The "Over The Top" Elimination Barrier Drill

Cure Pulls and Slices: Force an Inside-Out Swing Path by Anchoring Your Lead Side Through Impact

Sticks: 1

Config: Together

Focus: Full Swing

Drill Objective

The "over the top" (OTT) move, where the club swings outside-in, is the leading cause of slices and pulled shots. Create a physical barrier that immediately forces the club onto a more desirable, shallower, inside-out path. By placing the pathpal device just outside your lead leg, you are challenged to miss the obstacle, thereby teaching your club to drop into the proper slot and preventing the club from exiting too far left.

Set-Up

Set pathpal Angle: Add an alignment tick at roughly 65 degrees
Position Device: Place the pathpal device on the ground, a foot or two outside the lead leg (where your foot is) and positioned midway between your ball and feet. Position it close enough to act as an immediate obstacle if your club exits left, but far enough not to impede hitting the ball.
Final Check: The pathpal acts as a "gate" preventing an excessive outside-in club path and exit.

Instructions

Practice Swings - Focus on Inside: Take slow practice swings without a ball. Focus on dropping the club into the slot on the downswing, feeling the club attack the ball from the inside.
Avoid the Barrier: The absolute key objective is to swing through impact without making contact with the pathpal. To miss the barrier, you are naturally forced to drop the club under the plane and encourage an inside-out path.
Feel the Inside-Out: Feel the club and hands exiting to the right of the pathpal (for a right-handed golfer), which is the opposite of the pull/OTT move.
Execute the Swing: Once the path feels consistent and you consistently miss the pathpal, hit golf balls with the same rotational focus.
Analyze Feedback: A successful swing will see the club hit the ball solidly, and the club and hands will pass cleanly inside the pathpal, promoting a powerful delivery slot.

Benefits

Improved Club Path

Shallows club

Promotes shallowing

Improves contact

Eric Barlow

Director of Instruction

Winchester Country Club

2022-2027: Golf Digest's Best Teachers in State
2018: NEPGA Section Teacher of the Year
2016: Mass Chapter Teacher of the Year

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

Jason Kuiper Director of Instruction, Bobby Jones Golf Course

""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.""