Just got Tac-Tic: First thoughts about it...
 

Just got the tac-tic wrist version and watched the video. Decided to take some backstrokes and swing into a pillow (still waiting for impact bag to arrive) to see if I would hear the "tics". I got it to help with making sure that I have a flat left wrist and are keeping the hands in front of the clubhead at impact.

What I initially found out amazed me. I have always been told to put the hands in front of the clubhead at address position and thought I was doing this automatically...WRONG!! It would click as soon as I went into my normal address. I want to start from more of a impact fix position so this is something to work on.

I also thought that I had a FLW at the top of my backstroke cause if I checked how it looked in the sliding glass door at night (like a mirror) it looked flat to me...wrong again!! It would click at the top right away.

My first impressions is that it is a great training aid!! It definitely helps with 1 of TGM's 3 imperatives...having a FLW. As I said in another post, I have more training aids then room to put them (I often get the "are you nuts" look from my wife when I get from home work and there is another package from UPS!). Tac-tic is one of the few I would say is useful to train with reguraly.

Keith

Getting Results From Tac-Tic
 

Interesting, Keith. Thanks!

I just received my TAC-Tic.

First impressions ????

Well, the video that came with it looked as if a truck ran over it. The case was smashed. A quick e-mail got me a promise that they will mail another to me on Monday.

The device itself is a little disapointing at first glance. The label proudly proclaims it's made in Mexcio. There is a leather incased flat spring. It is about 1" wide and 4.5" long. The cutting of the leather and quality of the stitching is on the poor side. When you bend the leather incased spring back and forth it "snaps". As a kid I remember I had a little metal "cricket" and when you squeezed it the flat spring on the underside would click. Same principle.

There is a loop of material that goes around your finger and helps position the device on the back of your hand.

There is a simple velcro strap that holds everything in place.

The most important question is ...... (drum roll) Does it work?

It really works for me. After spending quite a bit of time trying to keep my forward rist flat I thought I had achieved it. I only purchased this device because I wanted to be in on Yoda's new lesson when he puts it on the forum. I knew I really didn't need it. HOW WRONG I WAS!!

My wrist was bending just prior to impact. There was no question. I could hear it and feel it snap.

The total cost, including shipping came to $37.90!
Was it worth it? It does work, no question.

But was it worth it???? I'll let others answer that question.
I can't wait for Yoda discussion about using it.

I totally agree about the cost issue...probably cost less than $2 to make for the device itself... I got the elbow version as well and that cost similair and doesn't come with a video!

I guess the bottom line is that it does work and does help improve left wrist positions throughout the stroke. I guess its like the MasterCard commercial -- Cheap velcro and poorly constructed strap...$38 Green in regulation...priceless. Well have to see if that really happens!

Keith

I do not get a click at address or the backswing. In fact I though something was wrong with the device. I really have to get the left wrist bent to get a click. I do get a click just past waist high on the follow through. I do not consider myself a perfect left flat wrister. But who knows once the snow melts????

If you setup with mid-hands classic address, i.e. left wrist bent, right wrist flat, a click will happen on the backswing, and if you swing properly it won't click again until the end of the swing.

If you setup with impact fix position, you shouldn't get a click on the backswing, and shouldn't get a click till the end of the swing.

BTW a neat feature of the TAC TIC is you can use the device on either hand. You can monitor the flat left wrist or the bent right wrist.

Using the Tac-Tic is a great way to keep your mind on your hands.

Have one for a number of years. Price much better now than then.

I took it with me to a golf outing. Late at night as the golf discussion grew in size compared to the adult beverages going down, a number of guys tried it.

Well the next morning on the practice range, there was a line to try it out. I would estimate that 2 in 3 guys discovered in thier full stroke, they cupped. Interesting was the chipping, I would estimate that 5 in 7 keep making noise and proclaiming something must be wrong, cause they considered themselves a good short game player.

It can definitely help a golfer.

The golfer's it won't help, yes there are some of them, those who are hard of hearing. I tried to get several seniors, including my father to correct this problem or at least understand they had it, but they couldn't hear it. They keep telling me, see no problem, no click. It was clicking, sometimes twice in the stroke. Argh!.....

If you get a chance to try it out, do it. Both on the short and full shots. It can't heard, and you may discover something about your stroke you weren't aware of.

Wrist Firm
 

The seniors that couldn't hear it would benefit from the wrist firm. I have both the wrist firm and the tac-tic (just got both recently), and the wrist firm does a good job of "making" your left wrist stay flat. The wrist firm doesn't effect your grip...which is nice, but if you set up at adjusted address with a slight bend in the left wrist, this is a little more difficult with the wrist firm.

The wrist firm is great at keeping your wrist flat throughout the whole stroke...and you can do full swings with a driver all the way to short chips with it. Someone else said that they would train with the wrist firm first, then use the tac-tic, and finally use nothing during a driving range session...I think this sounds like a good idea.

Unlike the tac-tic, there is no cheating and you either hit a good shot or a really bad shot (nothing in between with the wrist firm). The only downside with the wrist firm is that it is priced about twice as much as the tac-tic ($50-$60), but I think its a good investment.

Keith

WRIST FIRM
 

Keith -

Glad to hear about another person who has used and likes the WristFirm. I've been using several months now. I alternate in sessions between it, TacTic and nothing. I don't want to be totally dependent on it - after all, on the course you don't have that luxury.

Dave

IMO the best thing about the training aid is it REALLY makes you AWARE of when your left wrist breaks down and you will soon be able to "feel" that wrist breakdown during impact on bad shots.

I know it happens to me at times and i can feel it and know right away the ball is going right.

THe important thing is to learn to feel it, know that you did it, and not do it on the next shot.

Sorry to dig up this old post but i purchased the tactic a few weeks ago and i'm not getting round to trying it. When i use it, it takes a lot of force to bend that left wrist and getting it to snap. Is it faulty or am i using it wrong? It seems like a pretty simple device so i don't see how it's possible to use incorrectly.

It may mean that you are doing it correctly (keeping your left wrist flat), or that you are arching your left wrist (in which case you won't hear a click). I know that if I attach the velcro pretty snugly, just the slightest bend and it will click. I usually attach it so it isn't real snug, but it is on there pretty firm, and it does a good job of monitoring my left wrist during the backstroke.

The only problem that I have had is that for a full swing, it is difficult to hear it click on the downstroke and through impact if you did bend your left wrist, but it is great for monitoring the left wrist for the backstroke, and for chips and pitches.

Keith

Revert,
Try using it on your right wrist and see if you get better results.

I'll give it a try on the right hand. krpainter, maybe i am doing it correctly but if i wear it and have no club and just physically try bending the left writst it takes a lot of effort to get it snap and click. It almost feels like a brace.

I really need to dig out my old video player so i can watch the tape.

Sounds like it could be defective then, cause it should click pretty easily...at least mine does. Like I said if I strap the velcro fairly tight, just the smallest bend in the wrist will cause it to click.

You may want to call the outfit you got it from and ask them about it...they may let you return it for another one.

Keith

You have to be kidding me. 30 bucks delivered from dwquail a few days ago.

Use it on both wrists, alternate. Just be careful with the right wrist. Make sure you are in full bent position before you tighten it down.

They should come free with The Yellow Book. I don't see how you can get the nth degree of Wedge angle, extra (intact) extension of the bent right wrist past impact and a flat left wrist fully through on-plane without something like this.

As soon as you reach a technical, or flexibility, or strength limit... your hands are going to lie to you. The Tac-Tic is the lie detector you can use to push through the limit.

I thought it was laughable, until I used it. Then things got real serious.

Highly recommended.

Charlie

There's a reason why i say the only 2 training aids you need is golf are:

tac-tic
plane laser

----

However i've recently added to my list, any type of inside approach and the speed stik. Yes, the speed stik....for reasons that they don't list in the informercial

I had read your thread many moons ago. I didn't question your good judgement, I was counting on it. :) I bought into the lasers a few years ago because they are slow-mo engrainers. I get hesitant over dynamic aids.

Re: other devices. I think the Inside Approach needs "coaching". I had the kids try them. It helped the OTT ones. But the ones who had a pretty good plane to start, tended to "take the whole bottle of aspirin". They tended to drop below plane to ensure they would get underneath. This really screwed the Hinging with the Hitter. The "orange loop" knockoff on ebay seemed to work better because it emphasizes the still head, making most compensations difficult.

For what do you use the speedstick? I borrowed the range pro's stick, but didn't like it because it doesn't hold or behave like a golf club. I got the kids a Momentus with a training grip. Not ideal, but better.

Currenty dabbling with the Whippy Tempomaster in the Hitter context. Great aide to teach transition, smoothness and use of CF for the pop culture "swing". They tout it as an exposer of right hand use (a no-no for them, the body activated arms/hands drag crowd). If you put it into the Hitter's linear drive though, it may in fact expose right hand throwaway. We'll see.

Charlie

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

tac tic elbow
 

Keith

I am not sure you endorse the elbow plane product (whatever that means) or it helped you to the point you don't really need it. I know the wrist product was very beneficial. The elbow motion is A bit more subtle in determining the bend in the bend in the backswing and the straightening of the right arm in the downswing location wise.If there is any additional infomation than you can supply going back to when you used it I would appreciate it. Sometimes I know that is hard to tell as your own swings or hits evolve.

Regards
Dave

I do endorse it (tac tic elbow) as a product that does help with 1 particular area (extensor action). I will probably go back to using it, but I haven't used many training aids lately during the season...I try to know play as much as possible and when I am at the driving range I still work on different things, but usually not with training aids, unless I know a particular one could really help.

Hope this helps,

Keith

keith

Thanks for the input. I tend to do the same thing in having good training aids and then start playing and don't use them when I should.

Dave