How to Perform the Towel Drill for Golf Swing Improvement

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Swing Mechanics & Fundamentals

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Quick Answer

• Tuck a towel under your armpits to build proper arm-body connection.
• Focus on keeping that towel secure throughout your swing.
• This drill sharpens tempo and clubface control.

Who This Is For

• Golfers fighting a slice or an open clubface.
• Anyone looking to feel more connected and consistent in their swing.

What to Check First

• Grab a towel that’s not too big or too small. You want it to stay put, but not feel like a straitjacket. A standard bath towel cut in half works pretty well.
• Check your grip. Make sure it’s comfortable and neutral. No death grips allowed.
• Your stance should feel athletic and balanced. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Do the Towel Method

1. Action: Place a folded towel horizontally under both armpits.

What to look for: The towel should feel snug, held in place by your arms pressing gently against your chest. It shouldn’t be so tight that it stops you from moving. It’s about a feeling of unity, not restriction.
Mistake to avoid: Letting the towel drop the second you start your backswing. This is the most common slip-up and immediately defeats the purpose of the drill.

2. Action: Take your normal golf stance, as if you were about to hit a shot.

What to look for: Feel the towel pressing lightly against your body, connecting your arms to your torso. This subtle pressure is the connection you’re aiming for. It should feel natural, not forced.
Mistake to avoid: Trying to muscle your arms into a specific position. The towel is a guide, not a clamp. Let it inform your natural movement.

3. Action: Make a smooth, controlled backswing.

What to look for: The towel should stay tucked securely under your armpits. You should feel your arms and torso rotating together as a unit. If the towel starts to slip, it’s a signal that your arms are getting too far ahead of your body. Slow down and focus on maintaining that connection.
Mistake to avoid: Rushing the backswing or making it too long. This often leads to the arms lifting independently from the body, causing the towel to fall.

4. Action: Transition smoothly from the backswing to the downswing.

What to look for: The towel should still be in place. As you start your downswing, you should feel your arms and body working in sync to deliver the club to the ball. This unified movement is crucial for power and accuracy.
Mistake to avoid: Disconnecting your arms from your body as you initiate the downswing. This is where many golfers lose the connection they built in the backswing.

5. Action: Complete your follow-through.

What to look for: Ideally, the towel remains tucked under your armpits until you finish your swing. A complete follow-through with the towel still in place indicates you’ve maintained good connection and control throughout the entire motion.
Mistake to avoid: Letting the towel fall out during the follow-through. This can be a sign of over-swinging or losing body control at the end of the swing.

How to Do the Towel Method: Advanced Tips and Variations

The basic towel drill is a fantastic starting point, but there are ways to deepen its impact and tailor it to your specific needs. Don’t just think of it as a one-trick pony. This drill, when done right, can seriously dial in your swing.

• Focus on Tempo: While the towel drill is primarily about connection, it naturally forces you to slow down and feel the rhythm of your swing. This is a huge benefit. When the towel stays put, it means you’re not rushing. You’re allowing your body to lead the swing, which is exactly what you want. Try to count your backswing and downswing to a specific rhythm, like “one-two,” with the towel staying put throughout. If it drops, your tempo is likely off.

• Clubface Awareness: The towel drill helps you understand how your arm and body movements influence the clubface. When your arms are properly connected to your body, the clubface tends to stay more square through impact. If the towel falls, it often means your hands are getting too far ahead of your body, leading to an open clubface and that dreaded slice. Pay attention to the feeling of the clubface through impact – does it feel more stable when the towel is secure?

• Practice Without a Ball First: Seriously, this is a game-changer. Before you even think about hitting a ball, just make full swings with the towel. Get a feel for the connection. Once you can consistently keep the towel in place for 5-10 swings, then start adding a ball. You’ll be amazed at how much better you can feel the proper motion.

• Vary Your Swings: Once you’re comfortable with full swings, try doing the towel drill with half swings or even quarter swings. This helps you isolate the feeling of connection in different parts of the swing. A three-quarter backswing and a controlled downswing is often where the magic happens for many amateur golfers.

• Half Towel Drill: For a more advanced version, try using just one towel, perhaps folded smaller, and tucking it under just one armpit (say, your lead arm). This forces an even greater awareness of that specific arm’s connection to your body. It’s a bit trickier but can be incredibly effective for players who tend to lose that connection on one side.

• The “Towel Drop” Feedback: Don’t get discouraged if the towel falls out. Think of it as valuable feedback. Where does it fall? At the top of the backswing? During the transition? In the downswing? Each scenario tells you something different about your swing mechanics. Analyze when it falls and adjust accordingly. If it falls on the backswing, focus on a more connected takeaway. If it falls on the downswing, focus on maintaining that connection through the impact zone.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Towel falls out immediately.

Why it matters: This is the most common issue. It means you’re not establishing or maintaining the arm-body connection the drill is designed to build. Your arms are likely getting too far ahead of your body, leading to a disconnected and often weak swing.
Fix: Focus on a shorter, more controlled backswing. Pay attention to the feeling of your arms and chest moving together. Check your grip pressure – a death grip can restrict natural movement and make it harder to keep the towel in place. Try a slightly softer grip.

• Mistake: Over-swinging.

Why it matters: Trying to hit the ball as far as possible with the towel in place often leads to losing it. The goal here is connection and control, not maximum distance. When you try to swing too hard, you break that connection.
Fix: Prioritize keeping the towel secure over swing length. Take smaller, more controlled swings initially. Focus on the feeling of the arms and body working together, rather than the speed of the clubhead.

• Mistake: Forcing the arms to stay connected rigidly.

Why it matters: This creates tension, which kills your tempo and can lead to an unnatural, jerky swing. Golf should feel fluid and athletic, not like you’re trying to hold a heavy object in place with brute force.
Fix: Focus on the feeling of connection and unity, not on physically clamping the towel. It’s about a smooth, integrated movement where your arms and body work in harmony. Relax your shoulders and arms as much as possible while maintaining the connection.

• Mistake: Using the wrong towel.

Why it matters: A towel that’s too thin or too large can fall out easily, making the drill ineffective. Conversely, a towel that’s too stiff or bulky might restrict your natural swing motion, giving you a false sense of connection.
Fix: Experiment with different towel sizes and thicknesses. A standard bath towel folded in half or thirds is a good starting point. You want something that has enough friction to stay put but isn’t so thick it interferes with your swing.

• Mistake: Only practicing with a driver.

Why it matters: While the towel drill is great for the full swing, limiting it to just your driver means you’re missing out on applying this connection to other clubs. Different clubs require slightly different feels.
Fix: Practice the towel drill with a variety of clubs, from your wedges to your fairway woods. This helps you ingrain the feeling of connection across your entire bag.

• Mistake: Not feeling the difference.

Why it matters: If you’re just going through the motions without paying attention to the sensations, you won’t get the benefit. The drill is about feeling the connection.
Fix: After each swing, take a moment to assess how it felt. Did you feel connected? Was your tempo good? Did the towel stay in place? Be mindful of the feedback the drill provides.

FAQ

• What is the main benefit of the towel drill?

The primary benefit is improving your arm-body connection, which leads to better clubface control, more consistent tempo, and can help eliminate slices. It promotes a more unified swing where your arms and torso work together.

• How long should I hold the towel under my armpits?

You should aim to keep the towel tucked throughout your entire swing, from the top of the backswing, through impact, and into the follow-through. If it falls out, that’s valuable feedback that your connection needs work in that phase of the swing.

• What kind of towel works best for this drill?

A standard bath towel, folded in half or thirds to a manageable size, usually works best. It should be thick enough to stay put without being overly bulky. Avoid very thin or very large towels.

• Can I do this drill without a ball?

Absolutely. Many golfers find it most effective to practice the towel drill without a ball first. This allows you to focus purely on the feeling of connection and swing mechanics without the added pressure of hitting the ball. Once you master it without a ball, then add it in.

• How often should I practice the towel drill?

Incorporating it into your warm-up routine before playing or practicing at home a few times a week can yield great results. Even just 5-10 minutes of focused towel drill practice can make a difference. Consistency is key to ingraining the feeling.

• Will this drill help me hit the ball farther?

While the primary goal isn’t distance, improved connection and tempo often lead to more efficient power transfer. By swinging with your body instead of just your arms, you can generate more clubhead speed and, therefore, more distance, but it’s a byproduct of better technique, not the direct aim.

• What if the towel falls out even when I try my hardest?

Don’t get discouraged! This just means you’ve identified a key area for improvement. Try simplifying your swing. Focus on a shorter backswing and a controlled transition. Sometimes, the issue is too much tension. Try to relax your shoulders and arms while maintaining the connection. It takes practice, so keep at it!