Ten Most Common Golf Swing Faults and Causes
Golfers often get confused at the difference between hitting a slice or a hook or hitting the golf ball thin or fat. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the ten most common golf swing faults that all golfers have the unfortunate luck of experiencing as well as a few underlying causes.
1. Shank: A “shank” is when the ball flies violently to the right after impact. This usually happens due to tension in the swing causing the ball to strike the hosel of the golf club.
2. Chicken Wing: The dreaded “Chicken Wing” is a golf swing fault that occurs when the left arm (for a right handed golfer) “collapses” before golf ball impact or shortly after impact in the follow through. This occurs when the arms and upper body do not properly release toward the target after impact or when the upper body outraces the lower body in the downswing.
3. Pull Hook: The pull hook is a golf swing fault where the golf ball starts left and curves farther left. It is usually caused by a closed clubface, too strong of a grip or “out to in” swing path.
4. Hook: The golf hook shot is a golf swing fault where the golf ball starts right of the target and curves left of target. It can be caused by body alignment right of target, too strong of a grip or closed clubface at impact.
5. Pull: The pull is a golf swing fault where the golf ball starts left of target and continues straight left. This usually occurs if the body is aligned left of target, the grip is too strong, the clubface is closed or the swing path is “out to in.”
6. Push: The push golf swing fault results in the golf ball starting right of the target and continuing straight right. This is caused by a weak golf grip, body aligned right of target or an open club face at impact.
7. Slice: The slice shot is a golf swing fault that results in the ball starting left of the target and finishes right of the target. Common causes of this golf swing fault include body alignment left of target, “out to in” swing path, weak golf grip or open club face at impact.
8. Push Slice: The push slice is a golf swing fault that causes the golf ball to go right of target and continue farther right. This is caused by too weak of a grip and an open club face.
9. Thin/topped Shot: A thin or “topped” golf swing fault occurs when the leading edge of the club strikes the equator of the ball usually sending the golf ball a few inches off the ground. This is usually caused by too much tension in the swing.
10. Fat Shot: A “fat” golf swing fault occurs when the golfer hits behind the ball and hits the turf before the ball is struck sometimes popping the ball in the air with little distance. This can be caused by poor weight transfer toward the target or too much tension in the swing.
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