Explanar Golf Swing Trainer - Home Golf Training System

As title indicates, needed to get out a hacksaw in order to get parts that needed to get joined to fit. For this amount of money you would expect better. Once I made the necessary cut all was good (oh, except one of the plastic holder tabs was missing).

LUTHER BLAYLOCK AND EXPLANAR GOLF ARE THE BEST ! KIND, CARING, PROMPT WITH CORRESPONDENCE. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE HOLE GOLF WAS AN CONDESCENDING, UNPROFESSIONAL NIGHTMARE TO DEAL WITH. THEY NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH DELIVERY, I DID MYSELF. WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM AGAIN!!!!!

As you can see from my setup photo. I use my Explanar with a Fiberbuilt Flight Deck and a set of 5" heavy duty plastic riser blocks. The Fiberbuilt Flight Deck breaks down and sets up nice and quick underneath the entire plane trainer. I don't use the grey rubber mat with black stripes. I didn't find that mat very helpful. To me, that gray rubber mat with black alignment stripes is not really needed.....nothing that cannot be solved with a pair of 3-4' alignment sticks. The 5" riser blocks gives me a little more clearance when I come down during my swing. FYI: you can make 75-100% swings on the Explanar.....don't let the website fool you. You can....it may feel a little goofy at first, but you don't need to use the Explanar as some, slow-motion trainer. And I use my own 7 iron and driver. I have a "training" 7 iron and driver with a steel shaft that I use. I bought a single 7 iron and driver that I normally use and had them re-shafted with a generic, cheap steel shaft. Yes - I have some scrapes and abrasion scuffs on the hoop......big deal. Seriously. Who cares. I'm not expecting this thing to look pristine and brand new over the years. I plan on using it. I am a little concerned about using this with my normal, more-expensive graphite shaft driver. I don't care about leaving black scuff marks and wear marks on the steel hoop. I'm concerned about slowly destroying my graphite shaft.PROS: heavy, durable, foldable. You are not folding this thing and putting it in your trunk or SUV. I guess you could possible fold it and get it up into a truck bed, but it's heavy and somewhat cumbersome. I fold up mine and roll it into the side of the garage when not in use. If you don't use a much smaller golf mat, you can always buy a 12"W x 36-42"L driving mat strip....those individual, slim driving mats that are replaced at your local driving range. You can use one of those just fine....or just use it in the grass. That large flat "Explanar" fin at the top actually does have a purpose that is not found on other models. That large flat fin keeps the shaft on plane and doesn't permit you to change your shaft angle as you approach the top of your swing. It actually works. It looks odd, but it actually does have a very good purpose. You can assemble the entire thing yourself. The directions (like all directions now) sorta kinda stink. I wish the website posted a very good detailed PDF file on their website with really good, high-res photos.....or an assembly video on the "tube". But no luck. FYI: you may struggle with the directions. It took me about an hour. Once assembled, it is very easy to roll and unfold. My order was missing a few minor pieces of hardware, but nothing that I couldn't find at my nearby hardware store. That didn't bother me.CONS: the steel hoop is not going to be as smooth and quick as PVC pipe (another popular model on the market) when practicing faster swings. The training roller club that is included is HEAVY.....like crazy heavy that I don't even use. I'm 6' and 200# and easily drive the ball 280+ and 7-iron closer to 190 yards. And this roller club is too heavy for me to use. To me, this club is so heavy that you end up breaking and changing your takeaway technique just to get that darn club moving properly. The shorter, mid-iron roller training club (aftermarket purchase) is lighter, so I end up using that one. The "driver" length is simply too crazy heavy. And there's no way I would let my wife or teenage kids use that heavy "driver" roller club. No way. My opinion, you're better off using a iron or driver or 3 wood with a heavy golf sock cover to add another 4-12oz of resistance weight. The other major con that I have is the adjustable support rod in the back. There's a sticker on the adjustment rod that ranges from -5 to 0 to +5. There's holes about every 4-5 inches or so you can adjust the overall angle of the hoop to best match your swing/club. Instead of a number value, I really wish the company did two things: label the holes in terms of approximate hoop angle. So instead of "0", the sticker would say 54 degrees. Or instead of -3, the angle would say 45 degrees. The second gripe about the adjustment rod is it needs more holes. I'm sure I immediately voided my warranty, but I removed my adjustment rod and drilled additional holes evenly spaced in-between the previous holes. The key is to have more, micro adjustability (especially for $1,000)......not less adjustment. I used a contractor 20" angle protractor and a magnetic angle measuring device to better indicate the angles at the various holes so I had a much, much idea of what the angle of the hoop/ring is. I tend to hit my driver best at hole 1 (58 degrees) and my one-length irons at +3 (63 degrees). After some trial-n-error over the summer, it seems that my plane angle is best when it matches my lie angle on my driver and irons.....but that's me. Of course your swing(s) will vary.SUMMARY CONCLUSION: First, I probably would have saved and purchased the $4,000 model from Perfect Labs Golf (but no longer manufactured). It seems that $4,000 commercial plane trainer is the best of the best. But I am very happy with this one. I did considered the $500-700 PVC model too (on the low end), but I was concerned about overall weight and ease of adjustability and the overall flex with the PVC model. I'm happy I went with the Explanar versus the other copycat model. That "Explanar" flat fin at the top actually is helpful. Knocking off one star is really just minor. The heavy training roller club is no big deal. I don't use it. And after drilling more holes in the adjustment rod (which really didn't take me that long with my drill press) and buying a few large angle measuring devices (another $50 for two devices) was ok too. I'm keeping this for a very, very long time so I wanted to make sure I spent a few more dollars and some more time to make it even better.In terms of helping my overall golf game: I have been playing single/one length for a long time (probably since 2016 timeframe) so I have been able to really get my iron/wedge swing consistent and tight. But I have always struggled with my driver and/or 3 wood.....I struggled learning and reinforcing that shallower swing with a longer 44" driver length. I purchased my Explanar in early 2023 and consistently practiced (especially driver) several times a week. I know it sounds silly too, but I also purchased a hinged driver practice club too to help reinforce that smooth takeaway and keeping my driver "on plane." Both products really helped alot. Before, I would use a shorter length and higher loft driver. Basically, I was so engrained with my 63 degree plane attack with my irons that I was looking for some compromise with the driver. Not now. I know it took an entire summer of training and re-training and re-learning. But I am now at a 44" length driver. And I went from 14 degrees down to a 10.5 degree loft on my driver with a consistent 13-15 degree launch angle for maximum distance + roll. I'm sure I could have saved more than $1,000 and simply purchased lessons from various great coaches. I get that argument too. I fold mine up and wheel it back/forth from my garage, so I cannot comment on the rust or weather protection. But please do not leave this outdoors. The PVC model? Fine. PVC pipe is fine for being outside, but not this one. I would not recommend it. And for those that are thinking of using the Explanar outside and inside? Good luck. You will absolutely need another person to help you lift it and get it back/forth inside the house and outside.

Michael helped make our delivery run smoothly, and I’m very happy with the product.