Best Golf Training Aids 2024

A look at some of the superb training aids on the market that could help improve your game

Best Golf Training Aids
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Best Golf Training Aids

Golf is one of the most technically challenging sports out there and playing just once a week is certainly not enough to see you make big improvements. It's therefore wise to think about practicing more. And while we all have very busy schedules that restrict us from getting out on the course perhaps as much as we'd like, a comprehensive golf training aid is an excellent way to improve your skills. Manufacturers produce a whole variety of equipment, including some of the best golf accessories on the market, that can help you improve all parts of your game. You can use these tools to work on everything from your putting to your driving to help you become a more accomplished player.

You can also implement many of these tools both at home or on the driving range. And whether the training aids are designed to help you improve your swing or to perfect your putting, a little bit of work goes a long way and could see you knocking shots off your handicap. Below we've set out some of the best golf training aids on the market that we think will help you improve as a player. Be sure to also check out our guides on the best golf launch monitors, best golf simulator and our picks for the best golf net.

WATCH: We run through the best golf gadgets on the market in 2024

The Quick List

Best Golf Training Aids

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Our top pick

PuttOUT Devil Balls resting on the golf courseGolf Monthly Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Future)
Easy to understand, difficult to master

Specifications

Designed to help: Putting
Material: Polymer inner core and elastomer shell

Reasons to buy

+
Provides instant feedback on the putter face angle
+
Feels like a real golf ball
+
Helps train quality ball strike too

Reasons to avoid

-
Only useful on short putts of 6ft or less

First in the list is the Devil Balls from PuttOUT; we were so impressed by these devious little balls that we included them in our Editors Choice Awards for 2023. It’s no secret that putting is one of the most complicated aspects of the game to hone, which is what makes tools like this one so popular with golfers. Particularly as, for golfers of all abilities, putting is where shots can be won or lost around the course, so improving putting skills is a task worth putting the time into. 

This fantastic putting training aid - which has three difficulty levels that reduce the tolerance of the face angle - offers instant feedback on the face angle of the putter at impact, thanks to its flat-edge impact zone. This unique design exaggerates the face angle of the club at impact, which makes the process of learning to keep the putter face square, through both the impact and strike, easier. 

When we put this putting aid to the test, we found that it was unlike any putting aid we’d ever used for practice before. We quickly gained a stronger understanding of face angle and found that our putts improved as a result. Our testers were also pleased with the alignment marker that comes in the pack and found that it acts as a useful training aid which encourages golfers to hit up on the ball. 

Best for swing training

Sure-Strike Training Aid resting on an astroturf hitting matGolf Monthly Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Sure-Strike)
An excellent way to improve your swing mechanics

Specifications

Designed to help: Swing mechanics
Material: Stainless steel and plastic

Reasons to buy

+
Helps with multiple faults
+
Great for alignment
+
Well researched and tested

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs some self-discipline to get the most out of it

For golfers looking to improve their swing and eliminate bad habits, the Sure-Strike training aid, which was designed and produced by Dan Frost, is a fantastic tool. This movement trainer is designed to help golfers further hone their swing, learning how to create better body positions and movements. With the idea being for this tool to inform the player about how they can locate the correct position to be in when swinging through the golf ball, both for short and long game. 

Whether you’ve found too much face rotation in your swing or seem to be hitting the ball off center, the Sure-Strike training aid can help. Using this feel-based tool can help to improve swing mechanism, further honing game play success. 

Best putting mirror

Mini-Max Training Mirrors resting on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)
Delivers immediate feedback on your swing

Specifications

Designed to help: Club trajectories
Material: Glass

Reasons to buy

+
The videos are short, to the point and well explained
+
The flexibility
+
The ease of use to check your game from home

Reasons to avoid

-
You would love a bigger version of the mirror

For any golfer looking for immediate feedback on their swing, these mirrors are a really great tool to have on hand. With two mirrors included in this set, one for full swings and one for alignment, along with a storage pouch and adjustable stand, this is one of the best value training aids we’ve seen. 

For advanced visibility, both mirrors have a convex design, and one of the mirrors also features a number of alignment lines that can be used to ensure your putter remains square through impact, making it one of the best putting aids on the market. 

Another bonus of this training aid is the fact it comes with a selection of handy how-to videos from Me And My Golf, with the videos sharing advice for making the most of the mirrors and adjustable stand, including guidance on exactly which notch to set the stand to for different forms of training. 

Best for fitness

GolfForever Swing trainerGolf Monthly Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Future)
An easy-to-use system that's great for golf and fitness

Specifications

Designed to help: Speed and momentum
Material: Several materials

Reasons to buy

+
An all-around balanced fitness program
+
Helps prevent injury on and off the golf course
+
Should produce more easy distance on the course

Reasons to avoid

-
Not easy to use if you don’t have adequate space or a place to anchor the trainer

For any golfer who’s looking to give their fitness a boost while also further honing their golf game, the GolfForever Swing Trainer could be just the thing. When we put this training aid to the test, it’s safe to say that our team was extremely impressed. What’s great about this swing trainer is the fact that it allows golfers to improve their power, control and general swing mechanisms from anywhere, no need for a golf course or range. 

While the setup may look complex, it is actually exceedingly simple to use. The use of resistance bands that connect to a 44.5 inch bar, allow golfers to practice varying swing positions. For varying the difficulty of workouts, golfers can adjust their hands and anchor point on the shaft. We also loved the fact that the GolfForever app offers users a wide range of workouts to try, allowing users to build a customized workout program to fit their specific golf and fitness needs. 

Since first testing this tool out, we’ve noticed a significant increase in club head speed as well as our own flexibility, with these gains also translating into better on-course play. 

Best portable putting aid

PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer ReviewGolf Monthly Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
The perfect putting trainer

Specifications

Designed to help: Putting, pace control
Material: Plastic, rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Great for practicing pace control with your putts.
+
Very hard wearing

Reasons to avoid

-
Need to invest in the PuttOut mat to get the best use out of it.

If you’ve already got one of the PuttOUT putting mats, then you’re going to want to test out the PuttOUT Pressure Trainer that pairs perfectly with it. That said, this trainer can also be used on its own, helping you to practice hitting your putts at the ideal speed needed to rest the ball in the indentation. So, if you’ve not got a putting mat, don’t panic. You’ll be pleased to know that it works just as well on short carpet as it does on a putting mat

When we put this handy tool to the test we aren’t ashamed to admit that we found it challenging at first. But, with time and practice, once you’ve mastered the art of getting the ball at the perfect speed and angle to sit snugly in the indent, you’ll find that your on-green short game has seriously improved. 

This useful putting tool also comes in Premium and Platinum versions, with each of which being made from differing base materials. 

Best for iron play

GForce 7 Iron Swing Trainer on the golf courseGolf Monthly Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Future)
A great tool for improving your rhyrhm and speed

Specifications

Designed to help: Speed and transition
Material: Steel

Reasons to buy

+
Helps with all facets of your swing
+
The feedback is immediate
+
Perfectly weighted to help with transition to your normal 7-iron

Reasons to avoid

-
Takes time to get used to

The GForce 7 Iron Swing Trainer is designed to support a wide range of golfing abilities, aiming to help hone swings, targeting swing faults and other transitionary issues. When used regularly, this swing trainer can also help golfers to improve both swing speed and rhythm. 

When we first put it to the test, we noticed that it did feel a little whippy, but also noted that it’s a really great training club that works well to help you warm up ahead of your round. Especially as the feedback offered is instant, meaning if you have a bad swing it allows you to determine what the issue is and how to approach correcting it. And, as it’s USGA approved, you can also use it out on the golf course, should you want to. 

Thanks to how flexible the shaft is, this training aid allows players to better understand the clubhead weight. This means that, when used over time, it’ll teach you how to ensure that you’re not hurling yourself at the ball, flick your wrists, or square the clubface. 

For exaggerating the feel and shot shape, this tool is a game-changer. It will help you to understand the feel through exactly what you’ve played.

Best for breaking putts

The Breaking Ball Putting Mat

(Image credit: Mark Townsend)
Unique product and works on a very necessary part of your game

Specifications

Designed to help: Putting
Material: Nylon

Reasons to buy

+
Great roll and quality balls
+
Brilliant packaging, will last a lifetime
+
Immediate feedback

Reasons to avoid

-
Comes at a price (but is a sound investment)

This putting mat comes with a set of three unique weighted golf balls that each features a different weight to help replicate three different types of break. The green ball has a slight break, the red ball has a medium break, and the blue ball has a heavy break. 

What makes this mat (and the revolutionary balls it comes with) so beneficial for golfers wanting to improve their game, is the fact that it allows users to practice breaking balls, rather than just straight putts. It adds another dimension at putting practice, ensuring that when you’re next out on the course you should feel confident with your putting. 

Interestingly, despite the weights of these balls, they aren’t clicky to play with and don’t feel all that different to regular golf balls. The mat itself is easy to set up, pack up, and transport, and offers medium to fast ball pay. 

Best for swing analysis

Liveview Pro 2 testing

(Image credit: Tom Miles)
A swing recording tool that players of all abilities can use

Specifications

Designed to help: Swing
Material: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Lets you view your swing in real time from different angles
+
Automatically records your swing
+
Provides lots of visual aids

Reasons to avoid

-
Video quality could be improved

In essence, the Live View Pro 2 is a compact digital mirror that allows you to look at your golf shots from any angle, streaming a video of your swing to your smart device. This means that you’re able to monitor your movement within your golf posture and swing. 

On par with some of the best launch monitors, you can connect this mirroring device to your phone or iPad easily via WiFi. Once it’s set up and connected, all you need to do is position it wherever you want to view your swing from and you’re good to go. 

For ease of use, you can opt to buy a flexible tripod that can be used in conjunction with this training aid, to make capturing your game even easier.

Best for improving speed

superspeed-golf-webEditors Choice 2022

(Image credit: Future)
Perfect the tempo of your swing

Specifications

Designed to help: Ball speed, distance
Material: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Simple to use
+
Well made
+
Distance gains can be had if instructions and training techniques are stuck to

Reasons to avoid

-
Requires consistent and repetitive use to increase ball speed and distance

The SuperSpeed Golf Training set claims to help golfers add a massive 30 yards onto overall driver distance, which is quite a claim. The manufacturer says that, in order to be able to achieve this kind of goal, it takes at least six weeks of patience and persistence to help increase club head speed. 

The set comes with three different golf shafts, each in varying colors and weights. The idea is to start by using the lightest shaft and swing as hard as you can on your dominant side, before then switching and doing the same on the other side. 

While we put this training aid to the test, we weren’t able to devote the amount of time needed to try this tool out to the full extent. But, after two weeks of testing, we did find that we were much happier with our swing speed, as well as noticing improved flexibility. 

Best for slicers

Champkey Swing Trainer review review

(Image credit: Future)
A great tool to rectify any bad slice

Specifications

Designed to help: Rythem and tempo
Material: Plastic, rubber and silica

Reasons to buy

+
Helps you feel the correct loading and release of the clubhead during the swing
+
Can be stored in your golf bag
+
Excellent value for money

Reasons to avoid

-
Regular use is key to stop falling back into old bad habits
-
Instructions could have been more detailed

For any golfer wanting to develop their timing and sequencing, the Champkey Golf Swing Trainer is a tool worth trying. Designed to help hone the rhythm and tempo of your golf swing, it works well for helping to improve timing and accuracy. 

Made for use both outside and indoors, this training aid features a high traction rubber grip, a flexible shaft, and a silica gel head. Whether you’re looking to improve golf swing tempo or increase muscle strength, this training aid is a great buy. 

When we put it to the test, we found that it took a little time to adjust to, but within a session or two you should start to gain a better insight into the right time to release the club. For mid-to-high handicappers who tend to lose tempo in high pressure situations and end up slicing the ball as a result, we think this tool will be highly beneficial. 

Best putting mat

Perfect practice perfect putting matEditors Choice 2022

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
Improve your putting consistency with this matt

Specifications

Designed to help: Putting
Material: Crystal velvet

Reasons to buy

+
Lots of lines and checkpoints for honing both the consistency of your stroke and your start lines
+
Nicely made

Reasons to avoid

-
You will need to make sure you have a flat floor with enough space to lay the mat

 The Perfect Practice Putting Mat has been endorsed by Dustin Johnson and is a great mat to help you dial in your putting game, it will help with pace control and more consistency at address. The mat comes in three parts, the mat itself that you attach to the raised wooden part that has two different-sized holes, the wooden backstop, and four wooden slats that you put together for the ball to be returned to you. It is easy to assemble and only takes a few minutes in total.

You have different lines on the mat which helps with the path and the starting line for putts. These elements really matter when looking for consistency on the greens. Clear visual aids like what you get on this mat, make it a great way to practice and get something meaningful out of practicing at home. For more aids like this, check out our best putting aids guide.

Best for swing plane

PlaneSwing Training Aid Review

(Image credit: PlaneSwing)
Improve your golf swing tempo

Specifications

Designed to help: Swing plane, consistency
Material: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Can help improve consistency
+
Clear swing path benefits

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs a bit of room

The PlaneSwing is made to help players on their takeaways to make sure it is on the correct path, this gives you more of a chance to be consistent if you are starting on the right plane, from the get-go. If you are someone with a hook or slice, this can be one of the best ways to eliminate that miss. This is done by showing you the correct place the club should be in at every part of the golf swing, in time creating a more neutral path and straighter shots. This trainer is there for repetition to create that muscle memory for you to then take into a real-life golfing situation. 

With this, you get the Power Slider, which is a weighted training club that works in hand with the PlaneSwing. You will also get a Plane Guide Plane Checker and alignment mat, all with an instructional video of how to use it. This is one of the l; larger training aids so you need to make sure you have enough room for it, it can also take a bit of time to set up, but when packing it away it condenses down easily and can be stored easily. 

How we test training aids

when it comes to testing training aids we think the best way to do this is by using it. This may seem like an obvious thing but we mean using it a lot, not just once to see how it works, this gives us an understanding of usability, versatility, durability, value for money, and above all else, does it actually have a positive impact on our game? We test products at home, the range on a putting green, or the course, we can then see if a specific training aid is performing where it is meant to and is actually worth it. We also pride ourselves on the fact that no manufacturer can buy a good review, with us all you will get is honesty whether it is good or bad. 

What to consider when buying a training aid

There are several factors to consider when looking at buying a training aid. Let's go into them here. 

1. What do you want to work on? 

First things first, what is the part of your game that needs work? Putting? Short-game? Grip? Whatever it is there will be a training aid to help so this is obviously the first question you have to consider. Indeed be very specific with this, because the more detailed you can be, the more a specific aid will help. 

2. Usability

Do you want a training aid to be simple to use, or do you want something that can be complicated so you can really delve into the process and fine-tune your game to minute detail? Ultimately there are models above and elsewhere in the golf world which are both. 

3. Versatility 

Do you want to be able to carry around the training aid? Do you want to be able to use it at home as well as the local course? Many aids slot nicely into your bag whilst others are more difficult to pack away and store. So have a think about how versatile and portable you want your training aid to be. 

4. Durability 

A good golf training aid should also be strong as well so be aware of what certain models are made from and whether brands offer warranty's on their products in case they break from use. 

5. Price 

Golf can be an expensive sport right and given the choice of buying new clubs, balls, bags or clothes, a training aid might be the bottom of that list despite it helping maybe the most. However it is important to realise that there are aids at lots of different price points so if you do decide to invest in one, be aware of how much you are willing to spend. 

6. Lessons? 

Our final point here is to have a good think about whether a training aid is the right way to go in solving a problem in your game. Perhaps investing in lessons may be a better way to go because a professional coach will be able to point out the issue and look at solving it, whereas a training aid may not get to the root of the issue. Whereas if you just want to gain more confidence by playing putting games or seeing the ball go in the hole, then a training aid like a model we picked above will be perfect for this and a lesson won't be needed. We cannot recommend thinking about this enough. 

If you're after more golf training aids, why not check out some of the best putting aids on the market, best alignment sticks and best putting mats.

FAQs

What training aids do golf pros use?

When we cover Tour golf we tend to see lots of different players using different training aids to help them practice. This is because every single golfer on the planet is different and swings the club in unique ways. However, despite this was tend to see a lot of professionals carry alignment sticks and putting mirrors for their work on the driving range and putting greens. 

Are golf training aids worth it?

The simple answer to this question is yes. We have found there are aids to help in every aspect of the game and most golfers can benefit from a quality model, and yet it is worth saying that training aids don't solve every problem. We have rarely found a training aid that doesn't work but no single aid is perfect for every golfer either. 

Are alignment sticks useful?

Yes, a golf alignment stick is a handy tool that many players should keep in their bags. They can be used in a variety of drills to help players improve their aim, swing stroke and their connection on the golf ball. 

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Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer