When I was in Taiwan, I had the opportunity to work with two Japanese LPGA players who were facing challenges on tour. One of them, in particular, stood out—not because of her long game, which was solid, but because of her struggles around the green.
As we reviewed her scorecard and broke down the round, it became clear that shots from 60 yards and in were a major weakness. That distance — what I call “scoring territory” — was costing her strokes. So we decided to focus on it.
🟢 The Towel Drill
I grabbed a folded golf towel, about 20 x 20 inches, and laid it on the tee box 40 yards out. Her task was simple: land her pitch shots so they finished on the towel.
What I didn’t tell her was the real goal. I wasn’t just testing distance control — I was evaluating her ability to manage the first bounce.
She had a shag bag of about 30 Titleist Pro V1s. As she hit ball after ball, I stood behind her and observed. She wasn’t hitting the towel consistently, but that wasn’t what stood out. What caught my attention was the variety: some balls had hook spin, others cut. Some stopped quickly, others released and ran out.
In my mind, I assumed she was adjusting — working through different spins and shot shapes to find the best result.
🤔 A Surprising Discovery
Once the shag bag was empty, we walked out to collect the balls. I casually asked her what she had been trying to do on each shot. Was she experimenting with different trajectories? Was she trying to shape the spin?
Her answer surprised me:
“I wasn’t thinking about the bounce at all. I was only trying to control my carry distance.”
That changed everything.
🔄 Reframing Her Focus
I explained what I had seen from behind — the varied first bounce reactions — and told her that controlling how the ball landed was just as important as how far it flew.
She had all the skills already. She just wasn’t focusing on the right thing.
Once she started paying attention to how the ball reacted on the first bounce, everything clicked. She adjusted her technique subtly — not her swing, but her intention. And within a few more reps, she started landing shots on the towel.
📌 The Takeaway
This experience reminded me that even at the professional level, awareness is a skill. The short game isn’t just about technique or touch — it’s about knowing what to watch for. And sometimes, the biggest breakthrough comes from the simplest drill.
So next time you’re pitching from 40 or 60 yards out, ask yourself:
“Do I know what this ball is going to do after it lands?”
If not, lay down a towel… and start learning.