You know you’ve gone full golf addict when your swing feel is trying to hit yourself in the nuts with a metal bar attached to a club…and yet I’m intrigued.
Well, my first range session with the GEM and it truly is “all that”. Swung it a few times in my living room and thought it didnt feel much different from my regular swing (unsure if that was a good or bad thing), then headed off to the range on a bit of a windy, rainy day. I did the 10 practice swings (used PW), then tossed off the rod and took a real swing and time after time, baby draws and probably a good 10-15 yards longer than my normal PW….the bigger news is that each swing felt effortless, meaning I didnt try to kill it, just did the “toe up on BS, toe up on FS” mantra. Then tried same with my 5 iron…10 practice swings, then normal swing and pured probably 3-4 out of 5 shots and again effortless. I then tried with driver, which I thought would not work as well as irons, because I dont see many of the reviews mentioning driver all that much and I was just hammering my drives. Wife then joins me on the range. She has a pretty decent swing, but absolutely hates her 7 iron (unsure why,just says she cant hit it) and I initially watch her attempting to hit it and she’s maybe 110-120 and mainly weak fades. I then have her do the routine with the GEM, and within 2-3 swings, she starts hitting baby draws and now her 7 iron is going 135-140. She’s also shocked. Some pros and cons: Pros: 1) you get INSTANT feedback from the GEM. Doesn’t take a millions swings to start to see results 2) Pure quality machining. It appears as if the GEM is hand tooled on a machine and made in Scotland, so not a Chinese knock off or cheaply made item 3) The release just feels unforced with the GEM. One of my biggest faults was always forcing the right hand to turn over which can weak havoc w my swing. Cons: 1) Having to screw the long GEM rod on and off each time is a bit of a pain in the arse and initially installing the GEM is also not 1-2-3, meaning takes a couple mins. Unsure why these guys didnt use one of those push button easy on/easy off things for putting the rod on and off 2) Because the machining of the GEM is hand tooled, there were some metal burrs left on top of screw holes that could easily cut or scratch you. They need to run a sander or file the burrs 3) They should make the carry pouch both bigger and more secure. Easy for pieces to fall out and while it fits all the parts when you take the whole thing apart each time, I like keeping the metal ball attached (no reason to unattach it), but then if you leave the ball on, the rod sticks out of the carry bag….just not the best and I may try to figure out a better pouch on my own. 4) Although I read the instructions on use of the shorter rods, I’m still not sure I get when to use the longer vs the shorter rods. I just stuck with the longer one for now. Number one thing, at least for me, is doing the “toe up on the BS and toe up on follow through” and just letting the club release more naturally. Just let the club release, meaning dont force anything. All that being said, this is EASILY my best purchase of a training aid for golf Ive ever seen after 30 years of playing this great game. Playing a round tomorrow so will see how it translates to the course, but that’s on me, not the GEM😊 I will post the same thing on the STeve Johnson’s YT channel as well. .
I was sceptical of this at first, but I got one and have been using it for several weeks now, and it is hands down the best golf aid I have used - before the GEM came to my rescue, I was getting really frustrated with my lack of consistency.....not any more though. As well as hitting the ball farther than before, I am also consistently hitting it with much more accuracy. Really glad I have this in my bag. If you think about what we pay for golf fees, lessons, clubs etc - in my opinion, it is definitely worth a go.
Great review. Brendan, if you have not already accessed this, please see Good Golf Coaching by Stuart Cartwright and his instruction on downward pressuring of the handle through delivery and impact. I think this training aid relates to Stuart's ideas and his yard brush drill. Very much like over the top from the inside as described by Mike Malaska but better articulated.
Brendon, this counter balance feeling is awesome. The heavier the counter balance feels the more lag angle you can produce. It's like the Alex Noran, Mike Malaska move. This has to be what they're talking about, but Malaska particularly does not get his message out in a way that resonates, it's misinterpreted as tumbling the clubhead outside the hands. If you just tumble the clubhead without the counter balance, it's OTT city. The counter balance is the missing link.
So I got the GEM delivered and worked with it on the range like 2 times. I can’t see no long time effects right now. But it seems to work. It gives me a good feel with the counter balance weight in back and downswing how to deliver the club on the right way into the Ball. Then it feels very light and the club and weight seems to be delivered in the right way. The awkward feel is right at impact with it when hands and club with the extra weight gets closed or flipped over at impact. This ghost like feel and motion at impact seems to get transferred into the swing and sticks for a while. Afterwards especially when I recently lost my feel for contact and lowpoint after the ball it seems to help to get a crisper contact through ball and then turf. Pretty awesome compressed iron shots like the should be. Okay. The thing is that it sticks and there are long term effects.
Hi Brendan, I've been following your channel for a few years now and I have to say this “GEM” has got you swinging the best I've seen yet. Those looked more like Milo in the follow through and the results seem to bear this out. 190 yards with an 8 iron! Whoa. I ordered mine months ago ,got it , but never really gave it a fair shake..you definitely have piqued my interest and I will definitely be swinging the Gem tomorrow. Cheers and thanks for the excellent video on swinging “ the crooked stick”..LOL. MIKE in Nova Scotia.
The last two minutes answered all my questions about the apparent contradiction between toe up vs matching spine angle. Thanks so much for throwing in the last section!
This training aid has been out for awhile now and I truly believe this is THE BEST training aid there is to understand the "slotting" of the downswing and closing the face in the golf swing. I hope you keep up with this swing idea.
@@swisstrader yes, I do. I bought it as a training aid for my son who was having trouble understanding the idea of letting the handle of the club drop into the "slot" and squaring, and or, closing the face.
@@swisstrader we actually just went out again today and it was really clicking for him. He was saying that the idea of dropping the weighted ball (also handle of club) down and toward his.....uhhhhhhh...... below his zipper, is a nice way to put it (haha) really helped him. I do think you kinda have to understand what the GEM is trying to help you feel, in order to get the maximum benefit from it.
Brendon, look at your swing (slow it down with keys) at 10min mark, great swing and you had the butt end disappearing around your body, you started to worry about path and took it more down the line (Moe like) and had to get wristy. JMHO that 10min mark swing was your best, more reliable less timing involved, and you felt you went easy at the ball, more compression. I am excited about this GEM thing, I too am wristy.
Hi Brendan. Those swings look good. As for the shut to open thing, that seems like what Malaska teaches which is obviously a way to do it. Open to closed is an older way to do it. I think that both can be done, the point is that what he is describing is someone who does that and doesn’t play good consistent golf. Either way open to closed or closed to open, we have to be able to organize our swing and unload forces at the right time in a repeatable manner. Some will be better suited to open to closed and vice versa. Either way, some of those swings were the best I’ve seen in a while. Seems to help you! Be well, Alan
One of the things with the Malaska move is that the handle pivots around the lead leg, rather than getting dragged around. When you didn’t overswing those were awesome.
Hi Brendon. The GEM came in the mail today and I just spent my first 20 mins with it. I'm a GEM Newb! But I can tell for me this is a game changer. What a feeling the feedback is in my hands and body as the club comes down before impact. This is incredible! Thanks so much for bringing this to the BE BETTER community. What a service the GEM is and what you are! Thanks Man
This all sounds great. But there is no content as yours and your insights about the GEM. The website give me nothing. Can u please do more like a training protocol video? How to use? Maybe a call with the inventor or so. The results are great in your swing and i wish everyone can benefit the same way! How to hit a 8 like 180 and deloft it with a shallow AoA.
Phil, I was sceptical, met one of the inventor associates at a golf comp a few weeks ago. Got one anyway and have been doing the 10 swing protocols. As soon as you don’t feel the weight and wobbles diminish your doing it right. I think any more instructions by the maker would muddy the waters. The device is very intuitive, it’s automatic instruction! Get one and have a go, it’s less than the cost of a new wedge 🤷♂️ nothing to lose, it definitely won’t make a mess of your swing.
@@auddave100 same experience for me. No real need for a training vid. You literally just put the GEM on and start to swing and it starts to teach your hands what you should be doing to hit a fade
wow. even without the device that feel you describe really works. It gets me out of some misconception of having the face keep pointing at the ball going back I've always had
Your you tube is probably the most interesting and informative of any I have seen …You do a great job..Now I will attempt my question again….As a player ,which one ,The Gem Or the Hack motion would you recommend to purchase first ..as far as getting “ better” quicker or understanding the swing “better”…I can not afford both at this time but I will eventually purchase both ..I’m not trying to put you in a compromised position but would appreciate
Well you haven’t lied to me YET!! 😂 I went ahead and ordered the aide. I hope it works as well for me. Thanks for all your efforts to help us get better!
Ok tried to 'imagine' it (I have a good imagination - no time to wait for shipping); your thought of bringing the rod down between your legs (or something like that) is what made it work for me once I played with this idea. Basically it eliminates any _deliberate_ forward effort on my part, which I think is a big problem for me. If in transition I felt like I was going to drive my arms down into the Earth - using my entire body (key point for me) - I smoked it! Haven't tried driver yet. No 190 yard 8-irons; that's near PGA pro territory (I'm a humble, no-talent, elderly, 8-handicapper) - more like 150 with a 'normally' lofted, simple hunk-o-iron, club (no goo injections etc). Then it dawned on me; this may be what the "pull the chain" people are talking about? But I have to be _committed_ to the above sensation; can't just yank the arms alone down; it's like, for an instant, I'm intending to smack the shaft into the earth, between my knees, on my right side, behind the ball!. The brain then reacts - the swing becomes reactive - I see that 'squat-thing' happen (but I don't deliberately try to squat - it's a reaction). And since the goal of the swing is to contact the ball this reaction causes all the good stuff to happen. If I fail to commit 1000% to this transition intension then, well, it's as bad as a poorly timed, timing-based, swing. And there's the rub - "in the wild" it's a scary move that's gonna take a lot of time and commitment to gain confidence in it such that it becomes natural. Golf is tuff (for us mortals).
It’s like chopping a log but with a shallowing move. Michael Jacobs has a video “world’s strongest man” eg those things at fun fares you hit with a mallet and a bell rings 🙂 As you say, totally counter intuitive.
Hey Brendan, do you think this would be good for someone who has a tendency to over square the club (over rotate the face through impact with the hands/arms) as I note you suggest it somehow magically makes you swing with a body release?
Been using this for a week or so. I feel like it's flattening my plane and forcing body movement thru swing. Is this what i'm supposed to be feeling? Also can you make a video using the Driver and the Gem? I'm wondering if the feeling should be the same, as the driver is slightly different in length, timing etc. Thanks for the video and information, it is very helpful. Keep them coming.
Is that "taking the bar and putting between my legs" move what Mike was trying to teach you 4 years ago 😉 - MALASKA MOVE IN DEPTH! Golf swing “Tipping” the shaft of shallow the shaft
Lots of great tools! Now that many of us are into the off season, I’d love a video to recommend a series of off season training aids and protocols. Thanks!
Just got the GEM delivered today. I’m really excited to try it on the range. Btw what’s a good smashfactor for Irons? I only know Driver 1,45 - 1,50 is pretty good.
I'm a bit flipper of the golf club, would this help someone like me? It seems the creators only seem to talk about how it encourages you to close the face over
My wife and I are very interested in the GEM, both are working on our game constantly. However a few years ago she had an accident and injured her wrist and now of course,. arthritis is an issue. She can still swing a club, which I'm glad. I was wondering what is the weight of the rod and ball? By the look of it she says she should be able to handle it. Thank you, love your channel.
Purchased the GEM and tried it today. The feeling I have is it opens the clubface more on the backswing and then resist closing on the downswing. Such that it strangely promotes closing the clubface when swinging a club right after removing the GEM. Watch the instructional video by the inventor. He really promotes an active wrist or hand action to close. This doesn't appear by my observation to be what Brandon feels or attempts or even demonstrates. Just my observation as I travel on my golf journey.
That was great info . Thanks . I would love to see a lesson with a person similar to my handicap 11 using this and seeing them improve . I’d find that. Very informative also .
Not sure whether I agree on your initial statement Brendon that most golfers have the clubface too shut during the takeaway, I think the opposite is true : most golfers (>90%) roll the face too open during the takeaway, which is a typical move for low handicap golfers..; in contrast your clubface is - even with the training aid- way closed during your backswing which is in line with a correct takeaway; other than that: the aid reminds me of a previous video where it was discussed that because how the clubface is built it is hard to square it or close it; your idea was to built a club which is kind of balanced,while I pointed out that there is a club which has this feature in everybody’s bag: the putter; if you do a full swing with the putter you will always automatically square up the face..; my best guess is that this aid is doing exactly the same thing as a putter would,but puts then“counter weight“ at a different position; am aware that most people,do not understand this since this is physics….and most people barely understand plus and minus😅. So you can save 120. $ for a completely useless device but use your putter instead it is already in your bag
brendon, i just got my gem yesterday and upon first using it i thought like you that it teaches a roll type release kinda like what tom watson teaches where the hands and forarms roll open and closed. i've been working on a pivot driven swing with a bit of a closed clubface like you showed for a while now and i have to use the gem to practice that. i'll report back after spending some time with it. i have also revisited recently the book by ted williams "the science of hitting" that i had in my collection and he talks a lot about the similarities of the golf and baseball swing and using the body to swing with, some good insight.
I believe it helps in promoting a bowed left wrist on the downswing. Your video helped reintroduce the product. Keep my fingers crossed the results look promising.
This may help but when the club is toe up at P2, the face is open to the swing path, meaning the golfer has to shut the face during the downswing to avoid hitting a banana ball. That is how golfers used to be taught but timing is the big issue. I think any teaching pro will agree. Perhaps the counterweight helps in some other way. It certainly will change the physics of the swing. Different center of mass for one thing, What does Dan Martin think about it?
Stuck with a golf club like this? If it were balanced you'd have to manually square it and it would be a nightmare. Because it's top heavy that makes it turn over naturally when you swing it.
I’ve had the GEM since June…I really like it. The one point I think you’ve failed to mention or possible didn’t notice, was the fact that the weight of the GEM really helps organize your weight shift synchronizing with the swing better.
Good comment, I ordered one, I need more of that in my swing and less relying on my arms for speed and wrists and hands to square the face. He did say I believe the GEM helps to square the club face with your body not your hands.
Do you think a GEM would work for someone who doesn’t come over the top, but instead comes from the inside and stalls their body and tends to draw? Or is it more for slicers?
@@grgr5465 I would think so (JMHO), with the excess counter weight it should help with getting the body involved with any swing you have. I am not an over the top swinger, I am one who stalls with a flip to try and square the face thu impact. From the look of Bendon's swing it has helped him very much, I ordered it in hopes it will help me.
As soon as you said you had to see a pro to try and get it to work for you, followed by saying you had to have this weird feel of it coming down in between your legs, I thought, nah, I'm out, this is just going to be like all the other hyped up training aids that don't work for me. That's my honest reaction with no disrespect intended. I appreciate the honest review of the process and difficulties of getting it to work as this is more relatable than the idea that just swinging it will work wonders.
Your swing has evolved Brendan, funny how this contraption makes your swing look like Milo Lines's, keep innovation alive my man . . and reach for the stars, or a perfect swing.
I just got mine in the mail but as others have stated, not much material on how to use it, drills, etc from the paperwork. They have some drills and how to use it on the site itself and so I’m going to start tomorrow with some practice swings and see how it goes.
Brendon, do you think this is more for people who come over the top? Could it work for people who drop it inside too much and get stuck and stall the body? It seems like it promotes keeping the body turning thru, but it looks like it promotes closing the face, which I do amply when my body stalls.I can hit big pushes, but have a real hard time fading the ball. Wondering if this is better for people with the opposite problem.
Have you tried turning it instead of saying it’s at 6 o’clock position to maybe 7 or 8 o’clock ? Do we all need to point the toe straight up ? Maybe a little less ?
So, as a +cap player with a move in transition where my hands move slightly to the ball (slight OTT) this device will help me avoid getting too steep while not fundamentally changing my transition?
We can se that his hands are not mooving towards the ball as much. But hee need a better backswing. That 8 iron could go 195 with a deeper hipturn. And his hands will move even less towards the ball.
What are you even talking about. We are not speaking about his top position. Keep away from stuff you dont understand. btw my 2 iron swing has surpassed 122 mph on gc2. so sit down .
I've been following your stuff w Monte and trying to change to a move with earlier wrist set, shorter swing, then cast/shallow. Do you think this swing aid would be conducive for feeling that sort of motion?
Need your recommendation, how close to bottom on the grip do you attach the GEM, it looks like you had yours attached to bottom of grip, other video i have seen other GEM videos and it is only up the grip is just above the bottom of the grip however, occurring to their directions that comes with product, they mentioned 5cm to 10cm, which is it?
Watch a lot of your videos and usually believe there really isn’t any difference in your swing, maybe don’t see any difference with this either, but the sound is different, but that may just be the location of the video. Take the Gem with you and see what The Doctor and Lines say about it.
Swing looks good, I do not see a link for the GEM. I would like to check it out, I will do a search. Edit found link on you website, thanks for the discount code.
If you stand straight up and swing into backswing horizontally - the toe faces directly upwards and this is square to the arc👍 but we don’t play golf from there , so when you hold the club out in front of you and bend from the hips into golf posture - observe the clubface - it is still square to the arc now BUT the clubface faces slightly downwards! It teaches you in golf posture to have the toe facing straight up when the club shaft parallel to the ground !! Incorrect !
Steve Johnston demo'd the Gem and Ian Woosnam was on the video. He claimed that the toe should be straight up. I thought he was wrong. I agree with your post. Not only is the spine angle affecting the club face, your rotation in the down swing affects the club face.
Looks like an interesting concept. Seen the Scott’s Steve Johnston practicing with this month’s ago. How heavy is this attached ball? Seems to be a massive one or maybe hollow 🧐 Keep up the great work! Cheers from Germany
I would like to try a slightly lighter ball like you said as well so that the FACE would HANG NEUTRAL (like on the horizon). I'll talk to Fraser about it. He is a REALLY good guy
THX for your reply! I was thinking the same way. Everyone is different, especially in feel 😊 Maybe Fraser adds a second lighter ball in a GEN 2.0 version. This one looks way to heavy for myself.
I have the GEM. While doing air swings, feels ok on backswing but after impact on follow thru there is a terrible wobble. Obviously missing something. I guess I might be flipping. Did you experience this? Any suggestions to eliminate wobble?
I have this and it has changed my game. The key is to eliminate/minimise the wobble. For me that means holding the finish slightly open ie not flipping it closed. If you look at all the pros they rarely roll it unless they are trying to hook it.
@@BEBETTERGOLF Please address this wobble. I also got the GEM and every time I swing the club, as it's turning over you can feel the ball\weight wobble. It's really throwing me off. Thanks.
Brendon, this aid is exactly what Malaska is teaching: over the top from the inside aka tipping the club. That’s what you are feeling in the down swing, but said you were having a hard time describing. It seems Malaska’s terms aren’t resonating with you, but you are feeling it here.
Pausing this video to comment now. You just hit an 8 iron 196!? Is that normal for you? Or are these irons nowadays super buffed up? That’s incredible B. I guess I have to buy this now lol. Idk if you remember me commenting every now and then but I had the biggest scoop problem of my life so im hoping this may fix it? Idk
I don’t think so. I can see what you’re saying because people with a stronger grip will like the more short faced approach but I think even with that approach should practice with this because it gets the force pattern of the face working more open to close rather than close to open
If you are just swinging to get the feel and not hitting balls why not just flip the head so it is toe down, like you would for the Peter Cowden Axe drill, and just swing the club that way? Would the club not then balance in the same way and give you the same feel as what this is doing?
A different pro suggested that and I tried it. You get a similar feeling but it’s also quite a bit different because when the club is upside down down in your hands it still twists quite strangely in your hands in a way that it doesn’t deal with the gym so it’s not really the same thing
Works well with the UP motion he likes to keep you from sliding. Using this you really feel like if you slide at all the face will be wide-open at impact
@@BEBETTERGOLF well you said unless you brought the ball end of the gem in towards your left thigh you were still coming over the top, so im just trying to spit ball and think about an added mechanism to the bar of the gem? Although i know its most intended purpose was for beginners to learn how to control the clubface but without writing a long ass paragraph trying to go more in depth ill let you counter if you wish and maybe go back and forth a little bit and maybe get others to chime in as well?
How come you didn't discuss the use of mid-length bar and the short bar of THE GEM? You can hit balls with the short length bar as that's what it's designed for but you never mentioned it nor the fact that the midbar is to use after use of the longer bar.
Ian Woosnam says he uses two irons. GEM will be on a 7 iron and then he will hit an 8 or a 6 with no GEM. 10 air swings then immediately switch clubs and hit.
You know you’ve gone full golf addict when your swing feel is trying to hit yourself in the nuts with a metal bar attached to a club…and yet I’m intrigued.
Well, my first range session with the GEM and it truly is “all that”.
Swung it a few times in my living room and thought it didnt feel much different from my regular swing (unsure if that was a good or bad thing), then headed off to the range on a bit of a windy, rainy day. I did the 10 practice swings (used PW), then tossed off the rod and took a real swing and time after time, baby draws and probably a good 10-15 yards longer than my normal PW….the bigger news is that each swing felt effortless, meaning I didnt try to kill it, just did the “toe up on BS, toe up on FS” mantra. Then tried same with my 5 iron…10 practice swings, then normal swing and pured probably 3-4 out of 5 shots and again effortless. I then tried with driver, which I thought would not work as well as irons, because I dont see many of the reviews mentioning driver all that much and I was just hammering my drives.
Wife then joins me on the range. She has a pretty decent swing, but absolutely hates her 7 iron (unsure why,just says she cant hit it) and I initially watch her attempting to hit it and she’s maybe 110-120 and mainly weak fades. I then have her do the routine with the GEM, and within 2-3 swings, she starts hitting baby draws and now her 7 iron is going 135-140. She’s also shocked.
Some pros and cons:
Pros:
1) you get INSTANT feedback from the GEM. Doesn’t take a millions swings to start to see results
2) Pure quality machining. It appears as if the GEM is hand tooled on a machine and made in Scotland, so not a Chinese knock off or cheaply made item
3) The release just feels unforced with the GEM. One of my biggest faults was always forcing the right hand to turn over which can weak havoc w my swing.
Cons:
1) Having to screw the long GEM rod on and off each time is a bit of a pain in the arse and initially installing the GEM is also not 1-2-3, meaning takes a couple mins. Unsure why these guys didnt use one of those push button easy on/easy off things for putting the rod on and off
2) Because the machining of the GEM is hand tooled, there were some metal burrs left on top of screw holes that could easily cut or scratch you. They need to run a sander or file the burrs
3) They should make the carry pouch both bigger and more secure. Easy for pieces to fall out and while it fits all the parts when you take the whole thing apart each time, I like keeping the metal ball attached (no reason to unattach it), but then if you leave the ball on, the rod sticks out of the carry bag….just not the best and I may try to figure out a better pouch on my own.
4) Although I read the instructions on use of the shorter rods, I’m still not sure I get when to use the longer vs the shorter rods. I just stuck with the longer one for now.
Number one thing, at least for me, is doing the “toe up on the BS and toe up on follow through” and just letting the club release more naturally. Just let the club release, meaning dont force anything.
All that being said, this is EASILY my best purchase of a training aid for golf Ive ever seen after 30 years of playing this great game. Playing a round tomorrow so will see how it translates to the course, but that’s on me, not the GEM😊
I will post the same thing on the STeve Johnson’s YT channel as well. .
Thanks for your feedback, Paulie! I'll pass your comment on to management.
@@GemGolf For con number 1, maybe have the gem on a 9i, practice swing, then hit your PW for the full shot so that you dont have to keep unscrewing?
I was sceptical of this at first, but I got one and have been using it for several weeks now, and it is hands down the best golf aid I have used - before the GEM came to my rescue, I was getting really frustrated with my lack of consistency.....not any more though. As well as hitting the ball farther than before, I am also consistently hitting it with much more accuracy.
Really glad I have this in my bag.
If you think about what we pay for golf fees, lessons, clubs etc - in my opinion, it is definitely worth a go.
Thank you for the great feedback, David!
Great review. Brendan, if you have not already accessed this, please see Good Golf Coaching by Stuart Cartwright and his instruction on downward pressuring of the handle through delivery and impact. I think this training aid relates to Stuart's ideas and his yard brush drill. Very much like over the top from the inside as described by Mike Malaska but better articulated.
Brendon, this counter balance feeling is awesome. The heavier the counter balance feels the more lag angle you can produce. It's like the Alex Noran, Mike Malaska move. This has to be what they're talking about, but Malaska particularly does not get his message out in a way that resonates, it's misinterpreted as tumbling the clubhead outside the hands. If you just tumble the clubhead without the counter balance, it's OTT city. The counter balance is the missing link.
So I got the GEM delivered and worked with it on the range like 2 times. I can’t see no long time effects right now. But it seems to work. It gives me a good feel with the counter balance weight in back and downswing how to deliver the club on the right way into the Ball. Then it feels very light and the club and weight seems to be delivered in the right way. The awkward feel is right at impact with it when hands and club with the extra weight gets closed or flipped over at impact. This ghost like feel and motion at impact seems to get transferred into the swing and sticks for a while. Afterwards especially when I recently lost my feel for contact and lowpoint after the ball it seems to help to get a crisper contact through ball and then turf. Pretty awesome compressed iron shots like the should be. Okay. The thing is that it sticks and there are long term effects.
Thanks for your support, Bernd!
Hi Brendan, I've been following your channel for a few years now and I have to say this “GEM” has got you swinging the best I've seen yet. Those looked more like Milo in the follow through and the results seem to bear this out. 190 yards with an 8 iron! Whoa. I ordered mine months ago ,got it , but never really gave it a fair shake..you definitely have piqued my interest and I will definitely be swinging the Gem tomorrow. Cheers and thanks for the excellent video on swinging “ the crooked stick”..LOL. MIKE in Nova Scotia.
Give it a fair shot. Thanks MIke!
what's your results with it now cheers
I like your series where you meet with different instructors and learn their techniques--- you should check out Marcus Edblad
The last two minutes answered all my questions about the apparent contradiction between toe up vs matching spine angle. Thanks so much for throwing in the last section!
This training aid has been out for awhile now and I truly believe this is THE BEST training aid there is to understand the "slotting" of the downswing and closing the face in the golf swing. I hope you keep up with this swing idea.
Do you have one?
@@swisstrader yes, I do. I bought it as a training aid for my son who was having trouble understanding the idea of letting the handle of the club drop into the "slot" and squaring, and or, closing the face.
@@MrBlacksharpie thanks! How’s it going for your son?
@@swisstrader we actually just went out again today and it was really clicking for him. He was saying that the idea of dropping the weighted ball (also handle of club) down and toward his.....uhhhhhhh...... below his zipper, is a nice way to put it (haha) really helped him. I do think you kinda have to understand what the GEM is trying to help you feel, in order to get the maximum benefit from it.
@@MrBlacksharpie perfect explanation. Just ordered it! Thanks
Brendon, look at your swing (slow it down with keys) at 10min mark, great swing and you had the butt end disappearing around your body, you started to worry about path and took it more down the line (Moe like) and had to get wristy. JMHO that 10min mark swing was your best, more reliable less timing involved, and you felt you went easy at the ball, more compression. I am excited about this GEM thing, I too am wristy.
Hi Brendan. Those swings look good.
As for the shut to open thing, that seems like what Malaska teaches which is obviously a way to do it. Open to closed is an older way to do it. I think that both can be done, the point is that what he is describing is someone who does that and doesn’t play good consistent golf. Either way open to closed or closed to open, we have to be able to organize our swing and unload forces at the right time in a repeatable manner. Some will be better suited to open to closed and vice versa.
Either way, some of those swings were the best I’ve seen in a while. Seems to help you!
Be well, Alan
One of the things with the Malaska move is that the handle pivots around the lead leg, rather than getting dragged around. When you didn’t overswing those were awesome.
Hi Brendon. The GEM came in the mail today and I just spent my first 20 mins with it. I'm a GEM Newb! But I can tell for me this is a game changer. What a feeling the feedback is in my hands and body as the club comes down before impact. This is incredible! Thanks so much for bringing this to the BE BETTER community. What a service the GEM is and what you are! Thanks Man
Thanks Adam!
Thank you for your support, Adam!
You are closed upon your takeaway and you dip/lunge toward the ball
The lay off move in transition is world class and almost the complete opposite of your old action. Love the video's.
This all sounds great. But there is no content as yours and your insights about the GEM. The website give me nothing. Can u please do more like a training protocol video? How to use? Maybe a call with the inventor or so. The results are great in your swing and i wish everyone can benefit the same way! How to hit a 8 like 180 and deloft it with a shallow AoA.
Phil, I was sceptical, met one of the inventor associates at a golf comp a few weeks ago.
Got one anyway and have been doing the 10 swing protocols.
As soon as you don’t feel the weight and wobbles diminish your doing it right. I think any more instructions by the maker would muddy the waters.
The device is very intuitive, it’s automatic instruction! Get one and have a go, it’s less than the cost of a new wedge 🤷♂️ nothing to lose, it definitely won’t make a mess of your swing.
@@auddave100 same experience for me. No real need for a training vid. You literally just put the GEM on and start to swing and it starts to teach your hands what you should be doing to hit a fade
wow. even without the device that feel you describe really works. It gets me out of some misconception of having the face keep pointing at the ball going back I've always had
Your you tube is probably the most interesting and informative of any I have seen …You do a great job..Now I will attempt my question again….As a player ,which one ,The Gem Or the Hack motion would you recommend to purchase first ..as far as getting “ better” quicker or understanding the swing “better”…I can not afford both at this time but I will eventually purchase both ..I’m not trying to put you in a compromised position but would appreciate
You can actually make your own.
Well you haven’t lied to me YET!! 😂 I went ahead and ordered the aide. I hope it works as well for me. Thanks for all your efforts to help us get better!
Update?
Let us know how you get on!
Thanks for your support, J!
Ok tried to 'imagine' it (I have a good imagination - no time to wait for shipping); your thought of bringing the rod down between your legs (or something like that) is what made it work for me once I played with this idea. Basically it eliminates any _deliberate_ forward effort on my part, which I think is a big problem for me.
If in transition I felt like I was going to drive my arms down into the Earth - using my entire body (key point for me) - I smoked it! Haven't tried driver yet. No 190 yard 8-irons; that's near PGA pro territory (I'm a humble, no-talent, elderly, 8-handicapper) - more like 150 with a 'normally' lofted, simple hunk-o-iron, club (no goo injections etc).
Then it dawned on me; this may be what the "pull the chain" people are talking about? But I have to be _committed_ to the above sensation; can't just yank the arms alone down; it's like, for an instant, I'm intending to smack the shaft into the earth, between my knees, on my right side, behind the ball!.
The brain then reacts - the swing becomes reactive - I see that 'squat-thing' happen (but I don't deliberately try to squat - it's a reaction). And since the goal of the swing is to contact the ball this reaction causes all the good stuff to happen. If I fail to commit 1000% to this transition intension then, well, it's as bad as a poorly timed, timing-based, swing. And there's the rub - "in the wild" it's a scary move that's gonna take a lot of time and commitment to gain confidence in it such that it becomes natural.
Golf is tuff (for us mortals).
Brandon, your demo of the swing aid kinda echoes Malaska’s swing move.
It’s like chopping a log but with a shallowing move. Michael Jacobs has a video “world’s strongest man” eg those things at fun fares you hit with a mallet and a bell rings 🙂 As you say, totally counter intuitive.
Hey Brendan, do you think this would be good for someone who has a tendency to over square the club (over rotate the face through impact with the hands/arms) as I note you suggest it somehow magically makes you swing with a body release?
Been using this for a week or so. I feel like it's flattening my plane and forcing body movement thru swing. Is this what i'm supposed to be feeling? Also can you make a video using the Driver and the Gem? I'm wondering if the feeling should be the same, as the driver is slightly different in length, timing etc. Thanks for the video and information, it is very helpful. Keep them coming.
Is that "taking the bar and putting between my legs" move what Mike was trying to teach you 4 years ago 😉 - MALASKA MOVE IN DEPTH! Golf swing “Tipping” the shaft of shallow the shaft
Lots of great tools! Now that many of us are into the off season, I’d love a video to recommend a series of off season training aids and protocols. Thanks!
Just got the GEM delivered today. I’m really excited to try it on the range. Btw what’s a good smashfactor for Irons? I only know Driver 1,45 - 1,50 is pretty good.
Thanks for your support, Bernd!
I'm a bit flipper of the golf club, would this help someone like me? It seems the creators only seem to talk about how it encourages you to close the face over
My wife and I are very interested in the GEM, both are working on our game constantly. However a few years ago she had an accident and injured her wrist and now of course,. arthritis is an issue. She can still swing a club, which I'm glad. I was wondering what is the weight of the rod and ball? By the look of it she says she should be able to handle it. Thank you, love your channel.
Purchased the GEM and tried it today. The feeling I have is it opens the clubface more on the backswing and then resist closing on the downswing. Such that it strangely promotes closing the clubface when swinging a club right after removing the GEM. Watch the instructional video by the inventor. He really promotes an active wrist or hand action to close. This doesn't appear by my observation to be what Brandon feels or attempts or even demonstrates. Just my observation as I travel on my golf journey.
Thanks for your support, Greggy!
That was great info . Thanks . I would love to see a lesson with a person similar to my handicap 11 using this and seeing them improve . I’d find that. Very informative also .
Yeah it is meant for slicers to start but Basically everyone is gaining from it
@@BEBETTERGOLF id be willing to be your “scooper” example if you’d like.
Not sure whether I agree on your initial statement Brendon that most golfers have the clubface too shut during the takeaway, I think the opposite is true : most golfers (>90%) roll the face too open during the takeaway, which is a typical move for low handicap golfers..; in contrast your clubface is - even with the training aid- way closed during your backswing which is in line with a correct takeaway; other than that: the aid reminds me of a previous video where it was discussed that because how the clubface is built it is hard to square it or close it; your idea was to built a club which is kind of balanced,while I pointed out that there is a club which has this feature in everybody’s bag: the putter; if you do a full swing with the putter you will always automatically square up the face..; my best guess is that this aid is doing exactly the same thing as a putter would,but puts then“counter weight“ at a different position; am aware that most people,do not understand this since this is physics….and most people barely understand plus and minus😅. So you can save 120. $ for a completely useless device but use your putter instead it is already in your bag
brendon, i just got my gem yesterday and upon first using it i thought like you that it teaches a roll type release kinda like what tom watson teaches where the hands and forarms roll open and closed. i've been working on a pivot driven swing with a bit of a closed clubface like you showed for a while now and i have to use the gem to practice that. i'll report back after spending some time with it. i have also revisited recently the book by ted williams "the science of hitting" that i had in my collection and he talks a lot about the similarities of the golf and baseball swing and using the body to swing with, some good insight.
I believe it helps in promoting a bowed left wrist on the downswing. Your video helped reintroduce the product. Keep my fingers crossed the results look promising.
This may help but when the club is toe up at P2, the face is open to the swing path, meaning the golfer has to shut the face during the downswing to avoid hitting a banana ball. That is how golfers used to be taught but timing is the big issue. I think any teaching pro will agree. Perhaps the counterweight helps in some other way. It certainly will change the physics of the swing. Different center of mass for one thing, What does Dan Martin think about it?
Stuck with a golf club like this? If it were balanced you'd have to manually square it and it would be a nightmare. Because it's top heavy that makes it turn over naturally when you swing it.
I’ve had the GEM since June…I really like it. The one point I think you’ve failed to mention or possible didn’t notice, was the fact that the weight of the GEM really helps organize your weight shift synchronizing with the swing better.
Good comment, I ordered one, I need more of that in my swing and less relying on my arms for speed and wrists and hands to square the face. He did say I believe the GEM helps to square the club face with your body not your hands.
Do you think a GEM would work for someone who doesn’t come over the top, but instead comes from the inside and stalls their body and tends to draw? Or is it more for slicers?
@@grgr5465 I would think so (JMHO), with the excess counter weight it should help with getting the body involved with any swing you have. I am not an over the top swinger, I am one who stalls with a flip to try and square the face thu impact. From the look of Bendon's swing it has helped him very much, I ordered it in hopes it will help me.
@@jteddy11 I do believe it will. The GEM is all about how you release the club.
How an I buy
As soon as you said you had to see a pro to try and get it to work for you, followed by saying you had to have this weird feel of it coming down in between your legs, I thought, nah, I'm out, this is just going to be like all the other hyped up training aids that don't work for me.
That's my honest reaction with no disrespect intended.
I appreciate the honest review of the process and difficulties of getting it to work as this is more relatable than the idea that just swinging it will work wonders.
I took your advice and ordered one - will let you know how it works for me.
Thx Peter!
Thank you for your support, Peter!
That ball striking was impressive. I may have to try out at some point.
You should!
Just ordered one and used your code. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for your support, Jeff!
Supination of left arm will do the trick for free:) Johnny Revolta used to advise: "supinate both arms". Nice backdrop BTW. I miss LB
I would appreciate an answer if it’s not asking too much..I like both Training aids just trying to figure out which one to purchase first
Your swing has evolved Brendan, funny how this contraption makes your swing look like Milo Lines's, keep innovation alive my man . . and reach for the stars, or a perfect swing.
Thx TT
Good stuff. Seems similar to the way Malaska teaches the club pivot. Would love to hear him speak on it
I’ll ask Mike To come back on
I just got mine in the mail but as others have stated, not much material on how to use it, drills, etc from the paperwork. They have some drills and how to use it on the site itself and so I’m going to start tomorrow with some practice swings and see how it goes.
Thanks for your feedback MM, i'll pass your comment on to management.
Brendon, do you think this is more for people who come over the top? Could it work for people who drop it inside too much and get stuck and stall the body? It seems like it promotes keeping the body turning thru, but it looks like it promotes closing the face, which I do amply when my body stalls.I can hit big pushes, but have a real hard time fading the ball. Wondering if this is better for people with the opposite problem.
Best swings I’ve seen you make.
Right before you said it reminded you of Malaska, I thought it was like Malaska. Crazy.
tumble move that doesn't actually steepen. Weird
@@BEBETTERGOLF a la the "Malaska Tip". Well done breaking par, by the way. Where did you do that?
Have you tried turning it instead of saying it’s at 6 o’clock position to maybe 7 or 8 o’clock ? Do we all need to point the toe straight up ? Maybe a little less ?
So, as a +cap player with a move in transition where my hands move slightly to the ball (slight OTT) this device will help me avoid getting too steep while not fundamentally changing my transition?
Definitely contact Mike malaska and see what he says about it, because before you mentioned Mike Malaska I thought that Mike would love this tool
We can se that his hands are not mooving towards the ball as much. But hee need a better backswing. That 8 iron could go 195 with a deeper hipturn. And his hands will move even less towards the ball.
@@matt8004 I don’t see issues with that backspin. That swing looks amazing, and it’s far. People shouldn’t always try to be perfect Adam Scott.
What are you even talking about. We are not speaking about his top position. Keep away from stuff you dont understand. btw my 2 iron swing has surpassed 122 mph on gc2. so sit down .
Your best golf swing compared to past videos.
I've been following your stuff w Monte and trying to change to a move with earlier wrist set, shorter swing, then cast/shallow. Do you think this swing aid would be conducive for feeling that sort of motion?
It would not be counterproductive but squaring the face really early up at the top has been problematic for me you have to do it the right way
Need your recommendation, how close to bottom on the grip do you attach the GEM, it looks like you had yours attached to bottom of grip, other video i have seen other GEM videos and it is only up the grip is just above the bottom of the grip however, occurring to their directions that comes with product, they mentioned 5cm to 10cm, which is it?
Watch a lot of your videos and usually believe there really isn’t any difference in your swing, maybe don’t see any difference with this either, but the sound is different, but that may just be the location of the video.
Take the Gem with you and see what The Doctor and Lines say about it.
Couldn't one make those air swings with the club head hanging down for a similar feel?
I must be using wrong. I will a big wobble when I do the exercise. Feels like I"m fighting the club. Tips?
Just bought the Precision Impact…can you review…I’ll keep the one you prefer…
Did you use the two short rods? Interested in your opinion, did they bring any further improvement to your impact or do they bring no extra value?
Short rod is a visual aid to square the face. it helps but the medium rod really is good for my swing.
Swing looks good, I do not see a link for the GEM. I would like to check it out, I will do a search. Edit found link on you website, thanks for the discount code.
Thanks for your support jteddy11!
If you stand straight up and swing into backswing horizontally - the toe faces directly upwards and this is square to the arc👍 but we don’t play golf from there , so when you hold the club out in front of you and bend from the hips into golf posture - observe the clubface - it is still square to the arc now BUT the clubface faces slightly downwards! It teaches you in golf posture to have the toe facing straight up when the club shaft parallel to the ground !! Incorrect !
Steve Johnston demo'd the Gem and Ian Woosnam was on the video. He claimed that the toe should be straight up. I thought he was wrong. I agree with your post. Not only is the spine angle affecting the club face, your rotation in the down swing affects the club face.
Looks like an interesting concept. Seen the Scott’s Steve Johnston practicing with this month’s ago.
How heavy is this attached ball? Seems to be a massive one or maybe hollow 🧐
Keep up the great work!
Cheers from Germany
I would like to try a slightly lighter ball like you said as well so that the FACE would HANG NEUTRAL (like on the horizon). I'll talk to Fraser about it. He is a REALLY good guy
THX for your reply!
I was thinking the same way. Everyone is different, especially in feel 😊
Maybe Fraser adds a second lighter ball in a GEN 2.0 version. This one looks way to heavy for myself.
What was the result with the Driver? Curious as thats the only club ive been struggling with lately
Swing looks great
Thx ND
As a closed face player who struggles with the hooks would this aid be good at feeling what a square or open face would feel like ?
Yes it would for sure
I have the GEM. While doing air swings, feels ok on backswing but after impact on follow thru there is a terrible wobble. Obviously missing something. I guess I might be flipping.
Did you experience this? Any suggestions to eliminate wobble?
I’ll ask Fraser. I also wobble it sometimes and sometimes I don’t. Have to figure out what I am doing differently
I have this and it has changed my game. The key is to eliminate/minimise the wobble. For me that means holding the finish slightly open ie not flipping it closed. If you look at all the pros they rarely roll it unless they are trying to hook it.
Thank you Alan i will give this a try.
@@BEBETTERGOLF Please address this wobble. I also got the GEM and every time I swing the club, as it's turning over you can feel the ball\weight wobble. It's really throwing me off. Thanks.
180 yd 8 iron ..I can only wish..👍
On the way… I’ll let you know how it works out. The 10% off was icing on the cake!
Brendon, this aid is exactly what Malaska is teaching: over the top from the inside aka tipping the club. That’s what you are feeling in the down swing, but said you were having a hard time describing. It seems Malaska’s terms aren’t resonating with you, but you are feeling it here.
Would love to see Brendon go back to Malaska for validation on what Gem does,
in relation to what Mike was trying to tell him in previous meetings.
🤔just had a thought there why don't they produce golf clubs with this weight inside the shaft ,then it's self swinging golf clubs
I’ve had mine for a few months.
Something I can’t get my head around… what is your swing speed here when you hit an 8 iron 180+ yards..?!
Thank you Brandon, for what are the different sizes? What are your thoughts?
It come with a king medium and short. Medium on a 8 iron is perfect for me
Did you see more consistency in face control by using the gem? Tighter face to path std deviation?
Yeah way more stable
What are the lengths of the rod?
Intriguing to say the least. Great content as always, B.
Much appreciated!
I’ve never heard your irons that crispy. Noice
I bought one of these and am really not feeling it or getting it - not sure what I’m doing wrong - any tips ?
Thanks for your feedback! I'll pass your comment on to management.
How many grams and lengths of the rods ?
...it IS what Mike Malaska always told you...."over the top to the inside.....tipping the club.....the two corners...." :D
Pausing this video to comment now.
You just hit an 8 iron 196!? Is that normal for you? Or are these irons nowadays super buffed up? That’s incredible B. I guess I have to buy this now lol.
Idk if you remember me commenting every now and then but I had the biggest scoop problem of my life so im hoping this may fix it? Idk
Went to order this, but on the final page, the discount code did not seem to be applied. Any advice?
Make sure no space BBGOLF10
how'd it feel /perform with the driver ? thanks
On the simulator it did really well
When you put the bar in between your legs on the way down that is the Malaska move!!
I have to ask Mike.
Does the GEM works mainly for people with neutral grip?
I don’t think so. I can see what you’re saying because people with a stronger grip will like the more short faced approach but I think even with that approach should practice with this because it gets the force pattern of the face working more open to close rather than close to open
The feeling you are talking about at the 7:05 mark may be called "side bend"
If you are just swinging to get the feel and not hitting balls why not just flip the head so it is toe down, like you would for the Peter Cowden Axe drill, and just swing the club that way? Would the club not then balance in the same way and give you the same feel as what this is doing?
A different pro suggested that and I tried it. You get a similar feeling but it’s also quite a bit different because when the club is upside down down in your hands it still twists quite strangely in your hands in a way that it doesn’t deal with the gym so it’s not really the same thing
Are you filming at the Alamo?
How heavy is the bracket that remains on the grip when the weight is removed?
38 grams including screws, I leave mine on my 4 iron and attach the rod a few times during my round to do practice swings.
@@kennypender4441 how heavy is the long pole. Is it solid steel?
@@kurtheitman552 it's very light
You’re undoing all the good Mr Malaska did my friend
Have you tried swinging it with hack motion
Ppl want to see this. I will because hack motion is going to do a special Nov deal
The way you are swinging now, we can clearly that you are over the top!
where is this golf course...when are you going to play the skins game again...
Trying to make a purchase of the GEM but they are not accepting your discount code?!
BBGOLF10 should work.
How did it feel with driver??
Long one is too heavy for driver. has to be medium. really helps the takeaway so you don't "snatch" it inside.
How does the gem training aid work with Dr Kwon's step drills ?
Works well with the UP motion he likes to keep you from sliding. Using this you really feel like if you slide at all the face will be wide-open at impact
Almost seems like they need to add a piece to it or make it like the medicus is to fix an over the top
trying to imagine what u r saying?
@@BEBETTERGOLF well you said unless you brought the ball end of the gem in towards your left thigh you were still coming over the top, so im just trying to spit ball and think about an added mechanism to the bar of the gem? Although i know its most intended purpose was for beginners to learn how to control the clubface but without writing a long ass paragraph trying to go more in depth ill let you counter if you wish and maybe go back and forth a little bit and maybe get others to chime in as well?
How come you didn't discuss the use of mid-length bar and the short bar of THE GEM? You can hit balls with the short length bar as that's what it's designed for but you never mentioned it nor the fact that the midbar is to use after use of the longer bar.
Ian Woosnam says he uses two irons. GEM will be on a 7 iron and then he will hit an 8 or a 6 with no GEM. 10 air swings then immediately switch clubs and hit.
I love watching him hit balls. Fraser Mann teaches (GEM inventor) short game to Ian Woosnam.
@@BEBETTERGOLF sure hope to see the rest of this GEM footage/review. Driver video on the way??
I feel like you have reviewed this before? Either way interesting stuff.
First time on this one for me. Thanks for eatching!