How To Use Golf Training Aids To Improve Your Swing

Looking for better consistency? Need to improve your accuracy? Desperately want some more yards? Or possibly you just want your swing to look a little better so your buddies won't tease you anymore. These are all great reasons for doing some work on your swing, but what is the best way to go about it?

There are so many factors of the golf swing that it can be intimidating just figuring out what to do first: grip, stance, alignment, takeaway, swing path, shoulder turn, wrist cock, tempo, timing, weight shift, etc. It's impossible to work on everything at once unless you enjoy tangling yourself into a pretzel. Here are some tips on how to find where to start, and on how to use golf training aids to help you improve your swing.

1. Learn! Get at least one book and one video about the golf swing and learn the basic concepts before you start tinkering. This can really save you some time and heartache. Learn about grip, stance, and alignment. Learn about swing path and clubface angle and how the two combine to affect the flight of the ball. There are lots of great golf videos and books out there written by guys who have spent their lives figuring out the best way(s) to swing, so take advantage!

2. Get lessons from a PGA pro! At the very least, take three lessons to check your grip, stance, and alignment before you start working on your full swing. Swing work is worthless unless you start from the right position, and you can get good instruction about the alignment basics almost anywhere.

3. Get some golf training aids! Golf training aids can really help you get results faster if you use them consistently. Here are some suggestions for golf training aids that will get you going quickly:

a) Molded grip. These are invaluable for learning how to grip it before you rip it. Make sure you get a grip/club combination that allows you to actually hit balls, because this is the fastest way to get used to the new position.

b) Swing Path. The club should approach the ball on a slightly inside out path for optimum distance. Get a swing path training aid to help with this. They can range from a foam barrier that physically prevents you from coming over the top, to a mat that sits on the ground as a visual aid.

c) Swing plane. Swinging the club on plane for the entire swing can help with your consistency. A variety of training aids exists from laser pointers for a visual aid to a large hoop that forces you to stay on plane.

d) Tempo. Get a golf metronome and use it during practice sessions. This will help you groove your swing rhythm and gain consistency.

e) Release. Your wrists must release properly through impact to get good club head speed and clubface angle. Get a release training aid to help with this.

f) Weight shift. You absolutely must shift your weight onto your right foot in your backswing and then back to your left foot as you swing through (for right handers). Many players have a problem with falling back as they swing through, which can cause a nasty slice and too high ball flight. Get a golf training aid that forces you to shift the weight onto your forward foot as you swing through the ball and you will gain distance and directional consistency.

If you follow all these suggestions, you will see results quickly. Good luck and stay focused on your swing goals!