Hitting down on the driver with an out-to-in swing path is a recipe for high backspin, weak pop-up slices, and 30 yards of lost carry. To unlock maximum distance off the tee, your driver head must travel slightly inside-out while sweeping upward through impact.
GOLFTEC National Center Manager of the Year and Golf Digest Best in State instructor Joe Stago sets the pathpal to its shallow 20-degree slot just ahead of the tee to train a 3-to-5-degree upward attack angle and an inside-out driver path.
See the full step-by-step station on the The Ascending Path Driver Drill page, or watch Joe demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Joe Stago (Center Manager, Director of Instruction at GOLFTEC Dublin; 2019-2020, 2024-2027: Golf Digest Best Teachers in State, 2019: National Center Manager of the Year at GOLFTEC) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
Led by instructor Joe Stago, this drill is the ultimate fix for players fighting an out-to-in swing path, descending blows, and weak slices with the driver. By locking the pathpal into a low 20-degree angle right on your target line, it forms a precise physical and visual gate. This setup instantly deters an over-the-top move, training you to deliver the driver on a powerful inside-out path while sweeping up on the ball for massive distance.
Setup
- Set up your driver ball position on the tee normally.
- Place the pathpal training aid just ahead of the tee along your target line.
- Adjust the pathpal to the shallow 20-degree angle slot, ensuring the alignment stick sits about a foot above the height of the tee.
How to run the drill
- Take your standard driver stance, visualizing the shallow window created by the 20-degree alignment stick.
- Commit to a downswing that attacks the ball from the inside, ensuring you do not come over the top or crash down into the stick.
- Swing through impact, feeling the club head sweep upward and slightly out to the right of the target line.
- If practicing on a simulator, aim for a club path that is a few degrees inside-out and an angle of attack that is 3 degrees to 5 degrees up.
Setting an alignment stick in the shallow 20-degree slot ahead of the tee gives you a clear window: sweep up and to the right underneath the stick rather than chopping down across the line.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Driver geometry is fundamentally different from iron play. Because the ball is teed high off your lead heel, a steep downward blow glances across the equator of the ball, sending spin rates past 3,500 RPM and curving the ball hard to the right.
Attack from inside and sweep 3 to 5 degrees up through the tee to turn spinny slices into high-launch draws.
By placing the pathpal just ahead of the tee along the target line and locking a stick into the shallow 20-degree slot so it hovers roughly a foot above the tee, Joe Stago creates a physical and visual launch gate. An over-the-top chop hits the stick; an inside-out upward sweep sails cleanly into the window.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who fight a high, spinning driver slice off the tee
- ✓Players with a negative (downward) angle of attack with their driver
- ✓Anyone who struggles to separate their iron swing from their driver delivery
- ✓Simulator golfers aiming for +3 to +5 degrees angle of attack and an in-to-out path
Try it
Tee up a driver ball in your normal lead-heel position, place the pathpal just ahead of the tee on your target line, and insert an alignment stick into the 20-degree slot.
- Set the pathpal ahead of your tee with an alignment stick in the 20-degree slot sitting about one foot above tee height
- Make 10 slow driver rehearsals feeling the clubhead approach from inside and sweep upward toward the right of the target line
- Hit 15 drives at 75 percent speed focusing on launching the ball high without coming over the top into the stick
- Remove the station and hit 5 full-speed drives, checking for a higher launch and draw bias
This drill uses the pathpal magnetic 14-angle training station and alignment sticks. Shop pathpal, pair it with The Arrow padded alignment sticks, or explore the Complete Training System with Free U.S. Shipping.
Related drills
If this drill matches what you are working on, these three guided drills build on the exact same movement pattern:
Anti-slice Arm Drop Drill
Taught by Brent Witcher. Force the Arms to Drop Underneath and Eliminate the Casting/Over-the-Top Move. View drill →
Inside-Out Draw Drill (Wedding China Drill)
Taught by Jacob Tilton. Cure Your Slice and Hit a Controlled Draw. View drill →
Inside-Out Draw Path
Taught by Jason Kuiper. Shallow Your Swing and Promote an Inside-Out Path for a Draw. View drill →
About Joe Stago
Frequently asked questions
What angle slot on the pathpal does Joe Stago use for the Ascending Path Driver Drill?
He uses the shallow 20-degree slot positioned just ahead of the tee along the target line so the alignment stick sits roughly one foot above the teed ball.
What launch monitor numbers should I aim for with this drill?
Joe Stago recommends targeting a club path that is a few degrees inside-to-out paired with an upward angle of attack between +3 and +5 degrees.
Why does hitting up on the driver help cure a slice?
Sweeping upward on the ball reduces backspin and naturally pairs with keeping your upper body behind the ball, making it much easier to deliver the club from the inside with a square face.
Where should the pathpal be placed relative to the tee?
Place the pathpal base just ahead of the tee along your target line so the 20-degree rod extends forward and blocks an outside-in or steeply descending follow-through.
Is it safe to use a padded alignment stick like The Arrow for driver drills?
Yes. Using The Arrow padded collapsible alignment stick provides a soft, protective foam barrier when practicing full-swing driver drills.
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