Tour Striker

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='Bombn ' timestamp='1284064406' post='2687798']
Hey Martin,

Just bought a Tour X after reading this thread for a couple weeks, and most importantly seeing how well you interact with and support your customers
[/quote]


Thanks! Hopefully the relationship is win-win. If it's not that way, I don't do it.

[quote name='viperstudio' timestamp='1284076497' post='2688179']
Martin, I bought the tour striker pro 7 iron and the 5 iron in Stiff. I want to know what kind of shaft is installed on the 7 iron and 5 iron. Anyone know? Thanks
[/quote]


[url="http://www.fstshafts.com/product_90-125.php"]http://www.fstshafts.com/product_90-125.php[/url]

I pm'd you as well. The TS stiff is 120 gram. Right in the middle of their stock stuff. My club guy, Mark Myrhum (who just got hired as Sr. Designer for Titleist, btw) wanted to use a softer feeling stiff shaft.

[quote name='scifisicko' timestamp='1284098257' post='2688819']
I check my impact most practice sessions by hitting a few mid irons from the sand. If its not right i hit a few more, if its good i hit a few more but push them into the sand a tiny bit. Probably not as fun as using the TS but might be a cheaper/simpler alternative for some of you, also makes you pretty handy from the f/w bunkers.
[/quote]

I love practicing out of fairway bunkers. It is the best practice you can do. Tamping the balls into the sand? Eeeek.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDFG5uf76BE[/media]

[Cmartingolf]

A consumer "watch dog," Jesse James, took the Tour Striker Pro to the range where Ryan Benzel, one of the top players in the PNW teaches....

Here's his comments and video review...[url="http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Let-Jesse-Buy-It-Tour-Striker-102674469.html"]http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Let-Jesse-Buy-It-Tour-Striker-102674469.html[/url]

[Chief71]

Martin-

I'm very interested in ordering one of these...I have flipping tendencies at times, so I think this might really help me. The PBS helps me a bunch.

I've been playing Ping zz-65 stiff shafts, but I find that the Dynamic Gold R300 reg. steel shaft seems to work better for me. My index is about 12. Do you think I would be better off with the Pro or the reg. Tour Striker?

Also, is there a GolfWRX discount? Thanks!!

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='Chief71' timestamp='1284340954' post='2693209']
Martin-

I'm very interested in ordering one of these...I have flipping tendencies at times, so I think this might really help me. The PBS helps me a bunch.

I've been playing Ping zz-65 stiff shafts, but I find that the Dynamic Gold R300 reg. steel shaft seems to work better for me. My index is about 12. Do you think I would be better off with the Pro or the reg. Tour Striker?

Also, is there a GolfWRX discount? Thanks!!
[/quote]

You are a TS 7 Pro candidate for sure. I'm sorry. The only discounts are if you buy two, you get free shipping and if you get three, you get 30% off the third and free shipping. If you get two, I'd go wedge and TSP7.

Thanks for your interest.

Martin

[Chief71]

[quote name='Cmartingolf' timestamp='1284350808' post='2693499']
[quote name='Chief71' timestamp='1284340954' post='2693209']
Martin-

I'm very interested in ordering one of these...I have flipping tendencies at times, so I think this might really help me. The PBS helps me a bunch.

I've been playing Ping zz-65 stiff shafts, but I find that the Dynamic Gold R300 reg. steel shaft seems to work better for me. My index is about 12. Do you think I would be better off with the Pro or the reg. Tour Striker?

Also, is there a GolfWRX discount? Thanks!!
[/quote]

You are a TS 7 Pro candidate for sure. I'm sorry. The only discounts are if you buy two, you get free shipping and if you get three, you get 30% off the third and free shipping. If you get two, I'd go wedge and TSP7.

Thanks for your interest.

Martin
[/quote]


Martin-

Thanks for the quick reply and info on the discount.

So, do you think that I need to get the stiff steel shaft or the reg. steel shaft?

My driver SS is just at about 90 mph so I'm kind of a tweener. I make better contact when I swing easy. Thanks again, Greg

[BuckyBadger]

I started using the TS pro 7 iron three days ago. I am not a good iron player. I flip and come over the top so the TS pro is very frustrating. I tend to hit everything fat on the course but miss thin and fat with the TS pro. I watched the DVD a few times but I am having a heck of a time pivoting and hitting the ground towards my left heel. My ability to hit a driver now has been completely ruined also. I am hitting smothering duck hooks or low lining slices.

I do hit the occasional great shot with the TS pro and hit some pretty good irons on par threes today, but is there a swing key to get me to pivot more?

This is a super product though. I do see what a poor ball striker I was and how I should be hitting the ball. Just takes more time for us old flippers.

[Tupperwolf]

Just received my TS Pro 7 iron today. I was a little apprehensive about embarrassing myself at the driving range (I am an 8 hcp), but my first swing produced a shot that was high, long and with a baby draw - same as my regular ballflight I started by hitting 20-30 balls off a mat and moved to some rather scruffy grass after a while, where I mishit two or three balls out of a dozen - probably just mental, overthinking things due to the funny lies I was getting in the grass. The TS doesn't cut a divot out of the ground like a regular iron, so the club-turf interaction feels a little different, but I was glad to confirm I'm striking the ball properly. I'm looking forward to practicing with it more. The reduced size face seems to focus my attention when trying to work the ball left or right - I was glad to find I could hit draws or cuts with the TS!

[alex khoo]

Recieved my tour striker X last week. Excellent training aid i must say! Just by analysing your ball flight you are able to see problems with your swing. The DVD that came with the training aid is a must watch too! Taught me the proper way to grip the club and address the ball which is crucial!

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='alex khoo' timestamp='1284598747' post='2699094']
Recieved my tour striker X last week. Excellent training aid i must say! Just by analysing your ball flight you are able to see problems with your swing. The DVD that came with the training aid is a must watch too! Taught me the proper way to grip the club and address the ball which is crucial!
[/quote]

Just got my Pro X today and hit about a large bucket with it. No DVD though, not that I need it.

First impressions:

Looks impossible to hit! But I hit about 60-70% of them pretty well.
Quality built and impact feels very solid even when hitting it a little low (line drives). Distance on a well struck ball seemed about the same or slightly longer than my own 7 iron. Very quickly teaches you to lean the shaft, that's for sure but you [i]can[/i] do that the wrong way (you can cheat a little). Since the sole is so rounded, it's very forgiving for a slightly fat shot (from turf) and you can get your hands forward by driving them there (the opposite of what you want to do), the way you might do it when trying to make an "armsy" punch shot. The right way is to lag it into impact with pivot thrust and delaying the release of the hands (maintaining the dorsi-flexion of the right wrist). This is probably where the DVD would be helpful.

I think this is a fantastic training aid so far. There's only one thing that I didn't like about the ProX model that I got and in hindsight I should have ordered the regular Pro model. The flat spot area of the face seems a little toe biased and I play Callaway X-tours where the sweetspot is a little heel biased. Consequently, I hit a lot of pull hooky shots because I was catching the ball a little towards the heel where it would partially contact the rounded part of the face. Felt very odd to me lining the ball up to the flat spot at address. So there was a bit of an adjustment when going back to hitting my own clubs.

All in all, no doubt the best training aid I've ever used! Wish I'd had one 25 years ago! It will stay in my bag and I'll be using it every range session.

Great product and I got it faster than I thought I would considering it was a special order (2 deg. flat).

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='Chief71' timestamp='1284381713' post='2693748']
[quote name='Cmartingolf' timestamp='1284350808' post='2693499']
[quote name='Chief71' timestamp='1284340954' post='2693209']
Martin-

I'm very interested in ordering one of these...I have flipping tendencies at times, so I think this might really help me. The PBS helps me a bunch.

I've been playing Ping zz-65 stiff shafts, but I find that the Dynamic Gold R300 reg. steel shaft seems to work better for me. My index is about 12. Do you think I would be better off with the Pro or the reg. Tour Striker?

Also, is there a GolfWRX discount? Thanks!!
[/quote]

You are a TS 7 Pro candidate for sure. I'm sorry. The only discounts are if you buy two, you get free shipping and if you get three, you get 30% off the third and free shipping. If you get two, I'd go wedge and TSP7.

Thanks for your interest.

Martin
[/quote]


Martin-

Thanks for the quick reply and info on the discount.

So, do you think that I need to get the stiff steel shaft or the reg. steel shaft?

My driver SS is just at about 90 mph so I'm kind of a tweener. I make better contact when I swing easy. Thanks again, Greg
[/quote]


Hi Greg, sorry for the delay! I've been really busy at my day job:)

If you are a tweener, go with the stiff. It's not a "rigid" feeling stiff shaft anyway. Besides, you are only training a feel with it and after some work, your irons will only feel that much more buttery. Thanks for the question and interest.


[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1284433096' post='2695314']
I started using the TS pro 7 iron three days ago. I am not a good iron player. I flip and come over the top so the TS pro is very frustrating. I tend to hit everything fat on the course but miss thin and fat with the TS pro. I watched the DVD a few times but I am having a heck of a time pivoting and hitting the ground towards my left heel. My ability to hit a driver now has been completely ruined also. I am hitting smothering duck hooks or low lining slices.

I do hit the occasional great shot with the TS pro and hit some pretty good irons on par threes today, but is there a swing key to get me to pivot more?

This is a super product though. I do see what a poor ball striker I was and how I should be hitting the ball. Just takes more time for us old flippers.
[/quote]

Bucky, it's a matter of getting in some reps for you. Clearly, you don't have the best "face" control right now. Feel like you can get "turn down" the back of your left wrist to get that leading edge closer to the ground. I would focus on 80 yard bullets and put a lot of attention on wrist and hand "feels." Training the hands and understanding the feels needed in the hands is so important and knowbody wants to talk about it. Everyone doesn't want to be "handsy," but the bottom line is that good players have way better feel and command of their hands, so the are NOT handsy. The feel in their hands gets their pivots working better than most golfers.

I posted a "Golf Channel Instructor Search" bit on the TGC Website - [url="http://www.thegolfchannel.com/instructor-search/?userId=&firstName=&lastName=&emailAddress="]http://www.thegolfchannel.com/instructor-search/?userId=&firstName=&lastName=&emailAddress=[/url] If you want to watch it, you'll have to scan down and find "Chuck, Martin." Yes, I have two first names:) Basically, I'm talking about the hands and how the pivot gets the hands to impact.


[quote name='QWKDTSN' timestamp='1284435530' post='2695406']
Just received my TS Pro 7 iron today. I was a little apprehensive about embarrassing myself at the driving range (I am an 8 hcp), but my first swing produced a shot that was high, long and with a baby draw - same as my regular ballflight I started by hitting 20-30 balls off a mat and moved to some rather scruffy grass after a while, where I mishit two or three balls out of a dozen - probably just mental, overthinking things due to the funny lies I was getting in the grass. The TS doesn't cut a divot out of the ground like a regular iron, so the club-turf interaction feels a little different, but I was glad to confirm I'm striking the ball properly. I'm looking forward to practicing with it more. The reduced size face seems to focus my attention when trying to work the ball left or right - I was glad to find I could hit draws or cuts with the TS!
[/quote]

For a guy like you, the TS is a great rhythm tool. You already have the alignments, so that's great, but it will help you sequence your release. That's how I use the tool. I still hit the odd knuckle ball if I'm too late (pro-side thin shot).



[quote name='alex khoo' timestamp='1284598747' post='2699094']
Recieved my tour striker X last week. Excellent training aid i must say! Just by analysing your ball flight you are able to see problems with your swing. The DVD that came with the training aid is a must watch too! Taught me the proper way to grip the club and address the ball which is crucial!


[/quote]

Glad you like it Alex!!!


[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1284601972' post='2699194']
[quote name='alex khoo' timestamp='1284598747' post='2699094']
Recieved my tour striker X last week. Excellent training aid i must say! Just by analysing your ball flight you are able to see problems with your swing. The DVD that came with the training aid is a must watch too! Taught me the proper way to grip the club and address the ball which is crucial!
[/quote]

Just got my Pro X today and hit about a large bucket with it. No DVD though, not that I need it.

First impressions:

Looks impossible to hit! But I hit about 60-70% of them pretty well.
Quality built and impact feels very solid even when hitting it a little low (line drives). Distance on a well struck ball seemed about the same or slightly longer than my own 7 iron. Very quickly teaches you to lean the shaft, that's for sure but you [i]can[/i] do that the wrong way (you can cheat a little). Since the sole is so rounded, it's very forgiving for a slightly fat shot (from turf) and you can get your hands forward by driving them there (the opposite of what you want to do), the way you might do it when trying to make an "armsy" punch shot. The right way is to lag it into impact with pivot thrust and delaying the release of the hands (maintaining the dorsi-flexion of the right wrist). This is probably where the DVD would be helpful.

I think this is a fantastic training aid so far. There's only one thing that I didn't like about the ProX model that I got and in hindsight I should have ordered the regular Pro model. The flat spot area of the face seems a little toe biased and I play Callaway X-tours where the sweetspot is a little heel biased. Consequently, I hit a lot of pull hooky shots because I was catching the ball a little towards the heel where it would partially contact the rounded part of the face. Felt very odd to me lining the ball up to the flat spot at address. So there was a bit of an adjustment when going back to hitting my own clubs.

All in all, no doubt the best training aid I've ever used! Wish I'd had one 25 years ago! It will stay in my bag and I'll be using it every range session.

Great product and I got it faster than I thought I would considering it was a special order (2 deg. flat).
[/quote]

Thanks for the nice note. Hogan, PM me and I'll have the shipping company send you a DVD. That pisses me off. Simple drill really: 1. Put club in box. 2. Put DVD in box. 3. Ship box. Sorry we/they botched #2!!! Not that you need it, but you might glean some insight? It is available for viewing on the Tourstriker.com website.

Take care all you guys and thanks for the support.

-Martin

[asianplow]

Just ordered my TS Pro X! Can't wait!

[Raston56]

I used the TSP for the first time today. While it wasn't pretty, I really think it is going to help me a lot. I picked it up here on the BSF without the DVD. Is the DVD the same TS video on youtube? If not, is it crucial for getting the most out of the club?

[Sushiyoshi]

It's on the website.

http://www.tourstriker.com/videos.aspx

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='Sushiyoshi' timestamp='1284764108' post='2702303']
It's on the website.

http://www.tourstriker.com/videos.aspx
[/quote]

Thanks for the link. Very good video, Martin. My bad on the DVD. I double checked the shipping box and it was wedged in the bottom of it!

Had my second session with the Pro X today. Really getting better at holding the lag pressure! Compressing the ball great.

[Phireside]

Is the tour striker pro available at other online e-tailers? I need some grips and wouldn't mind doing just one order.

[BuckyBadger]

[quote name='TheShaun' timestamp='1284778494' post='2702642']
Is the tour striker pro available at other online e-tailers? I need some grips and wouldn't mind doing just one order.
[/quote]

I got mine at TGW.com

[Phireside]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1284778894' post='2702651']
[quote name='TheShaun' timestamp='1284778494' post='2702642']
Is the tour striker pro available at other online e-tailers? I need some grips and wouldn't mind doing just one order.
[/quote]

I got mine at TGW.com
[/quote]

Is the TS Pro at TGW the one with stiff flex shaft?

[BuckyBadger]

[quote name='TheShaun' timestamp='1284783017' post='2702729']
[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1284778894' post='2702651']
[quote name='TheShaun' timestamp='1284778494' post='2702642']
Is the tour striker pro available at other online e-tailers? I need some grips and wouldn't mind doing just one order.
[/quote]

I got mine at TGW.com
[/quote]

Is the TS Pro at TGW the one with stiff flex shaft?
[/quote]


Yes it is.

[Finn07]

Just got the TS Pro 7 iron yesterday for my birthday. Will post my thoughts on it in a week or so when I can get out to the range and hit a few buckets with it. Looking forward to it. The DVD that came is a must watch, I watched it yesterday and learned quite a bit from it.

[asianplow]

[quote name='asianplow' timestamp='1284734796' post='2701531']
Just ordered my TS Pro X! Can't wait!
[/quote]

Ordered Friday morning, came in on Sat! Wow, the next day! Going to try it out today.

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='Finn07' timestamp='1284807066' post='2702870']
Just got the TS Pro 7 iron yesterday for my birthday. Will post my thoughts on it in a week or so when I can get out to the range and hit a few buckets with it. Looking forward to it. The DVD that came is a must watch, I watched it yesterday and learned quite a bit from it.

[/quote]




Glad you like the video and I hope the club helps you when you get a chance to hit some balls with it! I do have a "Continuing Education" DVD series as well. The first DVD is about driving the ball. The second, coming soon, is about wedge play.

I'm curious if any of you in GolfWrx land got it and whether or not you like it?

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='asianplow' timestamp='1284906576' post='2704161']
[quote name='asianplow' timestamp='1284734796' post='2701531']
Just ordered my TS Pro X! Can't wait!
[/quote]

Ordered Friday morning, came in on Sat! Wow, the next day! Going to try it out today.
[/quote]

The shipping center for standard clubs is now in Colorado. The custom clubs (lie, loft, length) all still come out of Central California. Thanks for purchasing and I hope you like it! - Martin

[Phireside]

Just pulled the trigger on a TSP from TGW since I needed some other items. Can't wait to get it to the range.

[mfm22]

I'm looking into buying the tour striker but a bit confused which model.
My swing speed on 6 iron is 80-85 mph [82 is good avg] a well struck 7 iron is around 150 yds
Handicap is 16

Any packages available ?
Thanks

[potterphd]

Hi Martin. First let me say congratulations on the apparent success of this training aid. I was able to meet you at Manzella's GTE in Scottsdale in March, and can honestly say it could not happen to a nicer guy. I received mine (TSP) in very quick order as most here have experienced and was able to take it to the range for the first time at lunch today. Once I warmed up a bit, I was able to get it in the air pretty well, but, as has been the problem with my irons lately, I was hitting some pretty big left to left hooks. Also, they were usually a bit fat. I saw a couple other folks in the thread seemed to have similar issues, so I thought I'd throw the question up here and see what your thoughts were. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Front:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq86YUinZR0[/media]

DTL:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2-wwPrl9I[/media]

[carrera]

PotterPHD - in my experience the TS is best off tight lies or something like an impact board. Easier to "cheat" off a grassy lie like it appears you have in the two videos. Also, my amateur opinion is that you are (subconsciously) trying to get the hands ahead of the ball by moving your entire upper body to the left on the downswing. Put your cursor next to your left ear and see how much your head moves left. And where the head goes the rest of the body comes along. There is no axis tilt in your swing. But I will defer to the experts.

[Cmartingolf]

[quote name='potterphd' timestamp='1285022319' post='2706064']
Hi Martin. First let me say congratulations on the apparent success of this training aid. I was able to meet you at Manzella's GTE in Scottsdale in March, and can honestly say it could not happen to a nicer guy. I received mine (TSP) in very quick order as most here have experienced and was able to take it to the range for the first time at lunch today. Once I warmed up a bit, I was able to get it in the air pretty well, but, as has been the problem with my irons lately, I was hitting some pretty big left to left hooks. Also, they were usually a bit fat. I saw a couple other folks in the thread seemed to have similar issues, so I thought I'd throw the question up here and see what your thoughts were. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Front:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq86YUinZR0[/media]

DTL:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2-wwPrl9I[/media]
[/quote]

Hi Scott,

You do a lot of things well, but we need to fix your hands. The hinge is "rusty." I'd like to see you hit some balls with your right index finger and thumb completely off the club. Take your regular grip and simply move your right thumb off the grip and point your index finger to the ground, hit balls, repeat. You'll feel out of control, but you need some of that. Let the club's resistance to your pivot keep itself pinned against your right hand base knuckle and hit some pitches then get up to full shots.

You are the 0.01 percent of golfer who I would actually like to see add a little left wrist "cup" at the top. It looks like you take "twist away" a little too far. We need to soften things up a little.

I'd like you to also work on the "buggy whip." Exaggerated lagging clubhead pitch shot.

Finally, please release your head with your pivot. You are a stocky dude. You aren't gumby. Follow the ball with your eyes. You don' t need to stare at it to strike it well.

Thanks for the support!! Let me know if those feels help add some dynamics to your action.

[potterphd]

Hey Martin, thanks so much for the detailed reply. Two things I have really worked hard on are twistaway and monitoring PP#3. As you can see, I have a tendency to take the whole bottle. I really appreciate your suggestions and look forward to working on them.

One thing I am a little unclear about it what you mean by this bit, "Finally, please release your head with your pivot. You are a stocky dude. You aren't gumby. Follow the ball with your eyes. You don' t need to stare at it to strike it well." Would you mind clarifying for me? Are you talking about letting my head move right in the backswing instead of trying to keep my eyes fixed on it? Will that help the big lateral move to the left in the downswing?

[Cmartingolf]

I just want you to forget about keeping your "head down." Chunks, skulls, blades, tops are not because your head moves, in many cases, it's because your head doesn't move and the hands have to react. For you, simply let your head "flow" a little better on the through swing. It looks like your right shoulder is delivering a knockout punch. Let you head and chest work more together.

Another thing about your swing... you have more turn than you have hinge. Feel the other way. Have more hinge than turn. Soften up that hinge. Monitor where the tightness is coming from. Have PP3 awareness is great, but the club is resisting and you are aiming and FEELING with the right index - No pushing with the right index.

Cheers,

MC

[tourbound]

Is this a good training aide for highly skilled players??? Has anyone seen the swing aide with the orange ball on the end of it??