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This Unique Training Aid Promises a Tour-Level Swing
When I was a kid learning the game, my coach once told me that I had to push for distance. He knew it would be a lifelong benefit for a junior golfer to learn. His key to more distance?
“Width.”
“Width” in the golf swing should allow for more power and improved ball striking. That’s the concept behind the Tour Feel.
I tested this unique training aid and brought it to the range to see what some other players thought. It’s not my favorite swing trainer but it can help some players.
What We Tried: The Tour Feel
The Tour Feel is designed to help golfers create more width in their swing. It is worn around the lead shoulder and wraps around the chest. It then connects to your lead thumb and allows you to swing and hit golf balls with the training aid in place.
Why Use Something Like The Tour Feel?
The biggest reason to invest in the Tour Feel is to gain more power in your swing. As a secondary benefit, you may find better compression and ball striking when you go through this width training process.
Who Tried It?
Britt Olizarowicz, a MyGolfSpy writer, former Class A PGA professional and scratch golfer. I love game improvement, especially any tool that can help amateur players feel what they need in their swing. My husband and my father came to the range with me to test this product.
What Is The Tour Feel?
The Tour Feel is designed to help you maintain the width of your swing. It’s a band that stretches from the lead shoulder and almost forces you to keep your arm extended as you take the club back.
If you make an early, incorrect hinge or lose the extension in the lead arm, you’ll immediately feel it with the Tour Feel on.
You can use the Tour Feel with any club. It works for everything, driver included. The tool’s goal is to allow you to focus on the sensation of extension without having to think about it from a technical point of view.
The Tour Feel works for both left- and right-handed players. When creating this device, Dan Frost set out to emulate the swing radius of elite players. The goal is to help amateurs not just see what it takes to achieve optimal power and control but to actually feel it.
Testing and Results
I don’t love swing training aids that function like contraptions. With the Tour Feel, you’ll have to watch a few videos to learn how to put it on. I know this because I tried to do it without watching a video and let’s just say it didn’t work out. Maybe I need to work on patience but I think golf is complicated enough and training aids should help simplify it.
That said, once you know how to activate the Tour Feel, it’s pretty easy to use.
I tested this along with my husband and father at the driving range. One thing I quickly learned is that my arms were kind of short for this and there is no adjustment for that on the device.
I moved up to the “difficult” level right away which wasn’t all that difficult.
At first, I started with smaller chip shots and could feel the extra width and extension. I had no problem using it for iron shots but I didn’t love the feel of it with the driver. Again, it could have just been the fit for me.
When my dad, who is a 20 handicap, tested it, he said, “It doesn’t really do anything for me. Itt just helps me feel more width.”
That’s exactly what it does. And that’s exactly what it’s supposed to do.
At the end of our testing, we agreed that we get the concept of what the Tour Feel is trying to accomplish by keeping you more extended. The question is: Does it offer enough depth as a training aid to warrant the purchase?
I’m not convinced.
Overall Impressions
Here are a few things that have stood out as I’ve worked with the Tour Feel a bit more.
The Tour Feel is great for helping golfers hit approach shots in the 100-yard and under range. Many amateurs tend to lose extension and get more wristy in this area, and you won’t feel the need to do that. If you know your swing is inefficient and you need more power (but go about it in all the wrong ways), The Tour Feel is a good option. Maybe I take what is considered width for granted but I think you can use other training aids, like Lag Shot or Orange Whip, to get similar results. The Tour Feel does come in a junior size but I would invest only if your youngster is serious and needs to create some more width for more power. Otherwise, it’s just going to hang in your garage.Who Is This For?
Golfers who struggle to create width and extension throughout the swing will benefit the most from The Tour Feel. Take some videos of your swing and see if you have extension or if your arms are bent and close to your body.
Look at any professional’s swing and you’ll see they are able to create width. That’s what the Tour Feel aims to teach.
Final Thoughts and Review
No single training aid is the perfect fit for every golfer. If you wear the Tour Feel for a few swings, you’ll feel the width concept. However, I wouldn’t invest in the product if you think you’ll only wear it for a few swings. Look for a more versatile training aid. Even The Connector, also made by Sure Golf, that can help you feel the impact position and the importance of width.
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