Golf Training Aids

In advance of thorough reviews, Critical Golf provides an overview of some of the most popular golf training aids for both putting and the full swing. Just because it is raining doesn’t mean you should take a break from the game, right? We recommend the garage or basement for ideal spots to work on your plane or putting stroke – this way there isn’t the worry of putting a clubhead through the living room TV with your backswing.

Putting Aids

  • Momentus Putting Drill Board, lightweight and portable, provides an easy way to take the guesswork out of practicing the two-tee gate drill (setting up two tees perpendicular to your line of putt and just slightly wider than your putter). The IDL (Inside Down the Line) 37” Stroke Putting Track Set, also from Momentus, helps you learn to swing the putter head slightly inside on the backstroke and then release the putter head down the line on the through stroke. Hey, if Angel Cabrera said the IDL method helped him win the 2009 Masters, maybe it’s worth checking out…
  • Eyeline Putting Plane System helps with the basics of putting – alignment to the target, making sure your eyes are over the ball and getting your shoulders parallel to the target (through the use of a mirror), squaring the putter fact, and putting back and through on a plane (through the use of inside and outside rails). Another product from Eyeline, the Golf Learning Curve, allows the player to practice with the correct plane, arc, putter face angle and alignment (also comes with a DVD).
  • The Accelerator Putting Training Device is a bare-bones artificial mat that helps the player with alignment, their putter path and acceleration through the putt. It includes markings for putt lengths of 3, 5 and 7 feet, and has a gravity fed ball return.
  • The Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine, while relatively steep in cost, allows for you to adjust for six different swing planes – a square to square and five arc modes (from 65 to 85 degrees), and accommodates all putter types. Accessories include a ball feeder (how nice!) and an alignment laser. For what it’s worth, the company claims over 50 people on the PGA Tour have purchased the Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine.
  • Lots of putting training aids involve mats or devices with rails to assist with your plane, but the Medicus Putter Trainer helps your stroke differently. The dual-handle trainer attaches to any putter and focuses getting the large shoulder muscles to take over during the swing, allowing the lead hand to take over and keep the wrists from breaking.
  • For those looking to get technical and want to see the details in charts and graphs that break down their putting stroke, the TOMI Personal Putting System fits the bill. Available in a base version as well as in the
    TOMO PRO     version, the TOMI provides a barrage of information including alignment at address, alignment at impact, path at impact, stroke path and rotation, shaft angle, impact spot, speed at impact, and stroke tempo. We aren’t kidding. All this information comes from feedback through a transmitter that can be clipped to any putter. It’s like having your very own putting lab at home! This isn’t an inexpensive device, and requires a Windows-compatible PC, but comes with a 30-day risk-free guarantee for those who want to give it a try.

Full Swing Aids

  • We would be remiss if we left off the Medicus Dual Hinge 5 Iron, 7 Iron or Driver , equipment from the family of the most well-known of golf training aid companies. These clubs let you know through their patented dual hinge when you are swinging off plane or off tempo. The 5 iron alone has sold a staggering 2 million units. You can practice with these clubs either with or without a ball.
  • Less well known in the world of golf training equipment, but offering a variety of training aids across a number of sports, is the SKLZ Gyro swing. A different approach to the Dual Hinge clubs from Medicus, SKLZ uses a gyroscope to help you feel when you have gone off plane.
  • If you are looking to increase your clubhead speed, you can check how you are progressing through the use of the digital Medicus Powermeter, which can attach to any club shaft side, or the Speed Stik (endorsed by a slew of GPA players, for what it’s worth). Pair these with one of the Mediucs’ Maximus weighted swing trainers or the Momentus Power Hitter Driver.
  • National Golf Products The Radar will estimate your shot distances while you hone your game on the range (and remember the last 100 shots taken as well). If you are distance-obsessed, this may be just the ticket for you (though you may wish to consider the use of a [link] laser rangefinder while at the range to help estimate yardages as well).
  • Finally, if you need a mat for the range and want to step things up a notch, check out National Golf Products
    The Golf Mat    , which flexes upon impact to simulate taking a divot. I’m not sure it can simulate the amount of digging that I have a tendency to do, but still…