GForce NXT

We recently looked at GForce Golf's new NXT-GEN 7 iron and wedge training aids. GForce explains their products best when they say, "Featuring our "Super Flexible Shaft," our trainer forces you to smooth out your swing and transition, improving your rhythm, tempo, timing, swing path, lag, speed, and impact for more compression on the ball."

After our initial fears subsided, we found both clubs extremely useful for encouraging smooth tempo and improving the transition, leading to better swing mechanics. In addition to the 7 iron and wedge, GForce has products available specifically for players looking to improve their long game. The GForce Driver NXT-GEN and Driver Shaft NXT-GEN offer two different ways to incorporate the company's concept into your training. The driver is an out-of-the-box option solely intended for practice, while the USGA-compliant shaft enables users to install it into their driver of choice for use both on the practice tee and the course.

Information from GForce

There are some changes to the entire GForce line with NXT-GEN. The company notes, "The shaft is now lighter to previous versions, now weighing the same as a normal golf shaft, so the whole club is perfectly weighted like a normal club, all club heads are standard weight just like previous models, and the shaft is exactly the same flex as previous models, giving you the valuable instant feedback and easier to switch learned feelings back over to your normal club, also the grooves and face in the 7 iron, wedge and putter are CNC milled and conform to the rules of golf and are USGA / R&A standard.

The shaft can be installed into any .335 adapter, and the above chart and video explain how to trim it for use.

Aesthetics

First, it's important to say that GForce wasn't trying to build the most attractive, best sounding driver on the planet. This is a training tool first, and it is not fair to hold the company to the same standard we might for a gamer club.

The driver head is relatively compact from the top and features a deep face. It approaches pear-shaped territory, but some of the shaping is a bit unusual. It sits a bit more closed at address than many people will hope for and some of the transitions are a bit sharp. Luckily, if the shape is in any way off-putting, the option of buying the shaft to install in your own driver is a great alternative.

The shaft (same in both in the driver and standalone) is quite attractive with the light blue and white color scheme. The bright blue, oversized grip is very cushioned and stays securely in the hand when swinging.

We discussed the shaft in the iron and wedge review, but it's worth noting again just how incredibly soft and flexible GForce feels in hand. That's the basic idea behind the technology. The company notes that their product differs from others in that the NXT-GEN line is in a similar weight range to standard clubs, making the transition from training aid to driver much more seamless.

Performance

Like the wedge and the iron, GForce provides several instructional videos for using their products and improving your game. Conveniently, they offer an entire series for the driver and driver shaft alone.

The basic concept remains the same as we discussed in the earlier review. GForce encourages and essentially forces smooth tempo and transition. Beyond that though, it does an incredible job of communicating to the body and brain the right feels for success and how to sequence properly. In many ways, it's almost instinctual and that feeling is very easy to carry over from the training aid to a standard club. In fact, one of my favorite uses was using the shaft installed into a standard driver head for practice swings while waiting for other players to tee off. Since the shaft is USGA compliant, it's completely legal to carry it in an extra driver. While this does take up one of fourteen spots in the bag, if you’re really struggling with driver, it might be worth it. I found, even on the first tee, that a few gradually intensifying swings freed me up and resulted in some of my better driving performances of the season.

As a practice and training tool, it is completely possible to hit decent shots with the driver as-is, and it also functions well as a warmup tool. At this time, it cannot be used in-round, though it is being evaluated for that possibility. The added length (compared to the iron and wedge) seems to increase the severity of the shaft's flexion, which came in useful to avoid rushing the driver swing, which is typically longer and slower.

Details

For more information or to pick one up, check out their website at www.gforcegolf.com.