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The Golf Swing Shirt teaches golfers to stay connected

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Golfers hear a lot about “staying connected” during the golf swing. Meet The Golf Swing Shirt, a lightweight spandex-like shirt that brings meaning to the concept.

The Swing Shirt is endorsed by Padraig Harrington and legendary instructor Jimmy Ballard, and has a single, forward-facing sleeve that allows golfers to slide both arms through to keep their arms from separating too much during the swing. The company says it helps golfers engage their large muscles and become less reliant on their hands.

“The package ties you down and gets your elbows down,” Ballard said, who told us that The Golf Swing Shirt is one of the best training aids he’s ever used in the 50 years he’s been teaching the golf swing. “[With The Golf Swing Shirt] you use your big muscles — you use your core.”

Like many training aids, the swing shirt looks a bit awkward to wear, but it’s actually very comfortable. After trying it, you can definitely feel the “connection” it creates in the swing.

It’s an ingenious “why didn’t I think of that?” design that is sure to help players understand what their instructors have been trying to get them to feel for years.

Look for this to be a hot training aid for 2013. Check out the photos below, as well as the video with former long drive champion Art Sellinger and Ballard that discusses the product in more depth.

[youtube id=”P4ORQb1NC6w” width=”620″ height=”360″]

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13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Jim

    Apr 22, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Isnt the Swing Jacket similar to this? Keeping your arms connected to your body. I used the Swing Jacket and still found myself getting across the line at the top even though I felt more connected? This looks like it wouldnt allow that.

  2. Will

    Feb 5, 2013 at 7:40 am

    The only drawback that I see with this shirt is the embarrassing appearance and the fact that you really can’t use it as you play a round of golf. Keeping the leading arm straight in the back-swing and forward through to impact is so important. GOLFSTR is another training aid introduced at the PGA Show which reminds you to keep the leading arm straight and you can easily play 18 holes while wearing it. Looks great, so easy to use and one size fits all.

    • Jack

      Sep 27, 2013 at 11:59 pm

      I don’t think you are technically supposed to play with a training aid, but I guess if it’s not a tournament and you’re just practicing who cares.

  3. Brian

    Jan 29, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    Does anyone have any feedback on sizes? I looked on their website and do not fit into any of the categories. I am 6’3″ and weigh 250lbs. I am not sure if I should order the size 7 or 8. Appreciate any feedback.

  4. Mocokid

    Jan 28, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    I’ve used it, works well, not as restrictive as the strap. Recommended.

  5. Gus

    Jan 28, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    Second the comment on IZZO strap that I use across my arms, pretty much the same effect but without looking like I’m wearing a straight jacket!

  6. Lenny

    Jan 28, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    I like the Idea!! I’m just curious how restricted the matterial is in your arms at address, top of te back swing and in the follow through? Not everyone is built the same (i know there are different sizes) and how stretchy is this material as I think you would want to feel connected but not restricted, hopefully there is enough give in the material so that you still feel the swing and not so restricted that the swing feels just to constricted. For those who have tried it what do you think?

    • john k

      Jan 29, 2013 at 9:02 am

      It is a different version but MUCH improved in my opinion. I have used both and I find the golfshirt to be the better product. The video really spells it out…it gives you great feedback that you can take the course as mentioned by a few you can use it for putting and chipping as well.

    • john k

      Jan 29, 2013 at 9:06 am

      A bit restrictive at first but, you get over it pretty quickly. I am 5’9″ and weigh 170…I have a size 5 which fits just right…provides great feedback as stated by others.

  7. Ste D

    Jan 28, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Is this not a different version of the strap device you put across your upper arm/elbow? What does it do different?

  8. Troy Vayanos

    Jan 28, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    This type of innovation is something that golf needed years ago. Becoming disconnected is one of the common faults I see amongst golfers every weekend.

    The ‘Swing Shirt’ can help many golfers particularly during the downswing and through the impact area when they usually ‘chicken wing’ most of their shots.

  9. Golf Guy 57

    Jan 28, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    I purchased a Swing Shirt several weeks ago after my instructor said I needed to work on “being connected”. It works. I use it for 5-10 minutes during my practice routine then hit balls. I will go back and forth to ingrain the feeling. Easy transition from using it to not using it. Made me swing more upright and helps prevent casting and the dreaded over the top move. Well worth the money I spend on it. My pro in Southern Pines NC liked it too. Highly recommend it. Hcp: 9

  10. Three Guys Golf

    Jan 28, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    Love the swing shirt and Jimmy is about the coolest dude around. While no one training aid can fix everything, the swing shirt does a really good job of keeping you connected. What many people don’t realize is that it is equally good for chipping and putting practice.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/28/24): L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick putter with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft.

From the seller: (@hibcam): “L.A.B. GOLF Mezz.1 Max Broomstick- LA Golf Paige Spiranac Shaft- 44″/79.5. Brand new, never used brown leather cover. The head was professionally anodized from Orange to Blue (Orange looked bad with the Pink shaft so I had it changed). Only a few rounds on this combo. Please see last pic- slight ding on back corner. 8.5-10 condition. THE SHAFT COST $475/ THE PUTTER $625. $799 shipped in the US. ONLY $699 SHIPPED.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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