An impact bag is one of the simplest swing tools you can own: a soft, filled bag you swing into instead of a ball. It gives you something to stop against, so you can feel and check the position that matters most in the swing, the moment of contact. There's no ball, no net and no flight to worry about, which makes it a good fit for a garage or basement during a Canadian winter.
This guide covers how to fill a golf impact bag, how to set up a safe space, and five drills to start with.
What an impact bag does (and what it doesn't)
The bag gives you instant feedback on your impact position, rep after rep. You swing slowly into it, stop at contact and check three things: hands ahead of the clubhead, clubface square, weight on your lead side.
It is a tool for feel and position, not for full-power hits. Think slow, controlled reps, building up speed gradually. It also won't replace a lesson: if you work with a coach, it gives you a way to rehearse what they ask for between sessions.
How to fill a golf impact bag
Most impact bags, including the Golf Impact Bag, ship empty. You fill them with what you already have:
- Use old towels or soft clothing. Nothing hard or heavy: no shoes, books or anything with buckles or zippers.
- Aim for firm but forgiving. Too soft and the club sinks in with no feedback; too firm and every rep jars your hands. Add or remove a towel until it feels right.
- Pack it evenly so the bag sits upright and doesn't roll when you make contact.
Set up a safe space first
- Check above and around you. Look at the ceiling, lights and furniture before every session, and keep people and pets well clear.
- Use a short club. A wedge or short iron needs less room than a long club, and these drills only need half swings.
- Place the bag where the ball would sit for that club, on a floor where it won't slide.
- No ball, ever. Impact bag drills don't use a ball at all. If you want to chip indoors on another day, stick to foam or soft practice balls.
5 impact bag drills to start with
1. Stop at contact
Take a slow half swing and stop when the club meets the bag. Freeze and check: hands ahead, clubface square, weight forward. Reset and repeat. This is the base drill; the other four build on it.
2. Hold and check
Same slow swing, but hold your impact position for a few seconds. Check it in a mirror or film it with your phone from face-on. You're looking for the same picture every rep, not a harder hit.
3. Lead hand only
Hold the club in your lead hand only, choke down and make very small, slow swings into the bag. It helps you feel the lead wrist staying flat at contact instead of bending back. Keep these tiny: this drill is about control.
4. The backswing ladder
Start with a backswing to hip height and stop at the bag. Make the next one a little longer, and the one after that a little longer again, staying within your space. The goal is the same impact position at every length. When the position breaks, step back down a rung.
5. Tempo, then strike
Make a few slow, smooth rehearsal swings with a Golf Tempo Trainer, with no bag. Then pick up your club and make the same number of slow swings into the bag, keeping that rhythm. Tempo first, contact second. The Swing & Strike Bundle pairs both tools for exactly this drill.
A simple session
You don't need long. Warm up with a few tempo swings, do a set of stop-at-contact reps, then pick one of the other drills for the day. Finish with a few slow reps of drill 1 so the last thing you feel is a good position. For more ideas without a ball, see our 10-minute practice routine without a ball, or build the bag into a full winter golf practice plan.
Common mistakes
- Swinging too hard. Speed hides the position you're trying to feel. Slow down.
- Hands behind the clubhead at contact. If the clubhead reaches the bag first, your wrists have flipped. Go back to drill 1 with shorter swings.
- The wrong fill. If the bag folds or bounces, adjust the towels.
- Cramped space. If you're shortening every swing to miss the ceiling, move the session somewhere with more room.
Which set-up to choose
If you only want the bag, the Golf Impact Bag comes in yellow, black or red. If you also want to work on rhythm, the Swing & Strike Bundle adds the Golf Tempo Trainer. The bag lives in our Swing & Tempo collection, and both work well in a garage or basement.
Shopping for someone else? The impact bag shows up in our golf gifts for dad guide and in our golf gifts under $50 and $100.
FAQ
Do golf impact bags work?
They give you clear feedback on your position at contact, which is hard to feel when you're watching a ball fly. How much they help depends on how often you use them and whether you rehearse a good position. Slow, regular reps beat occasional hard ones.
What should I fill an impact bag with?
Old towels or soft clothing, packed evenly until the bag is firm but forgiving. Avoid anything hard or heavy.
Can I use an impact bag indoors?
Yes, if you have room for slow half swings. Check the ceiling, lights and furniture first, use a short club and never add a ball.
Can I use a driver with an impact bag?
Start with a wedge or short iron and slow swings. Longer clubs need much more room, which most indoor spaces don't have, and these drills are about position, not power.