The Vharness is a swing trainer with the goal of teaching anyone to swing like a pro.  The Vharness is endorsed by Rocco Mediate, who I think is a brilliant spokesperson for this product because of how well heconnects with average golfers.  He looks like a guy in your foursome.  But of course he has tremendous game.  His performance at Torrey Pines in the US Open made him a household name.  He plays what seems to be off the shelf game improvement clubs.  He doesn’t have the fluid easy motion of a Fred Couples, or the power of JB Holmes or Bubba Watson.  These reasons though make him ideal as a representative of this product because he, of all tour players, looks the most like an average Joe, and almost everybody can relate to him.

So does the Vharness achieve it’s lofty goal of teaching anyone to swing like a pro?  No, but it is an excellent swing trainer, and if used effectively especially with some guidance from an instructor it can really help the average golfer to feel their swing better.  Frankly I don’t think there is a single device that can teach anyone to swing like a pro.  Swinging like a pro requires coordination, talent, strength and flexibility.  Provided you have those things, with a good instructor and dedication you can learn to swing like a pro.  What I did find is that the Vharness can enable you to not only create a better swing, but really feel what it feels to swing better.

I have a number of swing trainers in my collection, and they all fulfill different purposes.  I’ve been using the Vharness for about a month.  I wanted to give it a full test before I wrote about it.  The Vharness is definitely different from my other swing trainers.  It gives me feedback that I never got from anywhere else and really helped me to understand and feel my swing better.  It almost acts as a sensation amplifier and you really feel what the club head, path and hands are doing.

One of the main objectives of the Vharness is to help you feel more connected. There are a number of ways to feel more connected that I’ve seen routinely taught. Most commonly is tucking a golf glove under one or both armpits depending on how you are trying to feel the connection. Recently we have been watching players like Sean O’Hair and Justin Rose tuck their sleeves into their armpits. Both are effective ways of feeling the connection.

The vharness approaches this concept from a different point of view.  Instead of feeling the connection through your armpits as in the other techniques you keep it by by focusing on keeping the “vcords” taut.  As you do your body naturally becomes more connected.  It feels like it is a less tense way of feeling it.

But the vharness takes it a few steps further. It naturally creates more width in the swing and keeps your hands more in front of you preventing you from getting stuck.  One of my major flaws in my swing is getting stuck.  Working with the vharness, this is dramatically improved, and with it so has my distance and accuracy.  The great thing about it for me, is that it really worked with the things I’ve been learning and working on, and it provides excellent feedback.

When ordering the vharness you’ll be asked some questions to have it properly sized for your your height and your clubs.  I find that it fits well on all clubs.  It is very easy to transfer from one club to the next and allows you to use it with all your clubs.  The more I use the Vharness the more I enjoy using it.  Give it a shot, I think you’ll like it too.

Learn more about it on their website.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the Roll-Master putter manufacturing facilities.  During that short visit I got to see first hand how putters are designed and made. Roll-master makes the “Ringer” line of putters.  The putter is unique in that it makes a bell-like tone, much like that of fine crystal, when the ball is struck on the sweet spot of the putter.   Practicing with this putter provides instant and automatic feedback about your putting stroke.

At first the sound was unfamiliar to me.  No putter I had ever used produced a sound quite like this one.  The differences in the sound from hitting the sweet spot and hitting it off center are quite dramatic.  It really is an excellent way to know how solidly you’re stroking the putt without needing visual confirmation.  You can also see how you stroked it on the roll out of the ball.  A well struck putt from the sweet spot rolls out straight and with a solid end over end roll.  A poorly stroked putt will tend to wobble off its intended line and will have a more erratic roll.

The putter is similar to a heavy putter in its weight, although with the counterbalancing weight it feels more like a mid weight putter.  The club head weighs in at 400 grams.  A weight of 125 grams sits in the grip end to act as a counterbalance, moderating the wrists and smoothing out the stroke.  With the heavier club head the putter is easier to maintain online.  It does take a bit of getting used to.  I was told that most golfers who use the ringer, notice that in the beginning they leave putts short.  They assume that the heavier putter will pull itself through with gravity alone, but that is not the case.  A golfer still needs to make a confident stroke, but it is nothing that can’t be corrected by practice.

The last defining characteristic of the putter is that it has the first ever “EDM” face.  A process called electric discharge machining creates 30,000 dimples on a typical Ringer putter.  The resulting face is flat, non-slippery, and has a very unique feel to it.  Running your hand over the face of the putter reminds you a bit of sandpaper, but in a smoother way.  It does feel really nice and what I noticed is that it seems to grip the ball nicely and really put a beautiful end over end roll on the putts.

There is another putter in the works from Roll-Master Golf.  The new putter is a blade design and it looks like it’s going to be an excellent putter.

Creating the EDM face on”The Ringer”

The process is very interesting and cool to watch.  The putter head is secured and submerged in a machine that contains a liquid solution.  The machining element then is lowered just above the putter and what looks like mini lightning strikes the putter face over and over for nearly a minute with the electrical element jumping out of the way after each “strike”.  It certainly putts and feels differently than an insert putter.

Overall I found the putter to be an excellent piece of equipment.  I’ve never seen a putter being made before, in person.  It was a very cool experience and one that I won’t soon forget.

The putter is manufactured to very tight tolerances.  KAF Manufacturing where the Ringer putter is made, is known as a precision machine shop, building parts for scientific equipment, aerospace and other technically demanding industries.  While touring the shop they showed me a few mirrors for high end equipment.  These mirrors are so precisely manufactured that they cannot be touched by a person as that will ruin them for their intended use.

Jack Feighery, CEO of Roll-Master Golf was also kind enough to donate a putter for use in the Fore! Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation golf marathon, to be used in the $10,000 putting contest.

The expertise of the craftsmen at KAF Manufacturing includes:

• Electrical Discharge Machining
• Single point diamond turning
• Precision ball and roller bearing manufacturing
• CNC turning
• CNC milling
• Grinding

Here’s a video of the EDM process:

Here’s a closeup of the EDM dimples:

I bought the Tifosi Ventoux in the gunmetal color.  These sunglasses come with a hard case, a soft case and 3 sets of interchangeable lenses.  The hard case was important to me as I might keep them in the golf bag and didn’t want them to break.  The hard case is nice and light, but still sturdy enough to give me peace of mind that they won’t break while in there.

The sunglasses came with 3 interchangeable lenses: The GT (golf and tennis) lens, the EC (extreme contrast) and the AC (All Conditions Red).  So far I’ve only worn them with the golf and tennis lenses but I am quite impressed with the quality of the lenses and the frame.

I wear these sunglasses all the time playing golf, even when it’s not as bright.  They cut down on the glare and really help me saw the ball better off the club face and in the air.  The enhanced contrast is great for reading greens.

Another benefit I’ve found  is that these lenses don’t create any distortion.  I had another pair of golf sunglasses before, and while the contrast was great, the shape of the lens actually created some distortion.  The way the lens wrapped around my face and the eye was also a bit of a problem because when I putted, it was like looking through bifocals, except that instead of blurry and sharp areas, it was areas covered by the glasses and those not covered by the glasses.  That made putting difficult.  With these Tifosi sunglasses that issue is a thing of the past for me.

The glasses come with the interchangeable lenses, a hard case, and s soft cloth bag which also doubles as a polishing cloth.  For $60, they are an excellent deal and I’m very glad that I got them.  If you’re in need of some golf sunglasses, give these a chance, they won’t disappoint.

Tifosi Optics

After being fitted by the Mizuno fitting system, it was determined that I should be using Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, but that the heads I have (Mizuno MP52) were fine for my swing. This was a big change, as I was being switched from Project X 5.0.  I could have stayed with Project X, according to the Mizuno fitting system if I had gone to a 6.5 flex, but according to them it was my third choice.  The choice that fit my swing best was DG X100.

I’m happy to report that the change is going well.  What I like best about the new shafts is that the they are much more predictable.  My distances are no longer all over the place, the ballooning has been eliminated, and the shots really fly much more true.

I have had to make some changes in the way I swing.  I’m not really changing my technique, I’m just adjusting to a new tempo.  With these shafts I can’t go after it the way I did.  In fact, I find that with these, if the swing feels about 80%, the results are amazing and consistent.  The ball flight is much straighter and consistent than anything I have had before.  The ball explodes off the face with a very different feeling from what I had before.  It just seems much more solid and the flight is penetrating, even into some significant wind.  Even though I’m changing my tempo a bit, the change feels excellent, and I believe it will help make me a better golfer.

Now, I’m not recommending that you go out and get Dynamic Gold X100 shafts.  I would recommend a good fitting.  Having equipment that fits you really makes a big difference.  There are so many options that even a well informed golfer has a hard time self fitting.  There are may different kinds of shafts, club heads, lie angles, and lengths.  The standard off the shelf equipment may not fit you, and may be hurting your game.  I know that I was putting so much spin on the ball that it was robbing me of distance.  See your local pro for a fitting.  It can really help your game.

GPS rangefinders are wonderful things.  They give you the distances you need to make smart decisions.  They give you the distances to hazards, to carry over the hazards.  They give you distances to fairway targets, and of course the front, center and back of the green.

This information is vital if you want to make good decisions on the course.  What they don’t give you is the strategy based on the conditions of the day, how you’re striking the ball, and the pin placements.  They also don’t take any pressure into account if you’re playing a Nassau, a match against a buddy, or a tournament.

Some of you are lucky enough to play with caddies and if you to have a good caddy, he or she, can save you many strokes.  But for those who don’t have our own caddies or get to play routinely with caddies we need some help making those decisions.  If I’m playing a par 5, and I have 245 yards to the pin, 230 to the front, and 260 to the back I will know the distances I need to reach the green, but the rangefinder can’t tell me if it’s a smart decision.

Whether it is a smart decision depends on a number of variables.  What’s the wind doing?  If I’m playing into a 15 mph wind can I get there?  How am I hitting it that day.  Am I striping my fairway woods or hybrids?  Am I fading or drawing the ball?  Are there hazards near the green?  Where is the pin, and is it near any hazards?  How’s my wedge game that day?  If it’s really on, it may be worthwhile to lay up to my favorite full wedge.

All of these factors need to be considered because my main objective is to leave myself in the best position for the next shot and to take a high number out of the equation.

What the GPS rangefinder does, is that it gives you the numbers you need to make decisions about where your target should be.  Great course management combined with the data from the rangefinder will provide you with the best chance to shoot low scores.  Simply using the rangefinder without the course management won’t necessarily help you make good decisions.  And good decisions lead to low scores.  When you can consistently make good decisions you can play well anywhere and on any course.

The Penta has 5 layers (thus the name), and each layer is supposed to make the ball react properly.

Layer 1: Feel

This layer is the urethane cover for high spin from shots of 100 and in.

Layer 2: Spin

The outer mantle layer is for delivering high spin with the short irons.

Layer 3: Control

Middle mantle layer prevents balooning for greater distance control between 140 and 170 yards.

Layer 4: Launch

Soft feel and high launch, low spin, provide ideal ideal conditions for long iron and hybrids to get the ball up in the air, land it with a steep descent angle requiring less spin to stop the ball.

Layer 5: Distance

Core is supposed to provide high launch low spin with the driver.

Putting Penta in play

I brought out the first two Pentas to putt with on the practice green.  Right away I knew I was going to like this ball for putting.  Feels great off the putter.  Not hard or clicky, and soft enough, but not too soft. It felt just right and all day I was controlling my putts well.

Throughout my round I also found the the spin layer to be very effective.  Shots from around 100 yards and in were stopping beautifully on the greens.  Partial wedges were easy to hit accurately and the feel was butter soft.

The control layer for mid irons was also really good.  I really did feel like I had good distance control in those critical distances from 140 to 170 and the ball also stopped nicely on the green with those mid irons.

The fourth layer, launch, was pretty good as well.  I did feel the launch was a bit high with the hybrid and long irons but then again I’m also dealing with softer shafts that tend to balloon the ball for me.  I’m not yet totally sold on this layer yet, but I’m willing to continue experimenting with Penta.

Layer 5, Distance.  This was actually the most disappointing layer for me.  I did feel like I lost some distance compared to other balls I’ve played with the driver.  However the other layers more than made up for this loss of distance.  I’m going to say that it was probably more a swing issue than the ball, but I’ll keep my eye on this and see if my distance with Penta improves.

If you’ve been reading this blog, than you know that I was recently fit by Bridgestone using their Ball Fitting Challenge.  They fit me into the B330.  While I liked the distance I got from the B330, the control was not like the Penta.  On all shots from 170 yards and in the Penta is my go to ball.  It performs so well in those areas that I can live with a shorter drive (but again that may be more a swing issue than the Penta).  Well done TaylorMade. This is an excellent ball.

Today I went to the Westchester Golf Show in White Plains, NY.

My main objective was to see and play with some of the new equipment for the 2010 season.  While I was there I decided to try the Bridgstone Ball Fitting and also try the new Mizuno Shaft Optimizer.

The Bridgestone Ball Fitting was pretty interesting.  I was looking for a few things.

1) I wanted to see that it was conducted fairly.

2) I wanted to see what they said about my swing.

I could have signed up for an appointment but they were booked until 4:15 PM and I had stopped by the booth around 12:30.  Well, I wasn’t going to wait until after 4, so I got on the stand-by list.  It only took about 5 people in front of me before I got the chance to go.

As I watched the 3 people before me go I was listening carefully to what the Bridgestone Rep had to say.  These guys all had 90 mph swings, and moderate to large slices, with the largest slice going about 50 yards to the right.  For two of the three, the rep recommended the Bridgestone E5 to straighten out their flight, for one recommended the RX but only after the golfer answered the question of what was he willing to sacrifice.  Since he wasn’t willing to sacrifice control around the green he got the RX.  For those 3 guys, they did end up with better results.  Their slices were basically cut in half and they got 10-14 yards more of total distance.  These 3 golfers had been playing Nike One Tour, Srixon Tri-Speed, and Titleist Pro V1.

Finally it was my turn.  I had waited about 35 minutes and I was anxious to give it a go.  I had only hit a few golf balls about an hour earlier so I was far from being warmed up.  The rep asked me what ball I normally play, and I answered that I typically play the Taylormade TP Red.  We joked that it was too bad the TP Red was going away.

I stepped up an hit about 5 shots with the TP red into the net.

Then I went to the table to check the results and see what he had to say.

He said “well, you know your swing speed right? Your about 110.”  I felt pretty happy with that.

He said “There’s actually not that much we can do for you.  Do you like a softer or a harder ball?”  I told him harder because I’m playing the red. He gave me the B330 to try and I went and hit 5 more shots with it.  The results were about the same as the TP Red, with maybe a bit more distance.

He gave me 2 trial packs of the Bridgestone B330.  I appreciated his honesty in telling me that they couldn’t really improve my results with a Bridgestone ball and that makes me feel better about the company.

If you get the chance, I would suggest doing the Bridgestone fitting.  You may be surprised by the results.

The other cool thing I got to do at the show was try the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer.

With their system, a small wireless sensor is attached to the club.  As you swing it captures your swing speed, and other factors such acceleration, load pattern, swing speed, and release timing to come up with shaft recommendations.  It then list 3 choices with ordering them in relation to being the best match for your swing.

For me with a 6 irons swing speed of 94, the 3 choices were:

1) Dynamic Gold x100
2) Project X 6.5
3) KBS X-stiff

I really want to play with a set of DG x100 to see how they feel now that I’ve had this recommendation.  It’s a very cool system.  I think it reduces the guessing game of shaft fitting and I think it’s well worth trying.

Medicus Dual Hinge 7 Iron Medicus is chosen by golf pros as top swing trainer club in the world. Try now!

Whether you are looking to create a commercial facility, a team practice area, or a home practice room, there are a lot of choices out there when it comes to a golf simulator.

What I would advise anyone who is looking to buy one is to look at the following factors.  Each one will have an impact on the golf simulator actually chosen.

1. What is your budget?
2. How do you intend to use it?
3. Do you intend to use it for club fitting or lessons?
4. How much space do you have?

What is your budget?

Golf simulators range from a few hundred dollars to more than 50,000 dollars.  Interestingly some of the lower end units can rival the more expensive units for a certain type of customer.

Generally though, your budget will determine what you can actually look at, realistically for an installation.

On the lower end of the price spectrum (but nonetheless an excellent simulator) is the Optishot from Dancin’ Dogg.  You can see my review here of this golf simulator.

At the higher end of the spectrum you have something like the PGA Tour Simulator which will run you $50,000.

Another thing to consider is how many you want or need to install.  One is perfect for home use, but you may want to have 5 or 6 bays for a team practice center or commercial facility.

How do you intend to use it?

There are many excellent uses for a golf simulator.  You can use a golf simulator to stay sharp over the winter, you can use them in a commercial venture and host golf leagues, or as an add-on to a bar or restaurant, to sharpen your short game, or you can use them for lessons and club fitting.  How you intend to use it will again, affect the choices available to you.

While I wouldn’t use the Optishot for club fitting, it can certainly be used for commercial or home installations for practice, and camaraderie.  On the other hand, a launch monitor like the Vector Pro should not be used to play rounds of golf with friends as the software doesn’t support that.  It’s best use is for club fitting and lessons.

Do you intend to use it for club fitting or lessons?

Club fitters typically need more data than other users of simulators.  Club fitters need to look at things like back spin rate, side spin, angle of attack, in addition to the normal data offered by most simulators (club head speed, path, club face angle).

If you give lessons you may want a simulator or launch monitor that integrates with you V1Pro or Catalyst package.

How much space do you have?

This is an important question.  I can fit my Optishot system in a small room in my apartment or house as long as the ceiling is high enough and I have clearance.  The system is flexible so that I can start out with just the base unit connected to a computer, but at any point I can add stance mat, net, screen, projector etc, creating a system that would rival the big boys.

However if you have the funds and the space you can start out with a fully loaded system like the PGA Tour Simulator that can have 50 courses and counting, and can have multiple screens projected on them simultaneously to create a true panoramic view.  That kind of system takes up a lot of space.

I’m not sure what causes the regrip, but I think in my case it was a quest for more distance.  I think that when I regripped, I felt like I could come into the ball faster.  What it created though was uncertainty and inconsistency.  How in the world can you hit the ball consistently if you’re changing your grip midway through the swing?

The thumb caddy is easy enough to slip on to the club.  You open it slightly and get the club into it near the hosel where the shaft is narrow.  You then slide it up toward and onto the grip.

Using it simple. The thumb on your upper hand goes into the Thumb Caddy and stays there nice and secure throughout your swing.  If you’re used to regripping, the sensation of having your thumb stay in the same place will feel a little strange.  Because your hands are your connection to the golf club, regripping mid swing can have major consequences on the flight of the ball and the consistency of your shots.

If regripping is an issue for you, give this device a shot.  They are sold individually and sets so that you can have one on every club.  Obviously you can’t use it during tournament rounds, but for practice, or practice rounds, the Thumb Caddy is an excellent little training aid.

Thumb Caddy Website.

I got a chance to review this because I won a Project X shaft in a twitter contest that the company had.  Once I won the contest, I needed to pick out which version I wanted sent to me.

I talked to a few friends in golf, asked their opinions, than headed out to the driving range at Sterling Farms Golf Course.  They have a beautiful trackman setup in their Callaway Fitting center.  I would highly recommend going there if you are near Stamford, CT.

I tried the 6.5 shaft in a number of heads and noticed a few things.

The trajectory at which the ball was being launched was perfect.  There was no ballooning, and the picture on the trackman was beautiful to look at.  I feel like I could go after it without worrying about big hooks.  Although it was at a 6.5 frequency, I didn’t feel boardy.  It was smooth, and it is a very stable shaft.  For higher swing speed players this is a great shaft that will kill spin, and result in better rollout and longer distance overall if fitted properly.  The better a swing I put on it, the better the shaft performed.

I’m so excited.  I won a Project X driver shaft.  As soon as it gets here, I’ll have it installed and will review it.

This is one of the hottest shafts on tour and I’m pumped to see what it can do.  In the meantime enjoy the tech specs from the True Temper website.

New Technology

The Dura Launcher Practice System addresses this problem.  It consists of 2 pieces, a rubber base and a special tee.   The rubber base is designed to go into any golf mat as it is a standard size.  I have tested it on the Country Club Elite Mat as well as the Birdie Turf Mat.  It provides an adjustable height tee.

Adjusting the height of the tee is as simple as pulling up on it, or pushing down on it.  What could be simpler?

In practice it works very well.  I was able to easily adjust the tee height.  I could tee the driver high, or tee it low.  I could even tee it up a little bit for iron shots too.  The neat thing is that the way it’s designed, the tee won’t fly out of the base.  It is a very well thought out system.  Your level of adjustability though, depends on the thickness of the mat.  The CCE mat is a thick mat and so it allows the tee height tee be good for an iron, up to about a medium driver.  On the thinner Birdie Turf Mat it doesn’t work so well for irons or fairway woods, but it does allow for a low driver tee, up to a very high driver tee.

The only concern I have about this tee is the durability.   I have seen a range that uses them and the tees themselves got very beat up but I’m not sure that they are designed for commercial use.  A strike with driver or irons tends to push the tee and after a few strikes, you may need to adjust the base unit.  Not a big issue for individuals who bring it with them and practice, but I can see how this could become an issue on the driving range.  Overall though, I think it is a good product for the targeted user.  If your driving range mats has replaceable tees and you are unhappy with how they function, this is a good solution for you.

Trackman: the Game

Having used the Zero Friction Tees for many rounds last season I became a fan of the synthetic tee.  My problem with the Zero Friction Tees was that although they can last a while, in some respects they are flimsy.  An iron can easily decapitate one of them.  They are also hard to stick into hard ground.

I was excited to try the Launcher Tees. There are 4 models.  The original Launcher tee is designed for the driver, the Launcher II is also for the driver and provides repeatable ball height, the P3 is for iron and fairway wood tee shots, and the G4 is supposed to help hit the 4th groove on iron shots.

The main difference between the Launch and Laucher II and the P3 and G4 tees is the ability to have a repeatable ball height with them.  The Launcher Tees are built from a soft composite.  I found them to be very sturdy, easy to stick in the ground and stable.  The smaller surface area of the top f the tee can make it just a bit more difficult to get the ball on there and may cause issues in a strong wind.

Overall these are excellent tees and have become my new favorite.  It is difficult to verify their claim of increased distance.  Using these tees I have hit some very long drives, fairway woods and even irons, but whether it is the tee or not, is difficult to determine.  Bu it does feel as if the ball comes off hotter.  The tees should last a very long time and don’t seem to bend and get out of shape the same way that the Zero Friction tees do.

Overall these tees are an excellent value, and a pleasure to use.  The repeatable height and durability are excellent features.  If you do like to vary tee height on your drives then you should opt for the original launcher tees.

Launcher tee website.

SkyGolf will be releasing their new flagship GPS the SkyCadie SGX to the public on March 15th.  It will have some new features that can truly help make better decisions on the golf course and improve confidence.  These developments should help golfers to improve their games.  See the press release here.

One of the basic ways that GPS units help golfers is by providing them with accurate distance information.  However, golfers need more than distance information in order to make good decisions, especially when approaching the green.  The SGX’s new or improved green features should give golfers the information they need to approach greens with more confidence.

IntelliGreen Pro provides distances to green contours, false fronts, and any other point on the green.  Although it is not available on all SkyCaddie courses (including the course I play), for those courses that it is available it should be very helpful.

I’m most excited about seeing the “Smart Club” technology in person.  If the SGX can deliver on its promise to track club data (club used, distance hit) etc, that could really help the average golfer.  It would provide and easy way for people to really know how far they hit each club.

Currently, tracking that information by hand is certainly doable, but tedious.  I imagine that few people actually do it, and when they do, they may fall into the trap of only writing down their best shots.  The SGX could provide players with more accurate data as it could capture every shot.  One could potentially track it over time and see trends, etc.  This could take some of the “ego” out of the game so that players can make decisions based on realistic data.

Overall the SGX unit looks promising.  It appears SkyGolf is serious about helping golfers to actually improve their golf games.  They also seem to be responding to their competition by pre-loading the unit with 30,000 courses.  All of this competition between GPS manufacturers should end up enhancing this game we love.

I had an opportunity to get on TrackMan today.  If you have not had the opportunity to try it I highly recommend it.  Sterling Farms, in Stamford CT will let you get on the TrackMan launch monitor for $110/hr.

What a great experience!  Trackman is much more advanced than I had thought based on what I’ve seen on the Golf Channel.  It is so much more than just getting your launch numbers.

I was really surprised at the amount of information that it generates, especially when you see the teaching modules for it.  Along with tracking the golf ball, it also tracks the clubhead through the impact zone.    The 3D club view is awesome and it was truly eye opening to see what the club was doing through impact in a way that video analysis just can’t do.

The teaching modules in TrackMan can show you things that you really can’t get in a regular teaching session because everything the instructor describes can be shown on the screen and in 3 dimensions.  In a short session I was able to make some huge improvements in my swing and ball compression.

Range Mat Comparison

So how does this mat compare to range mats.  There are few different types of range mats depending on the type of range.  Some ranges have very thin hard mats.  Those are the harshest on the body.  Most public driving ranges that I have been to have a thicker harder mat with little give, but are a step above the thin mats.  With those two types of mats, they are often so hard they provide little realistic feedback.  A shot hit fat could easily appear to be a quality shot because of the way the club bounces of the mat and into the ball.  Those mats don’t allow you to hit down and through the ball and if you have a digger type swing that normally takes a divot, those mats can end up causing you pain in your wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

The nicest range mats have a softer grass surface that feels more natural and allows you to hit down and through the ball.  Those mats are pretty rare at commercial driving ranges.  I have seen these only at a prestigious private golf club.  The mats there really do feel like hitting of a lush fairway, they allow you to hit down and through the ball, they give you realistic feedback, and you can put a tee anywhere you want.

The BirdieTurf feel is somewhere between the nicer range mat, and the private club mat described above.  Although it does not really let you hit down and through the ball it does feel soft on the wrists, elbows and shoulders.  It is a higher quality mat than you will find at most commercial driving ranges.

The BirdieTurf is very portable and solidly built.  Each half of the two piece system measures 32” by 22” and weighs 19 lbs.  It will not slide during swings.  Each mat also has a heavy duty carrying handle, making them ideal for a backyard driving range, or even taking to your local park with a sleeve of birdie balls.

The mats come with a heavy duty universal tee that holds any type of normal tee.  I would suggest using a plastic tee like a zero friction tee if you are going to hit drives off this mat as the tee holder has a solid bottom and a wooden tee could break, leaving the wooden part embedded in the holder with no chance of getting it out.  Plastic tees are less likely to break like that.  The tee that comes with the mat is removable and you can replace it with your own rubber tees or even something like the DuraTee.

High Quality Mat, excellent value

Overall this is an excellent mat system for the price.  It has a soft feeling surface that won’t injure you the way most commercial range mats do.  It is portable, so you can take it anywhere and work on your game.  You could even take it to your local range to hit off a better surface if you don’t like the mats they have.  While it doesn’t have quite the feel of the mats that allow you to hit down and through, it is surprisingly close.  Even when I went after it with a steep swing, the mat felt softer and had more give than your traditional range mat.

BirdieTurf product description at the BirdieBall website.

Finally! A simple training club that intuitively promotes the essentials of Tour quality club head to ball impact!

One percent of golfers strike golf balls correctly. The Tour Striker and Tour Striker Pro training clubs will intuitively help you understand leverage and how to apply the club head to the golf ball in the same manner as the best players in the world. You will gain command of the elusive skills required to compress a golf ball. Best of all, this is not a temporary solution!

Allow the creative golfer inside you to enjoy the game once and for all. You can learn how to have world-class impact conditions and strike golf balls purely, accurately and with great control.

Tour Striker Models

The Tour Striker Pro is the pro version of the Tour Striker, a training aid designed to teach a player to hit the ball with a forward shaft lean and the hands ahead.

Pro Vs Regular Tour Striker

Here’s the tour striker compared to a regular iron.

Tour Striker vs an iron

Side view of the tour strikers:

Tour Striker Side View

Photo source: www.tourstriker.com

The only way to get the ball up in the air hitting this club is to have a forward leaning shaft at impact.  If the shaft is straight up and down or leaning away from the target at impact, the ball will fly very low or simply roll on the ground.

Using it on the Right Surface

It is very important that when practicing with the tour striker you are on either very firm closely mown turf or a hard mat.  In fact the best test for your ball striking abilities with the tour striker come when using a lie board.

If you attempt to use the tour striker on fluffy grass or a very soft mat like the Country Club Elite (CCE) mats that allow you to hit down and through the ball you will negate the benefits of the tour striker as the soft grass or mat will allow you dig in to ground and hit a decent shot without the forward lean of the shaft.

I can use Range Mats again (but only for this)

One of the interesting results for me of using the Tour Striker Pro is that using this club actually gives me an incentive to use the hard mats at the range near me.  If you read this blog you know that I am not a fan of range mats.

For normal iron practice I intend to continue to use my CCE mat as that simulates a lush fairway and gives me great feedback on the quality of the strike, but for working on the shaft lean and hands forward at impact I can use the range mats, but only with the Tour Striker.

Once you are on the correct surface the Tour Striker shows its true value.  I consider myself a pretty good ball striker.  Over the past few months as it has gotten colder in the northeast I have not only kept my distances the same in the colder temperatures but have actually increased them as my technique has improved.

Still, the tour striker showed me that I had some work to do with the shaft lean as I hit a number of low worm burners with it.  However, the majority of shots I hit with it were fairly acceptable with a few exceptional ones.

During my practice sessions I alternated using the Tour Striker Pro and my irons and the feedback was great.  My iron playhas improved over the past few months, and I think continued and regular use of the Tour Striker will take it to new levels.

The quality is product is excellent.  It appears to be manufactured to pretty high standards.

I consider the Tour Striker Pro to be a valuable addition to my practice toolset.

Which Tour Striker to Get

“The Regular Tour Striker is targeted for mid-to-high handicap golfers and slower swing speeds (under 90 mph with driver), while the Tour Striker Pro is geared for dedicated practicers with higher swing speeds. We also offer a Tour Striker for women and younger players who wish to improve their game.”

I agree with this description.  If you are mid to high handicapper you will struggle with the Tour Striker Pro.  For the lower handicap players the Pro model adds the right amount of challenge.  The leading edge of the club does look pretty high.  It is a pretty cool and rewarding sensation to see this high leading edge hit a nice high soft shot that carries forever.

On the range I introduced a friend of mine to the Tour Striker and watched him hit a few balls.  It very quickly forced him to make a few adjustments but then he started hitting some great shots.  When he went back to hitting his own irons I could see that the adjustments had carried over and he hit the ball on a better trajectory with a slightly more penetrating ball flight.

If you have a flippy swing where you try and scoop the ball to get it in the air, the Tour Striker will definitely help you to change that.  Be prepared for a bit of frustration as you make the adjustment but the end result will be worth it.

Take a look at the slow motion shot below.  You will see a very nice iron strike.  The shaft is leaning a bit forward, the clubhead hits the ball first, then the ground.  A phrase I was told to remember this was “Hit the little ball (the golf ball), before the big ball (the earth)”.

Website: www.tourstriker.com