Speed Stik
 

I don't buy that many training aides, but I decided to pick up the Speed Stik this week and see how it works for me.

My plan is to follow the drills over the next few weeks and see what results I get.

The entire idea is to increase speed while staying in balance. My first impression of the Stik is pretty good. Not only does it measure speed, but it has a built in whistle-type sound that sort of chirps at you at your release point. It seems to be good feedback and I've been able to use the sensation to increase my speed after swinging it for 2 days.

This is clearly a tool for swinging. It's all about using CF to increase speed.

The instructional DVD says you can gain 2-3 yds in distance for every mile per hour increase. So a 10mph increase will add 20-30yds. Obviously one needs to make solid contact as the speed goes up or distance will not improve.

I need to now take this on the range/course and see how it translates. I'll report back each week with an update.

Call me a lab rat.

Starting Speed: 102 mph

-Trig

first 5 days
 

I've been using the Speed Stik now for about 5 days. I have gotten it up to about 115mph without losing my balance. This has translated to longer drives, without a doubt.

I can't tell yet how much extra distance I'm getting, not enough data points. But I do know that on several holes at my course I've hit the ball farther than ever before off the tee. I think it's been 15-20yds farther on those holes.

My son, who is 15 years old, can swing this thing at 125mph. It's unreal. That is the same speed VJ says he swings it in the instructional video. My son is just getting back into golf after a couple of years off. I think my days of beating this kid are truly numbered! :D

Just a comment:

You might want to measure driver speed as well. Would make it more interesting. I recall seeing Yodasluke swinging (or rather hitting) a dowel by a swing speed radar. He got it to 144 mph or something like that. 10's of mph's faster than the driver.

Also there are two SpeedStiks. As I recall you should use the red one if your body mass is over 160 pounds.

Again: Just a comment.

A dowel weights MUCH MUCH MUCH less than the speed stik.

The speed stik is one of my approved training aids. Granted i'm a nobody in th golfing world but i do help a lot of golfers with the knowledge i've gained through the forums and mostly what i've learned from Brian.

It's a short lits but the Speed Stik is on it. When used properly (key here) it will really help a swinger's motion and really get you to use your whole body in the swing. The added benefit is more speed and more distance.

It works

Right-o
 

I'm not sure what the Speed Stik weighs, it might even be more than a driver. It's longer for sure. No comparison to a dowel.

The red weighs more than the blue. At 185lbs, I'm using the red one.

* I have no financial interest in this product, nor do I know anyone that does.

It is 47" long and does weigh a bit more than a normal driver. I don't remember how much.

I have tried the SpeedStik & know it is WAY heavier than a dowel. What I am saying is only that it might not compare to a driver swing in terms of exact velocity.

I actually tried both the red and the blue one. As I recall the difference in speed was about 10 mph. I later tried hitting a normal driver with a swing speed radar & noticed that it measured a lower swingspeed than the lighter Speed Stik did but more or less the same as the heavier one. But that was me.

Again. All I am saying is that you might want to make sure to get the version of the Speed Stick that you want to have and that you might find it interesting to measure your actual driver speed as well.

Very true...

For those interested:

Blue version: most people will swing it faster than your current driver...unless you are notoriously weak. A bad buy...good for a junior though.

Red Version: this version is very close in actual swing speed and is the one 99% of people should be using

Black Version: more of a "work out" version. Will read actually SLOWER than your real speed. However it is more of a workout stik.

Update
 

I think I might have reached my effective maximum speed. The stik is a great warm up tool and I especially like using it both right and left handed to give the muscles a balanced workout.

While I've been able to crank it up to 115mph, I think 107-110mph is about as hard as I would ever want to swing a club at a ball. For me, I just get off balanced going after it any harder.

Re: Update
 

I too got the SPeedStick (red for fatboy me) and it has helped me a lot.

I have taken three years off golf (had to take care of or new kids...wife has now given the green light again) My swing speed on machine and Speed stick was consistent 80-85. After a few weeks with the Stick I am consitently at 110.

In that regard I disagree with you Trig. When I was at lowly 85 I never would have thought I could swing 110 without losing control. What I have found is that "harder" is not the way I have increased speed. Rather, things like: less tension, pivot and swing from the core have really helped. "Swing Harder" actually slowed my speed....which was very frustrating. I have seen improvement in my drives and iron play. Drives were first anywhere from 190 to 215 and now I get 235 to 255.

As other point out you could probably swing a broom or other contraption and improve swing speed. The main draw of the Speed Stick for me was that is has the speed indicator so I can actually gauge my improvement and also the Speed Stick looks a heck of a lot better in the bag than a broom. :lol:

Woof!
Abudoggie

Haven't heard of the Black Version, where can I find info on it?

I just bought the Red version (i.e. the fat person version :D ) today. I hope it can increase my swingspeed over the winter with constant use.
Will update everyone on how I get on.
Alex

Trig any more updates?
I have been using mine for a couple of weeks now, I have not noticed any speed increases (I guess seeing that I am a swinger, I need to learn to let go and trust CF more)
But like you I have found it to be a good tool for warming up and using it to make some noise :D
Still need to work on the left handed swings though...85 mph compared to 110mph right handed.
Alex

Latest
 

I must confess I have not been using it as regularly as when I first got it. I've spent the past few months hitting, and I don't really think it helps much except as a warm up tool.

Lately I'm working on swinging again and I've been using it to warm up. I am 15mph faster than when I first started and can go a similar speed left and right handed. I'll have to see if that changes over the winter.

Yea, I have only started to use it again too. How did you get your left handed swing up to speed so to speak? Just more repetitions?
I just feel really awkward swinging it the other way :D
Alex

just practiced it
 

I can get it within 5 mph of my right side. Just worked at it. I was a switch hitter back in my baseball days, so that might be helpful.

Speed Stik in Texas
 

I have had the Speed Stik for about 4 months. Started out at a swinging 105 and after about three weeks could swing at 120 with no balance problems. I find it extremely difficult to swing the other direction so my swing difference is about 10 mph on the gauge. I like it, especially if you swing rather than hit.

I have been working on hitting (never hit in my whole life) and have not used it very much.

The fun thing for me is checking my buddies before a round. I play with a couple of gorilla's (military over 40 power lifting champ and his younger weight lifting partner). I now recognize they both hit while I swing. I generally can hold my own but noticed they really struggle within 100 yards of the green (no touch or short game). Don't get me started on either's ability to get out of sand. Anyway, both of these guys swing my red speed stik at over 140 on the gauge. Both drive well over 300 yards with normal drivers (one even used an old wood head driver from my garage to launch a 340 drive). Problem is they can't hit is straight to save their lives.......Slice, hook, shank, good for me, bad for them. Stupid hands I say.

I like the Speed stik and recommend it.

Kev

Speed Stik is on my list of approved training aids along with plane lasers and a tac-tic. I like it for many different reasons.

I live in the cold midwest and I have not hit any drives in normal weather since I started with the Speed Stik. I'll find out in February when we take our annual golf trip to Orlando.

Like I said previously I have been using it on and off lately but think will use it more often as part of my warm up routine before playing or hitting balls. My Swingspeed is 110 mph, but I have got the Speedstik up to 115 mph, but at the moment, its a fairly hard swing were my balance suffers but its getting better. So hopefully over the winter, I can get it to 120 mph.
Alex

is this device accurate just like a driver? how does it differ compared to swinging a club at fullspeed?

Its not the world's most accurate gauge of swingspeed (for that you need other technical gizmos :D) but it does give an idea of your swingspeed. Remember the stick is heavier than a normal driver and its longer too.
Alex

it's close
 

I have a radar device that measure clubhead speed. The Speed Stik is really close. Drive distances seem to correlate pretty accurately with the measurements you get from the Stik.