9 Golf Drills That Stance IQ Complements Perfectly (And 3 That Don't)

How To Train With The Stance IQ

Although the Stance IQ training tool is specifically designed for training your stance width and ball position, it can also complement several other golf drills that could benefit from more structure or consistency in position. 

Drills where ball position is important, or needs to move from one shot to the next, can benefit from the ruler and ability to mark ball position that’s available on the Stance IQ training mat. 

Drills that typically require alignment aids (such as alignment sticks) can also be performed with the Stance IQ. 

Because the Stance IQ is generally only used during the setup phase of the golf swing, it can usually be successfully used where the hitting phase of the golf swing is the focus of the drill. 

How Not to Train With The Stance IQ

Generally, any drills that require the movement of the feet into different positions (such as the Step Drill), are best done without the Stance IQ mat, so there is no temptation to try and focus on foot position.

For these drills, it’s best to focus only on the ball striking and let the movement be more athletic and guided by your body’s natural (sub-conscious) motor skills. 

What Golf Drills Work Well With Stance IQ?

1. Chase The Ball Drill

How: Play the ball extra-forward (near/just outside your lead foot) and make normal swings—your body has to “chase” forward to reach it.

Goal: Get your low point forward (stop bottoming out behind the ball).

Improves: Weight shift, compression, fewer fats/chunks.

How Stance IQ Helps

The ruler on the ball position side of the Stance IQ training mat allows golfers to move the ball in a more structured manner, moving it forward in consistent increments. It also allows the golfer to take note of where the ball position started, and how far they got before they were not able to maintain good contact. 

Follow along here: https://divotworks.co.nz/pages/chase-the-ball-drill

2. Towel Behind The Ball Drill

How: Place a towel one clubhead (or less) behind the ball. Hit shots without touching the towel.

Goal: Stop the club hitting the ground too early.

Improves: Low point control and cleaner “ball-first” contact. 

How Stance IQ Can Assist

This drill is best performed with a consistent ball position, so the body can start to develop the patterns of movement required to make good ball-first contact (and avoid contact with the towel). 

The ruler on the ball side of the Stance IQ mat also allows the golfer to adjust the position of the towel more accurately, without just guessing the distance from ball to towel. Beginner golfers will require a larger gap (4-6 inches), whereas more advanced golfers might want to practice with a tighter tolerance (2-4 inches). 

The distance between the ball and towel can also be adjusted depending on which club is being practiced with. For longer irons, give yourself more of a gap, while you can move the towel closer with shorter irons and wedges (as your angle of attack is steeper into the ball). 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/VpySB09vqRE?si=qVBquy46deKgCj0e

3. The Headcover Drill (Anti-Slice)

How: Put a headcover just outside and behind the ball on the target line. Make swings that miss it with no “over-the-top” swing path.

Goal: Encourage a more in-to-out path (and better face-to-path).

Improves: Reduced slice pattern, better downswing path. 

How Stance IQ Can Assist

The straight edge of the Stance IQ can provide a reference for the club path during takeaway, which might make it easier for the golfer to return the club head on the correct path. This would be similar to combining the Headcover Drill with the Traintracks Drill.

The Stance IQ can also provide a reference point for how far behind the golf ball to place the headcover, which is usually around 6 inches back from the ball. Too close and it might become distracting from the ball. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/8BIqi8xL_vU?si=ADWc6vsnsYQfy9sj

4. Train Tracks Drill (Hand Path + Club Path in Takeaway)

How: Picture two rails (parallel lines) - hands go back on the inside rail, clubhead tracks back on the outside rail.

Goal: A takeaway that isn’t immediately yanked inside or rolled outside.

Improves: Takeaway structure, neutral wrist positions, on-plane downswing.  

How to Use Stance IQ

The straight edges on the Stance IQ training mat can be used instead of alignment sticks. Take the club head back parallel to but outside the top straight edge of the mat. Take the hands back parallel to but inside the bottom straight edge of the mat. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/AOtHfFNOYb4?si=1N8szkjjjiJFHu1V

5. Tee It Up (Hit Up With The Driver)

How: Do the “tee drill”: tee the ball normally, then place a second tee (or headcover) in front of the ball and swing so you clip the ball without smashing the front marker.

Goal: Promote a positive angle of attack (upward strike).

Improves: Launch, carry distance, reduces low-spinny wipey strikes. 

How to Use Stance IQ

Use the ball position ruler on the Stance IQ training mat as a reference for where to put the tee (or headcover)  in front of the ball. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/8BIqi8xL_vU?si=elJOWT9AFPwJQX5d

6. Feet Together Drill

How: Hit half-swings with your feet touching/very close, staying balanced to a held finish.

Goal: Clean contact without relying on big lower-body sway.

Improves: Balance, tempo, centered strike. 

How to Use Stance IQ

Use the Stance IQ training mat as a reference for your feet position and the ball position. With your feet together, the ball should be around the middle of your feet. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/16PEQ-YUtMA?si=Ow_hqK4cVJH9kJtN

7. The “L-to-L” Drill (90-90 Arms)

How: Takeaway to where lead arm/shaft form an “L” (90 degree wrist hinge), then through to the mirror “L” on the finish side - short, punchy reps.

Goal: Train hinge + release without flipping.

Improves: Clubface control, contact, strike consistency. 

How to Use Stance IQ

Use the Stance IQ mat as a reference to keep your foot position and ball position consistent so you can concentrate on clean ball striking. 

Follow along here: https://youtube.com/shorts/0JWhMMdDCiY?si=lDnw7jqxONGFnc6y

8. High / Low Ball Flight Drill

How: Alternate shots: one high, one low, to the same target (same club). Track if you can change flight on demand.

Goal: Build trajectory control, not “one-flight-for-life.”

Improves: Wind play, spin/launch awareness, swing control. 

How to Use Stance IQ

Use the Stance IQ mat as a reference for the ball position relative to your neutral (mid-flight) shots. Move the ball forward just 1 ball-width (~1.5 inches) for higher shots and back 1 ball-width for lower shots. You can experiment with moving the ball further, but this is a good starting point and will demonstrate just how sensitive ball position is.

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/wZY3_4W6unc?si=IoOzlu7hnCq1ERIj

9. Fade / Draw Shot Shape Drill

How: Pick a target and hit sets of intentional fades then intentional draws (advanced golfers). 

Goal: Learn to curve it both ways by manipulating swing path and controlling face-to-path.

Improves: Face-to-path control, course strategy options for advanced players. 

How to Use Stance IQ

Use the Stance IQ mat as a reference for the ball position relative to your neutral (straight) shots. Move the ball forward just 1 ball-width (~1.5 inches) for fades, and back 1 ball-width for draws. You can experiment with moving the ball further, but this is a good starting point and will demonstrate just how sensitive ball position is.   

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/lqk6Cf5oWwA?si=gUKg2QAOCMLdY1Ro

*These last two drills (High / Low and Fade / Draw) can be combined together as the infamous Tiger Woods ‘Windows’ drill. This can be done as either a 2x2 grid, or his ridiculously difficult 3x3 grid (Experts Only!). 

What Drills to Avoid Using Stance IQ With?

1. Practicing Alignment To Targets

How: Set up to the ball, aligning with your target. Then lay the club down at your feet and step back to check where you were lined up to. 

Goal: Align as close to the target line as possible. 

Improves: Alignment with your chosen target. 

How Stance IQ Hinders

Ideally, alignment should be done without any external alignment references as possible, such as square edges of a range mat, alignment sticks, or Stance IQ. This is essential for building the skill of alignment that’s transferrable to the course, where there are no references for alignment. 

However, you can become more familiar with what good alignment feels like, by performing this drill in reverse - by first aligning the Stance IQ or club shaft to your target, then taking your stance to see what the correct alignment looks like. 

 

2. Practicing Pre-shot Routine

How: Include your pre-shot routine when you hit balls at the range by stepping back and taking aim at your target and/or intermediate target before each shot, then build your stance and ball position for that club. 

Goal: Develop consistency in your pre-shot routine, including target selection and building your setup (stance and ball position) specifically for that club. 

Improves: Consistency, by reducing the mental load before each shot so you can run through a routine without over thinking the upcoming shot. 

How Stance IQ Hinders

You won’t have access to Stance IQ on the course, and because this is course-specific behaviour that we’re trying to engrain, it’s best to eliminate as many of the practice tasks as possible and just go with your natural athletic inclinations. There are other times for repetitive practice of ball position. 

 

3. The Step-Through Drill (Weight Transfer)

How: Hit your shot and follow through into a step forward with your back foot, so that back foot ends up next to or in front of your lead foot. 

Goal: Ensure complete weight transfer onto your lead foot at contact. 

Improves: Ensures correct weight shift onto your lead foot. 

How Stance IQ Hinders

As you’re stepping through in front of your hitting area, there is a risk that you could stand on your Stance IQ mat, which is best avoided as the mat is not designed to be stood on. 

Follow along here: https://youtube.com/shorts/1PtXYeKKj_I?si=tNN6KhUjJMfLUq2Q

 

And Which Drills Are Not Relevant At All?

The following drills do not relate directly to stance width or ball position and so can be performed with or without the Stance IQ. Instead, these drills focus mostly on introducing challenges to the swing that encourage correct technique. 

1. The Flamingo Drill (One-Legged Chipping)

How: Chip/pitch with most weight on the lead leg, trail toe lightly down (about a foot behind you). Keep chest steady and rotate through.

Goal: Stop hanging back and hitting behind it.

Improves: Crisp chips, stable low point, better distance control. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/JH4a502nOHY?si=bTCs7N8wZjF1-sE_

2. The Towel Drill (Connection)

How: Tuck a towel under both armpits (or lead armpit) and make smooth swings keeping it in place as long as possible.

Goal: Get arms and torso working as a unit.

Improves: Connection, reduces flying elbow / throwaway, often helps path consistency. 

Follow along here: https://youtube.com/shorts/V3ul4UkmqhU?si=YHIo3-ViiE41Aoyd

3. Right Hand Only Drill

How: Hit small chips/half-swings using trail hand only (shorter club is easier). Keep rhythm and a balanced finish.

Goal: Educate the trail hand/wrist to control the face without a death-grip.

Improves: Face control, strike awareness, feel for release. 

Follow along here: https://youtube.com/shorts/omWKcouFh8Y?si=L2u33a_AB9G9Jlz-

4. The “Coin” Drill

How: Use a coin as a strike/low-point reference during short-game practice. Trying to chip a coin means you need to ultra precise with your low point and ground contact. 

Goal: Make ground contact more precise (no “hit the ground and hope”).

Improves: Strike quality and low-point discipline around the green.

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/pddp74L-m-M?si=_rLovKg7nR_fDSzm

5. The “Whoosh” Drill (Speed)

How: Swing (often with the club upside down) and try to make the loudest “whoosh” past the ball, not behind you.

Goal: Train late acceleration instead of an early hit.

Improves: Clubhead speed and sequencing. 

Follow along here: https://youtu.be/0r_lUeMOBNs?si=k_LlHD2BTeBQ0XwV

Our Philosophy On Training With Stance IQ

The Stance IQ can be used for more than just learning your ball positions and stance widths across different clubs. 

The rulers on the Stance IQ mat are great for refining drills that require accurate ball position, foot position or moving an obstacle behind or in front of a ball. 

They also provide a more accurate reference for moving ball position, whether that’s Chasing the Ball or simply experimenting with ball flight and shot shapes. 

If you’re interested in making your range sessions more engaging, try adding Stance IQ to your drills and you might just learn a thing or two.