Training Aids

Quick question. What do people think are the best training aids out there? I am thinking of trying the Swingyde-I was wondering, has anyone tried it and was it useful. Jimmy 

Just a couple of points here.

Wayne I think you'll find that the ball is in contact with the clubface for a damn sight longer than 0.00005 of a second.  Obviously it depends on how soft the ball is (softer the ball the longer the contact), but I think that a figure is at least two orders of magnitude too small.

And on your last post Jimmy, I may be able to offer some explanation:

1)  The Explanar gives you the feeling of the perfect swing plane, but not necessarily the perfect swing plane.  Bit of a Newtononian physics problem here, given that in the event of you grooving the perfect swing on the Explanar will build muscle groups to achieve that but also build the muscle groups to react against it (as muscles can only act in tension.  Equal and opposite reactions and all that.  And it could only be valid if it is used for acheiving the perfect plane for each and every club that you use as the swing plane necessarily has to change the longer the club.

2), 3) & 4)  Just because a pro/coach endorses a product doesn't mean to say that it works.  Marketing hype is a powerful thing.

5)  If, like Y E Yang you actually make a living from the game, then you will spend all day, every day practicing or playing so your swing will improve.  It can also be rebuilt or tweeked to make it better in weeks rather than years unlike us mortals.  Saying that using an Explanar WILL improve your swing to that level is a bit like saying that if I buy a better car I will become a better driver - it simply doesn't work like that.  To a certain extent this analogy must be true for any training aid because if you learn to rely on it in practice then removing it for a game has the potential to wreck your actual swing (see point 1) out on the course.

Having said that, I quite like to go over the local range for a thrash on the Explanar but never with the clubs.  I find it a good workout to improve fitness and strength in the areas that are most used for golf - upper body and abdomen.

And just as a footnote, it would be interesting to see the how Jim Furyk got on with an Explanar.....

Wayne - too right I'll be there mate - sort of organiser/photgrapher/pack mule role I think.

I have owned an Explanar for 2yrs and spent a total of 8 mins on it, I soon found out that it wasn't for me as i naturally have a two plane swing and prefer to swing flatter than than the Explanar teaches. On the plus side it does help with building stronger forarms again something i don't need anymore of. Where I found it has a benifit and have witnessed the rersults first hand is my friend and co owner who has always suffered the over top swing. It has straigthtened him out no end and as a result gained 40-50 yrds on his driver he still uses it quite frequently,so as I say it's not for me.

HI Yall , i do hae he explaner , and found it to be great , you do need to have a good posture though to start to get a repeatable swing , the weighted roller i do like as it stretches the muscles aswell as strengthening them , i only use it twice a week tho ,  but found it good , knocked a few strokes of handicap since using it..

G