Path Gate Drill

Setting a physical gate along your target line forces the club to swing on path rather than over the top.

Set-up: Two objects (headcovers, cones or alignment sticks) set a foot or two in front of the ball, or alongside it, as a channel the club must swing along; swing through without touching either.

Fixes: The slice.

The protocol

How to practise it

This setup uses two props set beside or in front of the ball to form a visual gate for the clubhead.

1. Position your physical props Place two headcovers a couple of feet in front of the ball or set alignment sticks on either side of it to frame the target path.
2. Adjust the channel width Set the objects wider than your clubface initially and bring them closer together as you gain control.
3. Swing through the channel Focus on passing the clubhead cleanly through the gate without touching either prop to encourage an inside-to-out path.

Common mistakes

What goes wrong

• Swinging over the top Focus on passing through the channel to prevent the clubhead from coming in from the outside.
• Looking at daunting distant targets Keep your focus on the visual gate close in front of you rather than staring downrange.

3 coaches

The coaches who teach this version

Each linked at the second they start.

1. Danny Maude: What No One Tells You About How To Hit Driver Straight (from 9:17). Place two head covers about two feet in front of the ball to create a 'gate' that you must swing through to ensure a neutral club path.
2. That's One!: How to fix your slice - day 212 of 24 handicap to scratch golfer in 365 days #golf (from 0:26). Place two alignment sticks on either side of the ball to create a channel, forcing the club to travel on a neutral path rather than over-the-top.
3. Big Swing Golf: Lost on Golf’s Yellow Brick Road.. Learning to Beat Par 3`s (from 11:00). Swinging through a physical 'gate' (using cones) to force the club to travel on an inside-to-out path.

What objects should I use to build the path gate?

You can use headcovers placed a couple of feet ahead of the ball, or alignment sticks or cones positioned on either side of it.

Why does this drill fix a slice?

Slices occur when the club moves over the top. Swinging cleanly through a close visual gate forces the club onto a neutral or inside-to-out path.

How tight should the path gate be?

Begin with a channel fair bit wider than your clubface and gradually move the objects closer together as your consistency improves.