pathpal Golf Drill Vault

Hit down and through chip shots drill

Q: Why do I hit thin or fat chip shots?

Thin and fat chips almost always come from a shallow or scooping angle of attack. When the club bottoms out before the ball, you get the fat; when you try to "lift" the ball, you catch it thin. Brad Pluth's drill places the pathpal rod 1–2 inches behind the ball, forcing you to take a steeper approach and strike the ball first. If you hit the rod, you immediately know your angle of attack was too shallow.

Q: What angle should I set the pathpal for chipping vs. pitching?

According to Brad Pluth, the setting depends on how close you're standing to the ball. For a standard chip shot where you're standing closer in, set the pathpal at 75 degrees. For a basic pitch shot from a slightly wider stance, 70 degrees works well. The steeper angle setting reflects the more upright club position needed for short game shots compared to full swing drills.

Q: How do I stop scooping the ball on chip shots?

Scooping happens when your trail hand overpowers your lead hand through impact in an attempt to "help" the ball into the air. The fix is learning to trust a descending blow — hitting down and through, not under the ball. Brad's drill trains this by placing a physical obstacle behind the ball. You can't scoop and avoid the rod at the same time, so it rewires the movement pattern quickly.

Q: What does "angle of approach" mean in chipping?

Angle of approach (AoA) refers to the direction the clubhead is traveling — either downward (steep/negative) or upward (shallow/positive) — at the moment of impact. For chip and pitch shots, a slightly negative AoA (hitting down into the ball) is essential for solid, ball-first contact and generating spin. A shallow or positive AoA typically produces inconsistent contact and unpredictable trajectory.

Q: How far behind the ball should I place the pathpal for this drill?

Brad Pluth and his student Gabe demonstrate placing the rod approximately 1–2 inches directly behind the ball. This gap is intentional — it gives you just enough room to make a proper descending strike without being so close that a slightly steep swing also catches the stick. It's a forgiving but effective feedback window that trains consistency over many repetitions.

Master the Vertical Plane: Achieve a Steep Angle of Approach for Crisper Pitch Shots

Sticks 2 Config Together Focus Short Game

Drill Objective

Eliminate shallow pitch shots. Learn how to miss both sticks and build the muscle memory for a consistently steep Angle of Approach (AoA), leading to more control, spin, and ball-first contact.

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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

Set the Base Angle: Take your pathpal Golf device and set the alignment stick in the 75-degree angle. This defines the target plane for your pitch shot. (If you are standing further away for a chip, you might use 75 degrees, but 70 degrees is ideal for the tighter stance of a pitch).
Insert the Ground Stick (Target Line): Take your first alignment stick and slide it into the ground alignment tunnel (the tunnel closest to the ground, near the 65-degree marker). Point this stick directly towards your intended target line.
Insert the Angled Stick (Plane Boundary): This stick should be sticking straight up and slightly angled outward toward your body side.
Position the Ball: Place your golf ball on the ground about 1 to 2 inches further away from the tip of the ground alignment stick. This ensures the you can hit the ball without hitting the stick, but close enough where if you come in shallow you'll hit the stick
Establish Stance: Take your normal pitch shot stance, standing close to the ball, making sure you have room to swing without immediately hitting the angled stick.

Run The Drill

Practice Swings - Visualize: Without a ball, take very slow practice swings, focusing entirely on the clubhead's movement relative to the sticks.
Goal 1 (Takeaway): On the backswing, ensure the clubhead and shaft do not hit the angled stick. This prevents the club from being pulled too far inside and shallow.
Goal 2 (Downswing/Impact): On the downswing, ensure the clubhead and shaft continue to miss the angled stick. This reinforces the more vertical, "out and up" motion needed for a steeper AoA.
Feel the Feedback: The pathpal setup creates a controlled tunnel. If you are swinging too shallow or bringing the club too far inside, you will hit the angled stick. The objective is to miss both sticks cleanly on both sides of the ball.
Execute the Shot: Once you are consistently missing the sticks on your practice swings, place a ball down and execute the pitch shot. Focus on the feeling of the club travelling steeper down towards the ball.
Analyze and Repeat: A successful execution means clean, ball-first contact, and you did not hit either alignment stick. Repeat the process, focusing on maintaining the club path and plane defined by the pathpal.

Proof From Practice

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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.

StrikeWhy do I hit thin or fat chip shots?

DrillWhat angle should I set the pathpal for chipping vs. pitching?

MechanicsHow do I stop scooping the ball on chip shots?

ConceptWhat does "angle of approach" mean in chipping?

DrillHow far behind the ball should I place the pathpal for this drill?

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.

Another application for the pathpal is wedge and short game work.

The Setup

Set the pathpal at 70 to 75 degrees depending on how close you're standing to the ball. For a standard chip shot — where you're standing close in — 75 degrees is the right setting. For a basic pitch shot, 70 works well.

Ball Placement

What Gabe is doing here is placing the stick about one to two inches directly behind the ball. That's the key to this drill.

The Goal

That placement creates a steeper angle of approach. You know you have to hit down and through the ball — you cannot afford to hit that stick. It's a simple, clear objective on every swing.

Place the pathpal 1–2 inches behind the ball

Set the angle to 70–75 degrees based on your shot distance

Swing down and through without touching the rod

If you hit the stick, your angle of attack was too shallow

It's a fun, effective way to practice with the pathpal — and the feedback is immediate every single rep.

Transcript lightly edited for clarity.

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Hit down and through chip shots drill

Drill Objective