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

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.