Great ball-strikers don't trace the exact same line going back and coming down; they trace their address shaft plane going up the backswing and drop slightly underneath that plane in transition to attack the ball from the inside.
Golf Digest Best in State instructor and NEPGA Teacher of the Year Eric Barlow sets the pathpal to match your exact club shaft angle at address to train his signature 'Up It, Under It' plane sequence.
See the full step-by-step station on the "Up It, Under It" Swing Plane Drill page, or watch Eric demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Eric Barlow (Director of Instruction at Winchester Country Club; 2022-2027: Golf Digest's Best Teachers in State, 2018: NEPGA Section Teacher of the Year, 2016: Mass Chapter Teacher of the Year) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
The drill is designed to teach you the crucial feel of keeping the club on plane during the backswing ("Up It") and then dropping it into the "slot" for a powerful, inside-out delivery ("Under It"). By setting the pathpal to match your natural shaft angle at address, you create an unmistakable visual and physical guide for your club, instantly revealing any deviation from the ideal plane.
Setup
- Determine Plane Angle: Take your normal setup with the club you wish to practice (e.g., 7-iron). Identify the angle of the club shaft as it points up from the ball to your hands.
- Set pathpal Angle: Adjust the pathpal angle until the alignment stick matches this shaft angle.
- Position Device: Place the entire pathpal setup on the ground, slightly behind the ball, so the alignment stick extends directly over the intended swing path and plane line.
- Final Check: Take your address position. The alignment stick should run parallel to your club shaft at address, creating a guide for your swing plane.
How to run the drill
- Backswing Focus ("Up It"): Take slow practice swings without a ball. Focus on taking the club back and ensuring the shaft stays under or parallel to the alignment stick (following it up). Avoid letting the club come too far inside or too steep, which would hit the stick.
- Transition & Downswing Focus ("Under It"): From the top of the backswing, initiate the downswing by focusing on dropping the club under the alignment stick.
- Feel the Slot: The goal is to feel the club drop into the slot, coming in shallower than the stick, and delivering the club to the ball from the inside.
- Execute the Swing: Once you have the feel, hit balls while maintaining the "Up It, Under It" sequence.
- Analyze Feedback: If you hit the stick on the backswing, your club is coming off plane too steeply or too much to the outside. If you hit the stick on the downswing, you are coming over the top. Continue until you can smoothly swing up the plane and under the plane without making contact.
Trace the stick 'Up It' on the backswing to stay on plane, then drop the club 'Under It' in transition to slot the club from the inside.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Most amateur golfers do the exact opposite of tour pros: they yank the club underneath the shaft plane on the takeaway and then loop it over the top of the plane on the downswing. That reverse loop robs the swing of compression and produces weak slices or pulls.
Reverse the amateur loop: take the club up the shaft plane, then drop it underneath into the slot.
Because the pathpal features 14 precision angle slots, you can match the exact shaft lie angle of your 7-iron or driver at address. Placing that matched rod slightly behind the ball gives you a single visual reference for both halves of the swing: ride parallel to it going back ('Up It') and shallow beneath it coming down ('Under It').
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who roll inside on the takeaway and loop over the top on the downswing
- ✓Players who struggle to visualize what 'dropping the club in the slot' looks like
- ✓Anyone who wants a single-rod setup calibrated to their specific iron shaft angle
- ✓Golfers working on transitioning from an outside-in fade to an inside-out draw
Try it
Take your normal 7-iron setup, match the pathpal angle slot to your address shaft angle, and set the unit slightly behind the golf ball.
- Match the pathpal angle slot to your 7-iron shaft angle at address and set it slightly behind the ball
- Make 10 slow rehearsals tracing parallel to the stick going back ('Up It') and dropping below it in transition ('Under It')
- Hit 15 shots at 70 percent effort maintaining the 'Up It, Under It' loop without touching the stick
- Remove the station and hit 5 full-speed 7-iron shots carrying the same transition feel
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:
Inside-Out Draw Path
Taught by Jason Kuiper. Shallow Your Swing and Promote an Inside-Out Path for a Draw. View drill →
Swing Path Fixer
Taught by Jason Gandy. Correcting Your Swing Path: Takeaway and Downswing Plane Control. View drill →
Avoid swinging under plane
Taught by Shawn Koch. Improve Your Downswing Path and Club Delivery. View drill →
About Eric Barlow
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Up It, Under It' mean in Eric Barlow's drill?
'Up It' means taking the club back parallel to your address shaft plane stick, and 'Under It' means dropping the club slightly underneath that stick during transition so you deliver the club from the inside.
How do I choose which angle slot to use on the pathpal?
Take your address posture with the club you are practicing (such as a 7-iron) and pick the pathpal angle slot (from its 14 angles) that matches the natural angle of your club shaft.
What does it mean if I hit the stick on the backswing?
Hitting the stick on the backswing means your takeaway moved off plane either too steeply or too far outside the shaft line.
What does it mean if I hit the stick on the downswing?
Contacting the stick on the downswing confirms an over-the-top transition where the hands or clubhead moved outside the shaft plane.
Can I use this drill with every club in my bag?
Yes. Because the pathpal adjusts across 14 angles, you can steepen the slot for wedges and short irons or flatten it for long irons, hybrids, and driver.
Ready to stop guessing and build a repeatable swing?
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