ball curve massively to the left or right it would be considered a hook or slice.
Blocking shots causes frustration on the course, less greens in regulation hit, hurts a golfers confidence, and requires an excellent short game to try and clean up the hole.
Reasons For Blocking Golf Shot In Bullet Points
- Your alignment with your stance and feet is aimed too much to the right of your target during your setup.
- You are gripping the club too tight and are too tense with your hands when setting up and throughout your swing.
- When swinging, a golfer is moving and motioning with their hips side to side more than they need to.
- The player’s swing is too inside to out during their swing path.
- The lower body is ahead and faster than the upper body throughout the swing.
How To Stop Blocking Golf Shots: Solutions
Ensuring You Are Not Aligned To The Right At Setup
If you are lined up with your feet parallel and aimed too far right during your setup, it will be easier to hit the ball straight but to the right of your target.
It’s understandable if you’re trying to hit a draw, but you should definitely be experienced and have practiced this shot on the range to prevent from pushing the ball right.
Make sure you’re aimed straight at your target.
Use An Alignment Stick To Check Lateral Shift
Place an alignment stick behind you into the ground facing straight up. Have someone record as well to make it easier.
Practice swinging and seeing if you’re swaying back and forth too much.
Check to see if your lower part of the body has motioned closer to the ball at impact. There shouldn’t be any space between you and the stick.
Focus On Closing The Clubface At Impact
Keeping your clubface closed at impact is important to stop blocking golf shots to the right.
Here is a technique to try:
Keep a firm grip, but not too tight to where it’s uncomfortable, while locking the face. Then check your clubface to make sure it’s closed.
Take some slow practice swings and stop around impact to make sure you are keeping the face closed or shut and then swing through.
Employ A Square Takeaway Instead Of Inside Takeaway
Make sure you’re taking the club straight back on the backswing and straight through during the downswing on the same plane rather than bringing it too far inside which causes you to try and compensate and swing out on the downswing.
Swinging too flat, which means you are turning the club more so around your back leads to blocking. If you pull the club straight up a little steeper it can help negate a push.
Having the club square at takeaway leads to more accurate and favorable shots.
Make sure the ball isn’t placed too far back in your stance because it leads to an accidental inside takeaway.
Three Tips On How To Stop The Golf Block Shot
The following video by instructor Michael Newton shows three tips on how to stop pushing golf shots right.
Stepping up to the first tee and blocking the driver right can ruin the fun on the course. It’s common to block shots, but by using the techniques mentioned above and practicing, pushed shots can be stopped.
Be sure to add any queries to the comments section and share your thoughts on blocked shots.
FAQ
Why do I block my driver?
Blocking your driver is generally a sign that the lower body rotates faster than the upper body on the downswing. This results in the hips clearing while the arms are still in the process of the downswing. The club face is in an open position when it arrives at impact causing the ball to fly directly right. This is not the same shape as a slice that starts left and then moves right.
What causes a block slice in golf?
A block slice is caused by over rotation of the lower body, and open club face at impact, combined with an out-to-in swing path. The open club face combined with the swing path prevents square impact and feels more like a swipe motion across the face of the club.
Why do i keep blocking my golf shots to the right?
Blocking shots to the right (for right-handed golfers) is a result of the hard rotation of the lower body during the downswing followed by slow arms. It is also known as “the good player’s miss”. This causes the hands to fall too far behind your body thus pushing the swing path farther to the right than your normal swing.
