Equipment
The Golf Swing Shirt teaches golfers to stay connected
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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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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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.
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.
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.
Mocokid
Jan 28, 2013 at 5:09 pm
I’ve used it, works well, not as restrictive as the strap. Recommended.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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
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.