What Golf Training Aid Has Helped You The Most

[Lihu]

Swingrite is helping me with release. I still cast a little, but lower down now. My number of good shots is now higher than bad, with more power behind the ball. It has helped with generating the hip twist to get more power as well. The only con is the weight. I suppose the heavy weight is used to help develop strength.

[grubby98]

Simple, get a camera and video your swing. You will be amazed at what you really are doing to what you think you feel like you are doing. Learning how to correct that is a different story. I have a close friend that is a PGA teaching pro and plays some senior tournaments (actually played in the PGA championship a couple of years ago) and he is teaching me how to disect the swing.

[Lihu]

Simple, get a camera and video your swing. You will be amazed at what you really are doing to what you think you feel like you are doing. Learning how to correct that is a different story. I have a close friend that is a PGA teaching pro and plays some senior tournaments (actually played in the PGA championship a couple of years ago) and he is teaching me how to disect the swing.

I agree. My current regular coach uses a high speed camera.

[skywaterbanjo]

I find it interesting that no one has said the Medicus.  I have a friend who swears by this (but I've oddly never seen him practicing with it) and I thought it was kind of the defacto best training aid ever.  I've been interested in getting one, but for the life of me can't reconcile in my mind how it is supposed to help me.

I've had trouble finding an explanation of how it works any deeper than "when you do something wrong, it breaks".  I get that, but don't trust it without understanding it.  I start to anaylyze it and get this far:

There is a hinge in the club that runs more or less in line with the target line

When I take the club back, the hinge might break - and the only reason I can guess is because of speed

A) I wouldn't think that speed alone would be that bad if the overall tempo was good

B) After use, that hinge would seem to get looser

So I give up there.  Has anyone ever seen a step by step explanation of this device and what it prevents along the way?  I'd love to understand it and maybe get one.

I've been using a Medicus driver off and on for about a year and 1/2.  It has helped me a lot with my tempo.

[Mulligan Jeff]

While on a golf trip earlier in the week I asked a number of the group which training aid they liked most. The Medicus was the most popular choice, I asked why and most of the players said because it's been around for years so it must be good. I have used it before and it certainly promotes a smooth rhythmic takeaway and downstroke.

[Nutter]

That helped? First time my former instructor played back my videos I was ready to throw my clubs away. Kidding of course but yeah good tool despite the humbling experience. The best part, him putting up the side by side comparison of a pro with a similar build. It's akin to having your girlfriend laugh at your under the belt equipment when it's finally your lucky night.

I agree, it's hard to watch sometimes, but vital to creating a repeatable swing as fast as possible.  IMO, people would benefit more video taping every swing they make while hitting a small bucket as opposed to beating a large bucket out there while trying to "feel it".  It's absolutely necessary to see your swing if you want to progress or if you get into a bad habit and can't figure it out.

[ghalfaire]

I am in the video camera and lessons group of advocates.   Seeing what you are doing is "enlightening" for sure and having a Pro give you advice is a good thing as long as you trust the Pro.

I did try the Medicus driver and did develop a "smooth tempo" swing that didn't break the club.  The swing just didn't work for me on the course.

At one time I had a problem aiming left of square as defined by the tee box alignment.  I would just get open and hit awful slices.  Working with the alignment sticks on the range did help me get over this problem.

[dfreuter415]

What Golf Training Aid Has Helped You The Most?

The Medicus hinged iron is great for promoting swing tempo.  I know this is not a training aid for everyone, but somehow it works for me.

A Momentus weighted club is useful for smooth take away and acceleration through the ball.