Swing Trainer to Increase Distance and Accuracy... Choose According to Your Swing Style
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] Beginner golfers practice their swings indoors before going out for their first round. Going onto the field without having established a proper swing posture can easily turn the round cost, which can amount to hundreds of thousands of won, into a mere ‘waste.’
Recently, various devices have been released to help anyone practice their swing regardless of location. Prices are also affordable, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 won. However, faced with dozens of devices differing in function and design, beginner golfers often get lost. We looked into what swing trainers suit you and what criteria to use when choosing one.
If adjusting swing speed is difficult, try a ‘Tempo Trainer’
Beginner golfers tend to be impatient and often fail to control their swing tempo. Swing tempo refers to the speed from the backswing through the top position to the transition into the downswing. If a golfer cannot control this speed, their body movements become tangled, reducing both distance and directional accuracy.
Therefore, beginner golfers should first practice to physically internalize the correct swing tempo. The device that helps with this is the ‘Swing Tempo Trainer.’
The tempo trainer is designed with a heavy head and a shaft that bends softly. The shaft is engineered to flex during the transition from backswing to downswing, allowing the golfer to feel the timing when the head stops through hand sensation. By repeating the motion, golfers can learn the speed and rhythm of transitioning from backswing to downswing.
Also, because the shaft is flexible, it is often used as a practice tool to swing without strain before taking a shot.
Depending on the manufacturer, tempo trainers are usually sold in two sizes: 120 cm and 100 cm. The 120 cm length is similar to a standard men’s driver and is suitable for men with a sturdy build. Women can choose the 100 cm version. Prices range from the high 20,000 won to the high 70,000 won range.
If you want overwhelming distance, try a ‘Distance Stick’
Casting is a common flaw found in beginner golfers. Casting refers to the incorrect motion where the golfer’s wrist cocking releases too early during the downswing. The angle of the right arm, i.e., the wrist cocking, which should be maintained from the top of the backswing through the deep downswing, is lost early in the downswing. When casting occurs, the club shape lengthens compared to the initial address position, and the clubhead hits the ground before the ball, causing fat shots. This reduces the efficiency of power and decreases distance.
The distance stick helps increase distance by correcting the faulty casting motion. It contains a magnet that produces a ‘click’ sound during the swing. If the golfer swings correctly, the sound occurs between the impact zone and the finish zone. However, if the golfer commits casting by releasing the right wrist cocking too early, the sound occurs between the top of the swing and the impact zone, before hitting the ball. The golfer hears the sound behind them. By repeating the motion until the sound occurs at the correct position, the golfer can correct casting.
Depending on the manufacturer, distance sticks are usually sold in two sizes: 97 cm (850g) and 77 cm (650g). For an average sturdy man, the heavier 850g is recommended. Women should choose the 650g version. Prices range from the high 30,000 won to the low 40,000 won range.
To draw a consistent swing path, use a ‘Swing Corrector’
If your swing posture changes depending on your condition, shot accuracy decreases. To prevent this, there is equipment that helps golfers consistently draw the same swing path.
The golf swing corrector is a device that attaches dual supporters under both armpits, acting like a compass to help draw a consistent swing path as if drawing a circle with a compass. It helps golfers whose hands and body gap narrows or whose backswing path becomes narrow to consistently maintain the correct swing path.
It is also helpful for golfers who use wrist and arm strength rather than body rotation for their shots. By fixing the body so the device does not fall from the armpits during shots, a natural pendulum motion of the shoulders forms, allowing the golfer to internalize the sensation of body rotation.
The swing corrector can be adjusted in angle and length to fit each person’s chest width and arm length. Prices range from the high 70,000 won to the high 80,000 won range.
To learn body rotation sensation, use a ‘Rotator’
The ‘Rotator’ is a device that helps golfers learn the sensation of pelvis and torso rotation. By fixing the elbow and hand on the corner of the L-shaped device and raising it to the top of the backswing, the body rotates more than usual, contracting the back and core muscles significantly. Moving into the downswing, you can feel the left pelvis and left shoulder naturally rotate backward. Repeating this motion improves swing path and consequently increases distance.
The rotator is used not only by professional golfers but also widely for rehabilitation of shoulder external rotator muscles. It is good for golfers who usually have limited shoulder mobility or stiff swings, serving as a tool for stretching and flexibility enhancement.
The downside is that beginners may find it difficult to feel their body movements when using it alone. Therefore, it is recommended that a professional golfer guide them initially. The rotator is released in a single version without length or weight variations. Prices range from the high 60,000 won to the low 80,000 won range.
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