Slicing is not limited to the driver. Thousands of golfers unknowingly cut across their putts from outside to in, imparting side-spin that causes the ball to skid offline and lose speed on breaking putts.
New England PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Ed Doherty combines both halves of the pathpal with an alignment rod to square your setup and physically block an outside-in 'slice' stroke on the green.
See the full step-by-step station on the The Putting Slice Correction Drill page, or watch Ed demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Ed Doherty (Assistant Golf Professional at Black Rock Country Club; 2025: US Kids Top 50 Kids Coach, 2021: Assistant Golf Professional of the Year, New England PGA, 2025: Volunteer Assistant Coach, Boston College Golf Program) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
This drill uses two pathpal bricks and an alignment rod to correct a common fault in putting where the golfer "comes across" or "slices across" the ball. One pathpal with a rod establishes a square setup and target line, while the second pathpal, placed outside the ball, acts as a barrier to enforce a more inside and straight putting path.
Setup
- Set up one pathpal half with an alignment rod inserted through the center alignment feature. Place this rod along your intended target line and use it to check that your feet and body are set up square.
- Place the second pathpal brick on the outside of the golf ball. This brick will serve as a physical obstacle to block the putter head from swinging outside-in (across the ball).
How to run the drill
- Take your putting stance, aligning square to the target line established by the rod.
- Stroke the putt, focusing on keeping the putter head traveling along the line of the alignment rod and inside the outer pathpal brick.
- If you come "across" or "slice across" the putt, you will immediately hit the outer pathpal brick, providing instant feedback.
- Practice until you can consistently strike the putt with an inside-to-square path, promoting a better roll.
When one pathpal half aligns your feet and putter path while the second half sits just outside the golf ball, your putter head cannot loop outside the line and wipe across the ball.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Golfers who slice across their putts usually have two compounding issues: their feet and shoulders aim left of the target line at setup, and their putter head loops outside the ball during the transition from backstroke to forward stroke.
Block the outside loop at the ball, and your putter naturally delivers an inside-to-square roll.
Ed Doherty's two-brick station solves both problems simultaneously. The first pathpal half holds an alignment rod down the target line so your stance and eyes start square; the second pathpal half sits just outside the ball to physically block any out-to-in cut across impact.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who cut or 'slice' across their putts from outside to in
- ✓Players whose putts start left or fade weakly off the intended line
- ✓Anyone who struggles to align their feet and shoulders square on the green
- ✓Golfers who want an indoor or outdoor station that trains an inside-to-square stroke
Try it
Use both halves of your pathpal and one alignment rod on a flat 6-to-10-foot putt on the practice green or your indoor putting mat.
- Insert an alignment rod through the center tunnel of one pathpal half to establish your target line and square your stance
- Place the second pathpal brick just outside the golf ball to block an outside-in approach
- Make 10 practice strokes traveling along the target rod and safely inside the outer brick
- Roll 15 putts focusing on an inside-to-square delivery that starts the ball end-over-end down your line
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 Putting Isolation Drill
Taught by Jacob Tilton. Master the Putting Stroke by Isolating Your Upper Body. View drill →
Putting stroke: Arc vs Straight drill
Taught by Brad Pluth. Myth Buster: Why Your Putter Doesn't Go Straight Back and Straight Through. View drill →
Start Line & Rise Angle Putting Drill
Taught by David Potts. Control Your Putter Face and Achieve Optimal Rise Angle for Consistent Putts. View drill →
About Ed Doherty
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'putting slice' in golf?
A putting slice happens when the putter head loops outside the target line and cuts across the golf ball from out-to-in at impact, causing pulled start lines or glancing side-spin.
How does Ed Doherty set up the two pathpal halves for this drill?
One half holds an alignment rod along the target line to square your feet and stroke path, while the second half sits just outside the golf ball as a physical barrier against an out-to-in cut.
What happens if I cut across the putt during this drill?
Your putter toe will immediately bump the outer pathpal brick before reaching the ball, giving you unmistakable feedback that your path looped outside.
Should a good putting stroke travel straight back or on a slight inside arc?
A natural putting stroke moves slightly inside the target line on the backstroke and returns square along the line at impact rather than looping outside the ball.
Can I run the Putting Slice Correction Drill on an indoor mat?
Yes. Because both pathpal halves sit flat on any surface without stakes or tees, this station sets up in seconds on any indoor putting mat.
Ready to stop guessing and build a repeatable swing?
pathpal sets up drills like The Putting Slice Correction Drill in seconds: one integrated training system that fits in any golf bag and delivers real feedback on every swing.
Shop pathpal
