The Straight Stick arrived at my door, and I'll admit I rolled my eyes a bit. After testing dozens of swing trainers over the years (most of which now collect dust in my garage), I've become pretty jaded about the latest "revolutionary" training aid. But this one caught my attention for one simple reason: Rocco Mediate's name was on the box. The guy's won ten times on Tour, so I figured it was at least worth a swing or two.
Taking it out of the packaging, the initial thing that struck me was that this actually looks and feels like a real 7-iron. It's got a proper cavity back design, legitimate weight to it at 1.2 pounds, and at 40 inches long, it's exactly what you'd expect from a mid-iron. The high-impact plastic construction feels surprisingly solid, not cheap or toy-like. What really got my attention, though, were these two unusual features: an adjustable grip with actual angle markings and this magnetic clicker thing sliding up and down the shaft. I'd never seen anything quite like it.
Tired of inconsistent swings and mishits? The Performance Golf Straight Stick revolutionizes your game with its patented Compression Clicker, hear the perfect release and hit straighter shots effortlessly. Endorsed by pros like Rocco Mediate, this adjustable trainer fixes early/late release, boosts lag, and aligns your clubface for solid contact every time.
Let me be straight with you, the Compression Clicker is the core of this training aid, and it's unlike anything I've tested before. This infusion-molded magnetic washer slides along the shaft and makes an audible click when you're swinging on-plane. Think of it like having a metronome for your golf swing, except it only makes noise when you're doing it right.
Here's how it works: you adjust the clicker's position on the shaft based on your swing speed (there are markings below the grip that show you exactly where to place it). If you swing 70 mph, you slide it to one spot. If you're cranking it over 100 mph like some of the younger guys at my club, you move it higher up the shaft. The magnetic mechanism inside releases at the perfect moment when your swing plane is correct, creating that satisfying click right at impact.
What really impressed me was how quickly my brain started connecting that click with a good swing. After about 20 swings, I found myself naturally adjusting my tempo and plane to chase that sound. It's immediate, unmistakable feedback—no guessing whether you did it right or wrong. When you don't hear the click, you know instantly that something was off with your swing plane or tempo.
The aerodynamic design means it doesn't affect your swing weight or create weird wind resistance. After using it for a few weeks, I noticed my regular 7-iron felt more natural because I'd ingrained that proper release pattern. That's when I knew this wasn't just another gimmick.
I've always had a slightly stronger grip than what most instructors recommend (old habits from my baseball days), and usually, training aids force me into their "ideal" hand position. The Adjustable AccuGrip on the Straight Stick is a transformative option for someone like me.
The molded grip has these angle indicators that let you set it for weak, neutral, or strong grip preferences. You literally twist the grip to your preferred position, and it locks in place. No more fighting against a training aid that's trying to "fix" something that isn't broken. For the first time, I could work on my swing plane and release without having to completely rebuild my grip.
What's brilliant about this design is that it accommodates everyone. My buddy, who's been fighting a slice for years, set his to a slightly weaker grip position to help square the face. Meanwhile, I kept mine in a stronger position to maintain my natural draw. We're both using the same training aid but getting individualized feedback based on our individual swing characteristics.
The grip material itself feels premium, not slippery like some plastic training grips I've used. Even after hitting balls at the range for an hour (yes, you can actually hit real balls with this thing), my hands never felt like they were sliding around. That's essential because the last thing you want when working on swing mechanics is to worry about the club flying out of your hands.
The flexible shaft on the Straight Stick initially made me skeptical. I've tried those whippy training aids before, and they usually feel like swinging a pool noodle. But this "easy lag" shaft is different; it's got just enough flex to provide feedback without feeling unstable.
What sets it apart is its versatility across different swing speeds. Whether you're swinging at 70 mph like some of the seniors at my club or pushing past 100 mph, the shaft responds appropriately. The flex helps you feel the clubhead throughout the swing, naturally encouraging lag without forcing it. I found myself creating better shaft lean at impact without even thinking about it.
The shaft's flexibility also makes it nearly impossible to "muscle" the club through impact, trust me, I tried. If you get quick from the top or try to use just your arms, you won't hear that satisfying click, and the ball flight (if you're hitting balls) will be weak and off-line. It forces you to use your body rotation and maintain proper sequencing.
After three weeks of regular practice with the Straight Stick, I took my regular irons to the course and immediately noticed more consistent ball-striking. My divots were more uniform, starting just after the ball instead of behind it. That ball-first contact that we all chase? The flexible shaft had trained my body to find it naturally.
This is where the Straight Stick really separates itself from the pack. While most training aids are limited to practice swings in your backyard, this thing is designed to hit actual golf balls. The cavity back iron head isn't just for show; it's functional.
I took it to the range, teed up a bucket of balls, and started swinging. The first few shots were admittedly awkward as I focused on hearing that click, but once I got into a rhythm, I was striking 7-iron shots about 80% of my normal distance (the flexible shaft reduces distance, which is expected). The ball flight was consistent, with a slight draw that matched my normal shape.
What really helped was getting immediate feedback on both the swing (through the click) and the result (through ball flight). When I heard the click and saw a pure shot, I knew I'd nailed it. When I didn't hear the click, the ball flight immediately showed me what went wrong, usually a weak push or a pull, depending on whether I was too steep or too shallow. This combination of auditory and visual feedback reminded me of how launch monitors provide voice output after each shot, except this training aid delivers that instant response through mechanical design rather than technology.
Being able to integrate this into my regular range sessions was huge. Instead of doing separate "training aid practice" and then trying to transfer that feeling to my real clubs, I could seamlessly work between the Straight Stick and my regular irons. Hit five balls with the trainer, then five with my regular 7-iron, and the improvement was immediate and noticeable. The promise of doubling greens in regulation started to feel achievable after just a few focused practice sessions with this systematic approach.
Let me cut through the marketing speak and tell you exactly who should and shouldn't buy this thing. If you're someone who struggles with consistency in your iron play, hitting it fat one shot, thin the next—the Straight Stick will genuinely help. The immediate feedback trains your body to find the correct swing plane and release point without having to think about complex positions.
Beginners will love this because it simplifies the swing into one clear goal: make it click. Instead of trying to remember fifteen different swing thoughts, you just focus on creating that sound. I've recommended it to three guys who just started playing this year, and all of them saw improvement in their ball-striking within a month.
For low handicappers and scratch players, this might seem too simple, but I disagree. Even good players develop bad habits over time. I'm a 6 handicap, and using this during my warm-up routine has helped me maintain consistency throughout the season. It's like having a quick tune-up before every round.
Tired of inconsistent swings and mishits? The Performance Golf Straight Stick revolutionizes your game with its patented Compression Clicker, hear the perfect release and hit straighter shots effortlessly. Endorsed by pros like Rocco Mediate, this adjustable trainer fixes early/late release, boosts lag, and aligns your clubface for solid contact every time.
No, you can't use the Performance Golf Straight Stick in tournament play. It's designed as a training aid, not a tournament-legal club. The built-in Compression Clicker that provides audible feedback and the adjustable grip positions violate USGA and R&A equipment rules. You'll find it's marketed exclusively as an "automatic swing trainer" for practice sessions. Save it for the driving range, where it'll help improve your swing mechanics and consistency.
You'll get a full 365-day warranty period with the Straight Stick, giving you an entire year to test it risk-free. This warranty includes a 100% money-back guarantee that's completely unconditional and no-questions-asked. If you're not satisfied within the year, you can contact [email protected] for return instructions and receive a full refund. It's one of the industry's most extensive warranties, applying to all Straight Stick models, including the 7-Iron and Driver.
Yes, you can definitely use the Performance Golf Straight Stick if you're left-handed. They offer dedicated left-handed versions for both the driver and 7-iron models with identical specifications to right-handed versions. You'll get the same patented Compression Clicker technology, adjustable AccuGrip settings, and instructional support. The device's swing plane and timing mechanisms are perfectly mirrored for left-handed swings, ensuring you'll experience the same training benefits and improvements to your game.
You'll find the Performance Golf Straight Stick regularly priced at $299, but it's currently available at a promotional price of $139. During holiday sales, you can get it for $122 with combined discounts. The price includes over $544 worth of bonus training videos and materials. With the 365-day money-back guarantee, you're protected if it doesn't work for you. That breaks down to less than $0.30 per day of use.
You can purchase the Performance Golf Straight Stick directly from performancegolf.com, which includes free US shipping, bonus training materials worth over $500, and a 365-day money-back guarantee.
After six weeks with the Straight Stick, it's earned a permanent spot in my practice routine. For $149, you're getting a training aid that actually delivers on its promises, better release, improved accuracy, and more consistent ball-striking. Plus, the free bonuses valued at $641 include Rocco's personal drills, video training, and live Q&A sessions that genuinely enhance the learning experience. It's not magic, and you still need to put in the work, but it makes that work more effective and enjoyable.
If you're tired of training aids that end up gathering dust, or if you're serious about improving your iron play without rebuilding your entire swing, the Straight Stick is worth every penny. It's the initial training aid in years that I actually look forward to using, and more importantly, it's made a real difference in my on-course performance. Sometimes the simple solutions really are the best ones.