We all know that scoring lower requires hitting better shots more consistently. In order to do so, your ballstriking needs to be at least above-average, meaning you’re eliminating mishits and making center-face contact as much as possible.
For many amateurs, that’s not so easy to do.
A range bucket can instantly improve your ball-striking. Here’s how
Sure, you may stripe a 170-yard 7-iron once in a while, but can you maintain that consistency the entire round? Probably not — until you have an understanding of the mechanics it takes to do so, and how to get the club in the right spot at impact.
That’s where ball-striking drills can help, with plenty of options out there available to try during your next range session. And one that’s easy and effective comes from Peter Kostis, who describes how using a towel can lead to better contact almost instantly.
Try using a towel to improve your ballstriking
In the video above — which comes from Peter Kostis and Gary McCord’s “Off Their Rockers” podcast, a GOLF Production — Kostis walks through a simple towel drill that every golfer should try. So if you tend to chunk it, top it, or hit it off the heel or toe, this is a quick way to fix those issues.
“If you try to get the golf club underneath the golf ball precisely at the right point, you got a hard job to do,” Kostis says. “That’s why most successful players don’t try do that. They don’t try to lift or scoop.”
Instead, Kostis says, the best ballstrikers understand how to make ball-first contact and compress the ball — which creates a divot in front of the ball, not behind it.
“Instead, [these players] catch the ball on a descending angle, which is called angle of attack,” he explains. “This is where the low point of the swing occurs somewhere between 3-4 inches in front of the golf ball.”
So how can every amateur golfer learn this necessary ballstriking skill? By placing a towel on the ground.
1 common mistake causing inconsistent ball-striking, per top teacher
“I take this towel and put it down 3-5 inches behind the golf ball,” Kostis says. “[After taking my setup], I’m going to swing and learn to miss the towel, hit the golf ball, and get my low point out in front of the ball.”
When trying this drill, Kostis reminds players to slow things down, which allows you to feel the differences, increase your focus, and execute it properly.
“As with all exercises, start slow and small, and, as you gain confidence, lengthen it out and speed it up,” he adds.
So if you’re hoping for better ballstriking and less mishits (aren’t we all?), give this towel drill a try and start building up your swing mechanics in no time.
To hear more from Kostis and McCord, you can listen to the entire episode below.
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