You may have seen pictures or videos of Padraig Harrington on the range at Aronimink Golf Club on Wednesday, hitting balls with a large coaching aid placed in front of him as he prepares for the opening round of the 2026 PGA Championship.
It was a rare benefit – especially for someone as well-known as Harrington.
Curious about this new tool, I contacted Dr. Alison Curdt, GOLF Top 100 instructor, to explain what the device does, why it works and whether it deserves a place in your golf bag.
What it does
According to Curdt, the training aid Harrington is using in the photo above is actually an alignment stick that provides both visual and physical feedback for the swing plane. He said it was similar to Ben Hogan’s pane-of-glass concept.
Harrington’s assist is incredibly useful when monitoring two specific aspects of the swing: shoulder tilt and spine angle, as well as the overall swing plane. As players make their backswing, Curdt says the steering stick gives them instant feedback. This allows them to check that their shoulder and spine angles stay under that “glass window.”
“The golf club is much easier to hit when it’s aligned with that putt angle,” he says. “The size of the [the training aid] it’s a really beautiful image that the students can see, because they are flying under that plane.”
For more feedback, Curdt recommends using two clubs — one behind the ball, like Harrington has, and one on the outside — to create a clear impression of the correct swing plane.
Why it works
This coaching aid works, Curdt explains, because it gives golfers immediate feedback for one of the most important positions in the swing: the P3 position — or the point in the swing where the lead arm is parallel to the ground.
“When the lead arm is parallel to the ground, players will check that the butt end of the grip is pointing down at the ball’s target line or ball line, and they will refer to the height of the shaft and make sure it is in line with the angle of the club alignment to the ground,” said Curdt.
That “checkpoint” is important because even small mistakes at that point can derail everything.
“If that position is too straight or too low, that can start to change the whole flight,” Curdt said. “Then, the body will have to make a compensation to reposition the club and return it to the plane.”
Those compensations are often seen in the movement of the ball. If the club is too far in flight, shots often start off-line or swing too much, making it difficult to produce a consistent shot pattern.
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The shaft also helps golfers coordinate their arm swing and swing patterns. Curdt says this device can help ensure that the pitch of the club is at the same angle as the club, helping players maintain an efficient, repetitive motion.
It is important to note that the setup varies slightly depending on the club. If you are setting up this device to swing a driver, it will require a flat club angle, while the irons and wedges will be more aligned.
Should you use it?
Short answer: maybe.
“I think this is one of the most accessible DIY training resources,” says Curdt. “What you need is an alignment stick.”
While it may help to work with a trainer in the beginning to fine-tune the setup of this device, the beauty of this tool is its simplicity. Once the club is positioned correctly in your desired swing plane, it creates a clear picture of where the club should swing back and through.
“This is very helpful for players who are not satisfied with the curve of their ball and the initial line of their shots,” said Curdt. “This is a great way to start making motor patterns to bring the golf club back into neutral plane.”
And the benefits aren’t limited to giving back.
“It really does wonders for weight loss,” he says. “You can work on this piece unconscious without bumping into the alignment rod.”
The exercise that Curdt shows in the video above is especially helpful for golfers who have trouble coming up.
Therefore, this training aid is not only effective because of its simplicity, it is also easy for everyday golfers to set up and understand. More importantly, it teaches players how to swing on plane – which means less offset, more focused contact and a more neutral ball flight.
In other words, Harrington’s trusted PGA Championship coaching service can help golfers like you.
Pro Stix Steering Poles
Pro-Stix Alignment Poles help golfers of any skill level improve their game. Proper use of these lightweight, fiberglass poles as a regular part of your training routine can help you spot problems and improve your posture and posture.
