I'm always a little skeptical of knockoffs. Every time I've tried one, whether a knockoff putting mat next to a Wellputt or a fake divot board next to the real thing, I came away not seeing the reason to buy the cheap one. The benefit to my golf game just wasn't there and the name-brand version earned its price.

So when I saw the Amazon Basics swing trainer, which looks like an almost exact copy of the Orange Whip, I expected the same story. I think that's what makes this review worth reading. I wanted to find the difference that justified the extra $79.

I couldn't.

What it's for

Both are flexible, weighted swing trainers. You grip it like a club and swing back and through and the whip of the shaft gives you a tempo and sequencing cue without using a golf ball. They're great for warming up before a round or loosening up on the range. I also like them for keeping your swing in decent shape throughout an off-season.

Where the Orange Whip is nicer

The Orange Whip has the better materials. It's made in the U.S.A. and if you put the two side by side, you can tell which one cost more. I don't feel like the better materials matter all that much as you're not striking anything with this training aid. You're just swinging it.

The Orange Whip looks a little nicer, the materials are slightly softer and it has a more premium feel.

Where it counts: The swing

Swinging them back and through, I couldn't find a difference big enough to matter. The feel is the same, the tempo cue is the same and what it does for my game is the same. I went looking for a gap that justified the premium and didn't find it.

Be realistic about how much you'll use it

This is a simple tool and it's worth being honest about that. A swing trainer is a warmup stick. You'll probably swing it for a few minutes before a round or maybe a handful of times at home when you feel stiff. It won't fix your swing on its own and it's not something you'll use every day for hours. When you're only going to use something for a few minutes at a time, paying a premium for it gets harder to justify.

The math

The Orange Whip is $119. The Amazon Basics version is $40. That's $79 extra for nicer materials on something you'll use infrequently. I'd rather buy a dozen golf balls, the Amazon version and put some money in my pocket than pay full price for the Orange Whip.

Verdict

This isn't me going soft on knockoffs. Most of the time, in my experience, the cheap copy doesn't make the cut. This is the exception. If you love the nicer build and want the Orange Whip, you're not making a mistake. For everyone else, buy the Amazon one for $40 and put the savings toward balls or range time.