Is The GEM Golf Training Aid The Key To Golf’s Essential Move?
A Field Test Review of Golf’s Essential Move (GEM), a Swing Trainer from Scotland
I recently had the pleasure of testing out a golf training aid called Golf’s Essential Move (GEM), which the makers sent me for free after I promised to review it for the Great Golf Blog. Now, I’m not the type of golfer who takes a lot of lessons or is constantly tweaking his swing, but the way I played in my first competitive event in nearly a decade suggests that improvements are needed. And that’s all I’ll say about that!
Anyways, back to the GEM. Anyone who has been golfing for long enough knows that getting your clubface square at impact is crucial to solid, consistent contact. What you might not know is that the wrist hinge in the backswing is a predicate to releasing the club properly, allowing your hands to get square at impact. All these elements make sense when you read them, but many teaching professionals say it’s the hardest thing in golf to instruct. You simply have to feel it, and then once you feel it, keep feeling it to develop muscle memory. That’s where the GEM swing trainer comes in.
What is the GEM Swing Trainer?
The GEM Swing Trainer is a simple training aid consisting of three rods, a weighted ball, and an attachment for your club. Golfer’s attach the long rod first (with the weighted ball attached) pointing to the ground, in line with the club head, then take short practice swings no higher than hip level. The focus of this drill is feeling how the GEM gets the clubface into the “toe up” position in the backswing. When the golfer begins the foreswing, they feel the GEM assist the club’s release while helping their hands rotate through the point of impact.
After taking 5-10 practice swings from the long rod, they switch to the medium length rod (with weighted ball attachment) and practice the same motion with full swings. Note, the weighted rods are only used for practice swings and should never be used to hit a golf ball or the ground.
After 5-10 more full practice swings with the medium rod, the golfer moves on to the short rod which does not use the weighted attachment. The short rod faces towards the sky (still in line with your clubhead) and can be used for full contact swings. This is where you’ll start to really feel the difference in your club path, as the weight of the trainer gets your club into that “toe up” position at the midpoint of your backswing and then square to the ball as you release through the foreswing.
It sounds a bit complicated, but after you go through the sequence once it makes sense. There’s a pamphlet included in the package to help you through the process and a nice carry bag to keep all the pieces together.
Excerpt from the GEM Swing Trainer Setup Guide
How Does The GEM Swing Aid Work?
The creators of GEM say that this particular move (proper wrist hinge and releasing your hands squarely through impact) is the hardest thing to teach in golf instruction, and I believe it. So what the GEM Swing Trainer does is helps you physically feel that motion. Working with the GEM promises to help you unlock more power and achieve incredible distance by learning how to release the club head faster through the hitting area. Say goodbye to weak shots and hello to impressive drives! Or so they say…but will it deliver for a mid-handicapper like me?
I took the GEM out on the range for a field test demonstration, to see if it could indeed help me master the art of the correct wrist hinge. Using a series of progressively smaller "rods" that attach to your club, the exercises train you to get your club head into the 'toe-up' position at waist height during your backswing. You can really feel it during the drills! I especially liked the feeling of the long rod, and although I need to work on making sure I only bring it back to waist-level, I can feel how this move can be incorporated into my pre-shot routine.
We all know that consistency is the secret sauce to success in golf (which I learned the hard way in that competitive round I mentioned earlier). I'm hoping that working with the GEM swing trainer will help me maintain a square clubface at impact and reduce the variance in ball flight while achieving greater control.
Will it let me say goodbye to inconsistent shots in every swing? Of course not! But as far as swing trainers go, just one session on the range started to pay dividends and I look forward to making this a regular part of my golf practice. Another nice thing about the GEM is you can use it to practice golf at home...you don't necessarily need to hit full shots. Stash it in your office or basement and you can keep that swing sharp all throughout the off-season!
Features of the GEM Golf Trainer
Discover Greater Power: Unlocking more power in your swing is just a step away. Learn to release the club head faster as it glides through the hitting area, boosting both your power and overall distance.
Perfect Wrist Hinge: Master the art of the correct wrist hinge. Experience the club head gracefully reaching the 'toe-up' position at waist height during your backswing, ensuring a flawless swing motion.
Maintain a Square Clubface at Impact: Consistency is key, and this trainer helps you maintain a square clubface at impact. Feel the club head effortlessly reaching the 'toe-up' position at waist height during the backswing, promoting a precise and controlled strike. Pair it with a contact diagnostic tool like the Divot Board and practice like a professional.
Confidence Across Your Entire Bag: The GEM trainer works for every club in your bag, helping you achieve greater confidence with every shot in your arsenal. Thanks to the unmatched consistency you'll develop with this swing trainer, you'll improve your consistency and gain confidence from your practice sessions through to your actual gameplay.
In conclusion, the GEM golf training aid is a potential game-changer for golfers at every level. It is not a cure-all, it won’t fix your swing overnight, and like all things in golf requires practice and discipline. But given it’s relative simplicity and the feedback it gives you while you work with it, I think it does have real potential to improve your game. It focuses on all the essential ingredients of the golf swing, from perfecting the wrist hinge to achieving a square clubface at impact, and offers a drill that only takes 5-10 minutes to complete. My plan is to incorporate this into my practice sessions; it’s a great way to warm up and develop the muscle-memory you need to unlock a more powerful, consistent golf swing.
Whether you're a beginner looking to build the foundation of a strong swing or an experienced player aiming to refine your technique, the GEM Swing Trainer is worth adding to your repertoire. So, swing into action and let GEM guide you towards golfing excellence!
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