Discuss the benefits to your customers, regardless of playing abilities.
Our products synchronize the arms and the body, enhance flexibility and fitness and improve rhythm/balance. The net result is a significantly better golf swing!
Our products can be used year-round, can be used indoors and only require 5-10 minutes a day.
Compare the Orange Whip Trainer to other swing tools/trainers (i.e. Skilz/Gold Flex)
The Orange Whip Trainer was the first balanced Trainer, utilizing counter weights at the grip end and at the end of the shaft. Our products are proudly “Handcrafted in the USA.” Our competitors are knockoffs of our products and are made in China. The quality and feel of our competitors’ products are vastly different.
What is your role and what are your responsibilities with the Orange Whip Golf organization?
I am responsible for green grass teaching facilities and smaller retail operations. In addition, I attend various functions, including but not limit to Demo Days, Section Events and Teaching Summits in my geography, including the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.
I call all on my accounts every few months. Our organization has a very effective “Administration Page.” We know when and what our customers have ordered and when they should be due for additional product. Our customers seem to appreciate the attention as it serves as a reminder to check their inventory.
When you are in front of customers/distributors, what is your focus?
I usually begin with a few Power Point slides; sharing our story, sharing the philosophy of our weighted, flexible swing Trainer and the importance of rhythm, balance and timing. I demonstrate our 47” Orange Whip Trainer, typically swinging the Trainer in a continuous motion. I review our entire product line, which includes our 43” Orange Whip Midsize Trainer, 38” Orange Whip Junior Trainer, 35.5” Orange Whip Compact Trainer, Orange Whip Wedge, Orange Whip Putter Blade, Orange Whip Lightspeed, Orange Peel and Golf Fitness X . I discuss our Tour presence, share information on our national retailers, our international distributors, our website/social media and close with a few questions and answers.
Notes:
*We do not compensate any of our Tour players however we do incentivize a dozen or so of our Tour player’s caddies to keep an Orange Whip Trainer in their player’s golf bag during PGA Tour events. To date we have had ten PGA Tour winners with Orange Whip Trainers in their bag at the end of the tournament. You can see our Orange Whip Trainer a mile away!
*There are no minimum orders and no costs associated with having an account with Orange Whip Golf. In the event one of our retailers would wish to return any of our products, regardless of the time frame, we refund their money with no questions asked. You simply can’t lose!
The image, color scheme, branding and website are so well done!
It’s all Jim! Orange Whip Golf is the name he wanted and its very unique appearance is the look he wanted. Conversely, the very last thing he wanted was a club head on the end of the Trainer, not wanting customers to worry about having to control the face.
We take great pride in our website which includes detailed product descriptions, drills/training videos, testimonials, information on our history/background/theory and our Blog. There are a number of insightful, humorous “Fun Videos” (under the “Drills” tab) that provide a glimpse into the culture of our organization.
How do you personally use the products/drills and have they made a difference in your game?
To me the products simplify the process. I was a guy who hit a lot of balls, thinking that if I went out and practiced for five hours a day, I would improve. In reality, the opposite occurs because you are practicing bad habits, trying to make things happen instead of making the motion and letting the ball get in the way. Jim’s idea forces your body into the right sequence with rhythm and balance. I have improved because I am focusing on the motion and eliminating countless swing thoughts, which can drive you completely nuts!
As someone who struggles with swing path issues, can the Orange Whip products lend a hand?
When you swing our Trainer in a continuous motion, without stopping between swings, the Trainer naturally finds the plane. If we were to take a video of your golf swing and a video of you swinging our Trainer in a continuous motion, the two videos would look completely different. The problem with the golf swing is that it begins from a static position. Unfortunately, with a static position, your swing can get out of rhythm, off balance and out of sequence pretty quickly.
After four or five swings with the Orange Whip Trainer, your swing will be right on plane as your body is adapting to the action of the Trainer and figuring out how to balance and stabilize the Trainer in the correct sequence.
If you effectively/religiously utilize the Orange Whip Trainer, how soon would you expect to see results?
Everyone is different, and everyone uses our products differently however if you use our products religiously (i.e. three sets of ten and continued to build on the repetitions), in two months, you will be stronger, more flexible and have a vastly improved swing.
Do you need to be a good player to be employed by the Orange Whip Golf organization?
It is certainly not mandatory however it is preferred! Jim loves to play and plays in a bunch of tournaments. He encourages his colleagues to do the same. A big part of our job is to promote our products. Potential customers see our Orange Whip Trainer in our golf bags, they see our logo on our golf bags and on our apparel. It’s all about exposure.
Any questions I should have asked?
I do want to spend a moment to share information on our newest product line, Golf Fitness X. Golf Fitness X bridges the gap between golf instruction and fitness by focusing on specific exercises to improve your golf swing and strengthen your body. Monthly memberships are available on a subscription basis, allowing you to access streamable golf workouts, speed training and practice drills. Our co-founder (Brian Newman) leads the instructional videos. Please take the time to visit our website.
Any final thoughts?
Jim Hackenberg is a truly remarkable story! Jim was one of nine children, growing up in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He learned his craft, saw a need, convinced others to believe in his vision/products and created his own business. The American dream!
Contact Information:
Dan Latoria – Sales / DanL@OrangeWhipTrainer.com / 352.584.5484 / Orange Whip Golf / 119 Beacon Hill Ct, Unit A / Easley, SC 29640
Dan, thank you for your time!
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The back nine can only get better!
This was a great series. I enjoyed learning more about this Made in America company.