Good swing timing is one of the hardest things to feel — but this simple drill from golf coach Myrtle Beach Golf Trips makes it surprisingly tangible. Using nothing more than a toilet paper roll slid down the shaft, you can train your body to deliver the right strike for both irons and driver. It is one of the more unusual drills you will try, but the feedback it gives is immediate and genuinely useful.
Meredith Kirk – Game Improvement
This drill uses a toilet paper roll as a training aid to help you feel the difference between a descending strike with your irons and an ascending strike with your driver. The roll slides along the shaft during the swing, and where it reaches the clubhead tells you whether your timing and lag are where they need to be. It is a low-cost, at-home-friendly drill that works for golfers at almost any level.
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Key Takeaways Irons need a descending blow
Slide the toilet paper roll down the shaft and swing — for irons, the roll should reach the clubhead on the left side of the swing (post-impact), confirming your hands are forward and you are compressing the ball.
Driver timing is the opposite
Because the driver requires an ascending strike, the roll should travel to the clubhead on the right side of the swing, just before impact, which indicates you are creating lag and hitting up through the ball.
The sound tells the story
You do not need to watch yourself — the audible swoosh of the roll moving down the shaft gives instant feedback on whether your timing is correct for whichever club you are using.
Take a toilet paper roll to the range or use it in your garden at home and practise a few slow swings with a seven iron and your driver to start training the correct feel for each. This drill suits golfers who struggle to feel the difference between iron and driver timing and want a simple, free way to build better swing habits.
Meredith Kirk is an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional and nationally recognized golf instructor based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Named a “Best Young Teacher in America” and “Best Teacher in South Carolina” by Golf Digest, Meredith has over 25 years of experience working with players of all levels, from juniors to elite competitors.
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