If your clubhead gets yanked behind your hips in the first three feet of the backswing, you spend the rest of the swing playing catch-up. By the time you reach the top, your arms are disconnected from your pivot and your downswing path is compromised.
2024 LPGA Coach of the Year Stef Ferguson uses a pathpal unit and a single ground-level alignment stick extending backward along the target line to give you a foolproof checkpoint at shaft-parallel (P2).
See the full step-by-step station on the The Matching Lines Takeaway page, or watch Stef demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Stef Ferguson (Lead Instructor at Commonground Golf Course; 2024: LPGA Coach of the Year, 2026: LPGA Top 50 Best Teachers, 2021-2024: Golf Digest Best Young Teachers) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
Fix your swing before it even gets off the ground. If your takeaway instantly yanks the club too far inside and behind your body, you're playing catch-up for the rest of your swing. This drill uses the pathpal to provide a precise physical reference line, training you to keep the club head perfectly matched with your hands when parallel to the ground.
Setup
- Insert one alignment stick into your pathpal unit.
- Place the unit on the ground directly behind your ball target line, extending the stick backward parallel to your target line (matching where your club should travel at the start of the swing).
- Position yourself at address so that the alignment stick mirrors your target line and sits directly under the path your hands and club will travel.
How to run the drill
- Take your normal address posture next to the pathpal setup.
- Initiate a slow, controlled takeaway, stopping exactly when the club shaft becomes parallel to the ground.
- Look back to check your position: the club head should directly shadow or align with the alignment stick on the ground, keeping the club "out in front" of your chest rather than buried behind your hips.
- Once you get the feel for a connected, on-plane takeaway, proceed through your full swing. Repeat until the motion feels automatic.
Stop your takeaway when the shaft reaches parallel to the ground and look back: your club shaft should directly shadow the alignment stick on the ground, keeping the clubhead out in front of your chest.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Every great ball-striker checks Position 2 (when the club shaft first reaches parallel to the ground in the takeaway). Without a ground line directly beneath your hands and clubhead, what feels 'straight back' to most amateurs is actually 6 to 10 inches inside the line.
Match your club shaft to the ground stick at waist height, and your backswing starts on plane every single time.
Stef Ferguson inserts an alignment stick into the pathpal unit and places it on the ground directly behind the ball target line so the stick sits right beneath the path your hands and club travel. Pausing at waist height to verify that your shaft shadows the stick locks in a connected, one-piece start.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who yank the clubhead inside and behind their body at the start of the swing
- ✓Players who want a clear, visual checkpoint for Position 2 (shaft-parallel takeaway)
- ✓Anyone whose arms get disconnected from their chest turn on the backswing
- ✓Golfers looking for a fast, zero-contact pre-shot rehearsal station on the range
Try it
Insert one alignment stick into your pathpal unit and place it on the ground directly behind your ball so the stick extends backward parallel to your target line.
- Place the pathpal behind your ball with one alignment stick extending backward parallel to your target line under your hand path
- Make 10 slow takeaways, stopping when the club shaft reaches parallel to the ground to verify it shadows the stick
- Make 10 continuous swings passing through that exact matched-line checkpoint on the way to the top
- Hit 15 golf balls carrying the connected 'club in front of chest' takeaway into a full finish
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:
The Vertical Swing Plane Drill
Taught by Tim Cooke. Cure the "Stuck" Downswing and Flush Your Irons. View drill →
The Left Ear Drill
Taught by Janean Murphy. Stop Pulling Your Approach Shots and Keep Your Head Behind the Ball. View drill →
The One-Footed Balance Drill
Taught by Brian Jacobs. Master Your Posture and Ground Interaction. View drill →
About Stef Ferguson
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'Matching Lines' checkpoint in Stef Ferguson's drill?
When your club shaft reaches parallel to the ground on the takeaway (Position 2), the shaft should directly shadow and align with the alignment stick resting on the ground beneath your hands.
Why is keeping the clubhead 'out in front of your chest' important?
When the clubhead stays in front of your chest during the takeaway, your arms and torso turn together on plane instead of burying the club behind your hips where it gets stuck.
Where does the pathpal sit on the ground for this drill?
Place the pathpal unit directly behind your ball/hand line with the alignment stick extending backward parallel to your target line.
Should I pause at waist height when practicing this drill?
Yes. Start by pausing at shaft-parallel to visually confirm the club matches the ground stick, then blend that feel into a smooth, continuous backswing.
Can I use this drill with both irons and driver?
Yes. Checking that your club shaft matches the ground line at waist height applies to every full-swing club from wedges to driver.
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