50 Words or Less
The Goal Post putting trainer by Swing Align putts an emphasis on centered contact and a square-to-target path. Small and light. Easy to take on and off. Adjustable difficulty and aiming aid.
Introduction
As the 2021 golf season starts in earnest, a lot of us are left wondering, “Why didn’t I spend more time putting this winter?!?” If you need to get the rust off your flat stick in a hurry, check out the Goal Post putting trainer. With an emphasis on a universal fundamental – centered contact – it promises to get you into mid-season form in a hurry.
Set Up & Ease of Use
When you open the box of your Goal Post, you find a plastic bag with the pieces shown above and nothing else. With only four pieces, assembly isn’t difficult, but an instruction manual would have been nice. It took about two minutes for me to assemble Goal Post and connect it to my putter, primarily using the pictures on the box and website as a guide.
Once it’s assembled and attached, Goal Post is intuitive to use: hit putts without hitting the green prongs. The grey aiming stick is optional and adjustable. I like using it to check my set up – if the grey stick isn’t centered on the ball, I know my set up is askew.
Effectiveness
Much like the recently reviewed PuttDots [review HERE], Goal Post is all about hitting the ball in the center of the face. However, there are important differences – some obvious, some less so. First, because the prongs on the Goal Post are quite long, you need to not only hit the center of the putter face, you need to keep the face square to target before and after impact. This makes the Goal Post a much easier (and likely better) trainer for players with straight-back-straight-through strokes versus those with strong arcs.
Additionally, Goal Post has adjustable difficulty. The black o-rings on the prongs can be moved forward to increase the difficulty. With the rings at the end of the prongs, it is extremely difficult to have success with the Goal Post. If you find many putting trainers too easy, this could be for you.
Finally, there’s the adjustable alignment rod. Goal Post states that having the three lines extending toward the target will improve your aim. I’m doubtful of this claim because when you’re playing, those lines won’t be there to help you. That said, I think having the grey stick bisecting the ball is a good way to check your set up position.
Overall, I think that the Goal Post is an effective trainer because it provides very clear feedback on an important skill. My only reservation is that it may not be a good fit for players with arcing strokes. I found that when I made an arcing stroke with a heavy toe hang putter, I could hit the center of the face but the ball would still occasionally ricochet off the prongs.
Longevity
The Goal Post putting trainer has a lot going for it in terms of longevity. First, it’s small and light so it can live in your golf bag. If it’s always in your golf bag, you’re more likely to use it. Also, it’s easy to take on and off and can attach to most types of putters. Its focus on a universal fundamental – centered contact – and adjustable difficulty are also positives.
My one concern is the Goal Post breaking if left in a golf bag that is not handled carefully. The maker offers a lifetime warranty, but I’m not sure if that applies to someone punting their bag after losing a match.
Value
Goal Post currently sells through the Swing Align website for $40 (regular price is $45). I think this is the perfect price for this trainer. It’s an affordable way to boost your confidence before a round or level up your indoor practice.
Conclusion
I like the Goal Post for its clear feedback and its focus on an inarguable fundamental of golf. With a 90-day, money back improvement guarantee, this offers a risk-free way to try to get your putting stroke in top shape.
Visit Swing Align HERE
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Do you find that an aid like this provides better feedback than using a couple of ball sleeves and a gate to ensure center contact, putter path before and after impact, and startline? The only advantage I can see is that you don’t have to setup a practice station or fix the sleeves if you hit them.
Chris,
Both ways work, but the drill you suggest only works with a very straight path, which very few golfers have.
Best,
Matt
This has to be one of the worst (if not THE worst) training aid I have ever seen. Not just because it obviously won’t work well for the vast majority of people who have some arc in their stroke, but also because it’s just ridiculous looking.
How about just practice hitting the ball on the middle of the putter face? Anyone who can’t do that without a goal post should perhaps take up a different sport. There are also lots of putting mirrors out there where you can use tees to make gates to help guide the putter head to square at impact.
This thing is a pure gimmick.
Paul,
Have you used the Goal Post?
-Matt
Does the Goal Post fit only certain putters?
Richard,
The only putters that it won’t fit are those where the top/top line of the putter is very wide/extends the length of the putter. This would be an example: https://pluggedingolf.com/pxg-blackjack-putter-review/
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt,
I ordered one today. I hope it will work on an Odyssey 2-Ball Putter? I also have an EVNROLL 8, which I am confident it will fit if the Odyssey 2-Ball is a problem.
Thanks,
Dave
The best part of this trainer is perfecting your set up to hit the center of the face.