Discover why top golfers use a towel during putting practice and how this simple trick can sharpen your stroke, improve distance control, and lower your scores fast. Introduction: Want to putt like a pro? Then start practicing like one. There’s a little-known secret that many professional golfers use during putting drills: a towel. That’s right—a …
Discover why top golfers use a towel during putting practice and how this simple trick can sharpen your stroke, improve distance control, and lower your scores fast.
Want to putt like a pro? Then start practicing like one. There’s a little-known secret that many professional golfers use during putting drills: a towel. That’s right—a basic golf towel can be a game-changing training aid for improving your putting stroke, alignment, and distance control. In this guide, we’ll break down why pros use a towel for putting practice, how to use it effectively, and why you should make it part of your golf training routine starting today.
Before we get into the towel trick, let’s talk about why putting practice matters. According to golf stats, nearly 40% of shots in a typical round happen on the green. That means improving your putting is the fastest way to drop strokes off your handicap. Whether you’re a beginner golfer or a mid-handicap player, sharpening your short game—especially your putting stroke—is essential.
The best swing can’t compensate for poor putting. That’s why golfers who consistently shoot low scores prioritize their short game—especially putting.
Here’s what consistent putting can do for your game:
If you’re struggling to make short putts, control distance, or read greens, the towel drill can help fix all of that.
So, how do golf pros train smarter on the green? One powerful method is using a golf towel as a putting aid.
The towel drill involves laying a towel behind the golf ball while practicing putts. The towel should be placed just a few inches behind your ball.
Purpose:
The towel acts as a barrier to train your stroke path, encourage center-face contact, and prevent deceleration or flipping the wrists—common mistakes in putting.
Follow these steps to apply this pro technique to your own golf practice:
Step 1: Setup
Step 2: Make Your Stroke
Step 3: Analyze Your Contact
Bonus Drill: The Gate + Towel Combo
Want to level up your accuracy? Combine the towel drill with the “putting gate drill” by placing two tees just wider than your putter head. This helps groove a square face at impact while the towel checks your stroke control.
Practicing with a towel costs nothing and requires no fancy equipment—but the impact on your putting game can be massive. Pros use it to tighten their stroke under pressure, and so should you. It’s a proven method to build confidence, develop better touch on the greens, and sink more putts from every range.
Final Tips for Better Putting Practice
Q: Can beginners use the towel drill?
A: Absolutely! This is one of the best beginner golf putting drills because it builds solid fundamentals.
Q: What size towel should I use for this drill?
A: A standard golf towel works perfectly. Fold it once or twice depending on how close you want it behind the ball.
Q: How often should I practice putting with a towel?
A: Just 10–15 minutes per session, 3–4 times a week can yield noticeable improvements.
Q: Does this drill work on indoor mats?
A: Yes. The towel drill is just as effective on an indoor putting mat as it is on a real green.
Using a towel during putting practice is a small change that delivers big results. It’s one of the best golf putting drills used by professionals to fine-tune their stroke and gain confidence on the greens. If you’re serious about improving your short game and lowering your golf scores, add this simple towel drill to your routine starting today.
