Smart Stick

[Taggsy]

I've just bought a Smart Stick. I don't live close to a range, and even then it's just mats, so the only practice I get is on the course or by slowly swinging a wedge in my front room.

I'd been saving up for a new set of irons (the Mizuno national fitting centre isn't far away, so I was going to give them a visit and get fitted properly).
Only when it came to getting the clubs, I didn't feel I could justify it. I feel as though I have another year of major tinkering with my swing before I'm happy to say "that's my swing". So it seemed a bit pointless getting fitted for a shaft and all the rest of it, knowing that my swing would probably be completely different in 6 months time.

So rather than spending the cash on clubs, I thought I'd splash out to improve my swing. After looking around, the only thing I felt would really help was the Smart Stick. It's a plastic tube with lasers pointing out either end and a bar sticking out near where you grip the tube. The bar ensures you maintain a flat left wrist and shows you when you're throwing away the lag, and the lasers show your plane line during the whole swing.

It arrived yesterday, and to be honest I was pretty disappointed initially. Considering its price, the plastic tubing and bar look cheap. The screw top caps that hold the lasers in place aren't a great fit (they seem too tight) and are a thin cheap plastic.
But then I didn't buy it for its looks, so I fired it up and got swinging.

Having played with it I'm very impressed. On my first swing it showed me that;
my backswing was very flat, I hardly had any wrist cock at all, the downswing was too steep... but the impact line was alright.

So from that instant feedback I can see I have an over-the-top inducing loop in my swing, and that I'm not loading valuable lag that can be converted to clubhead speed.
The best part is I can change my swing to make it more on plane without needing a mirror, video footage, or someone telling me. I simply look down and the green dots on the floor show me exactly what's going on.

I'll practice with it for a while and post my new, hopefully on-plane swing so you can see the results.

http://smartstickgolf.com/

The lasers are great for cats to chase around the floor too lol.

[Stretch]

I want one. Certainly cheaper than the alternative.

http://www.explanar.com/home-system.htm

Would also be fun to rock up at the range armed with a Smart Stick, a Power Tool and a Tour Striker and see what kind of comments you get.

[James_Black]

230 dollars on a training aid?

bit too much for me

[GaryH]

Did it pass the test of time, Taggsy?  Anyone else got one and still use it?  I'm tempted, it looks quite a useful bot of kit, given it encompasses plane, lag, and flat left wrist.