The Towel Drill: How to do it, Who it Helps, and Why Every Golfer Should be Using it
The towel drill is one of the easiest ways to fix slices, clean up tempo, and build a better connection in your swing.
It takes seconds to set up and immediately shows whether your arms and body are working together.
Simple, effective, and perfect for golfers of any handicap level.
The Towel Drill (Key Takeaways)
Stay focused on and review these points every time you do the towel drill.
- Start with half-swings. Keep the motion small so you can feel whether the towel stays in place.
- Use a towel that fits securely. Roll or fold it so it sits comfortably under both arms without slipping.
- Make 5–10 practice swings first. Don’t hit balls until you can keep the towel in place through the takeaway.
- Monitor your wrist position. Keep the lead wrist close to flat at P2—use HackMotion if you have it.
- Use short irons first. Work up to longer clubs only after you can keep connection and tempo consistent.
Contents
What is the Main Purpose of the Towel Drill?
The Towel Drill improves the connection between your arms and body during the backswing and downswing. All you need is a towel and a little space, and it works whether you’re hitting balls or just making practice swings.
It’s especially helpful for golfers who “chicken wing”, overswing, or lose structure at the top. With repetition, you’ll build a more synchronized motion that leads to better contact and consistency.
Who Should Do the Towel Drill?
The towel drill teaches you to move your arms and body together for a more repeatable takeaway and backswing.
If you struggle with sequencing, connection, or consistency, this simple drill gives instant feedback and helps you correct it quickly.
Here’s who benefits most:
- Slicers and Pullers: When the arms separate from the body, the club usually travels outside-in, causing slices, pulls, and a steep angle of attack. The towel keeps everything connected so the club starts back on plane.
- Golfers With Limited Flexibility: If your turn is restricted, your arms tend to take over. The towel drill encourages the torso and arms to move as one, helping you build a more efficient backswing without needing extra flexibility.
- Fast Swingers: High-speed players often lose connection as the arms race ahead of the body. The towel drill, especially with HackMotion, helps control tempo and sequencing so speed doesn’t create inconsistent contact.
- Beginners: New golfers rarely know what a “connected” takeaway feels like. The towel provides clear feedback and teaches a simple, reliable motion to build their backswing around.
- Golfers Who Struggle With Pitch Shots: Arm-only or wrist-only pitches lead to inconsistent contact. The towel drill reinforces the mini-version of a connected swing, giving you more reliable, repeatable pitching mechanics.
The Towel Drill (Step-by-Step)
Print and follow these steps to get the most out of the towel drill and feel a positive difference as soon as possible.
- Start with a mid-short iron if this is your first time performing the towel drill.
- Using a medium-sized towel, stretch it across your chest so each end is tucked under your arms securely but comfortably.
- Initiate a half-swing using your torso, arms, and lower body while keeping the towel in place.
- Start with practice swings to build confidence in your rhythm.
- Work your way up to hitting balls, but never swing much harder than half swings.
- Use with Hackmotion to track your progress and address other issues that may be keeping you from shooting your best scores.
Want to explore more drills like this inside the HackMotion app?
Discover our full collection of built-in HackMotion golf drills designed to improve connection, tempo, and consistency.
Common Mistakes
The towel drill is simple, but a few small errors can keep you from feeling the real benefits.
If you want the drill to improve your connection and sequencing, keep an eye out for these common pitfalls:
- Holding the towel too tightly — You’re not squeezing it; just trap it lightly under your arms.
- Lifting your arms in the takeaway — This disconnects the motion and makes the towel drop.
- Going too long with the swing — Stick to half-swings until you can stay connected comfortably.
- Using too much wrist early — Rolling or cupping the wrist opens the face; use HackMotion to monitor wrist position.
- Forgetting the lower body — Let the hips and torso turn so the arms don’t take over the motion.
- Trying full shots too soon — Build control with slow-motion reps before hitting balls.
Struggling to keep your wrists stable during the towel drill?
Work through these drills to improve wrist mechanics and make a connected swing easier to repeat.
Final Thoughts
The towel drill covers a wide range of faults and benefits golfers of all levels. It’s also a great way to warm up and loosen your body before a round.
It will help cure slicing, pulls, overswinging, and many other common issues.
If used with Hackmotion, your scope of improvement is widened. The delicate Hackmotion sensors measure your movements, record your results, and make personalized drill suggestions so you’re always working on the most important aspect of your game.
It’s like having a professional coach at your side at all times.
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