Training Products

[bearsgolf]

I'm trying to find some training aids, has anyone tried the eyeline products and if so what do you think of them?

[Blue_Arc]

Originally Posted by bearsgolf

I'm trying to find some training aids, has anyone tried the eyeline products and if so what do you think of them?

Sorry bears but they all look like gimmicks to me. Welcome to the GRW!

[JimSomebody]

bearsgolf: Watch out for obscure companies trying to get into your wallet and leave you embarrassing yourself with some funny-looking training aid. "Hey, look... it's shiny!"

[Bigvivec]

I have the putting mirror...it's legitimate...helps alot with alignment and ball positioning...use it often for touch ups in the living room...

Tried the free audio downloads...weren't as successful...basically, you have several mp3 tracks that describe various conditions, you visualize it and then hit the shot to that requirement on the range (the ball is above your feet, 143 to the flag, pin in front tucked behind a bunker, the green is rather large and slopes away from you, there is a 5mph cross breeze...hit the shot)...thing is the ball is never above your feet on the range, the wind might be compeletly different, etc... putting mirror is excellent though...

[larryrsf]

Originally Posted by bearsgolf

I'm trying to find some training aids, has anyone tried the eyeline products and if so what do you think of them?

I don't know of anything that is really of much use. The SwingSetter is useful ONLY because it tells you whether you are casting. My teaching pro doesn't get it to click on top-- his backswing is too smooth. He would have to change his movement to use the training aid-- Duh, why would a ++++ player change his swing?

Some think the Heavy clubs are useful to learn the transition weight shift-- but if you are not making that move the problem is your fundamental setup and backswing--and a heavy club will not help that.

The ONLY answer to better golf is lessons--a SERIES of lessons with serious practice between them. Most amateurs have ingrained movements that they will have a very difficult time changing. The ONLY way they (we) will permanently change their swing will be lessons and then stubborn repetition of the correct movements, in slow motion, hitting balls only a few yards, doing the suggested drills, over several days or weeks-- with careful attention to the same movements on the course as on the range. If they play the course and revert to what is comfortable-- they erase all progress and must start over. So most amateurs never improve much--and the only really good golfers are those who started early in life--and/or took golf in high school, etc.

Larry

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by larryrsf

The ONLY answer to better golf is lessons--a SERIES of lessons with serious practice between them.

On the other hand, you can get better by simply playing and practicing more. You may not get the perfect swing but you can get better without taking a bunch of expensive lessons.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

On the other hand, you can get better by simply playing and practicing more. You may not get the perfect swing but you can get better without taking a bunch of expensive lessons.

You can always do both



...the key is repeating the movements, whatever they are, and having a degree of predictiability to your game...that and what Ty was talking about in another thread about learning to get the ball into the hole...

[Bigvivec]

One of the pros that I work with actually discourages using the driving range...he says its good for exercise and not much else and can be damaging in that you get the mindset of trying to hit the perfect shot with the perfect swing rather than just playing the game and learning to score...he might have something...

[Blue_Arc]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

You can always do both



...the key is repeating the movements, whatever they are, and having a degree of predictiability to your game...that and what Ty was talking about in another thread about learning to get the ball into the hole...

I'm with that. I've been working hard on that. Before I would seldom finish in balance. I would usually step on through it. I decided I need to work my swing so I just forgot about hitting the ball and thought hard about how my body felt all through the swing. Anyway I finally got myself centered and I have balance the whole swing now. I can repeat it and it is the most predictable swing I've had to date. I'm feeling real good about it but...there's now way I could have worked that out in the rounds. It had to be the range. For me, you work the swing at the range and you learn to play golf in the round. Can't wait to get back through the green...if it ever stops raining...

[larryrsf]

Adding to my post above, I do think the Swing Jacket is a very good training aide. When it first came out, they sold primarily to touring pros and tour wanna-bes, very very serious golfers. They sold only a few and if they are not out of business, they will be.

Very good golfers understand the golf swing and realize the overriding importance of the connected turn. That's why we see VJ and others warming up with golf gloves held under their armpits--and then on the course pulling the loose shirt material up under their arms and holding it there with upper arm pressure against their rib cages.

Good golfers know what we do going back we will also do coming down, in sync going back will usually mean being in sync through impact. They know repeating accuracy accrues from swinging with the arms and hands always in front of our chest, the torso turning providing the power. BUT, when the arms run away, when arms and hands make lateral moves on their own, there is no telling what will happen to the clubhead through impact. It might be where it started at address, but could be anywhere--and will be erratic. Thats why most amateurs hit it sideways so often that they are lucky to break 100.

But the SwingJacket is too easy for accomplished golfers who have ingrained a connected turn-- and too difficult (and embarassing) for most amateurs.

Larry