One of the more unique training aids to come along in recent years that promotes a downward “pro-style” stroke on the golf ball--and has caught on with teachers and players alike--is the Tour Striker practice club.

Developed by teaching professional Martin Chuck, PGA, director of golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, the Tour Striker was launched on a regional basis over a year and a half ago, but since its national launch in May has enjoyed overwhelming sales success, with thousands of training clubs already sold.

“I found myself teaching so many golfers who were trying to scoop the ball at the bottom of the swing,” said Chuck. “That was how they tried to get the ball in the air. I wanted to create a club that would teach them to hit down on the ball with forward shaft lean. I’ve accomplished that with Tour Striker.”

The original Tour Striker 8 iron, Tour Striker Pro 7 iron and Tour Striker 56-degree wedge training clubs feature distinctive designs that have little clubface below the "sweet spot" unlike a traditional club. The clubs have been designed so golfers intuitively teach themselves how to deliver the "sweet spot" of the club to the ball like an expert ball striker.

In developing the club, Chuck took off the bottom three grooves of the iron so that players were forced to hit down on the ball during their practice sessions and developed the “Tour-like” stroke that professionals have developed to ascend to the highest levels of the game.

“Tour Striker is a club that teaches golfers the tour players’ secret to ball striking,” said Gary McCord, a veteran star of the PGA Tour and long-time television golf commentator. “Why are professional golfers as good as they are? Well, because regardless of their swing style or shape, their impact positions—a downward strike with the shaft leaning forward—is the same. And that’s what will happen to golfers of all skill levels when they start practicing with the Tour Striker.”

For the high handicapper the benefits of the Tour Striker are obvious, but for better players, it has also been found to be an excellent tool to improve timing and rhythm.

“This is a great practice aid to help better players in their sequencing,” added Chuck.  “For just about everyone it creates a visual change in the swing and you start to think differently and the body reacts accordingly.  Once the intent is modified, change comes quickly and the body starts to adapt to hitting it the right way.”

Players that practice with the Tour Striker will quickly see a change in their swing and ball striking--learning to apply forward shaft lean which will increase lag, add club head speed and improve impact position naturally.

“Most amateurs have a hard time coming over the top, and they cast the club a little early,” said PGA Tour Winner Kevin Streelman.  “This action results in them losing both their lag position and their impact position, and ultimately any power they’ve created. The Tour Striker ensures that golfers maintain the optimum position, so it’s really a great practice tool to constantly work on your game.”

The Original Tour Striker is targeted for mid-to-high handicap golfers and those with slower swing speeds (under 90 mph with driver), while the Tour Striker Pro is geared for dedicated players with higher swing speeds and a handicap of 10 or less. Also available is a Tour Striker for women and younger players who wish to improve their game. The ladies/junior model is slightly shorter than the regular Tour Striker (35 inches vs. 36 inches) and has a graphite shaft appropriate for women and juniors.

The Tour Striker training clubs are cast of 433 stainless steel. The vibration dampening logo affixed within the back cavity helps reduce shock on miss-hit shots while developing ball striking skills.

For more information on the Tour Striker, visit: www.tourstriker.com