If you
live and work in and around London, you’ll know only too well how difficult it
can be to get out and smash that little white ball around, especially in the
winter.
However,
there are some terrific driving ranges dotted around the capital, where you can
get that hour’s practice in to keep your game razor sharp.
Modern facilities have it all: bays, screens, data, teaching professionals, and, of course, food. Here’s a closer look at the best driving ranges in and around London.
Dukes
Meadow has one of the best driving ranges in West London, with 60 floodlit bays
looking out onto a wide, grass landscape. However, this venue is far more than
a driving range. With tennis courts, indoor skiing and numerous other
activities on-site, including a café, bar, retail shop and injury clinic, it’s
fully equipped for whatever your needs.
There’s more on offer for golfers, too, with an immensely popular nine-hole course, five-hole academy teaching course, specialised short game area, and a practice putting green. In addition, a large team of experienced PGA pros are on hand to give lessons, with access to all the latest technology to help you improve your game.
As driving
ranges go, they don’t get much better than World Of Golf. Its 60 bays, bookable
online, get plenty of use, not just because of its location – between Wimbledon
and Kingston-upon-Thames – but for the overall quality of the set-up.
Toptracer technology is installed on 32-inch television screens on each individual bay across the whole range. Meanwhile, there are ten dedicated teaching professionals helping those of all levels, from beginners to serious players. On-site, you also have one of American Golf’s largest UK superstores, a café, a physiotherapist and… dinosaurs. That’s right, Jurassic Adventure Mini Golf is something for the whole family to enjoy.
This
48-bay two-tiered driving range provides a relaxed environment in which to
practice. It’s popular with beginners, too, and those who enjoy the occasional
knock, with an enjoyable nine-hole course – plus there’s Adventure Golf (however,
check the website for details of when it reopens after maintenance has been
completed).
After you’ve had a swing, why not grab a bite in the Metro Italia – not your average on-site driving range café – or stock up on golfing essentials in American Golf.
Founded in
2007 by PGA professional Declan Malone, Number One Golf (N1GOLF) started as a
golf academy business and now has several locations across the UK. ‘Golf for
everyone’ is one of its core values, so there are plenty of activities to get
involved in when you visit, which can certainly be said of its Greenwich venue.
This
riverside range sits on the bank of the Thames near North Greenwich tube
station on the Greenwich Peninsula. Booking a bay online is easy – so too is
getting a lesson in the diary with one of the PGA professionals.
With each bay kitted out with its own sofa and table, this is a venue where you can spend a couple of serious hours on your game but also relax with friends, have a drink, and enjoy a bite to eat.
Situated close to Chingford Golf Club, this facility has been open for nearly 50 years – and it knows how to look after its customers. The range features 24 bays and an outfield measuring 300 yards long by 200 yards wide. There are numerous targets and distance boards helping you to practice with purpose, while a friendly professional team is always ready to step in and help if you’re looking for one-on-one lessons.
Now we’re talking. The Seve Ballesteros-designed Shire London is one very fine course, so it’s no great surprise that it boasts such a terrific driving range facility.
Describing itself as a ‘social hub’ and located right by the clubhouse and the putting green, it’s a super place to warm up or work on your game. The open-air bays look out onto a large grass ‘fairway’, which slopes gently downhill, with the woods helping to frame the flight of your ball. Given its attachment to the golf club, it’s perhaps one for the more serious golfer.
OK, not strictly a driving range, but you need to head out of central London for grassy, outdoor ranges. Urban Golf, which opened in 2004, is London’s original indoor golf simulator venue, with its 11 simulators offering a truly authentic experience.
While serious golfers can put in some pretty long hours here if they want to, it’s also a place where you can try different versions of the game and test your skills in the longest drive and nearest the pin challenges. You don’t get to see your ball fizz off into the distance, of course, but there are 60 plus championship courses to work through, and between shots, you can always watch some live sport and grab a bite to eat.
Though the more serious golfer would probably prefer to work on their game somewhere quieter, this is a fantastic facility for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you’re a golf fanatic or a complete beginner, there are various games to enjoy – and they get quite addictive, too! Book a bay, order some food and drinks, and let the fun and games begin.
Alex
Elliott’s passion and knowledge of golf has seen him create a thriving
community on YouTube and Instagram. However, not only does Alex’s online
content help golfers improve their game, but he’s also an avid coach and can be
found teaching at Mottram Hall Golf Club in Cheshire.
We caught up with PGA Pro and YouTuber Alex to chat about his path into the sport, caddying on the European Tour, coaching, and social media.
When did you start playing golf?
I think I was about three or four years old. My dad took me to junior lessons at Bramhall Golf Club, just south of Manchester. Like many youngsters, I played all sports up until the age of around 10 or 11 – I was into cricket, football, and a bit of rugby – but then, I decided I wanted to take golf a little bit more seriously. I joined the junior section at Bramhall and played all my junior golf there.
What were your ambitions at that stage?
When I got
to the age of 16-17, I knew I wanted to play golf full time. I dreamt of being a
young pro on the European Tour, winning a Major and pulling on the famous Green
Jacket.
I wanted
to develop quickly as a golfer, so I went to Portugal to work for golf clubs and
use their facilities.
That’s where
I met Andrew Murray. For those who don’t know, Murray was a European Tour
regular up until the mid-nineties, and like me, he’s also from the North West.
From that moment, everything changed.
Your career went in a different direction, though, right?
Yes. I
started caddying for Andrew’s son, Tom.
Initially,
this was to gain experience and watch him play. We did Tour School, got to the
Final Stage, and Tom got his European Tour card. However, six or seven weeks
later, I found myself in the locker room with him at Leopard Creek in South
Africa and could see Sergio Garcia’s locker next to me.
I was
thinking, ‘what’s happening here?’
It really was a baptism of fire, but I learnt a lot.
Did you get the urge to try and make it on Tour as a pro yourself?
Looking
back now, I learnt more through my experience with Tom than I realised.
I’d say
that I learnt how to play golf by caddying for him and watching the pros on
Tour, instead of just going out and swinging the club.
We won a Challenge Tour event, but unfortunately, we didn’t manage to keep our card. However, the whole experience of caddying for three-and-a-half years and observing top coaches like Pete Cowen and Jamie Gough helped me on the path to where I am now – teaching.
So, your caddying days are behind you?
I learned so much. It was fantastic. However, the one thing I didn’t like so much was being away for 48 weeks of the year. It can be great, but I also wanted something stable, which is why I did my PGA qualifications. These took three years, and after that, I was a qualified PGA pro. It might not have been the route that I thought I’d take when I was 16 years old, but it’s turned out well in the end.
How did the YouTubing and social media come about?
The
YouTubing and social media came about via my girlfriend, to be perfectly honest.
It was her that first said, “You’ve got to be doing that – it’ll help you get
lessons” and so on. I’d say, ‘No, that’s not me, I’m not doing that!’
But, after
a lot of persuasion, I did it. I shot my first video about six years ago, and
it took about six hours to put together! It was great, though, and I just wished
I’d done it sooner.
Now, my YouTube channel, AlexElliottGolf, has nearly 125,000 subscribers (to date).
What sort of content can viewers expect from your YouTube channel?
There are
countless tips on every aspect of the game for golfers of all abilities. I get
a real buzz out of helping people play better golf. I’ve had chats with experts
like Karl Morris, too.
Karl has been involved with Major winners and provides all kinds of insight, which, as well as helping you play better golf, also provides light entertainment – something we all need at the moment (especially if we can’t get out and play!)
You’re clearly passionate about presenting – tell us more…
I
absolutely love it.
Instagram
came first. At first, I’d post fun stuff when I was on Tour caddying – pictures
of venues, locker rooms, and behind the scenes-type content. I enjoyed blogging
when I was on the road, too, and I started building a following.
That’s when I decided to move onto YouTube. It’s not the easiest thing to do in the world; in fact, it’s quite hard, but once you get going and people start relating to and engaging with your content, the momentum starts to build.
So, you learnt on the job?
Exactly. I watched a few other people and observed how they conducted themselves, but my girlfriend has been a massive help, too. She edits a lot of my content and tells me if I’m repeating myself or shouting at the camera. It helps that she can give me an honest opinion and tell me whether something is rubbish – you need that!
How do you deal with negative comments?
I just blank it out. I’m quite good at blocking those things out. It’s not that bad. However, when one of your peers tries to dig you out, that’s when it can hurt a little bit.
What’s your favourite piece of content you’ve created so far?
Playing
Carnoustie.
It was a course vlog with a bit of instruction on course management. With the grandstands up, too, it was like a boyhood dream of playing in The Open.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to amateur golfers?
I would
say that every time you go to the range, check your basics – so that’s your
grip, stance, and ball position.
These are
the fundamentals and have such a massive impact on what you do in your swing. Get
these basics as close to perfect as you can, and you’re already giving yourself
a much better chance of being a more consistent golfer.
I remember reading Ian Poulter’s book, ‘No Limits’. In that, he talks about perhaps not being the most naturally talented player, but he’s extremely diligent when it comes to the simple things, like the set-up. I see 99% of club golfers just wash over this and instead focus on more complex things.
What’s your finest achievement as a teaching pro?
During
lockdown, I started teaching someone that hadn’t played for a while.
He’d given up because of various injuries, and he wasn’t getting much enjoyment from the game anymore. Now, however, he’s joined a golf club, and he’s loving playing two or three times a week again. The more people I can help get out, the better.
Would you say that encouraging people to get back playing is what drives your YouTube content?
That’s right. I also think it’s a good platform to change the stereotype of the game. Golf is fun. We need to be doing all we can to get younger people playing, including juniors and ladies. There are currently many YouTubers doing some really good stuff to help showcase what golf is all about, which can only be good for the game.
And finally, what is TikTok?
TikTok is
a social media platform for short videos, often put to music, for the purpose
of entertainment.
That probably sounds horrendous to some people, but audience entertainment is integral to creating content. Although it can be rather amusing watching people dance, you certainly won’t see me doing that any time soon, however!
For all the
hype and media furore that often surrounds men’s golf, the quality of the
women’s game and women’s golfers mustn’t be forgotten either.
Like all sports, the pandemic has played havoc with women’s golf. However, the future has arguably never looked brighter as we enter the 2022 season.
Right now, the 2022 golfing calendar looks strong with more than 30 tournaments underpinned by the Aramco Series and the two Major Championships scheduled for Europe (The Evian in France and the Women’s British Open, which is being played at Muirfield, Edinburgh, in August.
As well as this, the Ladies European Tour, in particular, has benefited enormously from the success of last year’s Solheim Cup team, which won on American soil for only the second time in the event’s history.
We sat down with eight-times Ryder Cup player and three-times Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher to chat about which women’s golfers he’s tipping for success in 2022.
Here’s what he had to say…
9 women golfers to look out for in 2022: Bernard’s picks
1. Nelly Korda
Korda is currently ranked number one in the world (at the time of writing). At just 23 years old (at the beginning of the year), the daughter of Grand Slam tennis winner Petr Korda has already won an impressive seven tournaments in America. These include last year’s Women’s PGA Championship and the Olympic gold medal in Japan.
2. Leona Maguire
Irish superstar and former amateur number one golfer for a record 135 weeks, Maguire turned professional in 2018 and has impressed ever since. Most recently, she was a standout performer in the 2021 European Solheim Cup team. Her superb temperament and excellent technique make her one to watch this year for sure.
3. Jin Young Ko
Hailing from South Korea, Young Ko is ranked number two in the world (at the time of writing). She won the LPGA Golfer of the Year Award two years in a row in 2019 and 2020 and was the leading money winner in both plus in 2021, too. Young Ko has won 12 LPGA tournaments, including two majors to date. She’s an outstanding talent and certainly the one to beat in 2022.
4. Anna Nordqvist
Nordqvist is a quick, ‘no-nonsense’ type of player with an admirable technique. She currently plays on both the LPGA and European Ladies Tour. Nordqvist has won a total of nine tournaments in America, four in Europe and also has three majors to her name. One of her three majors successes came at the 2021 Women’s British Open at Carnoustie.
5. Lexi Thompson
A stalwart on the LPGA since first turning professional in 2015, Thompson is one of the most decorated women golfers. To date, she has 11 career wins under her belt, including one major. Her long hitting and dependable putting ability make her an exciting player to watch for sure. Interestingly, her two brothers, Nicholas and Curtis, are golfers, too. It must run in the family!
6. Georgia Hall
English star Hall has been playing professional golf since 2014 after a hugely successful amateur career. She currently plays on both the European Ladies Tour and the LPGA – the latter of which she has won twice. Known for her consistency, Hall won the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham in 2018 and appeared on the European Tour Order of Merit in the same year and in 2017.
7. Charley Hull
Hull represents Woburn on both the European Ladies Tour and LPGA Tour, winning three times in Europe and once in America. In 2014, she became the first-ever golfer under the age of 18 to win the Ladies European Order of Merit. Hull is an excellent player to watch with an excellent swing – it can only be a matter of time before she wins a major.
8. Inbee Park
Another South Korean golfer on our list and my favourite women’s golfer, Park has dominated the LPGA Tour at times, bagging 21 wins since first turning professional in 2007. She’s also won three times in Europe, four in Japan and once in her native South Korea. If that wasn’t enough – she’s also won seven majors to date. Small in stature she might be at just 5’6’’, she’s not long off the tee, but an imperiously straight, superb putter with and the best tour temperament I’ve seen, female and male golfers included. The 33-year-old is totally calm under pressure and has many more career wins to come for sure. Remember the name.
9. Lydia Ko
New Zealander Ko is a real golfing prodigy. She was already a superstar on the LPGA Tour before she’d even turned 18, and to date, she remains the youngest player to win a Pro event and the youngest player to win an LPGA tournament. Ko is also the youngest player (women or men) to be crowned world number one. Still only 24 years old (at the beginning of 2022), she’s won 16 Tournaments on the LPGA and six on the Ladies European Tour, including two majors. After a slight dip in form, Ko returned to winning ways strongly in Hawaii in 2021. She also currently lies third in the Rolex Ladies World Rankings – definitely one to watch and look out for in 2022.
Many thanks to Bernard for sharing his favourite women’s golfers in 2022. Who are you backing on the fairway this year?
Though the weather may disagree, we’re
getting closer to spring with each day that passes. We’re probably guilty of
saying this every year, but is there really any better time to invest in a
shiny new set of irons?
If you’re preparing to get back
in the swing (pardon the pun) when the season returns, there’s a good chance
you’ll be in the market for new golf clubs – or at least doing some essential
research beforehand.
Although a new set of irons can be rather expensive, the temptation is often too great – you need to scratch the itch.
Well, the good news is you’re in
the right place. We’ve rounded up the 10 best golf irons of 2022 to help you
narrow down that all-important search.
Whether you’re new to the game
and need a forgiving model, or a pro golfer demanding superior feel and
distance control, there are some excellent models to choose from.
Made from
extremely soft 431 stainless steel, the Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 irons provide
an optimal feel for players of all levels, but their enhanced forgiveness makes
them ideal for more competitive players.
With a more
noticeable offset, thicker, chamfered topline and a longer face, C521 irons have
traditional game improvement looks implemented throughout.
As well as this, the C521 cavity has been smoothed out, too, to make the iron appear less bulky, nicely complementing its slick black, silver and blue colour scheme.
C521 irons
have a 15% wider sole than previous Tour Edge models, which results in cleaner interaction
with the turf and more consistency in your shots.
What’s more – you’ll also notice the nifty toe-weighted design. This elongates the sweet spot, further ensuring consistent distance and feel with every shot.
Thanks to its combination of high-strength 450 steel and AI-designed Flash Face Cup technology, the Callaway Rogue ST Max irons are an industry first and some of the best golf irons in 2022 for sure.
Callaway is known for pushing innovation as a brand, and the Rogue ST Max series, available with either a steel or graphite shaft, certainly continues this trend.
With refined game improvement shaping and the strongest lofts in the Rogue ST line, these irons are suitable for a wide range of golfers looking for speed, forgiveness, and all-round performance.
New to the
ST Max is Callaway’s leading AI Face Optimisation technology. Unique for each
model and loft, this creates total spin rate consistency across the face,
creates high launch and COR, and makes for a more controlled landing angle to
help hold on the green.
The signature Callaway-patented urethane microspheres have also been pushed up to the sixth groove to enhance sound and feel at fast ball speeds.
Designed to replace the Ping iBlade players’ iron, golfers familiar with that particular model can expect a similar sole bounce, blade length and offset with the i59 – but with a 0.75mm thinner sole for increased precision.
The face,
grooves, hosel, and toe geometry are all CNC milled and have undergone 100%
quality control inspection, too, so there’s nothing shoddy about this series
whatsoever.
Bringing additional forgiveness, the i59 comprises of three main parts:
A forged 1025 carbon steel body
17-4 stainless steel face
Aerospace-grade aluminium core (individually shaped to each iron in the set)
The combination of these three parts frees up 30g of material from the heart of the iron for repositioning to better control trajectory and tighten dispersion.
You’ll also
find four extra grooves on each i59 model face. These help reduce fliers in the
short irons and maintain spin in the longer sticks to maximise shot-to-shot
consistency.
Granted, they’re not cheap – but can you really put a price on quality like this?
The powerful Wilson Staff D9 (the ‘D’ stands for ‘distance’, in case you were wondering) irons are engineered with Power Hole 2.0 technology. This means that holes have been placed on the leading edge around the bottom of the sole to deliver more face flexing.
This new arrangement of power holes increases deflection and provides more energy transfer at impact to increase ball speed. The end result? Greater distance performance.
Intelligent
design personified, Wilson Staff D9 irons ensure more power throughout.
The D9 is
also positioned with Wilson’s lowest ever centre of gravity to improve launch
and spin. This means more stopping power and greater workability for you, the
user.
Wilson’s Staff game improvement model is also a slightly more wallet-friendly option for higher handicap golfers. So, with those distance gains, you’re also going to save a few pounds versus if you bought from one of the other, perhaps bigger brands.
As a
golfer, you’ll know that an iron is more than just the metal it’s made from. Your
trusty set of irons is likely to be the product of countless hours of research,
testing and feedback.
That’s
certainly the case with the TaylorMade P790 series, anyway, and if you’re
looking to push yourself to be the best you can be, these are the perfect irons
for you in 2022.
With a thin wall construction made from new 8620 carbon steel, forged L-Face and redesigned tungsten weighting, this new generation of TaylorMade irons have been carefully crafted for optimal launch with more forgiveness.
TaylorMade’s newly engineered SpeedFoam Air is almost 70% lighter than its predecessor and provides around 3.5g of weight savings on average.
This makes for an ultra-thin iron face and unlocks an intelligent sweet spot that’s been cleverly repositioned to capture more shots and perfect performance in the areas you need it most.
Typical RRP: £1,000 Suitable for: High handicappers
Mizuno JPX 921 irons are primarily designed to make you a
better golfer.
If you’re already familiar with other Mizuno models on the
market, you’ll ease into using the JPX 921 in no time, as it’s a combination of
all the components that make Mizuno one of the best manufacturers out there.
Perhaps most notably, the use of Chromoly – a low-alloy steel, typically stronger and more durable than other types of steel. So, whether it’s high speeds, precision, balance, or all the above – this has you covered.
As is standard for Mizuno, the stunning JPX 921 boasts an
impressive fusion of precision with stability, particularly from off-centre
strikes. However, these newer irons now have even thicker behind impact for an
enhanced but softer feel, as well as tour-refined short irons for a smoother interaction
with the turf.
The straight flight and sharp look of the JPX 921 irons make them a solid choice for younger golfers, perhaps with less course experience – but in truth, they’re suitable for any golfer.
Typical RRP: £1,000 Suitable for: Various levels and handicaps
In developing
its T200 irons, Titleist has taken everything which made its previous iron
generations so special and shrunk it into a much more compact, Tour-ready
design.
However, previous models within Titleist’s renowned T-series have been somewhat criticised in the past for looking too much like game-improvement irons. So, with streamlined Max Impact technology and denser tungsten weighting, the T200 irons arguably showcase Titleist’s boldest shift yet within the series.
Visually,
these irons now have a much slicker shape, shorter blade length, and a thinner
topline than previous T models. The addition of a specially engineered muscle
plate also improves acoustics, ensuring a crisper sound and feel, too.
The T200 irons offer a solid mix of performance attributes suitable for golfers of various handicaps.
Let’s say you’re a low handicapper but not the best ball-striker, or perhaps you’re an experienced golfer finding yourself in the low-teen handicap range – Titleist T200 irons will serve you well.
Cleveland’s
CG Launcher CBX irons make a significant difference to your performance as a
golfer. That claim is, of course, according to the brand itself.
However, it’s difficult to see how this wouldn’t be the case, given the level of innovation and technology we’re working with here.
Offering
perhaps a more stripped-back design to previous Cleveland irons, two of its wedge
technologies (the V-shaped sole and tour zip grooves) combine here to provide
golfers with a much more forgiving set of irons.
The tour
zip grooves with laser milling enhance spin, making for wedge-like control. At
the same time, the V-shaped sole – now synonymous with Cleveland after years of
testing on its wedges – allows you to cut
through the turf much smoother and faster than you perhaps would with other
irons.
Not to mention that its classy satin finish means you’ll look the part out on the course, too.
The
super-lightweight F-Max Airspeed irons from Cobra are designed to help you
deliver unrivalled speed, launch and distance. In fact, these irons are
marketed as boasting the lightest ever design for maximum distance.
Three key
technologies combine here to make these some of the best and most enjoyable
golf irons to play with (in 2022 and indeed, beyond). These are:
A deep undercut cavity
Low profile shape
Greater lofts
The offset club design will help you master the pin-seeker, and you’ll reap the benefits of perfect trajectories in every iron in the set, too. This is because Cobra cleverly makes its long irons more forgiving, scoring irons more accurate, and wedges more precise.
Although suitable for a wide range of golfers, the Cobra F-Max Airspeed irons have been more specifically designed to aid mid-to-high handicappers.
We conclude
our round-up of the best golf irons in 2022 with another solid entry courtesy
of our good friends, Callaway.
Again,
making use of its AI-designed Flash Face Cup technology, the Mavrik iron boasts
a sophisticated face architecture that’s unique to every loft to create a
noticeable boost in ball speed and increased spin robustness.
Flexing and
releasing at every impact, the 360 Face Cup enhances ball speed even further.
The addition of custom tungsten-infused weights in each iron in the set also allows careful positioning of the centre of gravity while still maintaining your desired ball speed.
As is now
typically standard for Callaway, its patented urethane microspheres also effectively
absorb any unwanted vibration at high speed.
There are also several shaft options to choose from with the Mavrik, so you can tailor yours just how you like.
There are
two types of golfer: the one who enjoys cleaning their clubs and goes about
doing so quite enthusiastically after each and every round, versus the one who
throws their sticks into the boot of the car without giving their equipment a
moment’s more thought.
Well, if
you’re the latter, shame on you.
Whether you find it a chore or not, cleaning your golf clubs is essential. Not only do you want your clubs to stay looking like new for as long as possible, not to mention shining beautifully in your golf bag, but presumably you want them to give you the very best performance, too?
Put
simply, if your grooves are clogged up with sand and dirt, and your grips are
filthy, you’re making the game more difficult than it already is.
So, here’s our guide on how to clean golf clubs.
What You Need
Much like you’d organise your kitchen worktop before preparing a meal, get everything in place first. Here’s what you need:
Bucket or a sink
Lukewarm water
Washing up liquid
Towel (two if possible)
Nylon brush
Cloth
Step 1
First
thing’s first – this crucial operation is best performed outside!
You want
enough lukewarm water to cover the heads of your irons without the water coming
up over the ferrules (the part that joins the shafts to the heads).
The water shouldn’t be scorching hot, as this risks loosening the ferrules – so make sure you use a little cold water to take the edge off the heat. Apply a little squirt of washing up liquid and give it a splash to create some bubbles.
Step 2
Start with the irons. Let the clubheads soak for a few minutes, and watch that dirt come loose. You’ll be surprised how quickly the water turns brown, especially given you’re bound to have some grime behind the clubheads, too, which can get lodged in pretty firmly on cavity back heads.
Step 3
Now for the
satisfying bit – the part where a bit of elbow grease may well be required.
Get your nylon brush or a brush with plastic bristles – even an old toothbrush can be effective – and get to work on those individual grooves. Remember, it’s the grooves that help impart spin on the golf ball, so removing debris to increase the surface area contact with your ball at impact is going to help you control your shots.
Step 4
Maybe your irons are so clogged up with dirt you can’t even see what number you have in your hand, so run the brush across the sole of the iron and around the back of the head.
Step 5
Give them a good rinse under the tap. If you’re cleaning them outside, make sure you put another towel down instead of resting them on a hard surface – you don’t want to cause any little chinks on the soles. Use a cloth to wipe the shaft down and, crucially, use a towel to dry each club thoroughly before placing it back in your bag.
Cleaning Your Woods And Putter
Unless
you’ve been catching the ball extremely heavy, your woods/metals shouldn’t need
too much of a clean! However, you don’t want to forget to wipe them.
The most important thing to remember is to not submerge these in water – just give them a dip and wipe over them with a wet cloth. Again, make sure you dry them thoroughly before returning to your golf bag.
Cleaning Your Grips
It might
be an obvious point to make, but this is the part of the club you’re in contact
with on every shot – and grips get filthy, even if you can’t necessarily see
it. If you lose your grip on the club… well, you know what’s going to happen.
So, make sure you wipe each one down with a moist cloth and then dry them with a towel. You should get into the habit of doing this regularly to get rid of dirt, grime, and even sun cream.
For a more
thorough wash – perhaps you haven’t given them a clean for half a dozen rounds
or so – you’ll need some lukewarm water and a few bubbles. A splash of washing
up soap will do it; then, get a few bubbles on a wet cloth and rub them into
the grip. Rinse clean under warm water and pat down and dry thoroughly with a
towel. Again, make sure the water isn’t really hot, as you’ll risk causing the
glue underneath the grips to loosen.
There, good as new… well, almost. If they have a shiny appearance, you may want to consider them re-gripped.
Get into the habit of cleaning your golf clubs regularly, and not only will your equipment stay looking shiny, but you’ll get the most out of them.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
