pathpal Golf Drill Vault

The Slapshot Rotation Drill

Q: Why do hockey players tend to be good at golf?

Hockey players naturally develop a feel for swinging on an inclined plane — which is almost identical to the golf swing. Their bodies are trained to rotate around a tilted spine with the stick perpendicular to their torso. Brad Pluth uses this connection to help golfers feel what proper rotational mechanics should look like, because most golfers have never been taught to think about the relationship between their spine angle and the club's plane.

Q: What does "spine perpendicular to the stick" mean in the Slapshot Drill?

In this drill, Brad uses the pathpal rod as a reference for your swing plane. The goal is to feel like your spine forms a 90-degree angle with the rod — essentially a "T" shape between your torso and the stick. When you achieve this, your shoulders can rotate freely along the correct plane. If you're too upright or too hunched, that perpendicular relationship breaks down and your rotation becomes restricted or off-plane.

Q: How does poor posture affect my golf swing rotation?

Posture is the foundation of rotation. If you stand too tall at address, your shoulder turn tends to become too level, sending the club on an overly flat or inside path. If you bend over too much, rotation stalls and you compensate with your arms. Either fault leads to inconsistent contact and a loss of power. The Slapshot Drill trains you to find the middle ground — the athletic, spine-tilted posture that allows a full, free shoulder rotation on the correct plane.

Q: How do I know if I'm standing too tall or too bent over in my golf setup?

A quick check: from a face-on view, your spine should be tilted forward from the hips — not curved or slumped — with a slight flex in the knees. Using the pathpal as Brad demonstrates, you can feel whether your spine is truly perpendicular to the rod at your setup angle. If rotating feels stiff or awkward, your posture is likely the culprit. Too easy or flat? You're probably too tall. Too much strain in your lower back? You're likely bent over too far.

Q: Can I use the Slapshot Drill indoors?

Absolutely — and it's one of the best drills for indoor practice because you don't need to hit a ball. Set your pathpal to a comfortable angle, get into your golf posture, check that your spine is perpendicular to the rod, and simply rotate and "shoot" as Brad demonstrates. The feel you're grooving is pure body rotation on plane, which you can rehearse in a living room, office, or gym. Repetition of this motion trains muscle memory that shows up directly on the course.

Master Your Spine Angle and Shoulder Rotation

Sticks 1 Config Together Focus Full Swing

Drill Objective

Inspired by the powerful mechanics of hockey players, this drill helps golfers find the perfect relationship between their spine angle and their swing plane. By using an alignment stick to mimic a hockey stick, you can learn to rotate your shoulders efficiently and "launch it" just like a pro on the ice.

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Practice Plan

Set it up. Run the drill. Know what to feel.

Use the steps below to build the same station every time, then make focused reps with clear feedback.

Set Up

Hold an alignment stick (or the pathpal with an attached stick) as if you were holding a hockey stick.
Take your golf stance, ensuring your feet are shoulder-width apart.
Tilt forward from the hips until your spine feels perpendicular to the angle of the stick.

Run The Drill

Focus on the feeling of the stick being perpendicular to your spine to ensure you aren't standing too tall or crouching too low.
Maintain that spine angle and practice rotating your shoulders back and through.
Simulate a "slapshot" motion by rotating through the ball and "shooting" toward your target.
Repeat the motion several times to build muscle memory for a more athletic, rotational swing.

Proof From Practice

What golfers are saying

Real feedback from golfers and coaches using this drill in practice.

"I find myself using it daily which is uncommon for most aids"

"This is likely the greatest training aid I have used. Versatile and well thought out."

"This is my favorite tool of 2025"

Drill FAQ

Questions About This Drill

Get clear answers on setup, swing feel, common mistakes, and how to get the most out of this pathpal drill.

ConceptWhy do hockey players tend to be good at golf?

DrillWhat does "spine perpendicular to the stick" mean in the Slapshot Drill?

MechanicsHow does poor posture affect my golf swing rotation?

SetupHow do I know if I'm standing too tall or too bent over in my golf setup?

ApplicationCan I use the Slapshot Drill indoors?

Ready to train it the right way?

Use the pathpal to make the feel visible, repeatable, and easier to practice on the range or at home.

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Prefer to read it? Full Video TranscriptOpen the transcript to review the complete drill walkthrough in text form.

Brad Pluth here at Dick's House of Sport.

The Hockey Connection

Who thought you could combine hockey and golf? But this is probably one of the reasons why you see so many hockey players who can really launch the ball — it's essentially the same plane that we swing on.

The Key Feel

A couple of quick tips:

Feel like your spine is perpendicular to the stick. When you find that position, it becomes easy to rotate your shoulders freely on the correct plane.

A lot of players get too tall. Others get a little too bent over. Both faults prevent you from rotating efficiently.

The Move

Once you feel that stick is perpendicular to your spine — rotate and shoot.

That's the whole drill. It's an athletic, natural motion that your body already understands if you've ever played hockey. The pathpal gives you the reference point to find that perpendicular relationship and feel the difference between good posture and poor posture instantly.

Transcript lightly edited for clarity.

Ready to Train Better?

Make this drill repeatable. Build the station once, then trust your reps.

The pathpal locks your setup into the same positions every session so your practice feels clear, consistent, and easier to repeat.

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The Slapshot Rotation Drill

Drill Objective