A golf teaching tool can not only alert you to a weak point in your game, but also can help you fix the problem. To help you find the right golf teaching tool, we've matched the type of tool to the part of your body that gives you problems -- feet, legs, wrists, elbows, arms or posture. No matter what part of your body is messing up your swing, we've found the golf teaching tool that will fix it.
Hardware
There are more golf teaching tools -- braces, straps, modified clubs and other golf gadgets -- than most golfers know what to do with. It can be overwhelming trying to match a teaching tool to your problem area. To simplify your search, locate the area of your body that is causing the most trouble. Once you have located your problem area, use the information in this article to match a golf teaching tool to the part of your body that you want to improve.
Feet: A golf teaching tool for your feet guides you through the correct footwork necessary to execute the perfect swing. A stable foundation with minimal lean, twist or sway generates the most power. A golf teaching tool such as Quiet Feet, which is a set of straps that attach to your feet and legs, prevents your feet from turning and excessive lateral motion during your swing (quietfeet.com). However, if you need help with alignment, balance or weight transfer, consider a golf teaching tool such as the Power Stance, which braces your feet in the optimum position (apvgolf.com). If you want to sharpen your posture and alignment, seek a visual reference tool such as the Golfer's Footprint. Visual reference tools help you properly align and square yourself to the ball and your target (golfersfootprint.com).
Legs: Your legs produce a lot of the power and stability needed for a good swing. If your lower body is out of place, it will reduce your distance and accuracy. A golf teaching tool for your legs needs to diagnose and correct flaws in your form. If you have a tendency to sway on your back foot, a device such as the Ankle Tac-Tic can help you stay over your feet by making an audible noise if you bend your back ankle. Similarly, the Knee Tac-Tic will inform you of any reverse weight shift by your back leg (4golftraining.com). If your legs have difficulty remaining stable and your balance is shaky, look for a golf teaching tool that stabilizes the motion of your lower body. The Swing Governor, for example, braces your legs just above your knees to improve balance, posture and your coiling motion (swinggovernor.com).
Wrists: No matter how perfect your swing, your shots will always slice and hook if your clubface isn't squared at impact. Your wrists are what angle the club head, and to guarantee good impact, your wrists need to remain firm. A golf teaching tool for your wrists holds your hands in position through your swing and trains your body to repeat the position once you remove the guides. To keep your left wrist -- or right wrist if you are left handed -- rigid, a brace such as the Power Wrist will help you feel the proper form (powerwrist.com). Your right wrist -- or right wrist if you are left handed -- should be slightly cocked back, and a golf teaching tool such as Dr. Gary Wiren's Key can ensure that it stays that way (golfaroundtheworld.com).
Elbows: A bent front elbow or an overextended back elbow reduces your power, accuracy and consistency. For your elbows, a golf teaching tool must guide you through the proper positioning until you can do it correctly without assistance. For your back elbow, an aid such as the Summit Swing Zone -- an adjustable strap that tethers your elbow in the proper position -- can cure slices and increase distance, accuracy and club head speed (break90golftrainingaids.com). If you have difficulty keeping your front arm straight through the swing, a golf teaching tool such as the Elbow Tac-Tic can monitor your technique by making an audible click if you bend out of place (4golftraining.com). Once your elbows learn the proper form, you can remove the devices and swing correctly on your own.
Arms: Maintaining solid positioning between your arms, hands and shoulders is key to swinging in the proper plane. A golf teaching tool for your arms helps maintain correct alignment by guiding you through the ideal swing. A restraining band is one type of golf teaching tool for your arms. For example, Plane-EZ Golf Swing Trainer secures your forearms in the perfect triangle throughout the swing, causing your arms and body to work together and your club to stay on plane (plane-ez.com). Another golf teaching tool is the ImpactBall, which you squeeze between your forearms. In the process of holding the ball between your arms, you are guided through a correct swing (theimpactball.com). The two types of golf teaching tools are comparable. Your preference between a ball or a strap is the main difference.
Posture: Perfect body posture is crucial for executing a good swing, but it is difficult to tell if you are out of position unless someone is providing feedback. Several golf teaching tools solve that problem, enabling you to monitor your own golf posture. Devices such as the SB-Eagle Player PGS have alignment guides and a mirror so you can evaluate yourself. They help you achieve precise ball positioning, body alignment, swing plane and aiming. Also, you can easily detect any swaying or lunging (intheholegolf.com). After diagnosing posture problems, you'll want to teach your body the correct way to swing. A golf teaching tool such as the 8 Board Golf Swing Trainer, which is a board that you stand allowing both your feet to swivel freely, teaches balance, body control and enforces good golfing posture (8board.com).
Swing Plane: To strike a ball well, you must swing your club on plane. However, determining if you are swinging off plane can be difficult without assistance. If you want to monitor your swing plane, you have several types of golf teaching tools to choose from. Laser guides project the path of your club on the ground. For example, Plane Sight Laser Training Aid attaches to the butt of your club and reveals if your swing is vertical, flat or on plane (planesight.com). Hinged clubs, such as ReFiner Two-way Hinged Clubs, unhinge if you swing off plane, twist the clubface, grip too tightly or force the swing (refinergolf.com). Electronic sensors also check your swing plane. The Swing Perfect, for example, monitors five different axis to ensure you swing along the proper path (swingperfect.com).
Software The only way to really be your own golf teacher is to see yourself the way an instructor sees you during a swing. Analysis software helps you do that. There are two main types of analysis software: video analysis software and swing analyzer/golf simulator software. Video analysis software allows you to dissect prerecorded video of your swing. For example, V1Golf Swing Analysis Software easily and precisely diagnoses faults in your swing. You can also use it to compare your swing to PGA professionals and find drills to improve your weak areas (v1golf.com). Swing analyzer/golf simulator software predicts ball flight and measures many attributes of your swing. Unlike video analysis software, it reviews your live swings as you hit into a net. For example, the P3ProSwing accurately measures and displays 12 key measurements after every swing, including clubface angel, attack angle, strike location, swing path, club speed and foot alignment (p3proswing.com).
Practice makes perfect. However, you need to know what to practice in order to achieve the perfect swing. A golf teaching tool gives you the feedback necessary to know what you are doing right and what you need to do better. All you have to do is decide which area of your game you need the most feedback.
Additional Information: If you were unable to find the right teaching tool for you, read our related article
Golf Training Aid, which is a comprehensive guide for golf teaching tools.
You can also look at our related article
Golf Teaching Aid, which tells which golf training aid works best to help each part of your swing -- from your address to your follow-through.
For a more in depth look at Golf Impact Indicators read our article
Golf Impact Indicator to find which type will work best for you.
