The TrueStrike & pathpal Low-Handle/Early Extension Fix

Set the pathpal at approximately 60 degrees to create an upper barrier that catches any over-the-top move or early extension — if you stand up or swing outside-in, the club contacts the rod. Position the TrueStrike closer to the ball on the hosel side as a second barrier that catches the club if it works too close to the heel or hosel at impact. Jacob recommends leaving about half an inch of clearance on each barrier — enough room for a correct swing to pass cleanly, tight enough that incorrect swings get caught. Equal spacing on both sides is essential for accurate feedback.

A low handle means the grip end of the club stays below the level it would rise to if the body were standing up or extending through impact. When the handle rises — usually because the hips thrust toward the ball and the upper body stands up — the club's low point changes, the path steepens outside-in, and the heel or hosel moves toward the ball. Keeping the handle low requires the body to maintain its hip hinge and rotate rather than extend, keeping the club on the correct inside path with the strike moving from hosel toward the center and toe.

These three faults are part of the same chain reaction. Early extension — the hips thrusting toward the ball — causes the upper body to stand up to create room for the arms to swing. That standing-up changes the swing path from inside to outside-in and simultaneously pushes the hosel toward the ball. The result is a club approaching from outside the target line with the heel or hosel leading — the exact recipe for both a slice and a shank. Jacob's dual-barrier setup catches both ends of this chain simultaneously because fixing the extension fixes the path and the strike location together.

The TrueStrike pad positioned on the hosel side of the ball creates a physical wall that the club must avoid at impact. To miss it, the golfer must create space between the body and the ball — which means staying in the hip hinge rather than extending, and keeping the handle low rather than letting it rise. As the handle stays lower and the body rotates rather than thrusts, the clubhead naturally moves away from the body, shifting contact from the heel and hosel toward the center and eventually the toe. Jacob notes that even a toe strike is a desirable miss compared to a hosel strike.

Using both tools simultaneously creates a complete feedback corridor for path and impact at the same time — something neither tool can provide alone. The pathpal at 60 degrees catches the downswing path and any standing-up motion. The TrueStrike catches the impact delivery and hosel proximity. A golfer can pass one barrier while failing the other, which isolates exactly which fault is dominant. Jacob emphasizes that this combined setup is particularly powerful because the TrueStrike's padding means negative feedback — catching either barrier at full speed — doesn't damage the club or hurt the hands.