| Golf training aids can often give you that | | | | The device teaches the user to put less |
| little extra help to improve your game of | | | | weight on the back foot. Drills are suggested |
| golf. They are available for every aspect of | | | | which target the components of the swing, and |
| the game - your swing, putting, aim, grip - | | | | train the body to move in the proper |
| even measuring the slope of a green. There's | | | | sequence. Power cords are also available for |
| quite an array of golf aids out there with | | | | resistance training to develop the muscles |
| varying degrees of usefulness. Here's a small | | | | used in the swing. |
| list of available golfing training aids to | | | | |
| give you an idea of what to look for, | | | | 6. Putting Greens and Putting Mats come in |
| starting with golf aids for the swing. | | | | many shapes and sizes, with slopes and |
| They're not arranged in any order of | | | | measuring rods. A few incorporate an auto |
| importance. | | | | return ball feature and other gizmos. They |
| | | | all help with alignment to give a straight |
| 1. The Swing Hat is composed of a microchip | | | | stroke path, and a feel for slopes up or |
| incorporated inside a comfortable golfing cap | | | | down. |
| with earphones. Instant audio feedback is | | | | |
| relayed to you about your spine angle, and | | | | 7. Putting Glasses have markings on the |
| the tempo of your stroke. It has an | | | | lenses to align the golf ball, the feet, body |
| adjustable metronome and motion sensor. It is | | | | posture and also align the track and distance |
| designed to help you improve while you are | | | | to the hole. The idea is based on right or |
| performing the swing or putt. | | | | left eye dominance. |
| | | | |
| It's concept is based on the two basic | | | | 8. Forward Facing Putter. The golfer faces |
| principles of a good golf swing. First, that | | | | the hole with feet pointing to the target, |
| your spine angle remains constant, and | | | | and the putter is held by the side of the |
| second, using your own personal "tempo", | | | | golfer and pushed forward. The motion is |
| which can be found by experimentation. | | | | rather like that of croquet. Apparantly it is |
| | | | easier to read the green, and the stroke is |
| 2. The Swing Analyzer is a portable device | | | | said to be more natural. |
| packed in a holster. It aims to help you | | | | |
| maintain control of lateral rotation, and | | | | 9. Green Readers locate the slope, and the |
| rotation of your trailing hip. It lights up, | | | | angle of that slope. Modern instruments |
| vibrates and beeps every time you are not | | | | provide an instant readout. They give a good |
| swinging correctly! It can be usd to monitor | | | | indication of how much to adjust your stroke |
| your putting strokes as well. | | | | for uphill or downhill putts. It is against |
| | | | the rules to use them in actual competitions, |
| 3. The Swing Glove. This golf training aid | | | | but it is quite legitimate to use them in |
| helps develop a feel for proper wrist and | | | | practice rounds on the same greens before the |
| hinge movement. The glove extends up beyond | | | | competition. |
| the wrist and has a swivelling aluminium | | | | |
| rivet sewn inside which eliminates wrist | | | | 10. Practice Nets come in all sizes from mini |
| cupping and loopy swings. It forces the hand | | | | ones to large cages 10' X 10' X 10'. Some |
| to remain in the correct plane throughout the | | | | have a target at the end, and others have an |
| entire stroke. After several uses one gets | | | | auto return device for the ball. They need a |
| the 'feel' of a proper hand and wrist action. | | | | baffler if regular golf balls are used to |
| | | | practice. |
| 4. The Impact Ball again provides its user | | | | |
| with the feeling of the best stroke to | | | | 11. Speed Sticks help you to hit the ball |
| increase distance, keeping the club face | | | | further by increasing the speed of your |
| square. Other methods teach you to memorise | | | | swing. The faster you swing the club, the |
| the mechanics, and this is often an | | | | further the ball will go. You simply swing |
| unnecessary distraction. The method takes the | | | | the stick and read the indicator, then set it |
| focus away from the ball, and concentrates on | | | | to zero again.They can be used indoors and |
| the body and golf club working together. The | | | | outdoors. A "speed gauge", calibrated in |
| large ball-like device, fits between the | | | | miles per hour, tells you what the speed is. |
| forearms and prevents those "flying elbows", | | | | No guesswork, and you can track your |
| "ckicken wings", scoops and slices. There are | | | | progress. |
| two sizes, one for men, the other for women. | | | | |
| | | | 12. A Thumb Caddie keeps your golf grip |
| 5. The Leader Board Swing Trainer lets you | | | | consistent throughout your wing to give |
| feel correct balance, and helps achieve | | | | straighter and longer shots. It keeps your |
| proper timing in the swing. It consists of | | | | hands in the proper position, eliminating |
| three pads covered in artificial grass. One | | | | hooks and slices. The device slips onto any |
| is the "hitting pad" on which the ball is | | | | club. |
| placed. The right foot is placed on the | | | | |
| second pad which sits atop two rails, and | | | | There are numerous other devices available |
| slips backwards and forwards as the stroke is | | | | which should not be too difficult to find, |
| made. The third pad is for the left foot and | | | | but the old addage, "Practice, practice, |
| remains stationary. | | | | practice" still holds good. Golf training |
| | | | aids are after all only "aids". |