Yourcaddy #4 | Page 35

What invariably distinguishes a good player from a poor one is their respective address positions or setups “ – DAVID LEADBETTER As a media platform for the golfing industry we get sent all kinds of gear to test, everything from high energy power sweets that aid concentration to shoulder braces that help you putt better arrive on our door step on a weekly basis. Many turn up in swanky packaging accompanied by professional endorsements and they all claim to improve your golf, unfortunately a lot of them fall by the wayside, the Talon didn’t. This new game improvement device was the brainchild of Teeside-based product designer Matt Hulbert and his father Paul, it didn’t turn up with a fanfare attached to it, it was handed to us in a plastic bag accompanied by the words “let us know what you think”, they seemed confident that the device would do the talking itself. A lot of people find it hard to learn unless they can see what an instructor is telling them, hence the upsurge in club professionals utilising cameras and simulators to enrich their golf lessons and make learning easier for the masses. The Talon does exactly that, a small device clips on to the end of your golf club and you place a small belt with a sensor pad on around your waist, within seconds the innovative product uses a digital display to show four critical angles of address: spine angle, club shaft angle, club shaft to spine angle, and rotation angle of the club face. Now by simply staring at this information it isn’t going to make you a better golfer, but by understanding the evidence you can see in front of you it will help every golfer to find a stance and posture that is comfortable, allowing the best possible action to be performed. Once you have consumed the data that provides you with the optimum swing set up its then down to you to practice. The Talon works by creating muscle memory, once you have this built in to your setup anything outside your ideal stance should feel alien, therefore prompting you to adjust and perform what you have worked at the range to achieve. Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus highlighted the importance of posture in his book, Golf My Way, when he said: “If you set up correctly, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a reasonable shot, even if you make a mediocre swing. If you set up to the ball poorly, you’ll hit a lousy shot even if you make the greatest swing in the world.” The TALON was born from these informed words and has become the driving force behind Ojee Golf’s pursuit to develop a training aid unlike any other out there. In the hands of a club Pro using this as a teaching aid will be an instant hit, without the input from a qualified teacher the device coupled with patience and practice will still serve as a great aid to any golfer looking to improve their game. 35 | YOURCADDY MAG - ISSUE 04