With UK Covid restrictions lifting, golf clubs are about to be bustling again. So, it’s time to sharpen your golf game before you hit the green.
Golfers have never had so much choice, with hundreds of different devices and tools designed to improve every aspect game.
Here you’ll find 13 of the best golf training aids for you to consider. Invest now and you’ll hit the ground running when the summer season returns.
1. PuttOUT Premium Pressure Putt Trainer, RRP £29.99
With its scientifically designed parabolic curve, this device auto-returns your good putts, rejects missed putts and holds your perfect putts, giving you crucial feedback to help with pace and line.
With a host of PuttOut challenges such as holing 25 in a row, you can enhance your ability to perform under pressure. This feature will definitely help when you’re stood over a meaningful putt in real competition.
2. ON PAR Tri Turf Mat, RRP £59.99
If there’s one downside to hitting balls in your back garden, it’s the damage that’s inflicted on the lawn.
This 25″ x 16″ mat isn’t designed with horticulturalists in mind; rather, it simulates three different types of lie golfers encounter on the course. So, you can practise off compact lies as well as longer grass, something you don’t always get at the local driving range.
And yes, it will also stop those divots from spoiling your perfectly manicured turf.
3. Pure 2 Improve Pop-Up Triangle Practice Net, RRP £179.99
Of course, if you’re going to hit balls in the back garden, then you’ll need a net – such as this one.
It looks a little like a tent; only it’s nowhere near as difficult to erect. The beauty of this net is its user-friendly pop-up design.
It’s not always easy to work out how well you’re hitting the ball into a net, but with the 60cm diameter target, you can at least get an idea of your starting line.
Having a target also adds an element of fun to your practice and makes this one of the best golf training aids for improving your aim.
4. PuttOUT Training Mirror & Gate, RRP £49.99
If you’re struggling on the greens and feel like your stroke lacks consistency, this training aid will put you on the road to recovery.
The mirror provides instant feedback, so you can see your swing path in action and work out why you might not be delivering a square face at impact.
Meanwhile, the 50mm putting gate provides the ultimate test: place it a foot in front of the ball and see if you can roll the ball through it.
Get used to this, and it’s amazing how big the hole appears when you switch back to putting for real.
5. Orange Whip Compact, RRP £79.95
We’ve all stood in front of the mirror and rehearsed our swing, haven’t we? Well, try doing it with this device, designed to help you with the rhythm of your golf swing.
An orange ball replaces the clubhead and allows you to focus on swinging naturally without thinking about the position of the clubface.
It’s weighted in such a way to promote a fluid swinging motion rather than a jerky hitting motion.
Meanwhile, a counterweight helps stabilise the swing and provides feedback as to whether you are loading or unloading the club properly. In conjunction with this, a proprietary shaft naturally promotes the need to swing in rhythm, creating synchronisation between your arms, upper body, and lower body.
The Compact model (35.5in) simulates short iron motion, but there’s also the longer Whip Trainer (47in) and Mid-Size (43in) in this range of golf swing aids, which simulate the driver motion.
Just make sure no one’s standing too close when you have a swing!
6. Impact Ball Golf Training Aid, RRP £29.95
If your brain is flooded with mechanical thoughts each time you take a swing, let the Impact Ball Golf Swing Trainer rectify that.
You can place it between your forearms or knees to adjust the position of your hands, wrists, and body —ultimately promoting a better impact position.
Regular use boosts your distance and overall swing consistency by allowing you to develop a feel for the optimum stance.
The Impact Ball Golf Training Aid is extremely versatile as it can also be used to improve your putting, chipping, and pitching technique, making it one of the best golf training aids available in the UK.
7. Perfect Putting Mat by Perfect Practice, RRP £124.99
Endorsed by PGA Tour professionals such as Matthew Wolff and Marc Leishman and voted 2020 Indoor Golf Product of the Year, this is no ordinary putting mat.
Since it’s manufactured with a unique Crystal Velvet material, this aid is second to none when replicating a putting green.
The Tru-Roll Technology will have your ball rolling at 10-14 stimp, which is equivalent to that of a PGA Tour green.
Plus, the best way to optimise your putting skills is to up your practice difficulty. This product features a 50% hole, which is ideal in this scenario as it allows you to challenge yourself when you’re away from the course.
8. SuperSpeed Golf Training Aid, RRP £189.00
If more distance is what you’re after, this is one of the best golf training aids to help you reach those new yardage goals. How does an extra 20 yards sound in less than eight weeks?
You might have to put some work in, but with its interchangeable head weights (100g, 150g and 200g), the Swing Speed golf training aid is a very effective bit of kit.
Not only does it help build up your swing speed, but it also provides a core muscle workout and improves your sequencing through the ball.
9. The Lag Stick, RRP £19.95
Keeping your head ahead of the ball is key to making good, solid contact – and this clever training aid will help you to see and feel what it’s like to compress the ball.
Place the plastic rod into the butt of your club, and midway through the downswing, the rod will elongate, which encourages you to keep your hands ahead of the ball.
The result? After the ball has gone, more divots and a more penetrating ball flight.
10. SKLZ Smash Bag Golf Training Aid, RRP £29.99
It might be called a smash bag – and let’s be honest, we all feel like letting off a bit of steam now and again – but there’s far more to this training aid.
Have you ever found yourself marvelling at the world’s best ball strikers, wondering how they produce such well-struck shots time after time?
It’s largely due to the position top professionals get into at impact – which is what makes this training aid so effective.
By learning that correct feeling, you can transform your ball striking – and release some pent-up frustration, of course.
11. Eyeline Gold Speed Trap 2.0, RRP £79.95
Do you struggle to visualise your swing path? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a troublesome aspect of improving your overall swing.
With this device, you’ll be able to focus on your downward path and adjust any issues that mean you’re not squaring the club face at impact.
The adjustable foam pegs will provide parameters for your swing and remove the guesswork that amateur golfers spend hours working against.
They’re also great for helping skilled players adjust their technique and get straight back to where they left off in their last session.
12. Tee Claw Golf Training Aid Kit, RRP £30.02
The Tee Claw is truly one of the best golf training aids on the market for its affordable yet versatile nature.
Not only does it eradicate the need for the dreaded rubber tees in poor conditions, but it provides a pocket-friendly aid to drills like:
- Alignment
- Swing path
- Ball position
- Chipping
- Putting
It is compatible with any tee and can be affixed to any form of putting surface, from both natural and artificial grass to carpet.
The Tee Claw YouTube channel comes with various tutorials, helping you get the most out of your training sessions once you’ve made your purchase.
13. SKLZ Unisex Golf Grip Trainer, RRP £15.99
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, it never hurt anyone to improve their grip.
Compatible with most golf clubs, the SKLZ Golf Grip Trainer will help beginners to develop muscle memory and overall accuracy. It’ll also mean they avoid common pitfalls like hooking, slicing, or re-gripping.
Seasoned golfers will benefit from training these skills in their pre-range sessions and avoid reverting to any bad habits they’ve picked up.
