Training aids - best/worst

BigChap1759

Let's here about the training aids you've bought, good or bad.

I just got the swingyde and tour striker - both great bits of kit and giving me improved results already.

Would be interested to hear if anyone's used the orange whip?

rollotomasi

I've no training aids other then an indoor putting mat but on my shopping list is a putting mirror.
I'm also looking to get a GolfSense thing for the winter.

BraveDonut

Anyone know what the putting aid is that Rory uses in warm up? He was using it Sunday before his round and holed something like 54 6-foot putts in a row...

mike12

http://www.eyelinegolf.com/

Best one's i have used it the pelz putting gizmo or the putting tutor both are the same and basically make sure you are starting the putt where you think you are. When you are able to hit it out thry the marbles 50 times in a row you are pretty confident over any putt.

FixdePitchmark

BraveDonut wrote: »

Anyone know what the putting aid is that Rory uses in warm up? He was using it Sunday before his round and holed something like 54 6-foot putts in a row...

Iv'e holed over 100 (just over 5 foot putts) on a mat . Im a useless putter.

mats nothing like real putting.

charlieIRL

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Iv'e holed over 100 (just over 5 foot putts) on a mat . Im a useless putter.

mats nothing like real putting.

I'm beginning to think these mats are doing more damage than good. I was practicing with a few different putters tonight and was sinking everything. No help at all.

FixdePitchmark

I'm sort of joking -

But a few problems with them are.

There is no grain
They have a massive ramp to return ball - this is daft for pace control
The ramp when hit at an angle is not a natural angle for a putt
They are totally flat - not good for testing how to hit breaking short putts

Yes - it is a good tool to practice your basic stoke - but way more to putting.

ForeRight

BraveDonut wrote: »

Anyone know what the putting aid is that Rory uses in warm up? He was using it Sunday before his round and holed something like 54 6-foot putts in a row...

I think it's just a mirror

Dr_Colossus

ForeRight wrote: »

I think it's just a mirror

What's the benefit of a mirror to determine your putting stroke? His does it help see the swing path.
I know Mickelson had a putter with a mirror inserted into the putter face which he used in conjunction with a laser to confirm he was keeping the face square. I csan see the benefit of that but struggle to see the benefit of the mirror under the putter.

Rikand

Best - anything that can be made up from your own bag. Tees. Balls. Other clubs. Towel. Umbrella. Etc...

Worst. Anything harrington has tried in the last 2 years

cairny

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

What's the benefit of a mirror to determine your putting stroke? His does it help see the swing path.
I know Mickelson had a putter with a mirror inserted into the putter face which he used in conjunction with a laser to confirm he was keeping the face square. I csan see the benefit of that but struggle to see the benefit of the mirror under the putter.

It's a mirror with a piece cut out and a path line leading to where the ball sits. The main benefit is it allows you to make sure your dominant eye is directly over the ball.

You can check this w/o a mirror by addressing the ball, holding a second ball to your dominant eye and dropping it, it should hit the ball you intend putting.

hades

I was thinking of getting The Pill (settle now)

http://www.thepillgolf.com/

Sergio uses these guys and you can see how much his putting has improved over the last 2 years. One of my issues with my putting is getting a solid impact, 50% of the time i'm hitting off the toe or the heel.

alxmorgan

hades wrote: »

I was thinking of getting The Pill (settle now)

http://www.thepillgolf.com/

Sergio uses these guys and you can see how much his putting has improved over the last 2 years. One of my issues with my putting is getting a solid impact, 50% of the time i'm hitting off the toe or the heel.

Similar one here : http://www.breakingpar.ie/putterwheel.html

rollotomasi

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'm sort of joking -

But a few problems with them are.

There is no grain
They have a massive ramp to return ball - this is daft for pace control
The ramp when hit at an angle is not a natural angle for a putt
They are totally flat - not good for testing how to hit breaking short putts

Yes - it is a good tool to practice your basic stoke - but way more to putting.

I disagree, a little.

When using the mat, i would go through a normal pre-putt routine before putting instead of just hitting putt after putt.
I aim for the ball to drop into a specific side of the hole rather then the middle.

If trying to get 10/20 etc in a row, there can be a bit of pressure on the last few putts.

The ramp is not a problem if the ball goes straight up the ramp rather then at an angle and it maybe helps with having good pace on the ball if the ball just drops in the hole.

I do agree that its no substitute for a real green but the mat does no harm.

PARlance

I have a flat mat so no issue with the elevation.
You have to retrieve the ball as a result and that's prob a good thing as it slows things down a bit.

Have to strongly disagree with Charlie, they're brilliant, if like Rollo, you know their limitations and use them accordingly.

There's no point sinking every putt for ten minutes and thinking you're a good putter. As Rollo suggests, you need to narrow down your target (because it's so much easier).
Aside from aiming at a certain point in the cup, you can draw a straight line on the mat and try to keep it rolling on that or you can aim for another ball on the mat (rather than using the hole) to make it more difficult. A good putt hits it flush, a bad one brushes off the other ball.

I see it as being similar to the range. It's very easy to be fooled into thinking that your doing well! You need to narrow down your targets and be critical/hard on yourself not your tool.

As training aids go I think a mat is the best one around.
Cheap as chips, you can throw it down anytime, no excuse not to be using it as the kettle boils or when there's a moment free.

charlieIRL

When i'm using the mat, i place 2 balls down in front of the ball i'm hitting to make sure i'm hitting straight - like placing two tees on the putting green. There's a hill on mine with 2 "hazards" so i practice just about getting it there to more aggressive putts.

The hole is so big a football would go in it though!!

FixdePitchmark

PARlance wrote: »

I have a flat mat so no issue with the elevation.
You have to retrieve the ball as a result and that's prob a good thing as it slows things down a bit.

Have to strongly disagree with Charlie, they're brilliant, if like Rollo, you know their limitations and use them accordingly.

There's no point sinking every putt for ten minutes and thinking you're a good putter. As Rollo suggests, you need to narrow down your target (because it's so much easier).
Aside from aiming at a certain point in the cup, you can draw a straight line on the mat and try to keep it rolling on that or you can aim for another ball on the mat (rather than using the hole) to make it more difficult. A good putt hits it flush, a bad one brushes off the other ball.

I see it as being similar to the range. It's very easy to be fooled into thinking that your doing well! You need to narrow down your targets and be critical/hard on yourself not your tool.

As training aids go I think a mat is the best one around.
Cheap as chips, you can throw it down anytime, no excuse not to be using it as the kettle boils or when there's a moment free.

Except for the wife and kids .
I woke her up one night with the ball falling.

That sounds all wrong.

PARlance

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Except for the wife and kids .
I woke her up one night with the ball falling.

That sounds all wrong.

I used to putt in the living room (wooden floor) and now the kitchen (Lino)
The wooden floor was good for pressure... If it rolled off the mat there was a scream from upstairs.