The single most common distance control mistake in putting isn't deceleration — it's over-acceleration. Golfers who try to "push" the putter through the ball create an inconsistent, lurching stroke that makes distance control a guessing game. The fix isn't to swing harder or softer. It's to stop swinging altogether and start letting the putter fall.
Cody Carter calls it the Newton's Cradle. And once you feel it, you can't unfeel it.
See the full drill here: Rail & Stroke Length Drill — pathpal drill page
The drill
Cody Carter — Golf Digest Best Young Teacher in America (multiple times, 2024–2025), Golf Magazine Top Teacher, Callaway National Fitters Board member, and Director of Player Development at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia — uses the pathpal at a 70-degree angle as a dual-function putting training station: a path rail and a stroke length calibrator in one.
As a putting rail
- Rest the putter against the rod at 70 degrees
- Let the putter slide back and through along the rail
- The rod keeps the stroke on line — no excessive inside or outside movement
As a stroke length calibrator
- Use the hash marks to set a specific backswing length for a target distance
- Let the putter fall into the ball — no push, no acceleration
- Follow through to the edge of the pathpal and stop
- The follow-through will naturally be slightly shorter than the backswing as energy transfers to the ball
That last point is key to Cody's philosophy. He rejects the equal back, equal through pendulum model entirely, preferring the Newton's Cradle analogy: pull back, release, let momentum do the work, and allow the putter to coast to a natural stop after impact.
Watch Cody Carter demonstrate the drill
Watch the full drill on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjSwHm8TJEk
Why it works
Forced acceleration in the follow-through introduces a variable that's nearly impossible to calibrate consistently — especially under pressure. When you instead calibrate your backswing length to the distance and let gravity and momentum handle delivery, the only variable you're managing is how far back you take the putter. That's a far simpler system, and it's the reason tour players talk about "feel" in putting — they've trained their backswing length so thoroughly that the stroke becomes automatic.
It's not a pendulum — it's a Newton's Cradle. Let the putter fall. Let it coast. The only variable is how far back you take it.
The pathpal hash marks make that calibration concrete and measurable. Instead of relying on vague feel, you have a visual reference for each distance category that you can return to every practice session. And because the whole station works on carpet or a putting mat, it's one of the most effective indoor putting drills available — no green required.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who consistently leave long putts short due to deceleration
- ✓Players who three-putt because their speed control is unpredictable
- ✓Anyone who's been told their stroke is "too wristy" or their path is inconsistent
- ✓Golfers looking for a complete putting practice station that works indoors
Try it
- Set the pathpal to 70 degrees before your next putting session.
- Spend 5 minutes on the rail function to groove your path — putter resting against the rod, sliding back and through.
- Switch to the hash mark system for 10 minutes — calibrating stroke length at three different distance targets.
- Remove the pathpal and hit 5 putts at each distance. The pace difference will surprise you.
Related drills
The Rail & Stroke Length Drill addresses path and pace together. These three drills round out a complete pathpal putting practice system.
Putter Gate Drill
Uses the pathpal to build a gate just wide enough for the putter to pass through cleanly. Trains centered contact — the missing variable once path and pace are dialed in.
Linear Putting Stroke Drill
Uses the pathpal at 70 degrees with the heel riding the rod to produce a near-zero, linear path — verified live with SAM Putt Lab data. Trains path, start line, and stroke length in one station.
Putting Stroke: Arc vs. Straight Drill
Debunks the straight-back, straight-through myth and trains the natural arc the putter's geometry produces — a perfect companion for understanding why the rail drill works.
Browse the full drill library: pathpalgolf.com/pages/all-drills
About Cody Carter
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the pathpal as a putting rail?
Set the pathpal to 70 degrees and rest the putter against the rod, letting it slide along the rail during your stroke. The rail keeps the putter traveling down the line — preventing it from moving too far inside or outside on the backswing and follow-through. It works on any surface, including carpet or a putting mat indoors.
What does Cody Carter mean by the Newton's Cradle putting stroke?
Most instructors teach an equal back, equal through pendulum stroke — but Cody disagrees. He describes the putting stroke as more like a Newton's Cradle: bring the putter back a deliberate distance, let it fall into the ball with gravity and momentum rather than active acceleration, and allow the putter to naturally slow after impact as energy transfers to the ball. The result is a follow-through that's slightly shorter than the backswing — not because you're decelerating, but because energy has left the putter.
Should my putting follow-through be longer than my backswing?
Not according to Cody Carter. When you let the putter fall into the ball and allow momentum to do the work, the follow-through will naturally be slightly shorter than the backswing — because energy has transferred to the ball and the putter is slowing. Golfers who force a long follow-through are typically adding unwanted acceleration that creates inconsistent distance control.
How do I control putting distance with stroke length?
Distance control in putting is primarily a function of backswing length, not how hard you hit the ball. Cody uses the hash marks on the pathpal to calibrate exactly how far back to bring the putter for different distance putts, then lets the putter coast through rather than forcing acceleration. By practicing specific backswing lengths tied to specific distances, you build a measurable, repeatable reference system instead of guessing at feel under pressure.
Can I use this drill indoors?
Yes — it's one of the best indoor putting drills available. The pathpal sits flat on any surface, the rail function works on carpet or a putting mat, and the hash marks for stroke length calibration don't require a hole or specific green conditions. The combination of path feedback and stroke length calibration makes it a complete putting practice session in a single setup, year-round.
One setup. Path, pace, and stroke length — all at once.
pathpal is an integrated training system used by top-ranked PGA instructors across the country. Works on the green, on a mat, or indoors.
Shop pathpal
