The Rail

The 'Rail' is Harold Swash's most recently developed training aid and is designed to provide the ultimate test of concentration as well as providing a source of feedback as to the clubface alignment, roll of the ball and accuracy of the putt.

With correct putting mechanics (a square putter blade at impact), the ball will travel down the length of the 'Rail'. If the blade of the putter isn't square to the target at impact or if the ball is slightly miss-struck, the ball will fall off the edge of the 'Rail' and veer off to the left or the right.

The rail is a very simple yet effective training device that will help you develop the correct clubface alignment through the 'hitting area'.

The 'Rail' is used by some of the top touring professionals worldwide including Padraig Harrington.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INSIGHT: ENHANCING YOUR FEEDBACK WITH THE 'RAIL'
By HSPSE Director of Instruction Phil Kenyon

The 'Rail' provides a valuable source of feedback that is essential in the skill learning process. Feedback can come from two sources, knowledge of results (KR) and knowledge of performance (KP). During the early stages of skill learning is it better if you focus more on knowledge of performance. Knowledge of results can provide important feedback when the skill is more ingrained.

The 'Rail' can provide you with an excellent source of knowledge of results that is essential for effective skills learning. Using the 'Rail' will give you an obvious and instant source of your knowledge of results. This will help you reflect on the development of your stroke and help guide your future practice.

FOCUS YOUR SKILL LEARNING WITH THE 'RAIL'

Using the 'Rail' can give you a yardstick or a goal to work towards as the two different directions of the 'Rail' represent different degrees of challenges. Structure your practice so that you work towards holing a certain number of putts on the easier direction (narrow to wide) before trying the more difficult direction (wide to narrow).

This type of practice and goal setting will help you build up the required concentraion needed for compettive play and also give you a focus for improvement. It will maintain your motivation to keep improving the mechanics of your stroke, positive psychology for positive practice.