Slice your handicap, not the ball, with the help of the best swing trainers and other golf training aids. These convenient tools can be used whenever you have a spare moment in the office or at home. The devices are also ideal for maintaining your practice routine during bad weather.The best golf swing trainers reinforce muscle memory through repetition. Look for a system that builds a familiarity with basic principles. Once you have mastered the basics, you can work on perfecting your swing and increasing your power.Swing training aids can be used by players of all age groups and are suitable for both men and women. They assist you in banishing slicing to the kitchen where it belongs. They enable you to learn to control hand release perfectly, eliminating early or late release. If you are still battling to find that fluid, smooth tempo, these systems are likely to be of tremendous help. To maximize training, you want a teaching aid that can be used inside your home. Most of these devices simulate approach and chip shots, giving you full practice sessions and challenging physical workouts.Opt for one of the swing systems that delivers a ‘click’ if your release is executed with perfect timing. The fact that you don’t need an instructor to tell you if you are on track is a huge bonus. It is also useful if a demonstration dvd or video is included. This will motivate you to make the most of the golf swing trainer.A leaderboard-type golf teaching aid also has the potential to correct swing timing challenges. Once you have perfected your swing with the help of the device, you can repeat the exact action on the course. This is a useful tool if you want to improve your power and is utilized by professional players all over the world.This type of golf training aid assists you in a variety of areas. If you have sliding hips, this sin will be corrected. Slicing and hooking will be eliminated. Problems with casting and the use of your wrists will get their share of attention. Your posture and balance will be improved. The feedback you receive is reliable, immediate and consistent, allowing you to make the necessary changes. In the process injuries will become less common as you correct and eliminate the causes. You will be taught exactly how to use your body and how to perfect your stance.Every facet of your game can be attended to with the help of a diverse range of gadgets. Try bringing in a golf putting training aid and revel in the  admiring looks of your opponents. Some of these can be used as a putter, as well as a teaching aid. Again a demonstration video will be helpful to show you exactly how to use the apparatus.The clubhead of a mallet putter comes with a hole sized perfectly for a ball. A ball is placed in the aperture and a variety of putts can then be practiced. Short putts benefit in particular. Try taking a short backswing followed by a follow-through during which the ball is released toward the cup. This is an excellent way to eliminate deceleration, a common problem among beginners. If you decelerate, you will find that the ball isn’t released properly. If your action isn’t smooth, the ball may be released before you want it to.The device will also help you to correct alignment deficiencies. To work on this aspect, you will place another ball as you would for a putt. You would then execute your normal putt and if your alignment is correct, you would have two balls traveling in exactly the same line.Look for a system with adjustable weight, so that you can customize it for you. These tools are perfect for a spot of practice at the office or at home – every few minutes spent refining your game will show on the course and in your handicap.These are just a few of the training tool possibilities. A wealth of other aids are in high demand. These include practice balls, swing speed radar sets that measure clubhead speed, mats, gloves that help to correct your grip, and golf impact indicators. If you want to improve any aspect of your game, an affordable aid can be found to assist you.Remember that, if the love of your life is a golfer, any of these golf training aids will make a superb birthday gift.

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!

Whack! The feeling of a great drive, the sweet feel as the ball jumps off the clubface and rockets down the middle of the fairway– it’s one of the best parts about playing golf, and one of the reasons that we keep coming back for more punishment. If only it would happen more often! Ah, to see the green envy in your opponents’ eyes when your ball blasts by theirs.Unfortunately, the average male golfer’s swing speed is around 85 mph. With a USGA conforming driver, this equates to drives of about 225 yards, an embarrassing 83 yards shorter than Tiger Woods’ average drive, and even 35 yards shorter than Cory Pavin, who is the shortest driver on the PGA Tour. So most of us go to the course with an inferiority complex already deeply ingrained from watching Tour broadcasts which constantly and blatantly rub our faces in the fact that the pros outdrive us by a country mile. No wonder most amateurs can’t relax over the ball and tend to over swing. How could the average guy hope to hit the ball that far?Well, the good news is — it’s possible for you to hit long drives! To hit like the pros, all you have to do is swing as fast as they do, while at the same time maintaining your balance. If it sounds like it is easier said than done, just think about this: As mentioned before, Corey Pavin, the shortest hitter on the PGA Tour, averages just under 270 yards per drive. He is 5′ 9″ tall and weighs 155 pounds. Now, the average male is 5′ 9″ tall and weighs 190 pounds. If Corey Pavin can average 270, then you can hit it just as long or longer!Let’s set a goal of out driving Corey Pavin, so we can tell ourselves honestly that we can drive the ball as far as someone on the Tour. To figure out how to do this, let’s start with the average swing speed of 85 mph and average distance of 225 yards. Now, physics tells us that we get approximately 3 extra yards per additional mile per hour of swing speed. So, if we want to go from 225 to 270 to beat Corey Pavin, that means we need 45 extra yards, which equates to adding 15 mph to the swing speed.How can you use golf training aids to add that extra 15 mph? Since low swing speed is usually the result of a combination of factors including; untrained muscles, poor technique, and lack of physical fitness, a multi-pronged approach is required to get to the goal fast! To accelerate your progress, you can use golf training aids to train and strengthen your golf-specific muscles, to correct poor technique, and to improve your overall fitness. A variety of training aids exist to help with this. Here’s a 3-step plan for increasing your swing speed as fast as possible:1. Make sure that your grip, swing path, and swing plane are correct. It will do no good to increase your swing speed if technical flaws in your swing prevent you from hitting the ball straight. I suggest using a single training aid for both grip and swing plane (many exist with this combination) and another training aid for swing path. For example, a hinged club with a molded grip is perfect for grip and swing path, while a foam obstacle training aid will work well for keeping your swing path on track. Practice with these training aids for at least 2 weeks before moving on to step 2.2. Get some type of weighted club. Weighted clubs are perfect for training the golf specific muscles to have the strength and explosive power that you need to produce higher swing speeds. In addition, training with a weighted club can increase your core stability and balance if done properly. Be very careful not to over swing with a weighted club since you can injure yourself! Stretch out and warm up thoroughly before you even start swinging the heavy club. I suggest using this training aid at least 3 days a week, but not more than 5. It’s important to let your muscles rest a bit each week.3. Get a golf fitness book to augment your regular training program. Overall physical fitness is just as critical to your golf game as golf-specific training. Work out 3 times a week and don’t forget your cardio to reduce fatigue at the end of your round!If you take these three steps I think you will see a great improvement in your driving distance within 2 months, if not sooner. Good luck and I hope to see you on the par fives in two!

Vijay Singh was once famously quoted for saying that he doesn’t look at his swing on video because he’d be tempted to make it look pretty rather than focusing on building a swing that works. This quote is often used by people trying to justify why they won’t record their swing or buy a camera.

Unfortunately, Vijay’s quote was taken out of context, misunderstood, or was simply untrue. Singh has used high-speed cameras to record his swing for years and maintains a large library of his videos. While practicing, he often has his caddie or others record his swing, and will stop to look at things and make adjustments.

I think that what Vijay Singh was trying to say is that he values function over form. That’s fine – and something virtually every good golfer has in common. And while it’s true that form follows function in the golf swing, the opposite is also true: function follows form. A high-speed video camera is a useful, valid tool in improving both the form and function of your swing.

High-Speed Cameras

A few years ago I really liked the Kodak Zi6 (since replaced by newer, slightly better models) pocket video camera because it recorded HD 720p video at 60 frames per second (fps). The HD quality was nice, but the 60 frames per second video was what I was after.

Nowadays, cameras costing as little as $100 can record reasonably sized (not HD, but large enough) video at 120 fps, 240 fps, or even higher framerates!

The current king of the reasonably-priced-high-framerate-video cameras is Casio, with a fairly broad selection of cameras that will suit the needs of virtually every golfer out there.

Casio entered the market with their flagship EX-F1 camera, which cost about a thousand dollars, recorded 300 fps video at 512 x 384 resolution, and sold really well to up-to-date instructors eager to use available technology. Fortunately for golfers, Casio’s less expensive cameras have eaten into the F1’s market share, and the F1 appears to have been discontinued.

The new king of the hill is Casio’s FH25 camera (shown above), priced at about $300 at the time of writing. The FH25 will record 240 fps video at 448 x 336 and 120 fps video at 640 x 480 (it can also record 420 fps video at 224 x 168, but that’s far too small to be of any use and overkill on the speed). The FH25 features a large 3″ screen for viewing the video right on the camera, trimming features first introduced on the F1, and two features that come in handy for golfers: a 2-, 5-, or 10-second delay timer that works not only with still images but also movies and a “pre-record” feature that lets an instructor or friend record only enough video to capture your swing without also recording your pre-shot routine.

Casio also has a series of pocket cameras – much slimmer than the FH25 – that work quite nicely and slip easily in a golf bag. The current king of that crop is the FC150 which will, like the FH25, records 240 fps video at 448 x 336. The FC150 will set you back about $225. If you can find the previous model – the FC100, which runs around $100 – it will record 210 fps video at 480 x 360 and is an absolute steal, particularly in good outdoor lighting.

Though I’ve only recommended Casio cameras here, I realize that not only will this article be outdated the instant I publish it, but that other cameras out there likely have similar features. If you’re looking for a camera to record your golf swing for analysis, here’s what you’ll want to get:

Framerate vs. Frame Size
The higher the framerate the better, but not at the expense of the video’s frame size. For example, many of the Casio cameras can record 1000 fps, but not only is that overkill, you’ll also get a video roughly the size of your pinkie fingernail. In the end, a framerate of about 100 is a good floor and a frame size of 400 x 300 is the frame size floor. Buy a camera that can record video at more than 100 fps and more than 400 x 300 pixels.

Shutter Speed
Ideally the camera you buy will let you manually control the shutter speed and the framerate. A camera that records at 150 fps but with a shutter speed of 1/150th of a second will result in a blurry club, particularly on the downswing, and won’t be of much help. With the Casio FH25, I routinely shoot video outdoors at 1/4000th of a second, and manual control of the shutter speed is a high priority. Most cameras that let you control the shutter speed will have a good ISO or Auto-ISO function as well – the two go hand-in-hand in helping you to get a proper exposure (a bright enough image).

Video File Format
Though uncommon these days (more common for Windows users based on what I’ve seen and heard), you want to choose a video camera that supports a video format your computer can play. Most cameras these days shoot H.264 video or .AVI files, so you should be fine, but beware of any unusual video file formats.

Extras

In addition to a camera, there are a few other accessories you may want to buy.

Tripod
First off, you may want to buy some sort of tripod. This could be anything from the $30 Gorillapod (shown on right), which can attach to a push cart, a golf car, your driver, etc. to a more expensive tripod. I have a Gorillapod attached to my pocket-sized FC100 and a $99 tripod with a little ball head for my FH25. If you’re in a pinch, search the Internet for “bottle cap tripod” or buy this

The purpose of a tripod? To keep your video stable. It’s tough to do any sort of analysis of your swing when the camera moves even a little. And trust me – regardless of how still you think you can be, a tripod is going to be better.

Reasonably Fast Memory Cards
Memory cards – typically an SD memory card for the types of cameras we’re discussing – come in a variety of sizes and speeds. I recommend a 4 GB card or larger (if only because they’re practically as inexpensive as smaller cards). The biggest price determinant in memory cards these days is speed. Speed will affect how smoothly video plays back on the camera itself as well as how quickly video is recorded, re-saved (while trimming), copied to your computer, and how quickly the card can be reformatted.

I recommend a card speed of 20 MB/second or higher. Whether that’s “Ultra” or “Extreme” or “Class VI” you’ll have to read the packaging to find out. Stick to the name-brand cards – SanDisk being perhaps chief among those – and spend the extra $10 or so to get a card that’s fast enough. It’s worth it in saved time down the road.

Remotes, Extra Batteries, etc.
Some cameras come with a remote. Frankly, I wish the Casios did – it would make recording yourself so much easier – and you may be inclined to pick one up.

Every camera will come with the ability to buy extra batteries. The Casio FH25 uses AA batteries, and will take rechargeable AAs, so a good charger and another four rechargeable AA batteries go a long way as the camera tends to chew through them fairly quickly.

Depending on how you treat your camera and where you plan to take it, you might want to look into a little case as well. A card reader (so you don’t have to plug your camera in) can come in handy too.

Filming Your Swing

Now that you’ve got your camera, it’s important to know how to film your swing. Consistently filming your swing from the proper locations not only makes it easier for you to compare your swings against previous and future swings, but also makes it easier for others you might show your swing to (for example, to folks in the forum or to an instructor) see what’s going on.

Two views are commonly used in looking at a golf swing. If you’ve watched golf on television, you’ll be familiar with them. They are the “Down the Line” view and the “Face-On” or “Caddie” view.

Here’s how to set up and record each.

Face On (or “Caddie View”)

The Face-On or “Caddie View” video should be shot with a camera at roughly hip or belly button height positioned in the middle of a golfer’s stance, square (perpendicular) to the golfer’s target line. The golfer should be centered in the frame with enough room above the golfer’s head to see the hands and at least a little bit of the shaft at the top of the backswing and enough room below the golfer’s feet to see the golf ball.

The caddie view is illustrative in looking at the length of the golfer’s backswing, any movement side-to-side of his head, the location of his weight at key positions, the low point of the club, and any casting of the club or flipping of the hands, among other things.

Down the Line

The Down the Line view is a bit trickier to set up consistently. Again, the camera should be at roughly hip or belly button height. Rather than being square (perpendicular) to the target line, the camera should be aimed parallel to the target line, as illustrated by the three red lines above. The golfer should be in the left-center of the frame with a little room above his head and below his feet.

The absolute best position for the camera shooting Down the Line video is along the toe line – the left-most red line where the green is the brightest. A camera pointed parallel to the target line and halfway between the ball and the toes is acceptable but not ideal. Finally, a camera positioned directly behind the ball (the right-most red line) – regardless of how perfectly parallel it may be to the target line – is not very helpful at all as it will distort some things (such as the position of the club shaft at various stages of the swing).

The down the line view is illustrative of a golfer’s swing plane, his shoulder pitch at the top of the backswing, his setup and balance, his trail knee and footwork, and his head and butt positions, among other things.

Go Film Yourself

I like training aids. I’ve recommended $25, $100, $200, and even $300 training aids to people because they work. A video camera is far and away the absolute best training aid you can buy, and with a market ranging from $100 or so to $300 for some of the best, it’s quite affordable as well.

If you’re at all serious about improving, you owe it to yourself to not only buy a camera, but to learn how to use it and to dedicate ten minutes per week to recording your swing. Whether you post the videos on YouTube or simply keep them to yourself, they will come in handy eventually. The forum is again a great place to get help. Or you might sign up for online instruction, or maybe you’ll just compare a recent swing to an older one to look for clues about breaking out of a slump. Properly using a camera is the fastest way to improve and the surest way to practice efficiently.

Get a camera, get your swings on video, and get better.

© iacas for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

Credits: The Sand Trap

Are you tired of getting negative golf scores because the ball won’t get its maximum speed? Does your golf swing speed make your golf playing miserable? Then you must find a way improve it. There are a lot of techniques in order to achieve the speed you want. Just a little practice here and there, and the next thing you know, your golf swing speed is like that of a professional.Golf swing speed is achieved through the improvement of certain basic golf skills. This includes the golf stance and alignment, proper coordination of the parts of the body, and the right club to use. Golf stance and alignment is very important to achieve speed. Some golfers use golf stance just to look good, but other people use it to maximize the strength and speed of their swing. Always remember that a proper golf stance or posture will let one properly swing a golf club. The parts of the body needed to speed up a golf swing are the feet, thighs, arms, wrist, and the whole upper body. Simply put, every part of the body must be coordinated to get that full swinging motion. Playing golf is not just about the wrist or the arms; it requires the coordination and cooperation of the other parts of the body. With respect to golf clubs, they are important in playing golf. How can you swing without a golf club? Every swing varies depending on the type of golf club one is using. It may be iron, wood, or a club made for putting. As such, one must know the use and purpose of each club.Another way to improve one’s golf swing speed is through technique. Golf swing techniques vary depending on the person holding the golf club. Each golfer has a different capacity and distinct swing that is uniquely and distinctively his own. The technique may also differ based on the club used or the grip of the club. By reason of these differences, imitation is not an option because the result of the swing will be different. One must create his own technique, but should not in any way sacrifice golf basics. There are many golf swing trainers available in the market that will help you improve your golf swing. There is an electronic and non-electronic swing trainer that teaches how to stand properly when swinging, how to apply the correct force on the ball, and even tells you what you’re doing wrong. Simply put, this device will provide you with the best training in order to achieve the golf swing speed that you want.Finally, do not ever think that playing golf is about power. Obtaining the ideal golf swing speed is not just swinging your golf club in a barbaric and loose manner. The use of strength will not help one to make his swing faster and stronger. It is about strategy, the correct golf posture, and the most important of all, remembering the basics. Come to think of it, increasing swinging speed boils down to proper golf playing and strategy.

A perfect golf swing aids you to drive the ball resulting in reaching the hole in one shot. Perfect swing is what every golfer wants to know as it can help him drive the ball better. Many people are running behind knowing the strategy of perfect golf swing because everybody wishes to be a pro golfer. There is no single swing position that can help all golfers to reach the hole in one. It all depends on how you transfer energy between club head and the golf ball. You have to work out and groom your skill set to identify your perfect golf swing. With a lot of time and endeavor, you will be able to achieve what you have aimed for. Focusing on the swing is very important to drive the ball straight. Even a small mistake in the swing will drive the ball in the way you don’t want. Try to make changes to the way you hold the club, the way you move your arms and the strategy that you use to drive the ball. It needs lot of effort and time to arrive at a perfect swing but you can definitely achieve it if you improve your focus. Energy is transferred to the ball at the time of contact between the club head and the ball. Multiple sizes are available with club heads but stick on to the size that is comfortable for you. The swing is highly influenced by the angle at which you hold the club and the way the club bends. This will establish the swing speed and you want the ball to move till the hole but you don’t want the ball to reach peak heights. You should never miss maintaining your physical strength while you try to improve your swing. This is really important because the energy that you exert on your club is supplied to the ball which finally drives the ball into the hole. You have to concentrate on increasing your arm strength rather than working on the swing strategy used by someone else. There is a myth that tall and heavy weight golfers can drive the ball long. This is just a myth because you can work out your swing and drive the ball much better if you have sufficient power in your arms. The basic strategy behind finding out perfect golf swing is to make self analysis and alter the way you make contact with the ball. Even small changes in the right direction will help you drive the ball long.

Golf instruction tips, before the use of advanced technology such as golf swing software, golf training equipment, dvd and simulators used to be mainly confined to newspapers and magazines.The increasing use of advanced technology means that the role of golf swing tips has lessened considerably..because now with golf swing trainers, dvd box sets and golf swing software which allows your teaching pro to analyse and critique your swing and look at it in the whole.Golf instruction tips in this environment have a limited role..somewhat akin to putting on  sticking plaster when you are suffering from pneumonia.There is no doubt that some tips will help you improve your swing and scores in the short term. But there is a certain placebo effect at work here..and if your swing is fundamentally unsound then a more thorough overall approach will reap rewards in the long run.Tips that you may receive from your friends or teaching pro will assist you practically immediately, but if your overall swing is fundamentally flawed through poor fundamentals such as grip, set up or posture, then your original problem will occur again.It is for this reason that I would strongly advise that you make the most of the advances in technology such as the use of golf swing software, high speed photography and golf dvd to improve your swing.You can learn more about golf swing trainers, golf training equipment and the full benefits of modern technology at my blog..

Golf training equipment comes in all shapes and sizes and one of the most popular is the swing plane trainer. This is essentially a metal frame which describes the arc that your club should travel on in the swing.The aim is to build up muscle memory of swinging the club on the correct plane in both the back swing and through swing and whilst it is expensive it is a hugely beneficial training aid.A simpler golf swing trainer is the hinged club..this is a regular club with a hinge in the shaft which will allow you to swing properly if you swing on the correct plane. If you don’t do so then the club shaft will hinge and break.There are many other golf swing trainers on the market which have incorporated modern technology like golf swing analysis software, DVD and video analysis. But many times the use of the old fashioned impact bag and the weighted club can be just as beneficial.It is difficult to describe in a short article such as this the myriad golf swing trainers on the market but if you are serious about improving your swing and your scores then you should consider investigating what is available on the market.For an extensive range of golf training equipment drop by my blog today where I look at the huge range of choices available.To learn more about a golf swing trainer, golf video and other golf training equipment stop by my blog now!All the latest gadgets, devices and golf training aids including golf swing software, golf training videos and DVD’s at http://howtofixaslice.com

The most basic forms of golf training equipment include heavily weighted clubs which are designed to build up the key golfing muscles through repetition of the swing with the weighted club. Vijay Singh is a firm believer in the weighted club as a golf swing trainer and has even lent his name to his own weighted club now to help amateur golfers. Another simple method of building up the golfing muscles and particularly the forearms and wrists is the use of an impact bag. Years ago this involved the use of used tyres and practicing hitting the club into the tyre to build up the strength in the muscles. This has led to unnecessary injury and a modern version is an impact bag with more give. The use of DVD, video and now golf swing analysis software has married the benefits of computers and modern technology and is a huge asset to any golf teacher in allowing a frame by frame analysis of the student’s swing. Then there are various devices to help you train your swing to swing on the correct swing plane and one of the most popular is a metal, tubular device which has a club rigidly fixed in place. When you practice with this device you can only move the club on the correct plane. Stop by my blog to see the full range of golf training equipment to help you become the player you can be. To learn more about a golf training equipment, golf video and other golf training equipment stop by my blog now! All the latest gadgets, devices and golf training aids including golf swing analysis software, golf training videos and dvds at http://howtofixaslice.com