Watch how the longest hitters in golf move their lower body in the backswing and transition: their lead knee stays structured and works outward over the lead toe before pushing vertically into the ground. When an amateur's lead knee collapses inward toward the trail leg, the pelvis loses structure and transition gets late.
Cody Carter sets a pathpal at a 30-degree angle just inside the lead knee to block inward knee collapse in the backswing and cue an earlier shift and vertical push through impact.
See the full step-by-step station on the Lead Knee Extension page, or watch Cody demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Cody Carter (Director of Player Development at Druid Hills Golf Club; 2018-2026: Golf Digest Best Young Teachers in America, 2022, 2024-2025: Golf Magazine Top Teachers to Watch, 2024-2025: Golf Digest Best Teachers in State) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
This drill helps golfers prevent the lead knee from collapsing inward during the backswing, promoting an outward movement that facilitates an earlier shift to the lead side and generates more vertical push for increased clubhead speed
Setup
- Prepare Your pathpal: Take one piece of your pathpal.
- Set the Angle: Adjust the pathpal to a 30-degree angle. This angle might need to be fine-tuned based on your height.
- Position the pathpal: Place the pathpal on the ground just to the inside of your lead knee (left knee for right-handed golfers, right knee for left-handed golfers). The top of the stick should lean away from your body.
- Assume Address: Take your normal golf address position. Ensure the pathpal is positioned so that if your lead knee collapses inward, it will hit the stick.
How to run the drill
- Make several slow practice swings.
- Focus on the feeling of your lead knee moving outward (over your lead toe) as you reach the top of your backswing.
- Consciously avoid letting your lead knee collapse inward and touch the pathpal. The pathpal acts as a barrier to reinforce the correct movement.
- Feel the early shift of weight back to your lead side.
- As you swing, maintain the focus on that outward lead knee movement and preventing it from collapsing inward.
- Concentrate on generating a strong vertical push into the ground through your lead leg as you come through impact.
- Observe how this movement helps you get through the ball more effectively and potentially increase your clubhead speed.
Preventing your lead knee from collapsing inward in the backswing sets up your lead foot to receive pressure early and push vertically into the ground for effortless clubhead speed.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
When the lead knee caves inward during the backswing, the golfer has to spend the entire first half of the downswing just getting the knee back over the lead ankle. By the time the lower body is ready to push, the clubhead has already passed impact.
Keep space inside your lead knee going back so you can recenter early and push hard into the turf coming down.
Placing the pathpal with an alignment rod angled at 30 degrees just inside the lead knee creates an instant tactile boundary. You feel your lead knee track outward over your lead shoelaces at the top of the swing, priming your lead leg to post up and extend vertically through the ball.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers whose lead knee collapses inward toward the trail leg during the backswing
- ✓Players who struggle to shift weight back to their lead side early enough in transition
- ✓Anyone looking to generate more vertical ground force and clubhead speed
- ✓Golfers who want to pair lower-body stability with Cody Carter's Vertical Push series
Try it
Set one piece of your pathpal at a 30-degree angle just inside your lead knee so the alignment stick leans away from your body.
- Position the pathpal at a 30-degree angle just inside your lead knee at address
- Make 10 slow backswing-to-transition rehearsals keeping your lead knee clear of the stick and tracking over your lead toe
- Hit 15 shots at 75 percent effort, feeling an early shift to the lead side followed by a strong vertical push through impact
- Remove the station and hit 5 full-speed drives or mid-irons to feel the speed transfer
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:
Vertical push and speed drill
Taught by Cody Carter. Straighten Your Lead Leg for Power. View drill →
Heel-drag exit drill
Taught by Jacob Tilton. Eliminate Early Extension and Improve Club Delivery. View drill →
Tommy Fleetwood's Club in Front drill
Taught by David Potts. Prevent Getting Stuck and Maintain Clubhead Position. View drill →
About Cody Carter
Frequently asked questions
Where do I position the pathpal for the Lead Knee Extension Drill?
Set one piece of the pathpal on the ground just inside your lead knee with an alignment stick inserted into the 30-degree slot leaning away from your body.
What fault does hitting the alignment stick reveal?
If your lead knee bumps the stick on the backswing, your knee is collapsing inward toward your trail foot instead of maintaining lower-body structure.
Where should my lead knee move at the top of the backswing?
Cody Carter coaches feeling the lead knee work outward over the lead toe as you finish the backswing, which triggers an earlier pressure shift to the lead side.
How does lead knee movement create more clubhead speed?
When the lead knee re-centers early over the lead ankle, your lead leg is in position to push vertically into the ground before impact, accelerating the pelvis and whipping the clubhead through.
Which drill pairs best with the Lead Knee Extension Drill?
It pairs directly with Cody Carter's Vertical Push and Speed Drill, which trains the lead leg to straighten and post up through the hitting zone.
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