There are lots of pointless, dumb training aids out there. But there are also some great training aids that can truly improve your ballstriking skills. How will these help? Well, they can improve your swing plane, your wrist hinge, or your impact position (most important). Any fault in your golf swing that you an think of, there is probably a training aid for that specific purpose. I even wrote an entire article about the best golf training aid for every purpose. 

First, let me tell you about my favorite training aids for ballstriking, better driver, and better iron shots:

• They directly improve your impact position. The best training aids, when used properly and consistently over time, will directly result in an improved impact position. So if you think you can improve your impact (you always can!), then one of these training aids is for you. More on that later.
• They are simple to use. If it is too difficult to use or setup a training aid, you are very unlikely to use it and get any benefit out of it. The easier it is to set up and start improving your swing, the better. If it can fit in your bag comfortably, that is an added bonus.
• They exaggerate a change or force you to make a change. If a training aid does not physically force you into the correct position, or even an exaggerated one, then it will not be successful. Every golfer, unless there is a reason for a change, is going to consistently make the same swing and swing faults over and over again.
• They allow you to hit real shots. Many training aids (and even some that I include in this article) don’t allow you to hit shots while using it unfortunately. The best way to convert practice to real rounds is to be able to hit real shots while using the aids. Therefore, it is a big detriment if you can’t actually hit balls while using the training aid.

SKLX Grip Trainer for a Better Grip

First things first. You need to make sure you are holding the club correctly. Otherwise, your swing could be perfect but your club face is not cooperating due to your grip. My favorite training aid that I have used to improve or change my grip is the SKLZ Grip Trainer.

This grip trainer is unlike anything like it, as it can snap right on your clubs and you don’t have to think about it again. Super convenient, especially considering the alternatives which involve heavy, more expensive aids that don’t allow you to hit real golf shots.

Here are some of the main benefits of this grip trainer:

• you can be 100% sure that your grip is perfect
• you can get lots of reps with it
• you can hit full shots with it
• you put it on once and you don’t have to mess with it again
• easy installation

 

 

SKLZ Gold Flex for Better Tempo

I think that tempo is a very underrated aspect of the golf swing. I think that the average backswing is far too fast, and doesn’t allow the effortless power that can come with a golf swing with great tempo. The best training aid to improve your tempo is the SKLZ Gold Flex.

If you have never used one before, you are in for a treat. The ball at the end of the clumsy shaft is very heavy. You have to take the club back much slower, but you learn how to sequence your downswing to get as much power and consistency as possible.

I think it is a great way to learn to exaggerate whatever change you are working on in your swing. Because the weight of the ball at the end is so heavy, you really have to use your muscles more than you are used to in the golf swing. This will allow you to feel what you really need to so that you hit the positions or feelings that you are wanting to.

If you want to be amazed real quick, search Vijay Singh hitting full shots with this training aid, as it is pretty impressive.

Here are some great things about this training aid:

• will improve your tempo and sequencing
• great for exaggerating a swing change
• can make full swings
• can work on creating effortless power and a smoother, more powerful swing

 

 

Swingyde for a Better Wrist Hinge and Swing Plane

The Swingyde training aid is a personal favorite of mine. It does a few things, and it does them well. Most people, including myself, use the Swingyde to work on their wrist hinge, backswing plane, and keeping the lag on the downswing longer.

It’s main and most popular purpose is to make sure the wrists are hinging correctly. Most amateurs hinge the wrists too horizontally instead of vertically, so this tool makes sure the wrists are hinging at the right angle. As a result, that makes sure the club is more on plane in the backswing, allowing you to get to a good top of the backswing position. You can then use it to make sure you are not throwing the lag away at the beginning of the downswing. Lastly, you can use it to make sure you are releasing your forearms after impact. If the device does not end up snug on your arm, then you know your angles are slightly off.

Here are ways that the Swingyde can improve your ball striking and driving:

• Ensures correct wrist hinge by giving you feedback
• Allows the club to work more upward in the backswing
• Gives you a good way to see if you are holding the lag in the downswing
• Allows you to make sure you are releasing the club poperly (gives feedback if you aren’t doing it properly)

Tip: Make sure you wear a sweatband exactly where the club hits your forearms, or else it will bruise you if you use it enough.

 

 

Izzo Smooth Swing for a More Connected Golf Swing

You might have heard the term “connection” as it refers to the golf swing. That simply means that your arm swing is going along with your shoulder turn at roughly the same time. You don’t want one to get out of tune with the other. Unfortunately, many amateurs have what I would call “unconnected” swings, where their arms swing very independently of their shoulders. When this happens, the trail arm and elbow can really work away from your body. This causes all sorts of problems, notably an unfavorable effect on your downswing ultimately.

A great way to fix that would be to keep your elbows closer together throughout your golf swing. However, that can be a strange feeling if you have never done it before. It can also be a little tense, as you are not used to it. Therefore, the IZZO Smooth Swing is a very helpful tool. It will ensure that you have a very connected swing. Without causing too much tension, it will ensure that your shoulders are working together with your arm swing. It will also fix that dreaded chicken wing (trail arm flailing) that many golfers experience.

A bulletlist of the Izzo Smooth Swing benefits:

• a more connected golf swing
• no more flailing trail arm
• encourages the arms and shoulders to work together
• encourages a more compact golf swing

 

 

An Impact Bag for a Strong Impact Position

Impact bags are not used often enough. Period. All good ballstrikers get into a solid impact position, with the grip ahead of the clubhead at impact. This causes a descending blow, which delofts the club and launching the ball in the air.

However, impact is very difficult to train. The impact bag is super convenient, as you can exaggerate an impact position with a very leaning shaft. Then, once you go back to hitting an actual ball, you will know the feeling that you should feel.

Wondering how you can improve your ball striking with an impact bag?

• You can focus on speed and aggressivness, which are very important
• You can feel what a strong impact position should feel like
• It takes the emphasis on impact as opposed to the less important aspects of the golf swing
• Can be used anywhere