The Orange Whip Trainer
You don’t need a lampshade on your head to whip it and get better at golf you just need the Orange Whip Trainer. Yes, there are numerous swing trainers out there, but this one might just really do the most.
The concept is simple, early in the season, when you get a rain out, or over the winter, you want to work on your swing. For most people, it’s a combination of improving tempo, swing plane, balance and the feel for the swing. And traditionally the problem is simply when you are hitting the ball, you can find lots of ways to get the ball going the right direction that might not be mechanically optimum.
The OWT comes in three lengths, from 47.5 all the way down to 33.5 inches. The ball on the end of the flexible shaft ranges from 1.6 to 1.7 pounds, so a little more than the average iron. As you swing, the shaft flexes much more than a regular golf club, both on the back swing and the follow through. The result is you simply know where the club and body are in space and time, something you really can’t do with a golf club on the range when you are trying to send it 300 yards.
The real benefit to using this device is simply in feel, tempo and the swing sequence. While the OWT does make come minor claims about increased flexibility and strength, it probably doesn’t have the same impact as lifting weights and a regular stretching program. However, considering most golfers don’t train the way they should, then any improvement in these areas is positive.
In trying out the three lengths at a recent golf expo, I was drawn to the 33.5-inch model. The reason is simple, you can swing inside in just about any room, and it easily fits into your golf bag as a warm up tool before you hit the first ball on the range.
Another innovation is the Orange Peel, a concave platform you stand on while practicing with the OWT. It is concave, so it helps place your body in a natural and neutral stance. By changing stance, you can recreate just about any slope angle you might encounter on the course, and everyone has one slope angle that gives them fits. And possibly most importantly, standing on the Peel appears to help in feeling a rotary swing because you simply can’t sway.
After the demo with the OWT and the Peel, I am pretty hooked on the concept. And, this is the perfect device to take 5-10 swings per day, and maybe even more when you get a rain out. And, you can do this in your office and no one will know. That might be the best innovation!