Neutralize Your Club Path: Prevent Excessive Inside-Out Motion and Eliminate Raised Hands at Impact.

"Inside Path" Corrector Drill

Are you hooking the ball or struggling with blocks because your club path is too far from the inside? This excessive shallowing often leads to your hands rising up through impact, causing inconsistent contact and distance loss. PGA Master Professional Eric Barlow uses this drill to place a barrier slightly above the typical swing plane, challenging the club to travel on a slightly less inside route. By forcing the hands to stay lower and the club to travel below the barrier, you naturally bring the club path back toward neutral for a more solid, controlled strike.

Alignment Sticks Required: 1

PathPal Configuration: Together

Full Swing

What It Helps With

Consistent chipping

Improved Club Path

Improves contact

Improve Swing Plane

How to Set Up the PathPal

Determine Shaft Angle: Take your normal address with the club you wish to practice. Note the angle of the club shaft.
Determine pathpal Angle: You'll want to insert the alignment stick in the pathpal hinge at an angle just 5 to 10 degrees steeper (higher) than your shaft angle at address.
Position Device: Place the pathpal setup on the ground, so the alignment stick runs directly over the intended swing path. It should be positioned slightly above your club and hands at impact
Safety: Use a pool noodle or the Arrow padded alignment stick for additional protection for your club and to create a larger obstacle to swing around
Final Check: The alignment stick is now the upper barrier that your club must pass under.

Step-by-Step Drill Instructions

Practice Swings: Take slow practice swings without a ball. Focus on keeping your hands and clubhead under the angled stick throughout the downswing and impact area.
Avoid the Barrier: The key objective is to swing through impact without making contact with the alignment stick.
Feel the Lower Path: Feel your hands and the clubhead travel lower through the hitting zone than they typically do. This forces the club path to become slightly less inside-out.
Execute the Swing: Once you can consistently swing under the barrier, hit golf balls with the same movement.
Analyze Feedback: A successful swing will see the club pass cleanly under the stick, promoting a neutral-to-slight-inside-out path and solid contact. Hitting the stick means your path is too shallow or your hands are too high.

Eric Barlow

Director of Instruction

Winchester Country Club

Winchester, MA

Career Journey

2022-2027: Golf Digest's Best Teachers in State

2018: NEPGA Section Teacher of the Year

2016: Mass Chapter Teacher of the Year

Master Professional: PGA Certified in Teaching & Coaching

2016, 2018: Mass Chapter Player of the Year

2025: New England PGA Stroke Play Series Finals

What Golfers Are Saying

"Million different ways to use this to help your golf game. I'm really enjoying using it with my students and I hope you grab one and use it as well."