Best Golf Training Aids
Golf is one of the most technically challenging sports out there and playing just once a week will not be enough to see you make big improvements. Therefore one of the best golf accessories (opens in new tab) you should consider getting if you want to see a drop in your handicap is a golf training aid. Manufacturers produce a whole variety of training aids for all parts of your game, allowing you to work on each aspect from your putting to your driving to help you improve.
There are plenty of tools available that allow you to work on your game both at home or at the driving range. Whether the aids are designed to help you hone your swing or to improve your putting, a little bit of work goes a long way and could see you knocking shots off your handicap, so below we look at some of the best golf training aids on the market. Also be sure to have a read of our guides on the best golf launch monitors (opens in new tab), best golf simulator (opens in new tab) and our pick for the best golf net (opens in new tab).
VIDEO: Watch Joel Tadman and Dan Parker talk through the 10 best training aids you can buy right now
Best Golf Training Aids
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Complete with printed alignment guides, target points and distance markings, the mat replicates a medium-to-fast green. It is designed to help you improve your putting stroke and work on drills in the comfort of your own home which is convenient to say the least. We also like the fact it comes in slim, medium and large designs, and you can also get them in different colors as well, such as the Patriot range in blue, red and white. Additionally, for more putting mats, have a read of our best golf mat (opens in new tab) guide.
(Image credit: Future)
The Dewiz uses real time biofeedback to help golfers modify their swing and implement changes quickly and more effectively. It comprises this wristband, which you wear on your lead arm and features an internal motion sensor chip that analyses movement in three dimensions. It generates a 3D image of your swing and displays it in the app, which you pair to via Bluetooth.
In our testing the app was an easy process and the wristband is comfortable to wear and stays in position securely. You’re able to set certain numerical parameters for elements of your swing like the transition, tempo, length of backswing to encourage a new and improved movement or feel. Overall, the Dewiz is a highly effective tool that allows golfers to feel what they are doing in their swing and get real-time feedback on whether they are implementing changes in movement, perhaps prescribed by their coach.
(Image credit: Dan Parker)
A recent inclusion in our 2022 Editor’s Choice List (opens in new tab), the Blast Golf Swing Analyser is designed to help golfers improve all elements of their swing and ball striking. Alongside the free app, the swing analyser captures an incredible amount of data about your golf swing and quickly feeds back that information so you can work on things like tempo and attack angle to achieve a better swing. The speed of the feedback, the accuracy of the data and the way it feeds it back is incredibly intuitive making it one of the best golf swing analyser’s (opens in new tab) on the market.
The number of statistics and numbers can be overwhelming to some, but there are videos led by brand ambassador and putting guru Brad Faxon. The videos range from simple explainers on what each metric on the app means, to useful drills on putting and chipping. Finally while a few things need to be ironed out from a user experience point of view, the Blast Golf Swing Analyser has the potential to transform the way you practice.
(Image credit: Tom Miles)
The Live View Pro 2 is a training aid which connects feel versus real by effectively live streaming a video of your swing to your smart device. This is a crucial advantage because you’re able to watch your movement while in your golf posture, something golfers often lose when looking in a mirror.
Akin to some of the best launch monitors (opens in new tab), this swing mirroring device connects to your phone or iPad using WiFi, then all you need to do is place it wherever you want to view your swing from – down the line at around thigh-height is one of the more popular positions. From there, you can use the flexible tripod to either rest it on a bag stand on the driving range or attach it to the top of your golf bag. It’s that simple!
Easily attach and detach this device to your clubs to help keep your hands in the correct position before, during and after your swing. A perfectly-neutral grip is arguably the most important part of the golf swing – for a very reasonable price this can help you achieve that.
It is comfortable to use and can be clipped on and off very easily. You’ll also find that this grip tool helps to create muscle memory in your hands. I recommend using it on practice rounds or while you warm up on the course! If your grips need an upgrade, we also created a best golf grips (opens in new tab) guide so why not have a read of that as well if your clubs need a refresh.
A cheap and more simple alternative to heading to your club’s short game area to work on your chipping is this PGA Tour pop up chipping net. It has one large target that is still very useful to help keep your short game in shape at home. It pops up to easily be set up and is very small to store.
Some of the best golf nets (opens in new tab) on the market can be very tricky to erect or take down, but this fantastic offering is very efficient and easy to use. For those looking for a simple way to practice their chipping, this is a fantastic option!
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
The PuttOUT Pressure Trainer is the perfect tool to pair with the PuttOUT mat along with a mirror and gate. The trainer works on its own well, too, as it will help you hit your putts at the perfect speed to get it resting in the indentation. It’s frustratingly difficult but, once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be a demon on the greens. You can also get Premium (opens in new tab) and Platinum (opens in new tab) versions which are made from slightly different materials and are just as fun to use. It is by far one of the best putting aids (opens in new tab) on the market.
(Image credit: Future)
The SuperSpeed Golf training set is said to help you add a whopping 30 yards to your overall driver distance – quite a claim! To do this, the manufacturer says it takes at least six weeks of patient and persistent to help get that club head speed up.
Out of the box you get three golf shafts of varying color and weight that each have a grip on the butt end. Essentially, once you’ve done some stretching to prepare your body, the idea is to start with the lightest stick and swing as hard as possible a few times on your dominant side, before switching to do the same on the opposite side.
In our testing, we couldn’t devote that kind of time to try this to the fullest. But what we can tell you is that after two weeks of testing, we felt better about our swing speed and, more importantly, our flexibility to make a bigger shoulder turn. The SuperSpeed Golf men’s training set essentially works off your muscle memory, so the more time you put into it, the better and more permanent your results will be.
(Image credit: Future)
Built to help improve the rhythm and tempo of your golf swing, the Champkey Golf Swing Trainer is an excellent tool you can use to develop your timing and sequencing. Everyone can struggle with tempo sometimes and that’s why a swing training aid like this, can help you strike through the ball more fluidly. This training aid can be used both in the garden and indoors – if you have the room. Using a high traction rubber grip, a flexible shaft and a silica gel head, you can improve your golf swing tempo and build muscle strength with this swing trainer.
We found it did take a little time to get used to, but after a couple of sessions using this you should gain a better understanding of how to release the club at the correct moment. On reflection, we think this will really benefit mid-to-high handicappers who might lose their tempo more easily in pressure situations and slice the ball. That’s where the weighted ball on the end of the Champkey Trainer comes in. And while you may also want to think about picking up one of the clubs on our best drivers for slicers (opens in new tab) guide, the Champkey Swing Trainer will help to correct the plane of the clubhead on the downswing and reduce the chance of a slice.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
Endorsed by none other than Dustin Johnson (opens in new tab), the Perfect Practice Putting Mat is another great putting mat that can help you get better pace control of the greens and become more consistent at address. The putting mat essentially comes in three main parts. There is the mat itself which is attached to the raised, wooden end part with two holes, of different sizes in it, a wooden backstop and four wooden slats that fit together to create a channel for the ball to roll back to back the player (which worked really well). Assembly was straight forward, only taking a couple of minutes in total and the end result looked good.
There are various different lines on the mat to help with both the path of your stroke and the start line of your putts. These are the elements that really matter when it comes to consistency on the greens and finding the best putter for your stroke. Clear visual aids like these (which also help with alignment) are a great way to practice golf indoors and making any putting stroke improvements improvements you need. For more aids like this, check out our best putting aids (opens in new tab) guide.
(Image credit: PlaneSwing)
The PlaneSwing seeks to help players take the club back on the correct path at takeaway because the player will have a much better chance of consistency if the swing path starts on the right plane straight away. It is perhaps one of the best ways to eliminate a hook or a slice. It works by showing you the correct plane your club should travel on in every phase of the swing to help create a more neutral path and produce straighter shots. With practice, the feeling of an on-plane swing becomes engrained.
With the PlaneSwing you get the Power Slider, which is the weighted training club to be used within PlaneSwing to build and condition the muscles used in your golf swing. You also get the Plane Guide, Plane Checker and Alignment Mat, along with an instructional video on how to use the aid. Now it is quite a large training aid and takes a bit of time to set up but we liked the fact it can be packed away pretty easily!
Great for use at home or on the practice range, the smash bag looks to seeks to help you learn the feeling of the correct impact position with your hands ahead of the ball for a powerful, descending blow. This smash bag can really help you stop flipping your hands at the point of impact, keep the club head as square as possible and learn to keep the handle ahead of the club head at impact. It can also help you improve your power, with players able to strike through on the bag very hard to hone in on their club head speed.
(Image credit: orange whip)
Regularly seen near the first tee on golf courses, the orange whip compact swing trainer is a popular tool to use just before warming up or teeing off. It helps train a perfect tempo and rhythm and helps get the feeling of your arms and body working together correctly. It also helps stretch out your golf muscles. The compact version is 35 inches whilst there is also a longer version at over 47 inches. I recommend using this tool before your round to help you warm up and get into the groove of your game.
(Image credit: Rhino Valley )
Rhino Valley’s foldable Golf Alignment Sticks are by far one of my favorite products on this list, purely for how ergonomic they are. As a golfer, I love to keep things simple. I don’t like having to carry around heaps of equipment and the more portable my gear, the easier I find it to use. That’s why I love these foldable, multi-purpose training aids that can be easily clipped up in your golf bag. Akin to some of the best portable launch monitors (opens in new tab), these alignment aids are super easy to use and can be set up around the golf course. And you don’t need to worry about breaking them either, with the Rhino Valley Sticks being made of a sturdy glass-fiber material that is very lightweight and easy to operate.
(Image credit: PuttOUT Putting Plane Alignment Stick Set)
Yet another fantastic addition to PuttOUT’s extensive range of putting training aids that can be used indoors or outdoors, this alignment stick pack will help you improve your putting thanks to its inventive technology. Combine it with one of PuttOut’s excellent putting mats featured on our best putting mats (opens in new tab) and you’ll have yourself a comprehensive putting training system that’ll help you swing much more consistently.
This silicone aid’s slight incline promotes perfect speed and lets you practice your putting anywhere. It is the same size as a hole so really does replicate putting into a real one – we’re big fans of this for chucking down on the carpet at home to roll a few balls. In fact we have had several competitions in the office with this nifty little training aid. Also take a look at our best putters (opens in new tab) post too if you want to upgrade your wand.
Some of the best golf training aids are really as simple as this excellent putting mirror. Pure 2 Improve has created this training aid so it’s small enough to fit in your bag, therefore you can take it to the putting green to work on your stroke and improve your alignment. It’s also perfect for home use, too. Good alignment will lead to better, more consistent putts and this can help with just that.
You can practice anywhere with this Amazon Basics model. It has a construction similar to other models on this list and is made from durable metal and fiberglass giving it a degree of sturdiness and toughness. It is also conveniently portable because it can be easily set up and taken down anywhere you like and then stored away in the handy carry bag.
We found it to stand up to sustained use in those longer sessions, for every single club in the bag, which cannot be understated in its importance. Practice lofty sand wedge (opens in new tab) shots, or even low stingers with your fairway woods with this excellent offering. There are three sizes available at the moment, starting with 2.44 meters x 2.44 meters, 2.13 x 2.13, and finally 3.05 x 2.13.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
Our final pick is this mirror from PuttOUT. Whether it’s to look at where your eyes are lined up or checking the arc of your putting stroke, a good putting mirror is an essential if you want to keep your putting game in check. Usable on any surface, this model is one of the best out there. It is smaller than other models but we found this made it easy to carry in the bag, and the fact it comes with a carry case sweetens this aspect.
How we test training aids
We think the best way to see if a training aid is any good is by using it (opens in new tab). That sounds like an obvious statement to make but it is only by using a product a lot, and often, that we can gain an idea of usability, versatility, durability, value for money, and above all else, does it actually have a positive impact on our game? We use products at home, at the range, on the putting green, etc to see if specific training aids are actually worth buying. We should also mention that no manufacturer can pay for a good review because our team tells it how it is.
What to consider when buying a training aid
There are several factors to consider when looking at buying a training aid. Let’s go into them here.
1. What do you want to work on?
First things first, what is the part of your game that needs work? Putting? Short-game? Grip? Whatever it is there will be a training aid to help so this is obviously the first question you have to consider. Indeed be very specific with this, because the more detailed you can be, the more a specific aid will help.
2. Usability
Do you want a training aid to be simple to use, or do you want something that can be complicated so you can really delve into the process and fine-tune your game to minute detail? Ultimately there are models above and elsewhere in the golf world which are both.
3. Versatility
Do you want to be able to carry around the training aid? Do you want to be able to use it at home as well as the local course? Many aids slot nicely into your bag whilst others are more difficult to pack away and store. So have a think about how versatile and portable you want your training aid to be.
4. Durability
A good golf training aid should also be strong as well so be aware of what certain models are made from and whether brands offer warranty’s on their products in case they break from use.
5. Price
Golf can be an expensive sport right and given the choice of buying new clubs, balls, bags or clothes, a training aid might be the bottom of that list despite it helping maybe the most. However it is important to realise that there are aids at lots of different price points so if you do decide to invest in one, be aware of how much you are willing to spend.
6. Lessons?
Our final point here is to have a good think about whether a training aid is the right way to go in solving a problem in your game. Perhaps investing in lessons may be a better way to go because a professional coach will be able to point out the issue and look at solving it, whereas a training aid may not get to the root of the issue. Whereas if you just want to gain more confidence by playing putting games or seeing the ball go in the hole, then a training aid like a model we picked above will be perfect for this and a lesson won’t be needed. We cannot recommend thinking about this enough.
If you’re after more golf training aids, why not check out some of the best putting aids (opens in new tab) on the market, best alignment sticks (opens in new tab) and best putting mats (opens in new tab).
FAQs
What training aids do golf pros use?
When we cover Tour golf we tend to see lots of different players using different training aids to help them practice. This is because every single golfer on the planet is different and swings the club in unique ways. However, despite this was tend to see a lot of professionals carry alignment sticks and putting mirrors for their work on the driving range and putting greens.
Are golf training aids worth it?
The simple answer to this question is yes. We have found there are aids to help in every aspect of the game and most golfers can benefit from a quality model, and yet it is worth saying that training aids don’t solve every problem. We have rarely found a training aid that doesn’t work but no single aid is perfect for every golfer either.
Are alignment sticks useful?
Yes, a golf alignment stick is a handy tool that many players should keep in their bags. They can be used in a variety of drills to help players improve their aim, swing stroke and their connection on the golf ball.