Jim,
I have the speed stik and I have a chance to sell mine to someone for $50... I'm going to do it ... unless you let me in on why I need one....lol.
If you have a reason I haven't thought of now is the time to let me know.

I like the speed stik for a few reasons:

1) awesome stretching tool before the round

2) used properly it will increase your swing speed and thus will increase your balls speed with the end result of you being longer

3) I feel that it teaches you how to really use your body efficiently. It really helps ingrain the feeling of what moves first (the hips) and what follows afterwords for a solid swing.

4) i believe in swinging it the opposite way (for me lefty). I haven't really been using it everyday like i should but i have seen quite an improvement on my average swing speed and my max swing speed. Usually the norm drives for me were in the 265-275 range with a awesome perfect poke about 285. Now my average drives are in the 275-280 range with my "perfect" poke in the 285-295 range.

Everytime i feel that my swing gets "lazy" i swing the speed stik a few times and it lets me know what i'm "not involving" in the swing. Once i get that "feel" again, i use it to produce "mechanics." Hmmm...where've i heard that one before ;) ?

----

However i will caution you that this device, used incorrectly, can produce throwaway. So if you're comfortable in your swing and don't have a big issue with throwaway i think its a great device. If you don't have the greatest swing and have some issues, it may not be good for you because you'll just be "ingraining those bad feels" and thus producing "bad mechanics."

So if i had to rank in order my 4 jim_0068 approved training aids they'd be:

1) tac-tic
2) plane laser
3) inside approach
4) speed stik

#1 and #2 are pretty much no brainers, they're not hard to learn how to use properly and i really don't think you'll "over-do" either one of them. However #3 and #4 need someone with a decent knowledge of the swing so you don't get "too inside" or as brian manzella says "over fix them" with the inside approach and regarding the speed stik, my reasons above.

For what its worth, when i started with the speed stik my average swing speed was in the 105-108 range with my max somewhere around the 112 range, which is very accurate launch monitor wise. After working with it i'd say for a few weeks (sparingly) i've increased my average swing speed to the 108-113 range and i reached a new personal best after 18 holes of golf today of 118-119 (hard to estimate the gauge). This isn't confirmed launch monitor yet, but i have seen the increase of distance on the course where it counts.

Jim

for the tactic devotees:

i've got one, and while i see how it applies to both the left and right wrists, i'm not sure exactly how to practice with it to get the greatest benefit. i expected the video to have some drills but it really didn't.

i've been doing the flying wedges practice while wearing the tictac, but i don't think it really adds much to this particular drill.

any suggestions for favorite ways to work with it?

thanks!

Using the tac-tic learn how to:

chip
pitch
punch

shots WITHOUT LETTING THE LEFT WRIST BEND. Learn to keep flat through impact, follow through, and even the swivel.

Hell, Brian M taught me to keep it flat throughout the ENTIRE STROKE and i can still do it if i want (hard on the shoulder though). This was one of the big keys that helped me learn clubface control.

One of the things that got me "close" to having a flat left wrist, before i even saw brian, was hitting simply punch shots and stopping around shoulder high in the follow through. If my left wrist was bent, it was bent at impact and if it was flat i knew it was flat at impact.

I would say i don't let my left wrist bend until after the swivel

thanks jim i'll try working on those with the tactic.

worked on chipping and pitching yesterday while wearing the tactic. i hit every shot without making a "click."

i'll try punches next time out.

Awesome, just remember to AIM YOUR HANDS IN FRONT OF THE BALL and the hands/forearms ROTATE, they don't "flip."

Just got the Tic Tac. A friend of mine from the US mailed me one. Opened it and saw it was made in my country - India.

Can have a bent left Wrist through impact when used on the LW - wont click. :cry:

Works BEST with the right wrist - no doubt. :D :D :D
Vik GSEB

Tic Tac Elobw
 

Keith

I am curious about the tic tac elbow and how your using it. There is no video on it and I am trying to figure out if it has any value especially in a hitting pattern. Another right elbow device is the Right link first put out by leadbetter and I was wondering if you know how the tic tac compares?

Thanks
Dave

Elbow Tic Tac
 

I have had this for awhile and it is a great device for making sure you have extensor action in your swing. If you do then your left elbow (if you are right handed) will not cause it to "click" until well after both arms straight.

To be honest with you I haven't used it in awhile even though I keep it in my trunk. I really like the tic tac devices cause they are easy to use and they give you instant feedback...it has really helped me with the FLW (out of the 3 imperatives this is the only 1 that I am fairly consistent with).

I haven't tried the right link so I can't really compare it, but I think the tic tac elbow can be used with a hitting pattern to make sure you have extensor action.

Keith