Tour Striker 8 - Not Worth It?

[GlasgowsGreen]

As a pretty consistent flipper, I purchased a Tour Striker 8 (the entry level TS) 6 months ago.

It didn't take too long before I was hitting nice high shots instead of the worm burners I started out with. It felt good knowing that I was finally hitting down on the ball.

However a few weeks ago I got my teaching pro to record me using the TS. To my disappointment, despite hitting the ball high off what was a hard mat, I definitely didn't have a forward leaning shaft. My hands were above the ball at best, and may actually have been a tiny bit behind.

There's no doubt that the TS is a great concept and may be the best training aid out there, but my advice is to get the TS Pro 7. The TS 8 is clearly harder to hit with than a normal club and will point you in the right direction, but if you want the reassurance that your hands were ahead of the ball, get the Pro version.

[GlasgowsGreen]

Martin Chuck (TS Inventor) actually wrote on GolfWRX

"A lot of people like the regular TS, I'm just a fan of the TS Pro because it is harder. I tell people, if they have the patience, get the Pro model".

[colin007]

I have the pro, it's beastly. It's also much easier to hit a TS off a mat than off the grass.

[CanuckAaron]

I have never tried either but when I first saw the idea I thought that it was one of the best swing aids I have ever seen, theoretically speaking.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by GlasgowsGreen

As a pretty consistent flipper, I purchased a Tour Striker 8 (the entry level TS) 6 months ago.

It didn't take too long before I was hitting nice high shots instead of the worm burners I started out with. It felt good knowing that I was finally hitting down on the ball.

However a few weeks ago I got my teaching pro to record me using the TS. To my disappointment, despite hitting the ball high off what was a hard mat, I definitely didn't have a forward leaning shaft. My hands were above the ball at best, and may actually have been a tiny bit behind.

There's no doubt that the TS is a great concept and may be the best training aid out there, but my advice is to get the TS Pro 7. The TS 8 is clearly harder to hit with than a normal club and will point you in the right direction, but if you want the reassurance that your hands were ahead of the ball, get the Pro version.

Good to know. I'm toying with the idea of getting a TS and I would definitely opt for the tougher one.

[dsc123]

Interesting post.  I always see the 8iron and even wedges but i was reluctant to buy them.

[Ernest Jones]

Yeah, the 56* is always on sale for like $50 but I figure I'd be better served to go with a 7 or even 5 iron. I find it a LOT easier to hit down with a wedge, even full swing, than I do with a longer iron.

[gwlee7]

I have the 5 iron and you must make a good swing to hit in the air.

[Harmonious]

Here are what several models look like (from the Tour Striker web site). There is quite a difference between the different models:

Tour Striker 8 iron

Tour Striker Pro 7 iron

Tour Striker Pro-X 7 iron

[newtogolf]

I bought the pro 7 iron but if I had to do it over again I'd go with the non-pro.  I feel like the pro forces me to exaggerate the lag with my swing too much and I end up excessively shifting my hips rather than slight shift and turn.