Golf Training Aids represent a much larger segment of the golf products market that one would ever think possible.  The question is, why would a golfer choose to purchase a bona-fide “golf training aid” when they could simply buy a range-card at the local golf practice facility or, like my dad made me do ad nauseum…go into the backyard and chip balls into a good ol’ 5-gallon paint bucket? 

The answer is simple, the bona fide golf training aid is designed to help the golfer build the fundamentals needed to make the consistent and correct movments every time… once the muscle memory is built, then the range card (or much-dreaded paint bucket) becomes exponentially more beneficial and enjoyable.  Fortunately for the more thrifty-minded golfer, there are golf training tools on the market today that have transcended their single-use, range-only stygma and are either approved by the USGA and R&A Rules of Golf, or are designed to be used on the golf course during practice-rounds.

The Momentus Short Game Wizard is the first of such multi-use clubs that comes to mind.  In its Short Game Wizard, Momentus has integrated the technology it developed in its weighted swing trainers and “pioneered and developed a revolutionary new concept in wedge design called Variable Shaft Weighting. Variable Shaft Weighting increases the shaft weight as the loft of the club head increases. This concept has proven to create a uniform accelerating motion through the ball, ensuring crisp and solid contact, and producing more consistent and accurate shots. The Momentus Short Game Wizard Wedge Series conforms to the USGA Rules of Golf and Short Game Wizards are designed to replace your existing wedges to give you more control, touch and feel around the green and from out in the fairway.”

Gary Player, long known as one of the most prolific promoters of physical fitness related to golf, lends his name to the Gary Player Heavy Hitter line of training clubs.  His driver is designed to take out on the range and actually hit balls, and when fitted with a standard grip is approved by the USGA.  Each club is precision balanced with a perimeter weighted clubhead, matched to a balanced weighted shaft. It flexes perfectly for a natural ball flight trajectory. On a busy Saturday morning when the only tee-times available are in four- and five-somes, a trip to the driving range isn’t always feasable.  Because the Heavy Hitter with a standard grip is USGA approved, you can use it on the first few tees to get warmed-up while you play.  After a few holes, you can pull your standard woods from the bag and comfortably and confidently knock the ball straight down the fairway.

Of course, no commentary related to USGA approved training tools would be complete without mentioning the laser rangefinder or golf GPS. The USGA New Decision 14-3/0.5 allows a Committee to permit the use of distance-measuring devices by Local Rule. This applies to devices that measure distance only, not any other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g., wind or gradient). The SkyCaddie GPS and the Bushnell Pinseeker Tournament Edition (without slope-reading function) give the golfer the ability to accurately know the distance between the ball and the pin without having to search around the fairway for the yardage marker, or imagine how many times the pin has been moved since the yardage sign was erected at the tee-box.  The SkyCaddie gives the golfer satellite-accurate readings of points on many courses, while the Bushnell Pin Seeker, with a push of a button, gives immediate feedback on the range to any target on any course.