Most putting drills fix one variable. A gate drill trains start line. A tempo drill trains stroke length. A path drill trains the arc. Jason Kuiper built a single pathpal station that addresses all three simultaneously — and verifies every rep against SAM Putt Lab data in real time.
That's not a drill. That's a putting laboratory.
Read the full drill breakdown below, or visit the drill page for the complete setup guide. You can also watch Jason demonstrate the full setup on video:
Watch the Linear Putting Stroke Drill on YouTube →
The drill
Jason Kuiper — Georgia Section PGA Teacher of the Year (2020), Golf Digest Best Young Teacher in America (2023, 2025), GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, US Kids Top 50 Coach, and Director of Instruction at Grand Slam Golf Academy at Bobby Jones Golf Course — uses the pathpal at 70 degrees as a linear rail system for the putting stroke.
The setup
- Set the pathpal to 70 degrees along the target line
- Place the heel of the putter against the inside edge at address
- Square the putter face to the intended line
- Stroke the putt, riding the heel along the inside edge of the rod
- Monitor backstroke length against the pathpal notches — second or third notch for an 8-foot putt, no further than the fourth
The SAM Putt Lab path screen running alongside confirms what the physical setup produces: a near-zero, linear path with a square face through impact. Technology and physical feedback in one closed loop.
Watch Jason Kuiper demonstrate the full drill setup. View on YouTube →
Why it works
The 70-degree angle is the key calibration choice. A fully upright 90-degree rod forces a completely straight-back, straight-through stroke that fights the natural arc of the putter and the body's rotation. The 70-degree angle allows the slight natural arc while keeping the path tight enough through impact to start the ball consistently on line. Jason's SAM Putt Lab data confirms this — the heel-riding technique at 70 degrees produces the near-zero path numbers he's looking for.
The 70-degree angle allows the slight natural arc while keeping the path tight enough through impact to start the ball consistently on line.
The notch-based backstroke limiter adds a dimension that most putting drills ignore entirely: stroke length calibration. For any given putt distance, there's an appropriate backstroke length — exceed it and the golfer decelerates through impact or over-rotates to compensate, both of which destroy pace control. The pathpal notches give Jason a physical reference for that length calibration that he can show students on the device itself rather than relying on feel alone.
Three variables. One setup.
Putter path
The heel rides the inside edge of the rod, producing a near-zero, linear path confirmed by SAM Putt Lab in real time.
Ball start line
A square face riding the 70-degree rail keeps the face angle consistent through impact, starting the ball on the intended line every rep.
Stroke length
The pathpal notches calibrate backstroke distance to putt length — second or third notch for 8 feet, no further than the fourth.
Who this is for
- ✓ Golfers working with SAM Putt Lab or other putting technology who want a complementary physical training tool
- ✓ Players whose path data shows too much rotation or inconsistent face angle at impact
- ✓ Anyone who struggles with inconsistent start line despite feeling like the stroke is correct
- ✓ Junior golfers developing putting fundamentals with precise, measurable feedback from the first session
Try it
Set the pathpal at 70 degrees along your target line, place the putter heel against the inside edge, and hit 20 putts from eight feet — monitoring both the path feel and the backstroke notch. Note which notch you reach consistently and whether the ball starts on line. Once path and length feel grooved, remove the pathpal and hit five putts with the same sensation. The start line consistency will be immediate.
- Set pathpal to 70 degrees along the target line
- Place putter heel against the inside edge; square the face
- Hit 20 putts from 8 feet, riding the heel along the rod
- Note which notch you reach consistently on the backstroke
- Remove pathpal; hit 5 putts with the same sensation — observe start line
Related drills
The Linear Putting Stroke Drill is one piece of a complete putting practice system. These three drills connect directly — covering stroke shape, distance control, and start line from a different angle:
Cody Carter's Newton's Cradle approach uses the same 70-degree rail to calibrate backstroke length to distance — a natural extension of the length calibration concept introduced here.
Brad Pluth debunks the straight-back myth and introduces the arc model — the counterpart philosophy to Jason's linear approach. Understanding both puts you in command of your stroke shape.
David Potts (SAM Putt Lab Certified) pairs face gate feedback with rise angle training in a single setup — a natural complement once your path work is solid.
About Jason Kuiper
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up the pathpal for the Linear Putting Stroke Drill?
Set the pathpal to 70 degrees and position it along your target line. Place the heel of the putter against the inside edge of the rod at address, squaring the putter face to your intended line. As you stroke the putt, ride the heel along that inside edge — the rod acts as a rail that keeps the path linear and promotes a near-zero path through impact.
Why 70 degrees and not 90 degrees?
A fully upright 90-degree setup forces a completely straight-back, straight-through stroke that fights the natural arc of the putter and the body's rotation. The 70-degree angle allows the slight natural arc while keeping the path tight enough through impact to consistently start the ball on line. Jason's SAM Putt Lab data confirms the heel-riding technique at 70 degrees produces the near-zero path numbers he's looking for.
How do the pathpal notches help with stroke length?
The notches give a physical reference for backstroke distance at different putt lengths. For an 8-foot putt, Jason looks for students to reach the second or third notch on the backswing — no further than the fourth. Exceeding that length leads to deceleration through impact or over-rotation to compensate, both of which destroy pace control.
What's the difference between a linear putting stroke and an arc stroke?
A linear stroke keeps the putter on the target line as long as possible through the hitting zone — the face stays square throughout rather than opening and closing with rotation. An arc stroke allows the putter to travel inside on the backswing, square at impact, and back inside on the follow-through. Neither is universally correct, but for golfers focused on start line consistency, Jason's 70-degree linear approach reduces the variables at impact by keeping the face square longer.
Can junior golfers use this drill?
Yes — Jason is a US Kids Top 50 Coach and uses this setup with junior students from the very first session. The physical feedback from the rod and the visual reference of the notches give young golfers concrete, measurable targets rather than relying on abstract feel cues.
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