A Real Game Changer

2010-07-27

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By Steve Pike

As a rule training aids come and go faster than comets across the sky. But here’s a good one that looks like it has some staying power – the Tour Striker designed by teaching professional Martin Chuck, PGA, director of golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon.
 
Basically the Tour Striker is designed to help a player – regardless of swing style or shape - with impact position. That is, the downward strike with the shaft leaning forward remaining the same with every swing. If you want to know what that looks like, check out any picture shows a Tour player’s shaft and club at impact. You even can go back to the old Bobby Jones “How I Play Golf’’ video series to get the idea.
 
The original Tour Striker 8 iron, Tour Striker Pro 7 iron and Tour Striker 56-degree wedge training clubs each feature designs that have little clubface below the "sweet spot" unlike a traditional club. Chuck says the clubs have been designed so golfers intuitively teach themselves how to deliver the sweet spot of the club to the ball.
 
“I found myself teaching so many golfers who were trying to scoop the ball at the bottom of the swing,” Chuck says. “That was how they tried to get the ball in the air. I wanted to create a club that would teach them to hit down on the ball with forward shaft lean. I’ve accomplished that with Tour Striker.”
 
According to Chuck, the Tour Striker will automatically change a golfer’s swing and ball striking. And, Chuck says, a golfer will quickly learn to apply forward shaft lean which will increase lag, add club head speed and improve their impact position naturally while practicing.
 
The original Tour Striker is targeted for mid-to-high handicap golfers and those with slower swing speeds (under 90 mph with driver), while the Tour Striker Pro is geared for dedicated players with higher swing speeds and a handicap of 10 or less. Also available is a Tour Striker for women and younger players. Each Tour Striker carries a suggested retail price if $99.99.
 
The ladies/junior model is slightly shorter than the regular Tour Striker (35 inches vs. 36 inches) and has a graphite shaft appropriate for women and juniors.