Every holiday season, golfers wind up
getting gifts that have been selected with
nothing but the best intentions by their friends
and relatives. Unfortunately, many of those
same gifts -- whether it’s a golf ball
model you don’t play or a putter
you’ll never use -- get returned or wind
up collecting dust.
So this year, why not pass on a few
“suggestions” to your friends and
family from amateurgolf.com, from our golf
training aid and fitness product sponsor, SKLZ.
QUICKSTER NET
There is nothing like the feel of
impact. No
weighted club, or other training device can
really match it. But most of us only get to hit
balls before our 1-2 rounds per week.
Permanent practice nets or cages are an
eyesore, and that’s why most golfers
haven’t bothered to install them.
But what if you had an easily storable,
portable net that you could fully assemble in
90 seconds? That’s what the Quickster
is all about. Available in 7x7 or 8x8 sizes, the
Quickster can withstand the impact of
standard golf balls or limited distance balls like
the “Almost Golf” ball (which
I’m a big fan of).
For just $149.99 you can have home
practice without the bother of a permanent
installation. Buy
now>
POWER WEDGE
The best drills are often the most simple,
and the same goes for training aids. The SKLZ
Power Wedge is a heavy-duty plastic wedge
that goes under your right foot (for the right
hander) to prevent swaying and the proper
weight shift sequence to the left side.
The Power Wedge would be a great tool
even without it’s “clicker”
- a metal piece that allows for a audible
reminder that a proper weight shift has been
executed. If you make a good swing, the
“click” happens at exactly the
same time as impact. It’s such a great
reminder that after a good swings, removing
the Power Wedge and making a similar swing
results in literally hearing the click.
I tried the Power Wedge at the range on a
mat, and found that it stayed in place fine
even without using the two provided holes for
placing tees into the ground. (Had I been at a
grass range, I likely would have used them.)
The first thing I noticed was that by
placing my right heal on the Power Wedge, my
right knee was pointed to the left and without
even thinking about it I was in a better
position to rotate my hips instead of sway. It
brought me back to lessons I’ve had
when I was younger, and even to Ben
Hogan’s “Five
Lesson’s” instruction guide that
promotes a similar setup.
The timing of my “demo”
couldn’t have been better as I have
been pretty inconsistent with my iron play
lately. Power Wedge promotes a solid move to
the left side, in the right sequence, and with
solid ball contact. At $14.99, and sized to fit in
your golf bag’s ball pocket, Power
Wedge is a must-have. Buy
now>
REFINER PRO GRAPHITE
I’ve finally found a hinged club that
makes sense to use in practice. SKLZ Refiner
Pro Graphite, because it’s made to feel
like a graphite shafted driver in overall weight
and swing weight, is much easier to adjust to
when trying to find the right swing plane. The
concept works so well because as you
“learn” to avoid hinge-
breakdown, your swing plane is getting better
with each set.
Try going back to a regular driver and not
only does it seem easier to hit, the ball flight
doesn’t lie. Things have gotten better.
The Refiner Pro Graphite comes with a
metal tool to use on the two way adjustable
hinger, which can be made very difficult
indeed. I suggest using it in the tighter
(easier) settings to start out with, then
gradually move into the more difficult. That
way, you’ll work on the swing plane
without worrying too much about the
smoothness of the takeaway in the beginning,
while “graduating” to a flowing
takeaway on the right plane.
Unlike other hinged clubs, Refiner Pro
Graphite allows you to actually hit golf balls
and there is nothing more rewarding then
striping one 250 yards down the range with a
smooth, on-plane swing, then moving to your
regular driver and seeing the results.
The Refiner Pro Graphite is the only
graphite training club available anywhere, and
provides a more accurate swing weight and
the feel of a real driver. Engineered to
hit golf balls and teach a smooth, even-tempo
golf swing, the patented two-way adjustable-
hinged club exposes swing flaws immediately
by a break in the hinge. The dual-
colored shaft gives visible cues for maintaining
an on-plane swing path, and the grip provides
ideal hand placement guides in order to square
the clubface. A real value at $119.99. Buy
now>
HOW TO BUY:
All of these SKLZ products, and many
more, can be found in the amateurgolf.com online store.
Founder of amateurgolf.com. Member,
Olympic Club and Torrey Pines Mens Club.
Always looking for a good game and love
to play all types of courses, muni or
private. More...
Northern California