The Four Senses of Golf

BY ED TRAVIS

Golf is a game that makes use of four of our senses; feel or touch, sight, sound or hearing and even taste...we’ll ignore smell for now. It’s important to engage our senses to become better and in fact we can train ourselves to have better timing, contact and distance.

Taste is a little different, but who hasn’t had the urge to eat something on the course? We have a couple of suggestions, and they aren’t a hot dog and a beer.

Feel effects everything in the swing from grip to take away to finish and here a couple of training devices to help.

Around The Game Training Aids

Orange Whip Distance Duo

$197.99 | www.orangewhipgolf.com

Two very flexible shafts with weighted balls on the ends with repetitive swinging improve timing and a smooth natural motion without concern for the position of the clubhead or trying to “hit” the ball. The extreme “whippy-ness” of the shafts helps keep the shaft on plane throughout and immediately increases swing speed. The regular length shaft is 47” and the other 43”, specifically to improve clubhead swing speed.

WHY GOLF PRESSURE PLATE & CHIPPING PLATE

$129.99 & 79.99 | www.whygolf.com

The curved base of the Pressure Plate trains the user to properly shift weight during the full swing without swaying, no need for computers or any high-tech devices. It is 24” x 13” x 1”, portable and weighs just 6 pounds. The Chipping Plate is similar though smaller and teaches how to keep weight on the lead foot for crisp impact and prevent fat or sculled chips. Also portable at 3 pounds.

It goes without saying the sense of sight is critical to making an efficient swing and the below two aids will give you the chance to see what is correct.

The Divot Board

$139.99 | www.golftrainingaids.com

The idea of the Divot Board is to provide a visual record of the club head path and impact point on the ground while making a full iron swing. It is a convenient 6” wide by 21” long and only 3/8” thick so it doesn’t affect the swing arc. Designed for use indoors on carpet or outdoors on mats or grass, the Divot Board has nubs on the bottom to hold it in place. Replacement pads are available.

TOUR STRIKER TOOLBOX

$187 | www.tourstriker.com

Well-known instructor Martin Chuck has developed a simple but effective way to visualize the basics needed to make a proper swing with the Toolbox. The Toolbox consists of a hollow aluminum tube with three alignment rods inside and two rotating clutches each with a hole for insertion of the rods. Sounds simple and it is, training the user in several critical swing factors including ball position and swing plane.

Sound can also be useful when training for a better swing. Don’t discount it and often what you hear will tie in with what you feel. Check out the helpful products below.

THE ONE CLUB

$197.98 | www.theoneclub.ca

This release and speed training practice club has a five-weight slide on the shaft connected with elastic bands to the handle providing resistance on the downswing. Weights are interchangeable, as are the elastic bands. A definite click when the club releases provides both swing timing and clubhead speed practice for pro and recreational players, plus The One Club can also be used for short game improvement.

WHY GOLF | ARMALARM

$99.99 | www.whygolf.com

Focusing on the proper position of the trail arm is a sure way to improve ball striking and distance. The ArmAlarm has wrist bands for each arm connected by an adjustable length tether so when the arms separate the tether detaches and ArmAlarm beeps giving instant feedback for the “chicken wing” swing of chronic slicers. Included in the

Around The Game Training Aids

package is the WristAlarm that beeps when hands scoop at the bottom before impact.

We like a hot dog or candy bar on the course as much as anyone but here a couple of better — read healthier — alternatives.

4ORE NUTRITION

$34.95 | www.4ore.com

Maintaining hydration level on the course is vital and 4ORE’s Infused Hydration concentrate provides multiples of the daily requirements of fruits and vegetables plus electrolytes in each package with no sugar and zero calories. Each of the packages contains 20 servings just mix with 16 to 24oz of water.

There are two flavors from which to choose: Citrus Blast or Red Raspberry.

CLIF BAR

$13.67 | www.clifbar.com

Eating sensibly is all well and good and many will opt for something healthy to carry on the course for quick energy and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t contain everyone’s favorite…chocolate. Clif Bars come in several flavors but many chocolate-loving golfers are partial to the Chocolate Brownie. Made with organic oats, each bar is high in protein and carbohydrates. A package contains 12 individual bars.