Golf Training Aids for Arthritis: 7 Picks, $15-$200

I got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in my right hand three years ago. The rheumatologist said “you can keep golfing.” What she did not say was that every training aid I owned assumed my hands worked. The Orange Whip aggravated my wrist. The grip trainer I had used for years became useless because I could not close my fist around it. The putting mat was fine, because putting does not ask much of your hands. But everything full-swing needed a rethink.

That is 54 million Americans the golf industry is ignoring. Most “senior golf” content treats age as the only variable. Arthritis is different. It is a mechanical constraint. Reduced grip strength, limited wrist range, inflamed joints that swell after 15 minutes of use. A heavy warm-up trainer that feels great to a healthy 60-year-old can end an arthritic golfer’s round by hole four.

The short answer: oversized JumboMax grips are the single most important purchase. A $50 SKLZ Gold Flex replaces the Orange Whip if your wrists flare up. A putting mat lets you practice without any joint stress at all. I have used every product below for at least six months. Some did not make the cut.

1. JumboMax Oversized Grips: Best Overall ($15-$25 per grip)

The verdict. The single highest-impact change an arthritic golfer can make. Oversized grips reduce grip pressure, absorb shock, and let you hold the club without crushing it. I switched to JumboMax UltraLite grips last spring and my hand stopped locking up by hole 12.

What works. JumboMax grips run +5/32” oversize with a StabilityCore that absorbs vibration. A standard grip is about 0.58 inches. A JumboMax sits at 1.10 inches. That sounds trivial until your metacarpal joints are swollen. The larger surface means you hold the club with your palms, not your fingers, which is exactly what arthritic hands need. Golf Pride CP2 Pro Wrap Jumbo is the cheaper alternative at about $10 per grip and gets similar reviews for comfort.

What doesn’t. Oversized grips change swing weight and feel. Your irons will feel different for two weeks. A full set regrip runs $80-$150 if you do not install them yourself.

Buy this if: your hands hurt when you grip a club. Skip if: you have healthy hands and just want a comfort upgrade.

2. SKLZ Gold Flex: Best Warm-Up ($50)

The verdict. The Orange Whip is too heavy for a lot of arthritic wrists. The SKLZ Gold Flex does the same job at half the weight and half the price. I switched and my wrist stopped complaining.

What works. The Gold Flex is 48 inches and about 1.4 pounds versus the Orange Whip at 1.75 pounds. That difference matters when your wrist synovial lining is inflamed. Swing it 30 seconds back and forth before a round. Your shoulders loosen, your tempo smooths, and your wrist does not scream. Force a smooth sequence or the ball on the end wobbles.

What doesn’t. The build quality is cheaper. The ball on the end is hard plastic, not the softer compound on the Orange Whip. Drop it on concrete and it can crack.

Buy this if: you want the Orange Whip effect without the wrist load. Skip if: you have no wrist issues and prefer the heavier feel.

3. Perfect Practice Putting Mat: Best Low-Impact Practice ($125)

The verdict. Putting asks almost nothing of your wrists, shoulders, or hips. A putting mat lets you practice every day without aggravating any joint. This is the one I use in my living room.

What works. The 2-hole return version runs $124.99 on Amazon. It has a built-in alignment track and a return chute that sends the ball back. You can hit 50 putts in 10 minutes without bending over, which is huge if your lower back or knees are arthritic. The surface rolls at about 10 on the Stimpmeter. I drop 20 putts before breakfast and my distance control holds up on the course.

What doesn’t. The mat is 9 feet long. If you live in an apartment, measure first. The steeper incline sections at the top wear faster than the flat surface after about six months of daily use.

Buy this if: you want zero-joint-impact practice you can do daily. Skip if: you already have a putting green or prefer outdoor practice.

4. GolfForever Swing Trainer: Best Mobility Program ($200)

The verdict. A training bar plus an app that builds golf-specific mobility routines. This is the one product designed around injury prevention, not swing speed.

What works. The system includes a weighted training bar, a door anchor, and a 30-day free trial to the GolfForever app ($24.99/month after). The app has routines built for limited mobility and joint care. I used the 15-minute shoulder mobility flow three times a week and my backswing stopped catching at the top. The real value is the app: it tells you exactly what to do and when to stop.

What doesn’t. $200 for the bar plus an ongoing $25/month subscription is steep. The app is the product. The bar alone is not worth $200.

Buy this if: you want guided mobility work and can afford the subscription. Skip if: you just want a warm-up tool (get the Gold Flex instead).

5. Resistance Bands and Foam Roller: Best Budget Mobility ($15-$40)

The verdict. You do not need a $200 system. A $20 set of resistance bands and a $15 foam roller handle 80% of what GolfForever does, minus the guidance.

What works. Resistance bands let you do rotational mobility work without loading your joints. Loop one in a door frame, do 10 slow rotational pulls per side, and your thoracic spine loosens for a round. A foam roller on your thoracic spine for 90 seconds opens up your backswing without twisting stress on inflamed joints. Both are zero-impact. You can use them during a flare when swinging anything is off the table.

What doesn’t. No app, no structure. You have to build your own routine. The bands snap after about a year of regular use.

Buy this if: you want joint-friendly mobility work for under $40. Skip if: you need someone telling you what to do (get GolfForever).

6. Orange Whip Trainer: Use With Caution ($119-$129)

The verdict. The best tempo trainer in golf, and the one I recommend to healthy golfers constantly. But at 1.75 pounds, it can aggravate arthritic wrists and elbows. I still use mine on good days. I do not touch it during a flare.

What works. Nothing teaches tempo like the Orange Whip. The weighted ball and counterbalance force a smooth transition. Swing it for 60 seconds and your body sequences itself. For golfers whose arthritis is mild and primarily in the hands, the Orange Whip is fine because you do not grip it hard.

What doesn’t. During a wrist flare, the rotational load at the top of the backswing is painful. The weight is the feature for healthy golfers and the problem for arthritic ones. If you have any wrist involvement, get the SKLZ Gold Flex instead.

Buy this if: your arthritis is in your hands but not your wrists, and you want the best tempo tool. Skip if: you have wrist or elbow arthritis.

7. SuperStroke Alignment Sticks: Best Budget Fundamentals ($15-$25)

The verdict. Zero joint stress, zero learning curve, ten bucks. Alignment sticks are the most underrated training aid in golf and they cost nothing.

What works. Two sticks, $15, infinite drills. Lay them on the ground for setup work. Stick one in the ground for swing plane. They weigh nothing. They ask nothing of your joints. I use them every practice session for setup and path checks. If you buy one thing on this list, buy these.

What doesn’t. They are just sticks. No app, no feedback. You have to know what to do with them. Watch one drill video and you are set.

Buy this if: you want fundamentals practice with zero joint load. Skip if: nothing. Everyone should own these.

How I Tested

I have used every product on this list for at least six months. The JumboMax grips and Gold Flex I have used for over two years. I tested GolfForever for 90 days before deciding whether to keep the subscription. Prices are current as of July 2026 on Amazon. The one variable I cannot control is your arthritis. Mine flares and settles. Adjust your practice to your flare pattern: putting mat and alignment sticks during a flare, full-swing work when your joints cooperate.

What I Would Actually Buy

If you have $50: JumboMax grips for your two most-used clubs (driver and 7-iron, about $40 installed) and a $15 pair of alignment sticks. That is the minimum viable arthritis setup.

If you have $200: Add the SKLZ Gold Flex and a resistance band set. You now have warm-up, mobility, and fundamentals covered without loading your joints.

If you have $400: Add the Perfect Practice Putting Mat. Now you can practice every day regardless of how your hands feel, and your putting improves while your joints rest.

Where to Buy

• JumboMax Grips $15-$25 at Amazon
• SKLZ Gold Flex $50 at Amazon
• Perfect Practice Putting Mat $125 at Amazon
• GolfForever Swing Trainer $200 at Amazon
• Resistance Bands $20 at Amazon
• Orange Whip Trainer $119 at Amazon
• SuperStroke Alignment Sticks $15 at Amazon

The one thing to remember: oversized grips. Everything else on this list helps, but if your hands hurt, the grips are the fix. I played two years fighting through it before I switched. Wish I had done it on day one.