Towel in the Left Armpit

[colin007]

ive seen this as a drill, to keep a folded towel in the left armpit (for a righty) and to keep it there for the full swing without letting it fall out. my question is, why is this a good drill? what is it supposed to help with?

i tried it the other day on the range using a tee instead of a towel (it only fell out at the very end of the swing when the club was all the way behind my head.

[Dub]

Not sure what it does for everyone else but I'll occasionaly do it on the range. It helps me eliminate a high right elbow / chicken wing. It helps groove the inside-out swing.

[James_Black]

I remember a pro telling me to do this.

The aim of practicing with a towel under the arms in the golf swing is to keep your upper arms connected to the body during the swing. Keeping your upper arms connected to the body during the golf swing has many benefits: 1. Your golf swing stays on plane during the backswing and downswing. 2. You eliminate the dreaded "casting" or "over the top" move during the downswing which is the cause of most golfer's slice. 3. You will hit the ball farther and straighter because you will attack the golf ball from the inside

[colin007]

so you guys have done it right? it seems impossible to keep the towel there all the way thru the end of the follow thru...right?

[NormH3]

so you guys have done it right? it seems impossible to keep the towel there all the way thru the end of the follow thru...right?

I think it was made up by a jokester to see how many players would stuff things under their armpit

[gogolfing]

As I understand it, this helps to keep connected and to continue the body moving through the end of the swing, as opposed to arms only. I do this with a glove, but same thing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Apr16.html

Look at drill #2 in this article and it helps to explain it.

[KwSipp]

pretty sure this is a 3/4 swing drill kinda like the beachball drill where you swing with a beachball between your arms, connection is the key.

[colin007]

i dont think its necessarily a 3/4 swing, veej definitely does it with full swings.

[DBeane]

If your a righty, typically a glove or towel under the right arm is a good drill. I sat and watched Sean O'Hair hit full drivers for 15 minuets and the glove never moved.

A towel under both arms is a good 3/4 drill.

I cant say I have heard of left arm only for a right handed player. However, if you were having trouble swinging the club to far out to "right field", I suppose it could help.

-Beane

[Travtex]

I've noticed what has become a bit of a swing thought for me -- and might be on the 'bad habit' side of things because I think it introduces tension -- is keeping a feel of slight pressure with -both- armpits. (I have read about glove under front armpit, rear armpit, etc... I try both.)

Particularly with longer clubs, it noticibly helps my consistency.

[dummyisdumb]

This drill seem so unnatural.

[Chas]

Haven't tried the armpit thing myself - I prefer the image in Hogan's book of the upper arms strapped together. Whatever trick you use, it's a key concept for staying on plane and "connected" throughout the swing.

[kennay92]

I've noticed what has become a bit of a swing thought for me -- and might be on the 'bad habit' side of things because I think it introduces tension -- is keeping a feel of slight pressure with -both- armpits. (I have read about glove under front armpit, rear armpit, etc... I try both.)

i do the same exact thing

[KwSipp]

If your a righty, typically a glove or towel under the right arm is a good drill. I sat and watched Sean O'Hair hit full drivers for 15 minuets and the glove never moved.

Idk if I can say a glove would stay under his arm on this full swing driver, but maybe he was hitting a fade, either way it would be tuff to do and I cant say if there is or isnt a benifit to full swings with this drill.

[kennay92]

Idk if I can say a glove would stay under his arm on this full swing driver, but maybe he was hitting a fade, either way it would be tuff to do and I cant say if there is or isnt a benifit to full swings with this drill.

good lord, looks like he is trying to fade that thing around a 90* turn.

[Dub]

so you guys have done it right? it seems impossible to keep the towel there all the way thru the end of the follow thru...right?

I think the benefit is mainly gained on the backswing and into impact. I don't worry about the towel on the follow through...I simply do it naturally.

The drill keeps you in the inside slot. I don't think you want to manipulate your finish..let happen naturally.

[colin007]

I think the benefit is mainly gained on the backswing and into impact. I don't worry about the towel on the follow through...I simply do it naturally.

yeah, thats what ive been doing. there really seems to be no way to keep the towel in there at the end of the follow thru and im not going to worry about it.

[iacas]

If your a righty, typically a glove or towel under the right arm is a good drill. I sat and watched Sean O'Hair hit full drivers for 15 minuets and the glove never moved.

The stack and tilt guys put tees under both armpits. For full swings.

"Hit fast, stop fast" they say, I think. They never want the arms to lose the connection to the body. They re-hinge on the through swing and stop their arms from wrapping around their bodies. That O'Hair picture looks older. He's re-worked his swing quite a bit this year.