Golf Swing Aids

Do The Golf Swing Aids Really Help Improve Your Golf Swing?

The Golf swing aids haven't always had the best reputation in the golfing industry. Upon first hitting the scene, they were viewed as little more than gimmicks, making the user look silly while using or wearing them, and providing no real benefits. As the game has evolved globally, taking on more and more players at a rapid rate, the technology surrounding golf has also improved quite a bit, and this extends to golf swing aids, which have shed their dubious skin to attain a well-respected position in the golfing world as valuable teaching tools.

For a sport as technically demanding as golf is, arguably the most technical and challenging in the world, it's not a surprise that players of all skill levels can benefit from devices which help spotlight weaknesses in their game and shore them up. The golf swing is an intricate mechanic, but for all that intricacy, it very much becomes rote to the body, which can reproduce the exact same swing mechanics repeatedly through muscle memory. This is perfect when you have a good swing, but if your swing is less than stellar, this can cause obvious dilemmas. How do you correct flaws in a swing that's so ingrained, it performs of its own accord?

The answer is to use swing aids which force the user into correct positions. The body has no choice but to adapt the new positions, and through enough use, this new form will eventually take the place of the old, giving the user the ability to successfully reproduce without the help of the aid. These aids can extend to all areas of the swing, be it the swing plane itself, the positioning of the hands and wrists, proper alignment with the ball and target, and much more.

The first step in determining which golf swing aid would be of the most use to you is to identify where your trouble areas are. A second set of eyes is useful in this situation, be it a friend or family member, or a golfing instructor. Another possible method is to record video of yourself from different angles during your swing, so you can see your motion in a different light.

Once you know your weaknesses, you can look into a beneficial golf aid which targets that weakness. Take the time to read up on the different products, and especially the reviews of those products from other golfers to determine which one sounds right for you. Most golf swing aids are available for purchase online, often at a fraction of the price of what you'd pay at a pro shop of sporting goods store. Be sure to share your experience with the device with other golfers as well, so they know which products are worth their weight in golf balls. Your golfing buddies on the other hand, well, we'll leave that up to you. Bragging rights go a long way on and off the golf course, and it may be that some things are better kept secret from your friends.

The Four Basics of Any Golf Swing

The Four Basics of Any Golf Swing

When thinking about the basics of the golf swing, we usually think about ball position, stance, grip, and so on. In other words, we think about the swing's physical mechanics. That's only natural, because its what most golf pros focus on in their golf lessons and what golf magazines highlight in their articles on the golf swing. It's what I write about the most in the golf tips as well.

Not everyone agrees that these are the true basics of the golf swing. For many, the true basics of the swing are something quite different, something that has nothing to do with the physical mechanics of the swing. For these people, a swing's true basics are four components-plane, centering, radius, and face. Golf instruction sessions focusing on these concepts are as helpful as golf lessons on the swing's mechanics, maybe even more helpful

The Plane
The Most golfers have heard of the concept of plane, but are confused as to how it applies to the golf swing. Plane is defined by the angle your club creates when it is ground at address. To master accuracy, the club must remain on this plane, especially while it approaches the ball on the downswing. (Actually, two planes-one formed by the takeaway and the other by the downswing-are involved in swinging a club, but the second plane is key.) This plane is the most powerful and direct route to the swing, as I discuss in my golf tips. Coming back to the ball above or below this plane results in pulls and slices.

The Centering
Every swing has a center to it, a foundation defined by your head and your spine. If you want to hit accurate golf shots, this foundation must remain steady. Watch Tiger or any of the pros on TV and you'll see how steady their heads and spines remain throughout their swings. This foundation has two angles to it. One is the angle your spine creates with your hips at address. The other involves the lateral movement of your head. Focus on preventing both your head from moving unnaturally one way or the other and your spine from moving up or down, and you will produce better results.

Radius
Radius is the distance between the lead shoulder and the clubhead. You must keep radius intact, if you want to hit good quality shots. The key is releasing your wrists at the right time. Most amateurs release their wrists early, forcing the shaft ahead of the lead arm before impact. An early release causes you to hit the ball thin, or even worse, mis-hit it altogether. If you execute the proper sequence of movements in the downswing, you'll maintain radius.

The Face
The ball travels in the direction in which your clubface is pointing at the moment of impact, minus the effect of sidespin. You must attain the same clubface position at impact that you establish at address, which is why you need to align your club properly. The key to doing this is matching the position of your hands at impact with the position of your hands at address. If you grip the club on the right side of the shaft, your hands must be on the right side of the club when you hit the ball; otherwise, you'll mis-hit.

The Conclusion
Is one basic more important than another? Not really, as I tell players who take my golf lessons. They all must be executed properly, if you want to achieve a powerful, repeatable swing. Now that you are aware of them and how they contribute to your swing, try filming yourself some day and see how well you maintain them during your swing. Also note how well you hit the ball.

Plane, centering, radius, and face-these aren't the usual basics you talk about when discussing the golf swing, but they are critical. While the physical mechanics of the swing, like ball position, stance, and grip, are key, so are these four components. Master both sets and you'll achieve accuracy and consistency every time, lowering your golf handicap in the process.