This clever tool helped me eliminate a ‘blindspot’ from my practice

For many golfers, fall marks the end of the season. As temperatures drop, so do your chances of sneaking in a quick twilight round after work. Living in New York City, I know the struggle all too well. 

Luckily, the rise of indoor simulators has made it easier than ever for those of us who live in colder climates to work on our games through the winter months.

Instead of putting my clubs in storage until spring, I’m able to utilize these critical off-season months to work on fundamentals, make swing changes and even experiment with equipment. 

But as much as I love the convenience and tech that simulators offer, they tend to overlook one crucial detail: reference points.

On a traditional outdoor range, you’re surrounded by subtle markers — old divots, broken tees, alignment rods, etc. — that help you fine-tune your setup. They quietly guide your alignment, posture and ball position. Indoors, though, most hitting bays are just a patch of green turf. No built-in cues, no feedback — just you, a mat, and a screen.

Without visual checkpoints, it’s surprisingly easy to fall into bad habits. One mistake I’ve found myself making during simulator sessions is gradually shifting my ball position too far forward. I’m not even sure why I do it, but it throws off my strike. The worst part? It feels normal. So the mistake follows me to my outdoor range sessions, where it starts to wreak havoc on my ball striking and consistency.

While the fix is easy, it usually takes me a while to figure out what’s going wrong, which goes to show how sneaky and persistent some bad habits can be without clear visual feedback.

Alignment rods can help of course, but I wanted something even more practical. Something compact, lightweight and easy to keep in my bag without even thinking about it.

That’s when I found the Stance Towel by Swing Plate.

The Stance Towel – By Swing Plate

The Stance Practice Tool and Convenient Towel Master your setup with the new Stance Towel. Built to simplify your practice, it ensures precise and proper feet alignment and ball positioning, so every swing feels effortless. Key Features: Quick and Easy Setup: Instantly visualize the correct stance and ball position for any club and shot. Consistent Practice: Develop a repeatable swing and putting stroke with clear guidance. Versatile Design: Doubles as a premium microfiber golf towel for added convenience. Durable and Weather-Resistant: Built to last, even in harsh weather conditions. Right and Left-Handed Options: Choose the version that suits your playing style. Watch the Stance Towel in Action:  What’s Included: 1 x Stance Towel Perfect Your Game Today!

$34.99 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

This clever tool is a reversible alignment towel that folds down small enough to fit in a side pocket. One side is designed for full swings — wedges to driver — while the other is tailored toward short game and putting. It gives you clear, consistent visuals for foot placement and ball position, which takes the guesswork out of every swing.

Since adding the Stance Towel to my setup, I’ve realized how much more productive my indoor (and outdoor) practice sessions can be. I especially love how it simplifies ball position for different clubs — middle, forward, driver — and helps me maintain a consistent stance across the board.

And with this towel, I don’t have to think about it. I just lay it down and get to work. Whether you’re grinding through the offseason like me or just want to make the most of your indoor range time, this tool is sure to help you dial in your game this offseason.