Equipment
Top 3 full swing training aids of 2019—and a new one for 2020
The title says it all. I have tried a bunch of training aids at this point, and frankly, I have really liked most of them. In this day and age, the amount of thought that goes into these training devices is enormous and one thing that is true for all of them is that if they are used correctly and consistently, the intended change will come. There is enough out there now that you can identify exactly what you need to work on and find something to help groove it in.
I based my list on overall ease of use, the ability to use it unsupervised (i.e. by yourself without the help of a coach), and at-home convenience. So, to be fair to the market, the title could be a bit more granular and perhaps I could have done a list for each category, but it’s the holidays and I felt this was a fair assessment.
Here we go…
The Tour Striker PlaneMate
This thing is RED HOT in terms of sales and overall marketing presence but truth is, the buzz is earned. It’s a fantastic product IF you know how to use it. The given protocols and system must be followed and if you do and become an expert on what to do, it WILL make a positive change in your action. For some, it’s a backswing fixer, for the tour guys it’s face control and exit point, and for the general golfer, it’s a swing plane educator with proper feedback. The PlaneMate is a good “in the mirror at home” aid, which for me is always a big plus living in a polar vortex half the year. Can’t go wrong with this one.
Created by: Martin Chuck and David Woods
Price: $162.99
GForce Swing Trainer
This one was a nice discovery for me. As someone who gets very handsy in my golf swing, finding a timing device that I can use at home and that helps me focus on rotating, instead of whatever it is I do, is big.
The idea is simple, its a 7-iron (Also comes is driver/wedge/putter) with a REALLY whippy shaft in it. My old teacher from Seattle had one he built and we would use it when things would get way out of sync. That’s what this thing does, it simply gets your body moving in harmony again. The flex of the shaft demands it and if you get out of harmony, the ball will go all over the place. Yes, there have been aids like it in the past, but this one is the beefed-up version and it is well put together. This product can be used on and off the range which is awesome for most people.
Creator: Stuart Small
Price: $119.99
SuperSpeed Swing training System
Unless you have been living under a rock this past year, it’s hard to have not seen these things everywhere. The system has legit benefits for anyone and like the rest of the gear on this list, if used responsibly IT WILL HELP YOU. I have seen players use this over a season and get swing speeds up 5-10 MPH. That’s a big jump, and I like how the system keeps you from overdoing which is something you can definitely do with these. There are sets for men, women, and juniors, and once again they don’t require hitting a golf ball to be effective.
Creators: Michael Napoleon and Kyle Shay
Price: $199.99
And this is the one that I think will create some buzz in 2020…..
George Gankas G Box
As I’ve gotten older, I just don’t turn like I used to….this is the first device I’ve tried in a long time that gives me points of reference to turn properly. Designed by arguably the hottest instructor out there, George sent me a prototype a few months back, and as someone who loves to work on stuff in the mirror, the G Box took that work to the next level. It needs to be said that this may not be for everyone, at least right outta the box, but like anything with George Gankas, there is plenty of content to explain what and what not to do with it.
The idea is simple, there are points of reference built into the blocks. The blocks are strapped to your midsection in a specific way and there is literally a map to follow that puts you in a loaded position at the top (without cheating) and a map to rotating properly on the downswing. It’s that simple. Like the Plane Mate, the G Box will help better players with face control and exit path—and the best thing is no ball hitting is required to use it and it works in the house.
Creator: George Gankas
Release date: Late January 2020
Price: $99.95 to $199.95
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Whats in the Bag
Taylor Pendrith’s winning WITB: 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Accra TZ Six ST
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 80 6.5 TX
7-wood: Ping G425 Max (20.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 90 6.5 TX
Irons: Srixon ZX (2, 3) Buy here, Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.5 90, 6.5 100 (2-3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 Tour Rack (46-10 Mid, 52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-9 Full) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Odyssey Jailbird Versa Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Ben Kohles’ clubs in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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Gunter Eisenberg
Dec 25, 2019 at 8:45 am
For me, the best training aid in my 19 years of golf is Youtube videos.
ButchT
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:39 am
Too damned expensive! Plenty of profit at half the price!