Training Aids

[haplesshacker]

Straw poll regarding training aids. The 'real' ones as opposed to DVDs etc.

If you could also add to any narrative as to where you think training aids fit into the educational and learning process for the game. ie. when compared to lessons, DVDs, book, mags etc. That would be great.

Many thanks for your time.

HH

 

[KeefG]

I see what Bob's done here, you could've shortened this entire thread down to this:

Bob has asked me to sell his V-easy for him, its a training aid for putting and chipping and its on sale now....want one? lol

 

[haplesshacker]

You cynic!!

All done without any word from Bob what-so-ever.

 

[mono217]

V easy look nice though

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Most of my aids with the exception of this

http://www.golfonline.co.uk/longridge-power-band-p-225.html

and this

http://www.prolinergolf.co.uk/

are all putting related

 

[haplesshacker]

Sorry to bring this back to the top. But there are alot of people on here tonight. If you haven't voted. Please do.

Cheers.

 

[bobmac]

I see what Bob's done here, you could've shortened this entire thread down to this:

Bob has asked me to sell his V-easy for him, its a training aid for putting and chipping and its on sale now....want one? lol

I can assure you I had nothing to do with this post.
I believe hapless is just doing a survey about how big the market is for training aids and are they readily available ?
I would like to ask a question on this thread if I may?
Do you find training aids readily available in your pro shops and would you have any qualms/reservations about buying them or would you feel embarassed asking for them?

 

[theeaglehunter]

I see what Bob's done here, you could've shortened this entire thread down to this:

Bob has asked me to sell his V-easy for him, its a training aid for putting and chipping and its on sale now....want one? lol

I can assure you I had nothing to do with this post.
I believe hapless is just doing a survey about how big the market is for training aids and are they readily available ?
I would like to ask a question on this thread if I may?
Do you find training aids readily available in your pro shops and would you have any qualms/reservations about buying them or would you feel embarassed asking for them?

Bob, my pro despite stocking a lot of equipment, clothing, accessories etc does have avery short supply of training aids. Having thought about this as well it is a huge mistake. I would be more likely to buy an aid off of my pro who could explain the specific merits the device would have for my game and recommend something highly suitable, certainly it would be more appealing than taking a punt on something over the net. He is someone who knows my game / swing and would give advice I can trust, so I would certainly have no problem with asking for information on them if he stocked these fabled game improvement devices.

Don't suppose you know of any good ones, that will actually help ?

 

[bobmac]

Don't suppose you know of any good ones, that will actually help ?

This is a question that hadn't actually occured to me, so I had a look.
Top of the range.....the Explanar.....very expensive, you cant carry it in your bag and you cant use it during a practice round. But, you do get a sense or the correct swing plane and path.
The putting mirror....very good for checking your posture at address when you putt.
Apart from putting carpets and mats and possibly the true plane, there's not much more out there that are any good.
And if there are, they would have to be Very-Easy to use

 

[CrapHacker]

I would like to ask a question on this thread if I may?
Do you find training aids readily available in your pro shops and would you have any qualms/reservations about buying them or would you feel embarassed asking for them?

I don't think I've ever bought a training aid from a pro shop, and I definately wouldn't ask for one if it wasn't there on show.

And in the above poll, for how effective are they I voted 3, purely because some are pretty useless, but others are virtually priceless.

Copying Homer again, though, most effective training aids seem to be for the short game.

BTW is there a training book out there that specialises in drills to help with specific game improvements, rather than a general swing-a-longa Seve traditional type ?

 

[janmolby]

Homer, what do you think of the power band? Would it be a good purchase for a high handicapper as slicing when driving is a problem I'm having at the minute.

 

[RGDave]

Homer, what do you think of the power band? Would it be a good purchase for a high handicapper as slicing when driving is a problem I'm having at the minute.

Not answering for Homer, I have a powerband and often put it in the bag for warming up when I go and play away.

I'm not sure *how* it's supposed to help, and I certainly cannot see it curing a bad path, but, yes, it's a good gadget and helps me (at least) seem to get my arms and body better in sync.

It works a little like the old belt-round-the-arms, that even Tiger did as a boy. Headcovers under armpits...all the same thing really....

 

[RGDave]

Oh, and I have a putting rail too......if this can't focus your mind, nothing will.....it's terribly hard.
It (the rail) can't help your stroke, but it'll reveal (in rather embarrasing fashion) if you are not keeping square through impact.

 

[viscount17]

to answer Bob, the pro-shop doesn't sell any training aids, hardly surprising when they want to sell you coaching instead.

 

[haplesshacker]

to answer Bob, the pro-shop doesn't sell any training aids, hardly surprising when they want to sell you coaching instead.

Is that the issue then?

What surprises me is that a lot of training aids are invented or developed by pros (teaching ones or otherwise) and yet they all seem to dislike other training aids! (Some, not all!!)

Seems to me that a training aid can help reinforce what a pro has been teaching you. Therefore the golfer progresses quicker is more satisfied with the improvements made and will return for more lessons to get even better even quicker.

Pro sells lesson, golfer has lesson, pro sells training aid, golfer improves quicker, golfer books another lesson.......and so it repeats.

Most of us have lessons, and then what? A friend of mine has had a shed load of lessons over the last 4 years, and yet he's actually got worse! His limited time for practice, especially at the range, limits how much from each lesson sticks. Therefore each time he goes back for a lesson it's just repeat, repeat, repeat. I swear he's had the same lesson for 4 years.

Now if the pro suggested that he bought an x, y or z, and used it for 10 mintes a day. Would my friend not be a better and happier golfer by now?

Just a thought.