12 Best Golf Training Aids to Improve your Golf Game
Golf is a game where perfection is always a mere millimeter away … one degree here or there can mean the difference between finding your next shot smack dab in the middle of the bunker or a three foot putt for birdie.
For a game that has yet to produce the illusive “perfect” player – you can only imagine how many tools and training aids have been invented along the way to help people get as close as they possibly can. Trying to find the best one for you can be overwhelming to say the least!
In fact, some of the most frequently asked questions that come up include;
- How do I know which ones to choose?
- Are golf training aids worth it?
- What golf training aids do the pros use ?
- How can I improve my golf game with training aids?
Read on to find out what some of the best golf training aids out there are and how can they help to improve your golf game!
These golf training aids are grouped into several categories and these are based on one of the fundamentals skills in golf. The first category is the golf swing trainers.
Golf Swing Trainers
The golf swing is one of the fundamental skills each and every golfer needs to master if he has any hope of improving his golf game...and what better way to do that, than to use tools that are made especially for that. This is where various types of golf swing trainers and other golf training aids come in handy.
By practicing with a swing trainer you can:
- Help groove an effortless, balanced, and rhythmic swing
- Function as a strength and flexibility trainer
- Great warmup tool before rounds
- Help you get to a functional impact position especially if you are a recreational golfer
Below is a golf swing trainer that you might find helpful.
1. PlaneSWING Golf Training Aid
This could easily be one of the most underrated golf swing training aids out there and really brings you back to your fundamentals. The premise of this tool is to naturally and gradually build up your swing through muscle memory.
Your focus with this aid is to ensure you are swinging on your unique swing plane built for your body type as the tool is easily adjustable for every stature.
Check this tool out at the link provided to find out why tour players like Dustin Johnson have found themselves benefiting from this training aid: Click Here to Check Out the PlaneSwing !
The second category is the Putting Aids:
Putting Aids
Putting Aids facilitates putting along the proper line by squaring the putter face to your target. It also promotes better stroke mechanics for better contact and more accurate putts. Putting aids also helps you to better visualize your path to the hole and improve your green-reading skills.
There are various types of putter aids on the market including the putting mirror, the puttout pressure putt trainer but i will only go into more details on the putting arc and the putter plane laser.
2. The Putting Arc
If you were to walk along the practice putting green on a Monday before tournament week, you would see this yellow arc scattered all over the place.
This is one of the most common putting tools used on tour and not to mention has also become one of the most recognizable tools in golf (it may have something to do with being bright yellow – talk about some good branding!).
This is yet another tool that focuses on your muscle memory. It is an arc design that allows you to rest your putter head against the arc and simply drag your putter along it’s curve – simple as that!
Disclaimer: an average golfer may think … “Great! All I have to do is putt and make 100 balls in a row using the putting arc and I’ll have my putting stroke nailed down and ready to go!”
Don’t fall into this trap – anyone can drag their putter alongside the arc, however, you want to make sure your muscle memory is translating to your free putting stroke. Instead of mindlessly putting ball after ball on the putting arc, try alternating five putts using the aid and then five balls off the aid.
This will prevent the infamous “jelly hands” every golfer can attest comes after relying on a putting aid for far too many repetitions.
Don’t forget to check out “The Putting Arc” via the link provided here: Click Here to Check Out The Putting Arc !
3.Crest Golf Putter Plane Laser Sight Golf Training Aid
If you are a tech lover – this putting training aid may be just your cup of tea!
If you struggle with visualizing your putt roll along that “imaginary red line” from your club face to the hole – this allows that line to go beyond your imagination and materialize in front of your eyes!
This laser attaches to your putter and quite frankly draws a bright red line between your golf ball and the hole. It allows you to conveniently practice and check your putting alignment by giving you immediate feedback if you are not aimed where you thought you were. No more asking your golf buddy to line you up!
You can check out these laser attachments at Amazon via the link provided here: Putting Laser Attachment on Amazon .
4. Two Golf Tees
Not everybody wants to spend even more money on improving their golf game, but still want to find a way to better their game … if this sounds like you, this “training aid” is just for you – all you need are two golf tees.
Find yourself a three to five foot putt – preferably straight and slightly uphill. Then set up to your putt as normal and place one tee outside the toe of your putter and the other tee outside the heel of your putter. Your goal is to execute your putting stroke without touching either of the tees with your putter.
You can vary how “tight” the tees are to your putter depending on the degree of difficulty you are looking for – the tighter … the more difficult and precise you will need to be.
Tip: If you keep hitting the tee placed by the toe of your putter, you are more than likely putting by cutting across your golf ball. To counter act this, try to keep your putter closer to you on your back stroke.
On the contrary, if you are consistently hitting the tee by the toe of your putter, try to pull your putter more straight back (rather than close to you).
If you don’t want to invest top dollar on your golf game, this training aid (or drill) is for you!
Golf Mats
5. Country Club Elite Golf Mat
Don’t let those winter blues get in the way of your golf game!
The Country Club Elite Golf Mat prides itself on providing a hitting mat that feels like real grass and believe it or not you can even use a real golf tee – say good bye to those annoying rubber tees that never seem to be the right size!
Try putting one of these in your basement, put up a simple net and bam … you’ve got yourself your very own hitting bay. Come spring time and it will be time to debut your buttery new swing to all of your golfing buddies!
You can find The Country Club Elite Golf Mat by clicking here!
Golf Nets
6. The Haack Pro Golf Net
The Haack Pro Golf Net is made by the infamous “Rukket Sports” – they have a presence making training aids and nets for almost every sport imaginable. A golf net not only provides for the perfect “work-from-home” break, but also allows you the convenience of working on your golf swing whenever you find yourself with a spare minute.
These nets are known for being highly rated and if partnered with a golf mat this would make any of your friends jealous of your new addition to your man cave.
Check out The Haack Pro Golf Net via the link provided here: The Haack Pro Golf Net
7. Whack-A-Hack Golf Chipping Game
This is another Rukket Sports design that is a must-see.
A common chipping drill includes picking a spot on the green, visualizing the ball landing on that spot (about the size of a quarter) and then executing your chip shot.
This is a fun twist on that drill that allows you to not only practice your target consistency, but also prepares you to play under pressure as you can easily compete against your family and friends.
Check out Whack-A-Hack Golf Chipping Game via the link provided here: Whack-A-Hack Golf Chipping Game !
Golf Training Balls
8. BirdieBalls Golf Balls
These foam golf balls are one of the highest rated indoor (or outdoor) practice golf balls out there – people rave about the rare combination of a limited flight golf ball and its durability.
The foam golf balls are of course limited flight balls with an average distance of about 40 yards, however, what ranks these golf balls above all other products is your ability to shape your ball flight as you would with a real golf ball.
These balls are designed to fade and draw enough to where you can understand what your ball flight would have been with a real golf ball (just on a minimal scale).
Make sure to check these out by visiting their website provided here: BirdieBalls Golf Balls
9. Golf Practice Putting Balls
You’ve most likely crossed paths with something like these golf balls in the past. These golf balls are split down the middle – half white and half black. This provides the optimal straight line that can allow you to receive immediate feedback regarding the purity of your putting stroke.
Your goal is to putt the golf ball with a pure role – if your stroke is not pure, you will immediately and easily see the line wiggle back and forth, rather than a smooth and continuous roll.
Disclaimer: you can easily save a few dollars and create these golf balls yourself by tracing a straight line down the middle of your golf ball with a Sharpie OR if you prefer the ease of an already marked golf ball, you can find them HERE on Amazon.
Golf Swing Analyzers
10. Impact Labels
Impact labels are stickers placed on the club face that leave marks upon impact and are one of the most useful training aids that you can utilize for immediate feedback on the driving range.
The goal is obviously to find your golf ball imprint in the dead center of your club face, however, if you find yourself struggling with crisp contact these will triage any swing or set up issues you may be facing.
If you find yourself consistently hitting your golf ball on the toe of your golf club, you may be “reaching” in your set up – try adjusting your address position by standing closer to the ball.
In contrary, if you find yourself hitting your golf ball towards the heel of your golf club, try standing further away from your ball at your address position.
Tip: If you find yourself in a pinch or do not want to splurge on yet another golf training aid – try spraying your club face with some sun screen to do a quick check of your impact. The golf ball will leave an imprint in the sun screen, giving you the same results as the actual labels.
Just make sure to wipe the sun screen off after your shot – leaving it on your club without cleaning can potentially cause damage to your club.
You can find some of these Impact Labels on Amazon via the link provided here: Impact Labels on Amazon .
11. Arccos Golf 360 Golf Performance Tracking System
Calling all tech gurus!
This system/mobile app is a completely hands free and automatic system that tells you any information a real life caddy would tell you. The system is powered by placing several sensors on all of your clubs and specifically focuses on learning how far you hit your clubs so that it provide you with advice in the future.
What really sets this system apart from the rest is that the more you use it, the more it learns about your on course strengths and weaknesses – allowing you to figure out where and how you should devote most of your practice time.
You can check out the Arccos Golf 360 Golf Performance Tracking System and their glowing reviews via Amazon at the link provided here: Arccos Golf 360 Golf Performance Tracking System .
Golf Simulators
12. Trackman
You won’t find too many professionals on tour nowadays without one of these in their arsenal. Trackman can give you essentially every golf-related data point known to man… from carry and rollout distance measures to launch degrees and your angle of attack.
Do you want to simulate playing a round at St. Andrews? You can even calibrate your trackman to account for weather in different locations. Trackman will calculate how far your clubs will actually go with differing elevation and air density in a certain region.
For professionals who travel week to week, this is a valuable asset that allows them to dial in their distances days or weeks before actually arriving to their tournament location.
Although this training aid comes at a pretty penny, it’s universally loved amongst all tour players and anyone who wants a top of the line golf simulator in their basement!
You can learn all about Trackman and their simulated golf packages by visiting their website linked here: Visit Trackman Here !
Disclaimer: There are several other training aids out there , but I just highlighted a few that I think will help you get better at golf.
I know it can be overwhelming with so much to choose from , however your choice of training tool would depend on what aspect of your game to help improve.
After a couple practices especially with the swing trainers, you should be able to see some golf muscles plus some improvement in your backswing, swing speed, chip shots and overall ball striking ability.
Have a great day and hopeful you will have more fun on the golf course !