At impact the club face is pointing to the right and the path is also moving from outside to in. This results in an open club face and a shot that flies straight right. The club face is around 5-8 degrees open and the swing path is at a similar degree.
If only we could hit every driver right down the middle!
To be able to step up to the tee with great confidence and hit shot after shot in the fairway.
While the reality might be that we will never hit 100% of the fairways in every round that we play, we can work to increase our number of fairways hit.
This starts with eliminating the big misses and the unexpected misses.
The one that I fought for many years was the block shot to the right. This seemed to happen with the driver at least once a round, sometimes when it mattered most!
The key to eliminating the block with the driver to the right is to first understand why it is happening and then what movements in your swing are causing this miss.
Why Do I Block My Driver Right?
Update: Learn to control your club face and you can avoid extreme shots in golf: the hook, the slice, the block or the pull. The more awareness about ball flight laws (see below) you have, the quicker you can make adjustments.
To understand what is causing the block right as far as the science behind it all, let’s dive into the ball flight laws.
Key Understanding: What Are The Ball Flight Laws?
The basic idea is that the ball will start in the direction that the club face is pointing at impact. From there it will curve based on the swing path relative to the club face. For example, if your club face is 2 degrees right and your path is 4 degrees right. The ball will start right and curve left towards the target, which is away from the swing path direction.
With the block shot, the club face is more than likely around 5 degrees right with a pth 5 degrees right.
Below, I will provide several examples that help you practice what way your ball will curve and get the general understanding of what is taking place. The goal is to eliminate the block to the right with the driver.
Having this information will help you make the adjustments mid round or post round and not get stuck in the rabbit hole of swing corrections.
I provide three examples below, all which include a club face that is right and a path that is right. You can see how a slight variation in the difference between the face and the path can cause a ball to curve.
Resource: How to hit your driver straighter! (5 Steps)
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 1
- Clubface: 3 degrees right
- Swing Path: 3 degree right
The ball will start right of the target line (club face is 3 degree open or right) and fly straight since the clubface and the swing path are the same number of degrees open or right of the target line.
The end result is a push shot. The ball will start right and stay right.
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 2
- Clubface: 3 degrees right
- Swing Path: 5 degree right
The ball will start right of the target line (club face is 3 degree open or right) and curve away from the swing ptch, which means it will curve left.
The end result is a draw shot. The ball will curve a decent amount with these numbers.
This shot would be considered a push draw.
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 3
- Clubface: 3 degrees left
- Swing Path: 10 degree left
The ball will start left of the target line (club face is 3 degree closed or open) and slice since there is a big gap between clubface and swing path. The end result is a pull slice. The ball will start left and curve hard to the right.
This is a shot that many amateurs struggle with. They continue to aim further and further left. The swing path keeps moving left and the face remains open. The end result is a full slice.
Resource: Why Can’t I Hit My Driver Straight (5 Step Solution)
Key Adjustment: Slightly Close Your Club Face
If your path is 5 degrees right and your club face is 3 degrees right this will turn into a slight draw. The key here is to have your club face closed relative to the swing path, but still open relative to the target.
The block to the right is not that far off from being a nice push draw. Over time, the real battle becomes when your path is way to the right, let’s say 10 degrees and you are fighting the hook if your club face is only 3 degrees to the right.
The key overall is to try to keep your path around 3 and your face around 1-2. This will result in a push draw that starts slightly to the right, but does not over curve.
Swing Causes: Hip Slide
The blocked drive to the right is usually the sign of a better golfer. As we can tell from the ball flight numbers, the golfer is simply too far to the inside with a club face that is on the same line. A golfer can often get stuck in this position and get “dumped under”. Like I said before, the real problem starts when the path gets between 7-10 degrees to the right as it takes some quality timing with the hands to play this big of a draw and not have it turn into a hook.
Many times, the golfer that keeps the shoulders closed as the hips slide forward, can become dumped under and lose the ball to the right or over-correct and hook the ball to the left. This two way miss becomes a nightmare and the golfer has to struggle to get through the round until they are able to work it out at the driving range.
Resource: How to increase driver swing speed
Swing Fix: Stock Shot Drill
It might be easy to say, well just stop sliding your hips. However, I prefer to give a drill to help you start to see your start lines to bring your path more to neutral, but still on a slightly out to in path at around 2-4 degrees.
This stock shot drill below is one of my favorites to work on both a slight draw and a slight fade within keeping your clubface and swing path in check.
Complete these steps:
- At the driving range, set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 1-2 yards right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
- Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target. Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
- The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
Here is the drill being explained by Kyle Morris:
Monitor Your Clubface and Swing Path!
Understanding that the relationship between the clubface and swing path will impact the amount that your ball curves. We do not recommend you try to perfectly zero your clubface and swing path out, as that is near impossible and will most likely result in misses both ways, but instead we recommend developing the stock shot where you can predict the start line and the amount of curve.
I use my own portable launch monitor to check for spin axis and the amount I am curving the ball and to ensure I am maximizing my distance and controlling my start lines and curve.
My SkyTrak Launch Monitor has been a game changer and has helped me reach the scratch level in golf due to the amazing feedback I get during my practice sessions. I have been able to develop a stock shot that is reliable.
Check current price of a SkyTrak Launch Monitor at Rain or Shine Golf!
You may have heard of professional golfers using the Trackman, but the reality is that those are rather expensive.
There are some viable options in the 500 to 2000 dollars range that provide the following data after every shot:
- Ball Speed
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Launch Angle
- Carry and Total Distance
What I find most helpful is the shot tracer and the spin axis information. I am visually able to check the flight of my ball as I work to build my stock shot and have the reliable shot I can count on in any situation.
Here are the top 3 options to check out:
This technology is a game changer as the golfer can build a stock shot using the information while expanding a golf season where the golfer can practice 365 days a year. Whether the golfer goes all out and builds a home simulator or simply sets up a net and mat in their garage, the possibility of improving the swing and being able to practice or play 365 days a year is a game changer!
Resource: How to hit my driver higher (7 tips)
Closing Thoughts: My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.