The first response I get when people walk by my bag is “Whats this orange thing?” I stop what I’m doing and happily explain to them that it’s the Orange Whip. I explain that its a great tool for warming up, work on creating more lag in your swing, improve your clubhead speed and to increase strength in your golf muscles. The next response is “WOW! How?” by simply swinging it I exclaim, obviously there’s more to it then that and below are the drills recommended by Orange Whip.
From my personal experience with the Orange Whip I can tell you it’s a workout and I could feel improvement in my swing and tempo over time. It’s not an instant improvement and if you make the commitment then you will start to see improvement. The one thing that is instant is the increased flexibility right after warming up with it. So, if your late for your tee time and rushing to the first tee its a great way to get those golf muscles loose and ready for action. When you are getting in your range time then take 15 minutes and complete the drills they have put together, it really works!!
The folks at Orange Whip have created the ultimate warm up/workout tool that is portable and extremely easy to use. Here are the drills that Orange Whip recommend as taken from their website, to get more info go to www.orangewhiptrainer.com
TORSO TWIST
• Assume an upright and vertical setup position with feet shoulder width apart and knees slightly flexed. Visualize a basketball player about to shoot a free throw.
• Extend arms outward at stomach level, holding the Whip in the fingers with palms facing skyward. From this position, a slight tilting of the hips would put you in a traditional golf stance. But, this drill is done in the upright position.
• Begin rotating (turning) your upper body back and forth, using the balls of your feet to center your balance and initiate each rotation to the other side. Rotate in a smooth, continuous motion from your right side to the left side, back and forth, allowing your hips to pivot freely while shifting weight from one side to the other in conjunction with your upper body. The
objective is to maintain the relationship of upper body, extended arms and hands that was established in the setup. Try and rotate at the same tempo as your golf swing and maintain that pace the entire drill.
Drill Enhancement
Tip #1: To combat the habit of using the upper body to initiate momentum during
the Torso Twist, hold the Orange Whip lightly in your fingers. Footwork should be the main focus when doing this drill.
Tip #2: Once you feel comfortable with the drill, try it with your eyes closed. This will amplify the sensation of your balance and footwork during the drill. It’s best to use this technique only after you can comfortably stay balanced with eyes open.
HINGING FOREARM ROTATION
• Assume a proper and athletic set-up position with a slight forward tilt from the hips. Keep back straight, tilt just enough so your chin is above the end of your toes.
• With the arms hanging naturally, wrap the fingers of one hand over the product sticker just below the grip; this will make the Orange Whip more manageable for one hand. Grip pressure should be light, similar to the ideal grip pressure for a golf shot…just firm enough to maintain control and the lighter the better.
• Begin the drill by pushing (swinging) your arm in front of your body. The counterweight will be hindered by your hip, therefore promoting the rotation of the forearm. As the motion develops, allow the torso to twist with the swinging whip. Please watch the video to see a demonstration of this motion.
• The wrists should hinge to accommodate the weight of the swinging whip. Allow your “free” hand to swing naturally with your body movement. Find and maintain a repeating, smooth rhythm coordinating your arm movement, weight transfer and torso rotation. Focus on your footwork and the balls of
your feet as they initiate and coordinate the transfer of weight and center your balance.
• The hinging wrist will develop naturally if you are patient. The goal is to improve the harmony of motion in the sequential movements of the lower body, torso, and the hands and arms. This is commonly referred to as “Kinematic sequence or synchronization of motion” in golf instruction.
Drill Enhancement
Tip #1: To find the most balanced and effortless way to rotate the forearms and
hinge the wrists. Begin with small, pendulum like movements and gradually increase the length of the motion. The weight of the Orange ball, counterbalanced by the weight at the grip end will help keep the shaft on plane.
Tip #2: One way to help visualize this motion is to picture (or mimic) a tennis player’s backhand and forehand ground stroke motion.
FULL SWING DRILL
• Assume a proper athletic & balanced setup position. Allow the Orange ball to hover a few inches above the ground.
• Begin slowly swinging the whip back and forth in a continuous, pendulum- like motion. Maintain the proper “one-piece” connection throughout and allow for the natural hinging of the wrists as the length of the motion increases.
• Allow the gathering momentum to take over and extend the length of the swing. Centrifugal force will carry you through to a fully rotated and balanced swing motion. Practice a smooth, consistent rhythm throughout the drill and always “finish” each swing in balance.
• Continue the back & forth, full swing motion without interruption for approximately one minute, or until you feel uncomfortable and/or fatigued.
Try not to impart any force or manipulation of the whip during the drill. Allow it to move along the swing arc naturally and focus on your balance.
Too often golfers engage in swing drills in a rush to finish and pay little attention to the dynamics that can help them on the golf course. This simple drill can help you improve in many areas and quickly if you focus on the right things for a few short minutes.
Drill Enhancement
Tip #1: To help reduce the habit of manipulating the golf club during your swing,
grip the Whip as lightly as possible and maintain that exact grip pressure for the entire length of the drill. Sounds easy, but it’s harder than most anticipate. You can evaluate your grip pressure and it will improve.
Tip #2: Once you feel comfortable with the drill, try it with your eyes closed. This will amplify the effects and benefits of the Whip. It’s best to use this technique after you can first maintain good balance during the drill with your eyes open.
Tip #3: It’s common that golfers struggle to take their “range swing” with them out on the course. The same is true of their “Whip swing”. Here are some ways to use our Full Swing Drill to help find your “Whip swing” on the golf course.
Use the three fundamental learning devices – visual (see), auditory (hear) and kinesthetic (feel) to create a mental and physical connection to the whip motion you can summon while playing. Focus on the one that suits how you best learn – so if you are a primary visual person then you should “see it.”
See It: Create a mental image of your swing arc while using the whip. Closing your eyes during the drill and visualize the path of the whip throughout the swing. You can also swing in front of mirror, or take video footage of yourself swinging the Whip for later review. Now when you can’t find your Whip swing on the course, call upon the visual memories you so wisely practiced while engaged in the Full Swing Drill.
Hear It: Listen to sound of the whip as it moves along the swing arc. Here again it can be good to close your eyes and focus only on the sounds and rhythm of the motion. Also, do the drill while listening to music, preferably a song or songs you enjoy. You can later call upon these sounds and auditory memories on the golf course to help you find your Whip swing.
Feel It: While swinging, focus on the physical sensation of the swing arc. Once again, closing our eyes is a fantastic way to focus on just the feel of the whip during the swing motion. Feel your balance, your grip pressure and how your body moves all along the swing path. If you do this for a few minutes each time you work with the whip, you will be amazed how much easier it will be to find and maintain your Whip swing on the golf course.
