50 Words or Less
The Power Flex Swing Trainer is similar to the popular Orange Whip but less expensive. Heavier head. A good tool for swinging at home.
Introduction
The Orange Whip is one of the most popular golf training aids ever made, and success always inspires imitators. The Power Flex Swing Trainer is built on that same idea – flexible shaft, heavy head – but it takes thing up a notch with a substantially heavier head than the Orange Whip. I tested one to see if it could fulfill the bold claims it makes.
Effectiveness
There’s no set up required here, just pick it up and swing it. The extremely heavy head and flexible shaft force you to take an exaggerated pause at the top of the back swing and start the downswing with your body rather than throwing your arms down.
Power Flex claims a number of benefits: more power, perfect tempo, and better mechanics. I think all of these are true to some extent with some caveats. Swinging Power Flex will likely give your swing more power compared to doing nothing. If you want the most efficient way to maximize speed, I’d recommend SuperSpeed [review HERE], but that’s a larger commitment of time, effort, and money.
With regard to better mechanics, Power Flex is talking about starting the down swing from the ground up. When swinging this very heavy head, you have no choice but to do that. My caveat is that this head is so much heavier than your golf club that I have concerns about whether your Power Flex swing will carry over to your “real” golf swing.
The final claim, “perfect tempo,” is the one I have the most issue with. If you swung your real golf club as slowly as you have to swing the Power Flex, you wouldn’t hit the ball out of your shadow. Again, I would generously interpret that Power Flex is referring to the idea that you’re “finishing” your back swing and starting the down swing with your lower body. In that regard, yes, Power Flex will probably do the job, but I dislike that they’re trying to oversell this element.
Longevity
As a tool to swing at home when you can’t get to the range, I like the Power Flex quite a bit. Keep it in your garage, pull your car out, and get some swings in during the winter.
Power Flex also promotes the idea of keeping this in your bag as a warm up tool, but I like it less for that. First, swinging slowly to warm up is not a good idea if you want to hit the ball far. More importantly, if you’re a walker, this weighs way too much to lug around.
Value
The Power Flex Swing Trainer retails for $70. This is meaningfully less expensive than the Orange Whip at $110. As something that can keep you connected to golf during the off season or times when you’re busy, I think it’s very worthwhile. However, if you’re expecting it to completely change your golf swing, I would lower your expectations.
Conclusion
The Power Flex Swing Trainer is a solid tool to have around when you need to get some swings in but can’t get to the range. It will help to ingrain the idea of starting the swing with your lower body, though you still need to be conscious of that idea when you switch back to your regular clubs.
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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9 Comments
A good review, thank you!
I would like to see the same detailed review for the orange whip to provide a good comparison.
The orange whip may cost more but it is American made! (I’ll bet power flex is made in China. )
I purchased this item a little over a year ago as I started back at golf after joint replacements. As mentioned, great for getting loose and keeping form during the winter. Mine has held up well, even with a few “miss hits” scraping the garage floor.
I’ve had one for a few years that I was able to get for about $40 off Amazon. It is good for getting loose and swinging it 20 times is a bit of a workout. I agree that it may be too heavy to truly help with tempo which is one of my main struggles. I have tried an Orange Whip and I think that might be better for tempo.
Like most 69 year olds, flexibility during a round is an issue. I have the Orange Whip and have found it to be most valuable for encouraging me to rotate fully toward the target which has really helped curtail my slice and pushing out to the right. I carry it (push cart) with me when I play and use it three or four times per round to encourage that rotational feel.
I have one, the weight of trainer going up to the end point of the back swing increases your arch and stretches those shoulder muscles. A good thing. The recoil enables the trainer to help start the downswing. It never did anything to improve my golf swing and I do not use it anymore. Mike Malaska has a video on youtube with some simple stretching warm up exercises that is far more productive. As far as I am concerned, my shoulders takes the club up in the back swing, the shoulders starts the downswing and brings the club head back to the ball. Keep simple, the results are fantastic.
The Power Flex Swing Trainer is not made as well as the Orange Whip. Spend the extra 40 bucks as my PFST broke after a short while using it
I’ve developed a snap hook about a year ago that I haven’t been able to shake, especially with long irons. Would this device help in that regard?
Todd,
I’d be more likely to recommend the Power Flex to a slicer than a hooker.
Try this: https://pluggedingolf.com/how-to-hit-a-fade/
-Matt