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Orange Whip, swing trainer, tempo trainer, lag trainer, rhythm trainer, warm up trainer.
These are all referring to the same basic golf training aid.
Orange whip is the original (and best), but there are many knock-off brands that perform in a similar manner. You can find them on amazon, temu, and other online shops.
The patented, counterbalanced, flexible shaft swing system provides the necessary feedback to train your swing to stay on plane, balanced, and powerful. Swing it next to other swing trainers and you can feel the difference immediately.
This lag trainer will help you develop a more consistent tempo in your swing producing more consistent ball striking and more distance.
PGM straight stick golf training aid can help you to improve your golf swing tempo, build your muscle strength, swing plane with the heavy head and slightly flexible shaft to deliver more consistent golf shots off the tee.
You’ll often spot these at the warm up area or at the range. Some golfers are swinging them right up until they grab their driver for their first tee shot. They are an excellent swing training aid for feel and rhythm in your golf shot.
Why Use a Swing Trainer?
Swing trainers have a very flexible shaft. If you’ve never swung one before, it will feel odd for the first few swings. I’ve had people refuse to use a swing trainer after the first session. It is a feeling you either love or hate, and that is okay.
Here are some of the benefits of using a swing trainer:
Keeps Your Swing On-Plane
The flexible shaft and weighted ball don’t allow for you to manipulate the swing trainer. You can manipulate your golf club on the way down, but you can’t manipulate a swing trainer. This forces you to stay on-plane or make the corrections necessary to get on-plane.
Using a swing trainer allows you to make corrections to your balance, backswing, release, and follow through. It will take some getting use to, but the feedback is invaluable.
Improves Coordination
You will have to coordinate your lower body, upper body, and arms to make the swing trainer move correctly. Once you get the rhythm down, it translates well to your actual golf clubs.
Coordination between the upper body and lower body is the key to consistency in the golf swing.
Improves Flexibility & Strength
The swing trainer is much heavier than your actual golf clubs. And because it loads through a flexible shaft, it really takes some strength and flexibility.
You will be able to feel your body loosen up and move freely as you use the swing trainer.
What Exercises Can I Do?
So how do you use a golf trainer effectively before you reach the first tee box? A swing trainer is an excellent warm up aid, but there are also benefits to using a swing trainer as an exercise tool.
You want to train your body to move efficiently through the swinging motion. What better exercise aid could there be than a weighted swing trainer?
Here are 3 swing trainer drills to help your golf swing:
1. Pitcher Swings
A baseball pitcher generates power by loading his back leg and hip, turning his shoulders, driving the front leg forward, and rotating around his front hip. Sounds an awful lot like a golf swing, right?
The big difference is a baseball pitch is performed in an upright position using one arm, while the golf swing is performed while hinging at the hips using both arms to generate power.
A “pitcher swing” movement with a golf training aid combines some elements of a baseball pitch with the golf swing.
Here’s how to perform a pitcher swing with a golf training aid:
Execution
- Find an open area and grip the swing trainer with a normal golf grip.
- Set your feet about shoulder width apart.
- Perform your normal backswing to about hip height. Make as wide a takeaway as possible, loading your back hip.
- After the swing trainer passes your hip height, raise your front knee towards your chest like a baseball pitcher.
- Continue your backswing until your trail hip is completely loaded and your weight is all on your trail foot.
- Begin the downswing by driving your front foot forward and unloading your trail hip.
- Keep your arms and shoulders loose and allow them rotate around your body.
- Complete the rest of your swing as you normally would, maintaining your balance.
- Finish with a balanced follow through.
- Do 8-10 reps on each side.
Pitcher Swings Tips
It will take a few repetitions to get a feel for the weight transfer required to perform a pitcher swing. You will feel the power that this type of swing can generate. Here are some tips:
- Stay in control. It can be fun to see how fast you can swing, but you will get more benefits from staying in control.
- Shift your weight. Make sure your weight is transferred to your front foot. Don’t get stuck on your back foot.
2. Stop & Starts
Are you looking for a exercise that will help cure your early extension? Try this one.
Stop & Starts help you maintain your posture throughout the swing. Because you are stopping half way down, you have a moment to check your body position before you complete the swing.
Stop & Starts can help you get your hips firing at the right moment as well. If you feel like you are all arms and no lower body, give these a try. They will make you hyper aware of what your lower body is doing throughout the swing.
Here’s how to perform Stop & Starts:
Execution
- Find an open area and grip the swing trainer with a normal golf grip.
- Set your feet about shoulder width apart.
- Perform your normal backswing all the way to the top.
- Start your downswing and make sure your hips stay back.
- Stop your downswing as you reach hip height and take note of your body position. Fix anything you don’t like.
- Raise the swing trainer back to the top of your backswing in this new position.
- Now complete a full swing as normal, finishing in a balance position.
- Complete 8-10 reps on each side.
Stop & Starts Tips
There is no better practice exercise than Stop & Starts for correcting any posture issues you are having. Here are some tips to get the most from Stop & Starts:
- Film yourself. You might not notice posture issues without filming it. You could also stand in front of a mirror.
- Watch your grip. Take a look at your grip when you stop at hip height. Make sure you are liking what you see.
3. Lag Swings
You’ve been waiting this whole time to swing as hard as you can. Here is your chance!
Lag swings help you get a feel for a club “loading” at the top your downswing. Swinging as hard you as you can doesn’t mean losing posture and balance. It means delivering maximum energy down through the swing trainer.
If you feel like you are swinging hard enough to lose your balance, dial it back.
Here’s how to perform Lag Swings:
Execution
- Find an open area and grip the swing trainer with a normal golf grip.
- Set your feet about shoulder width apart.
- Perform your normal backswing all the way to the top.
- Wait and feel for the swing trainer to “load” all the way. You may even see the swing trainer in your peripheral vision in front of you.
- Once you feel the swing trainer is loaded all the way, start your downswing and make sure your hips stay back.
- Uncoil your torso and release the lag in the swing trainer through the impact zone.
- Finish your swing in a balanced position and use the momentum to repeat the motion.
- Complete 8-10 reps on each side.
Lag Swings Tips
The goal of lag swings is to develop power. Some golfers leave a lot of power on the table by not loading the club shaft properly. Here are some good tips:
- Load and release. Focus on loading the swing trainer and releasing that energy through the impact zone.
- Stay balanced. Don’t swing wildly out of control. Swing hard, but not so hard you spin out.
Final Swing Trainer Thoughts
Swing trainers are an excellent tool for adding strength, power, and flexibility to your golf swing. They can be used as more than a simple warm up tool before your first tee shot. Try using the 3 movements from this article to develop a more powerful swing with a swing trainer.
Remember, orange whip is the “premium” option for swing trainers. I can attest that it is the best feeling swing trainer. There are less expensive options on Amazon that will perform almost as well.
The patented, counterbalanced, flexible shaft swing system provides the necessary feedback to train your swing to stay on plane, balanced, and powerful. Swing it next to other swing trainers and you can feel the difference immediately.
This lag trainer will help you develop a more consistent tempo in your swing producing more consistent ball striking and more distance.
PGM straight stick golf training aid can help you to improve your golf swing tempo, build your muscle strength, swing plane with the heavy head and slightly flexible shaft to deliver more consistent golf shots off the tee.
Golf Gains X may provide information related to fitness, exercise, diet, and nutrition and is intended for your personal use and informational purposes only. You should consult with a physician before beginning any exercise, fitness, diet, or nutrition routine, especially if you are pregnant or have pre-existing health conditions. Nothing contained on this website or any other Golf Gains X content should be considered as medical advice or diagnosis. Your use of the Golf Gains X content is solely at your own risk.
Jacob is a Professional Engineer, professional gym-goer, and golf enthusiast. He is obsessed with golf-specific fitness, golf simulators, and hitting long drives.
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