We all love to get our hands on some new clubs but often it’s the smaller and more convenient things that can add plenty to both your game and your enjoyment of it. Ultimately, the best golf accessories make our lives as golfers easier whether that be in terms of having a good golf towel, an umbrella that can deal with the wind and rain, or other accessories like training aids and gadgets.
Clearly, not only do we need accessories that help us out on the golf course, but we also need things to help make us better players, or make us feel good about ourselves. Oh and we would be remiss for not mentioning golf travel accessories too such as shoe bags and travel bags to protect our pride and joys. A good golf accessory that makes things easier in the airport or train station is worth its weight in gold. As such we have tested a lot of accessories out there and here is a list of our favorites that you might want to include in your bag or, perhaps, maybe a new bag itself. Additionally take a look at some of our other guides on golf equipment as well - such as the best golf tops, best golf shoes or the best golf bags.
The Quick List
We have to say the Rapsodo Mobile Monitor is an excellent option for golfers seeking an affordable way to gain insights into shot or club performance.
This PuttOut Pressure trainer is to help with pace control and finding the 'perfect putt' is a great way to focus your practice and keep it entertaining.
These are our favorite golf tees from Pride Professional. They're wooden and durable, come in a big pack and they can be adjusted to any tee height.
The HyperFLX is a glove we can’t fault significantly and is one you will undoubtedly enjoy wearing, mostly because you won't really notice it.
A Daphnes headcover will really liven up your golf bag with the emphasis on fun. There are over 175 designs and they’ve been going for over 40 years now.
Alignment sticks are a great way of getting more from your practice and this is our top pick. These are durable, colorful and come with instructions too.
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If you've been putting off changing your grips then now is the time to add more control and confidence courtesy of these ultra soft and tacky grips.
The Puma PopTop Mini Bluetooth speaker is a revelation at its diminutive size when it comes to the sound quality and functionality it offers.
Best Golf Accessories
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Budget monitor
With the Rapsodo mobile launch monitor, you are able to turn your smartphone into a launch monitor. This will give you a variety of numbers such as carry distance, ball speed, club speed, smash factor, launch angle, and launch direction.
You need to download the free Rapsodo app from the IOS store, and then you can connect the device through this app to your phone. Once you have set up your account and logged in, you rest your phone in the front slot of the Rapsodo, and then put it about 6ft behind where you are hitting balls. There are plenty of good features to this launch monitor, such as being able to hold your club up to the phone's camera, so it can then detect what club you are hitting automatically. We found this to work most of the time, but when it doesn't register, you are able to input the club manually.
After selecting the club you can start hitting shots, the Rapsodo MLM then captures videos of your shots and puts a shot tracer on to show ball flight. We found this to be accurate most of the time, which is good, but you cannot rely on it 100%. This device is really easy to carry around due to it being compact and lightweight.
- Read our full Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor Review
Best putting aid
When it comes to the Puttout Pro, there is plenty to like, especially if you are looking to dial it in on the greens. This putting trainer has a ramp you hit the putts up, with a notch you are trying to get the ball to come to rest in, this can only be done by hitting the perfect putt, with weight and line. The Puttout Pro is all about getting the pace exact which really helps out on the course, and could definitely help you avoid more three-putts.
This trainer can be folded down and taken with you to and from the course, making it really convenient to use, should you fancy practicing out on the putting green with it. The Puttout Pro is designed to help you hole more putts, and we really think it will, by helping you to get that pace and line bang on.
- Read our full PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer Review
Best tees
For a long time we have been fans of Pride Professional, because we feel they make great quality golf tees, with a vast variety of heights, colors and finishes.
The yellow Pro Length Pride Professional tees, have become some of the more popular tees out there. What we like about wooden tees is you can set the tee height you want for a variety of different shits to be played off the tee, and you can now stock up with a big pack of 175 tees. In testing, we found these tees to be pretty strong too, as our tester was able to go a full round with only one tee, which makes sense when they are the most used tee on the PGA Tour.
Best glove
The golf glove for some is a really important piece of equipment, and with this glove it comes with a premium construction. Made with CabrettaSof leather, this glove feels really nice on the hand but comes with great aeration to stop too much sweating. The technical way these gloves are constructed allows them to be flexible and breathable, the leather offers up a great tacky grip that you come to expect, and another great aspect of this glove is its durability. The back of the glove is constructed from FiberSof material, which increases flexibility and provides great comfort. With a PowerNet mesh on the knuckles, this helps to increase the movement in the hand so it is not constricted when gripping the club.
In the webbing between the fingers, you will find neat perforations placed to help drive air into the glove and enhance breathability. The elasticated cuff on the glove also has a moisture-wicking properties, to help make the fit more comfortable and stop sweat from seeping into the glove. Should you find that your hands get very sweaty, especially in those hotter climates, then check out this guide on the best golf gloves for sweaty hands.
- Read our full FootJoy HyperFLX Glove Review
Best for kids
If you are on the lookout for the best novelty golf headcovers then Daphnes headcovers are very much in the conversation. They have over 175 options to choose from and have been creating amazing headcovers for over 40 years. The brand is named after the creator, Jane Spicer's mom, and they have set up the business together.
An amazing feature of these headcovers is the lifetime guarantee that comes with purchase, making these not only fun but very durable too. If you head to their website, they have a hall of fame for those that use their headcovers, and you will notice a big name in there, Tiger Woods. In 1997 when he won the Masters, Daphne's received a phone order for 30,000 Tiger headcovers.
Best for range
Over the years, alignment sticks have become more and more popular amongst golfers. This is one of the best golf accessories to have in the bag when practicing on the course or heading to the range, because not only are they perfect to make sure your alignment is bang on but can be used for a variety of things too, which coaches make the most of.
These alignment sticks are durable and have plenty of color for visibility, and you even get a pair of them to make sure you have enough for certain drills. With these sticks from Brand Fusion, you also get a drills training sheet and instructions for setting them up to make sure you practice with purpose. We find these some of the best golf training aids, and they are great for those looking to train more on a budget.
Best grip
When it comes to grips, the Golf Pride CPX grip is unlike any other we have tested before, and we think this is the top dog when it comes to the softest performance grips. With the new EXO diamond-quilted pattern tech, that this company has never used before, this grip is very soft and tacky. It features a 45-degree pattern which is inspired from BMX bike grips. With this elevation in the design, it will maximize your contact area when gripping the club. To complement this, the Golf Pride Control Core technology, located at the top of the grip, helps to maximize control where the most swing pressure is exerted. Ultimately giving you the best softness and feel, married with great control.
When it comes to playing in the wet, you would be forgiven for thinking this would turn into a javelin, but that is far from true. When it got wet, the moisture seemed to just be wicked away, and we felt these inspired more confidence in the wet than the corded grips. With the overall performance of this grip, we had to include it our Editor's Choice, we were that impressed.
- Read our full Golf Pride CPX Grip Review
Best small speaker
When it comes to on course speakers, the Puma PopTop Mini Bluetooth speaker is a brilliant product. The size of this speaker is comparable with a golf ball, so you might think it does not pack much of a punch in terms of sound. Well when we tested this we were pleasantly surprised with not only the level of sound but the sound quality from this speaker too. With its great size, this is a great speaker even for those carrying their bag, as it is not heavy and conveniently clips to the bag with ease. It is very easy to set up, and extremely user-friendly too.
This speaker has waterproofing too, while also being sand and dustproof. We also found this speaker worked great indoors as well as outdoors, giving it great versatility. The back of this speaker is also a bottle opener, and although we found the battery life to be a little poor, it will get you through 18 holes of golf, but not much beyond that.
- Read our full Puma PopTop Mini Bluetooth Speaker Review
How we test golf equipment
The quality of Golf Monthly's reviews and buyers guides is built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team that has a sterling reputation in the industry, known for delivering the key points you want to know in a concise, easy-to-digest manner.
This procedure involves using the gear properly out on the golf course, in different conditions and on different types of golf course where applicable as well. We also test products in controlled environments as well to better enhance our knowledge on the performance. What should also be acknowledged is that no manufacturer can pay for a good review from us, because our testing team tells it how it is.
How to choose the best golf accessories
So what are some of the factors you need to consider when looking at trying to get a good golf accessory?
Think about your setup
To begin with, you need to have an idea about your golfing setup and where the gaps may be for some new accessories. Do you maybe need a training aid to make sure you get the most out of practice, or something to help you out on the course. Maybe you just want something fun to help you have a good time on the course, or brighten up your golf bag. With golf there are so many little things you might want and need, it is important to remember it is most likely out there, what ever you want.
Budget
Finally, you need to think about your budget, you need to know what you want or have to spend before you make a purchase. If you are dead set on an accessory you need, but it is out of reach price wise, then there may be a cheaper budget friendly alternative out there so always do your research as you should only spend within your means.
FAQs
What 5 items do I need to play golf?
Ultimately the game of golf has a lot of different parts to it but if you have a club, a ball, a bag, a golf tee and some shoes, then you are good to go.
If you want more buying advice, why not take a look at our guides on the best golf net, or best golf mat as well.
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