That persistent slice? The pulls that start left and stay left? The monster snap hook? They all trace back to one fundamental problem: your swing path is off.

Swing path determines where your ball starts and, when you add in the clubface position, how it will curve. Get it wrong and you’ll fight compensations that make golf miserable. Get it right and suddenly the game suddenly feels easier than ever.

You don’t need months of lessons or a complete swing overhaul. Three specific drills can fix your path issues faster than you’d think possible.

(All references are for right-handed golfers.)

Why swing path matters more than you realize

Most golfers obsess over their grip, their stance and their takeaway, which are all important. However, swing path (the direction the clubhead travels through impact) can undermine everything else.

An outside-in path produces slices and pulls. The club approaches the ball from outside the target line, cutting across it like a karate chop. This creates weak contact, lost distance and that sickening left-to-right ball flight.

An inside-out path can produce hooks and pushes. The club swings too far from the inside, sending shots right of target or curving violently left.

The ideal path? Slightly inside-out, just a few degrees, creating a gentle draw that maximizes distance and control.

Fix your path and you fix most of your ball-striking problems simultaneously.

Drill 1: The alignment stick gate

This drill provides instant feedback about your swing direction.

Lay two alignment sticks on the ground, creating a gate about six inches wider than your clubhead. Position them so they point slightly right of your target (mimicking the proper inside-out path). Place a ball in the middle of this gate. Your goal: swing through without touching either stick.

Start with slow-motion swings, focusing purely on path. The sticks force your club to approach from the inside and exit toward the target. Any outside-in move clips the outside stick immediately.

Gradually increase swing speed as the correct path becomes natural. This drill rewires your muscle memory faster than any amount of thinking about swing mechanics.

Practice this for 10 minutes before every range session. The visual feedback creates lasting change.

Drill 2: The headcover block

Place a headcover or towel about six inches outside your ball, just beyond the target line.

This obstacle prevents the over-the-top move that plagues many amateur golfers. Set up normally but now you must swing inside enough to avoid hitting the headcover. Any outside-in path sends the headcover flying. Immediate, undeniable, feedback.

This drill feels awkward at first. Your brain screams that you’ll hit the ball right. Trust the process. The proper inside path, combined with square clubface alignment, produces straight shots or gentle draws.

Start with half swings using a mid-iron. Focus on taking the club back slightly inside, then returning on that same path. The headcover forces you to shallow out your downswing (the move that separates good ball-strikers from hackers).

Hit 20 balls with this setup, then remove the headcover and hit 10 more. You’ll feel the difference immediately.

Drill 3: The feet-together path finder

This drill strips away power and forces you to find the correct path through pure technique.

Stand with your feet touching, then make normal swings. Without a stable base, you can’t muscle the ball or make violent compensations. The only way to make solid contact is with proper sequencing and path.

The feet-together position naturally promotes better rotation. It prevents the upper-body lunge that creates outside-in paths. You’ll feel your arms and body working together rather than fighting each other.

Start with wedges, making smooth three-quarter swings. Focus on rotating through impact rather than sliding or lunging. Once you’re making consistent contact, progress to longer clubs.

This drill reveals your true swing path because it eliminates the compensations that mask path problems. Hit 15 balls with your feet together and then return to your normal stance. The improved path feeling transfers immediately.

Making path fixes permanent

Practice these drills in sequence during range sessions. Start with the alignment stick gate to establish the correct path, move to the headcover block to ingrain the feeling, then finish with feet-together swings to refine your sequencing.

Film your swing from down the line before and after these drills. The visual evidence of path improvement builds confidence and reinforces correct movement patterns.

On the course, recall the feeling from these drills rather than thinking about mechanics. Your body remembers the correct path. Trust it.

Swing path isn’t mysterious or complicated. It’s simply the direction your club travels through impact. These three drills give you immediate feedback, forcing your body to find the correct path through repetition rather than confusion. Fix your path and you’ll wonder why you spent years fighting a problem that had such a straightforward solution.

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