Written by John VanDerLaan
*We may earn revenue from the products available on this site and participate in affiliate programs.
Do you want to hit the golf ball farther? Maybe you're looking for a way to get more flexible, or learn how to lag the golf club and shallow into that slot position that instructors talk about. Or do you just want a swing trainer to help you warm up before a round of golf?
Our Orange Whip trainer review, conducted by Golf Gear Advisor expert and founder John VanDerLaan, details why this swing trainer helps you to achieve all of these things!
What Is The Orange Whip?
The Orange Whip is a golf swing trainer that resembles a golf club, although there are some major differences. It is a super flexible shaft with a wrapped grip on one end and a weighted orange ball on the other. See where it gets its name?
The use of a swing training aid like the Orange Whip is a great way to get better at golf without lessons. We will take you through the benefits of the swing trainer and how to make sure you are using it properly.
Thousands of golfers at all levels trust the Orange Whip as an integral part of their warm up and training routine, and there is a lot of evidence to suggest that it is a helpful piece of equipment. Let’s discuss why that is.
RELATED: Straight Stick Review
How Does The Orange Whip Trainer Help The Golf Swing?
You will learn how to create lag using the Orange Whip
There are two keys to the golf swing that play an essential role in becoming a consistent ball striker; rhythm and balance. Speaking in very basic terms, rhythm - also known as sequencing - is the cause of the effect that is balance. If you have good natural rhythm, chances are you have good balance, and vice versa.
The Orange Whip swing trainer has the amazing benefit of developing both of these skills in your swing!
First, rhythm. It can be hard to fully comprehend the way it feels to swing the orange whip until you have tried it for yourself, but here it goes. Imagine you’re taking a cooked strand of spaghetti and trying to swing it in a way that allows you to hit a target. If you swing it too fast, you will have no control and it will simply flail all over the place.
The same is true of the Orange Whip, and because of the weighted orange ball on the end, the feeling is amplified. If you swing the Orange Whip out of sequence, it's going to feel like that ball is flailing all over the place and you have absolutely no control. Swinging in the proper sequence will allow you to feel the shaft flex as the load lags down, bringing your downswing “into the slot”, which promotes an in to out swing path. That’s the money move.
RELATED: Orange Whip vs Lag Shot
The Orange Whip gets the club on plane in the downswing
Secondly, balance. If you are out of sequence and the Orange Whip is swinging with a mind of its own, there’s a good chance that you will be falling out of your finish position before you even get there. However, if you get the feel for that lag where the weight of the swing trainer loads down into the slot, it’s going to feel very easy to hold your finish.
And here’s the cherry on top - while you’re working on your natural rhythm and balance, the forces created by the weight and the shaft flex are helping you to elongate your rotational muscles under tension.
The translation - a stronger, more flexible golf swing.
RELATED: Golf Slice vs Hook: Caused And How To Fix Them
Getting Started With The Orange Whip
The Orange Whip will help you create balance and rhythm
Let me start with a bit of a cautionary statement: do not start your swing training with the Orange Whip by taking full swings.
One of the many benefits of the swing trainer is that it takes you to the end of your range of motion in a relatively safe and controlled manner. That said, if your body is not used to physical strain, there is still a risk of injury.
To start, I recommend working with this trainer every day, even if you are not playing golf. This kind of consistency is what builds strength, good tempo, keeps you flexible, and creates an efficient motion in your golf swing.
RELATED: Golf Forever Training System Review
Begin by making swings that are not bigger than hip high on either the backswing or the downswing. By doing this, you can begin to learn how to sequence your movements and control the swing trainer without going into an extended range of motion.
As you become more proficient, you can start to make bigger swings like chest high, and then shoulder higher, until you finally progress to a full swing. This won’t take long. You should be able to make full swings with confidence by the end of your first session, we simply want to minimize the risk of injury.
After a couple of weeks of regular practice, you will notice that you start to hit the ball straighter, more solid, and farther, and your body will feel better!
My Results With The Orange Whip Swing Trainer After One Year Of Use
I have gained flexibility and distance through my use of the Orange Whip
I wouldn't consider myself eligible to write a review of any product if I hadn't gotten into the weeds and tested it for myself.
When I first got my hands on the Orange Whip about a year ago, I was a skeptic. How could this noodle with a goofy looking orange ball on the end benefit my golf swing?
Despite that, I committed to using it every day with the goal of figuring out whether or not it was all a grand illusion. Looking back, I am so happy I decided to give it a chance.
I was 56 when I began the journey with this swing trainer. I won’t pretend that I am the most physically fit guy in the world, but I’m still in pretty good shape. The first few days the Orange Whip made me sore in muscles I didn’t even know I had. I loved it! That soreness told me something was changing, and in a really positive way.
After about 2 weeks, I noticed that the ball had a little more umph coming off the club. I was already about a half club longer with my irons, and picked up somewhere between 10-15 yards off the tee. That’s when I was hooked.
RELATED: Driver Ball Speed To Distance
There were plateaus throughout the experience. I only picked up a few more yards after that initial jump, but in the weeks and months that followed I noticed other changes.
I started hitting a draw with amazing consistency. My back didn’t hurt after playing 18 holes. I hit more greens in regulation and had more close birdie putts. I was seeing all of the results that I had been searching for over the years!
Towards the end of my first year, I decided to do something a little different to test whether the Orange Whip really was the difference maker. I put it away and didn’t swing it for a few weeks.
In week one of this sub-experiment I didn’t see a change. “Maybe it wasn’t the Orange Whip that helped me,” I thought. But then my results started to reverse themselves.
Around the two week mark, I noticed that my back was getting sore after a round of golf. Another week after that, my irons were inexplicably coming up short of the green, and I would occasionally hit an ugly high right shot that would lead to a big number.
So I picked the trainer back up again, and in a couple of weeks I was right back to where I had left off! It was incredible!
The moral of this little story is that with a little bit of consistency, the Orange Whip really brought me results. To this day, I try to swing it at least a few days a week to maintain the results that I had. I also use it as a warm up tool before I play. It gives me a great low impact stretch and gets my muscles ready for the first tee. I am happy to report that I am beating my sons in our matches a lot more often, and I feel ready for an emergency 9 when we’re finished.
RELATED: Learning To Play Golf At 60
Orange Whip Pros And Cons
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Orange Whip worth it?
Yes, the Orange Whip is worth the money. While it is a bit on the expensive side for a training aid, it is one that you can use anywhere and it’s easy to bring with you when you travel. It is one of the most simple and versatile golf swing trainers on the market.
What is the best way to use Orange Whip?
The best way to use the Orange Whip is to start with small swings and work up to a full swing. If you spend 15 minutes per day, 4 days per week going through this progression, you will see amazing results in just a few weeks. Pairing the trainer with a golf fitness program like Golf Body Rx or GolfForever will amplify the effects even more.
You can even go through this progression every day to fast track your progress, as long as you are careful not to overwork yourself. If you are consistent with your work, you will find that you stop topping the golf ball, and eliminate a lot of the bad shots you normally hit as well!
Will Orange Whip improve my swing?
Yes, the Orange Whip will improve your swing. In order to swing it with control, you will have to be in the proper sequence for a repeatable golf swing, as well as shallowing the club into “the slot”. These two simple but miraculous ideas are something that every golfer on the planet can benefit from.
And let me tell you, if you struggle with a chicken wing golf swing, you can consider that gone after using this trainer.
RELATED: 12 Best Driving Range Tips To Improve Your Swing And Your Game
Does the Orange Whip help a slice?
The Orange Whip absolutely helps a slice.
A slice is commonly caused by an over the top move that creates a steep shaft angle. The weight of the Orange Whip will train you to do the exact opposite, putting your swing into a draw pattern over time.
How often should you use Orange Whip?
You can use the Orange Whip as frequently as you would like, although the recommended amount is around 4 times per week plus any time you go to play or practice at the golf course.
Consistency is key with the Orange Whip. You don’t need long sessions. It only takes 15 minutes a day to make a change that to your golf swing that you will love.
Does the Orange Whip teach lag?
The Orange Whip does teach lag. The combination of a super flexible shaft and heavy “club head” make it impossible to swing the trainer without lag. If you are consistent with your Orange Whip training, you will notice more lag in your golf swing in no time at all.
Pair your Orange Whip Training with the use of the proper golf grip to really ramp up your results!
Which Orange Whip Should I buy?
You should buy the Orange Whip that best fits your needs.
The original version is a longer training tool and has a regular sized grip on it. This is perfect for the majority of players.
The mid-sized simply has a bigger grip. Perfect for those with larger hands, or seniors who have arthritis or other pain.
The compact version is shorter, and perfect for someone who will be doing the majority of their training indoors or in another compact space.
And the junior version is intended for our younger golfers who might not be strong enough to swing the original Orange Whip quite yet.
Final Thoughts
When I first set out to figure out whether the Orange Whip was all hype, I had no idea what to expect. It looks goofy and seems so simple. What I ended up discovering was the best training aid for improving my golf swing and my ball striking.
I’m 57 now, and I’m hitting the ball just as solid and far as I was 10 years ago. I love the way it loosens me up before a round of golf, and I love even more how easy it is to do a training session in my backyard on a busy day.
Whether you are a beginning golfer, a high level amateur, or a professional looking for a competitive advantage, I believe the Orange Whip is a great addition to your arsenal. You will be faster, stronger, and more flexible, all with just a little bit of work every day.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to join the craze and improve your golf game!
