Padraig Harrington used this aid at the PGA. Here’s how it could help you

You may have seen photos or videos of Padraig Harrington on the range at Aronimink Golf Club on Wednesday, hitting balls with a large training aid positioned in front of him as he prepared for the opening round of the 2026 PGA Championship. 

It was a peculiar aid — especially for a known-tinkerer like Harrington.

Curious about the new tool, I reached out to Dr. Alison Curdt, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, to break down what the device does, why it works and whether it deserves a place in your own golf bag.

What it does

According to Curdt, the training aid Harrington uses in the picture above is essentially an oversized alignment rod that provides both visual and physical feedback for the swing plane. She said it’s like Ben Hogan’s pane-of-glass concept.

Harrington’s aid is incredibly helpful when monitoring two specific aspects of the swing: shoulder tilt and spine angle, and the overall swing plane. As players make their backswing, Curdt says the alignment rod provides them with immediate feedback. This allows them to check if their shoulder and spine angles are staying underneath that “pane of glass.”

“The golf club is a lot easier to reference if it’s parallel to that angle of the alignment rod in the ground,” she says. “The size of [the training aid] is just a really nice visual representation for students to see, because they’re literally swinging underneath that plane.”

For even more feedback, Curdt recommends using two rods — one behind the ball, like Harrington has, and another out front — to create a clear visual for the proper swing plane.

Why it works

This training aid works, Curdt explains, because it gives golfers fast feedback for one of the most important positions in the swing: the P3 position — or the point in the swing when the lead arm is parallel to the ground.

“By the time the lead arm is parallel to the ground, players will check to see if the butt end of the grip is pointed down to the target line of the ball or the ball line, and they will reference the pitch of the shaft and make sure that it’s matching the angle of the alignment rod in the ground,” Curdt says.

That “checkpoint” matters because even small mistakes at that point can derail everything.

“If that position is too upright or too flat, that can start to shift the entire swing plane,” Curdt says. “Then, the body will then have to make compensations to reroute the club and get it back on plane.”

Those compensations often show up in ball flight. When the club gets too far off plane, shots typically start offline or curve excessively, making it difficult to produce a consistent shot pattern.

The rod also helps golfers sync up their wrist hinge and leverage patterns. Curdt says this device can help ensure the pitch of the club is at the same angle as the alignment rod, helping players maintain an efficient, repeatable motion.

It’s important to note that the setup changes slightly depending on the club. When setting up this device for a driver swing, it will require a flatter rod angle, while irons and wedges will be more upright.

Should you use it? 

The short answer: probably. 

“I think this is one of the most accessible DIY swing training aids,” Curdt says. “All you need is an alignment rod.”

While it may help to work with a coach initially to fine-tune the setup for this device, the beauty of this tool is its simplicity. Once the rod is positioned correctly for your desired swing plane, it creates a clear visual for how the club should move back and through.

“This is really helpful for players who are dissatisfied with the curvature of their ball and the start line of their shots,” Curdt says. “This is an awesome drill to start developing the motor patterns to bring the golf club back on a neutral plane.”

And the benefits aren’t limited to the backswing.

“It certainly does wonders for the downswing too,” she says. “You can unconsciously work on this piece without crashing into the alignment rod.”

A drill that Curdt demonstrates in the video above is especially helpful for golfers who struggle with coming over the top.

So, not only is this training aid effective because of its simplicity, it’s also easy for everyday golfers to set up and understand. More importantly, it teaches players how to swing on plane — which typically means fewer compensations, more centered contact and a more neutral ball flight.

In other words, the same training aid Harrington trusted at the PGA Championship can help golfers like you.

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