Putting Tip: Fix Your Stroke with the Towel Drill
Ben Payne, Head Professional at Glen Waverley Sports Hub, shares a simple but effective drill for golfers who use their hands too much in their putting stroke or let their arms disconnect from their body, two common causes of inconsistency on the greens.
The Towel Drill
Place a small golf towel across your chest and tuck it under both armpits. Set up to the ball as normal and make your stroke while keeping the towel in place. The goal is to stop the towel from dropping during the motion.
This setup forces you to rock your shoulders, creating a pendulum-style stroke that eliminates excessive arm and hand movement.
Why It Works
When hands dominate the stroke, the putter face can easily open or close at impact, affecting direction and distance control. The towel drill promotes:
- Better connection between arms and body
- A stable, repeatable stroke
- Improved face control
- More consistent distance control
Start with short putts (3–5 metres) to build confidence, then gradually increase the distance while maintaining the same shoulder-driven motion.