pathpal Golf Drill Vault

Ball position and low point drill

Q: How do I find the correct ball position for every club?

Ball position varies by club, but the key reference point most golfers overlook is the lead heel. Shawn Koch uses the pathpal to create a visual map — one rod marks the left heel, another marks the ball — so golfers can see the exact relationship between the two. Once you know where your lead heel is relative to the ball, you can replicate that position on the course without any training aids.

Q: What is "low point" in the golf swing and why does it matter?

Low point is the bottom of your swing arc — the spot where the clubhead stops descending and begins to rise. For iron shots, you want the ball positioned slightly before low point so the club is still descending at contact, producing a crisp, ball-first strike. Shawn's drill makes low point tangible by marking it with the pathpal's white rod, giving you a physical target to swing toward rather than an abstract concept.

Q: Why do I hit some shots fat and some thin with the same club?

Inconsistent contact usually traces back to inconsistent ball position. When the ball drifts too far forward, the club has already started ascending at impact — thin shot. Too far back, and you're catching the turf first — fat shot. By anchoring your ball position to a fixed reference (your lead heel), Shawn's drill eliminates that guesswork and makes your low point predictable rep after rep.

Q: How does Shawn Koch set up the pathpal for this ball position drill?

Shawn uses a two-rod setup: the white rod marks his left (lead) heel position, and the blue rod marks where the golf ball is placed. Together they create a visual reference for the relationship between heel and ball. The goal is to work down and forward through impact, driving toward the white rod — which represents low point. This turns an invisible swing concept into something you can literally aim at.

Q: Can I use this drill on the golf course without a training aid?

Yes — that's exactly the point. Shawn emphasizes that the pathpal builds a "consistent habit" you can transfer to the course. After enough reps with the rods in place, you internalize the feeling of where your lead heel is relative to the ball. On the course, you simply use your lead heel as your reference point for ball position, no equipment needed.

Optimize Ball Position and Improve Downward Strike for Consistent Contact

Sticks 2 Config Together Focus Full swing

Drill Objective

This drill utilizes the pathpal and additional alignment sticks to establish consistent ball positioning relative to your lead heel and to encourage a forward-driving motion to hit down and through the ball, leading to a consistent low point in your swing

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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

Position Lead Heel Guide: Take an alignment stick and place it on the ground to indicate the position of your lead heel (left heel for right-handed golfers) at address. The pathpal can be used to hold this stick.
Position Ball Guide: Take another alignment stick and place it on the ground to indicate the desired golf ball position. Shawn describes the ball being positioned further back from the lead heel, implying an iron setup where the ball is typically closer to the center of your stance.
Assume Address: Take your normal golf address position, aligning your lead heel with the forward stick and the golf ball with the other alignment stick. The pathpal itself (flat on the ground) might be used to define the overall setup area or to hold one of the sticks.

Run The Drill

Consistent Ball Positioning: Before each swing, ensure your lead heel is consistently aligned with the forward stick and the golf ball is consistently aligned with the rear stick. This builds muscle memory for optimal ball position.
Focus on Forward Motion: During your downswing, concentrate on a feeling of working "down and forward" towards the ball.
Identify Low Point: The "low point" of your swing (where the club hits its lowest point before ascending) should ideally occur at or slightly in front of the rear alignment stick (your lead heel position). Your ball is positioned behind this low point, encouraging you to hit down on it.
Work Through the Ball: Emphasize driving your hands and club forward through impact, beyond the ball, aiming to extend past the white line where the low point should be.

Proof From Practice

What golfers are saying

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

"[the pathpal has] really improved my teaching and it's really helped my students a lot"

"The reason I like [the pathpal] is because it's super versatile"

"Countless how many applications you can use for it"

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.

SetupHow do I find the correct ball position for every club?

ConceptWhat is "low point" in the golf swing and why does it matter?

StrikeWhy do I hit some shots fat and some thin with the same club?

DrillHow does Shawn Koch set up the pathpal for this ball position drill?

ApplicationCan I use this drill on the golf course without a training aid?

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

Hey, Shawn Koch here once again. I've got my pathpal, and what I'm doing is working on ball positioning.

The Setup

I have the white rod indicating my left heel, and the blue rod indicating where the golf ball is. What this gives me is a consistent, repeatable reference for where my left heel is relative to my ball position — every single time.

Why It Matters

Once I have that reference locked in, I can transfer this directly to the golf course. On the course, I simply look at where my left heel is relative to the ball — no rods needed. The pathpal trains that habit on the range so it becomes automatic.

The Feel

What I want to feel in the swing is:

Working down and forward through impact

Moving toward the low point — which falls right at the white rod

Driving as far forward as I can through the shot

You can see in this setup that my ball is slightly further back, and I'm working forward through impact toward that low point marker. That forward drive is what produces consistent, ball-first contact.

The pathpal makes the invisible visible — you can see exactly where low point is and where your ball is relative to it.

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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Ball position and low point drill

Drill Objective