As in the weight-loss industry, everyone is looking for the next great thing that will make them better golfers. Unfortunately, as in the diet craze, nothing beats having someone help you with your goals and spending lots of time and energy devoted to the cause. While it produces a nice large "ring" for you to achieve the proper plane needed for an effective golf swing, it doesn't necessarily address basic fundamentals such as grip, swing tempo, hip movement, and weight distribution.

The model I saw did include different "power rollers" to give the feel of different length clubs, and a video (that I must admit I didn't watch), but simply did not seem to be effective enough for someone like me to learn from. And trust me, I could use some good golf instruction.

If someone is looking for a golf trainer, one should honestly evaluate lessons -- but if a training aid to use at home is needed, I might suggest more of an exclusive "home short game practice session" using something like the RockRoller Putting Training Aid. Save the big swing trainings sessions for a pro to help you with.

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Seriously, though, this is a good mat to take to the park or use in your backyard. The only thing I would warn you about is the size. It is small, so it tends to move around a bit. Also, if you catch the tee too low, it may fly into your neighbor's yard. (Then to get it back, you have to return the rake you borrowed... and the lawn mower, the drill, his new driver, his car, etc.)

For a more substantial net that can take a beating, check out the 3' x 5' Dura-Pro Plus Residential Golf Mat. This bad boy ain't going nowhere (as my 2nd grade teacher used to brag on me). Go ahead and hit it fat or skinny or just right. The Dura Pro costs more, but it will last longer, and it comes with a bunch of free booty like a cool tray, balls, tees, etc. Plus, you get to keep your neighbor's lawn mower for another couple months.

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All joking aside, this is a good golf mat if you have a backyard to practice in (and no controlling condo associations). I used to practice a lot in my backyard with full length mirrors strategically positioned directly in front of me and directly behind my target line. I would hit into a net. At least I would try to hit into a net. Every once in a while, I'd miss the whole net and send the ball careening off the side of my garage and then bounding along the neighbor's roof. That's when I would take a break and grab a beer.

This Dura-Pro golf mat is the real deal and good for indoors or outdoors. It absorbs those fat shots and is thermally welded so it won't come apart. This is key. (I used to hit off an old ‘Welcome' mat that I found in the garage, and on fat shots the darn thing would fly up at me like a rabid cat.) It also comes with a plethora of free stuff: tray, tees, balls, and free shipping.

If you want to spend less money, check out the Callaway FT Launch Zone Hitting Mat. You don't get all the free stuff, but it will do the trick. Plus it's a little more compact. Good, say, if you need to make a quick departure from the fifth level of a condo ‘cause some old fuddy-duddy called the cops.

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Here's how it works: It fits in a regulation golf cup. When you sink a putt, the battery-operated (4AA) device flips your golf ball back to you, up to 14 feet or more depending on how fast the green is. It comes with a "Caddy Cord" that you lay around the back of the cup to direct missed putts into the hole to be returned as well.

Here's what I like about it: It allows you to grove a stroke. It's nice to be able to stand in one place and tinker with your setup and stroke until you find a successful combination. However, I would advise you not to use this device exclusively and let it cause you to get lazy. This would be equivalent to standing on the driving range and banging away at balls without going through a pre-shot routine.

The best putting practice is emulating exactly what you will be doing on the golf course. That means go through your routine of marking your ball, lining it up and stroking the putt. And yes, even picking the ball up out of the hole is a great routine to get used to.

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This wasn't designed by some fly-by-night golf gadget medicine man either. Rick Smith has a good reputation. He's worked with Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, and even Jack Nicklaus.

The idea of the bag isn't to pound the daylights out of it and build up your golf muscles, but rather to teach you the proper clubface position at impact. Just take your normal swing and then take a look at the angle of the target map. If you made a correct swing, the bag will remain aligned. If not, the bag will retain the depression and show you what you did wrong.

I'm not a big fan of this one, although I can see where it might be fun at a party. Of course, I don't think it would make it very long before it was smashed into pieces.

Also, make sure you are aware you are just buying an empty bag. The bag is not filled with anything. You are supposed to fill it with towels or your laundry. So from that standpoint, I can see where it might make a nice hamper. You'll have to see my full review at ZipLaundry.com.

For a better training tool, please check out the Medicus.

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Seriously though, a gyroscope is designed for measuring or maintaining orientation. Without going into too much detail, it is a spinning wheel or disk in which the axel is not fixed and can spin in any direction.

The gyroscope in the Gyro Swing Trainer is battery operated (with rechargeable batteries included). As you swing the trainer, the gyroscope spins and you feel resistance if you swing off plane. A lot of us have issues with throwing it over the top or casting. If you try this with the Gyro Swing Trainer, you will certainly feel it. Once you get the hang of swinging it, it will help you stay on plane and release the club at the proper time.

This is a cool little toy and does exactly as advertised. In addition to training the proper swing plane and release, it also helps work your golf muscles. Thus, it's a great tool to keep in shape.

However, there are tools that I like better that teach you the correct swing plane, and they are a little bit more affordable. Two of my favorites include the Medicus and the Swingyde.

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One word of warning: You don't actually hit the Radar with your golf club! I mean you can, but you will only get one use out of it. If you want to use it multiple times, then I suggest you set it a safe distance from your golf ball before swinging.

This can be an extremely valuable tool if you use it for more than just bragging rights about how fast you swing. I suggest you use this with a friend and take turns taking notes on the other golfer. Record the tempo and speed, and make sure to note if you hit the ball solid or shanked it into the parking lot.

If you keep good records, not only will you improve your tempo but as you get better, you should notice your swing speeds increasing over time.

Finally, a bonus to knowing your swing speed is that you have a much better idea of what kind of equipment is going to work best for your game.

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Tiger has changed his swing a couple times, and this book is a bit of an unauthorized breakdown of the last time he changed teachers, going from Butch Harmon to Hank Haney. The amazing thing about this is John figured all of this out without consulting Tiger or Hank. He did his own research. He looked at many photos, interviewed instructors and pros, and talked to television golf analysts.

I would recommend this book for those Tiger fanatics and golf geeks like my friend Nick who really enjoy breaking things down and looking at the specific details and the specific changes. I wouldn't necessarily give this to anybody who is just starting out to learn good golf fundamentals. (For that, I would recommend: The Fundamentals of Hogan.)

This book is a bit of a dry read with some pretty heavy speculating from the author.

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The book is an easy read that you won't be able to put down. It is a compilation of anecdotes with some teachings thrown in. As you get engrossed, it feels like you are hanging out with Harvey on a summer day, either hitting balls on the driving range or sitting on his porch drinking lemonade.

The book was published in 1996 after Harvey died at age 90, but it is still as relevant today as when it was hot off the presses. What's more is you don't need to be a golfer to enjoy the book.

If you are a golfer, it will become one of your favorite books along with his first book, "Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf."

Finally, some of Harvey's most famous pupils were Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, and Kathy Witworth. Ben won the 1995 Masters a week after Harvey died and dedicated the win to his friend and teacher, Harvey Penick.

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Notable PGA Tour Players Mike Weir and Aaron Baddeley both had some success on tour after changing to this technique, but both have since abandoned it and gone back to their old teachers and swings.

I've heard a lot of amateur golfers swearing by this method and advocating that it will make you more consistent. You will have to read this book and try it, and then decide for yourself.

This book takes does a great job of teaching you the Stack and Tilt. The main method consists of hitting the ground with the club in the same place consistently, having a powerful swing (while hitting the ground in the same place), and having a predictable pattern.

This isn't the swing for me; however it is fun to try, and it does contain some conventional fundamentals as well. Plus, the authors will point out that many of the old greats (like Hogan and Nicklaus) had parts of the stack and tilt in their golf swings.

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