Have you ever looked at a golf training aid and thought, there’s no way something this simple is actually going to fix my swing?
That was pretty much our first reaction to the Tour Striker Smart Ball. It’s basically an inflatable ball on an adjustable strap that sits between your forearms, and it’s supposed to help with your backswing, impact and follow-through.
At around $39, it’s also pretty cheap compared to most golf gadgets we test, so we wanted to see if this thing actually does anything or if it’s just another training aid destined for the bottom of the golf bag.
Key Takeaways
If you don't have time to read our full Tour Striker Smart Ball review, here are the main things you need to know.
- At $39.99, it offers pretty solid value.
- It helps keep your arms connected through the backswing, impact and follow-through.
- Setup is quick, the strap is adjustable and the ball itself is surprisingly comfortable.
- It feels restrictive at first, especially on full swings.
- We actually noticed cleaner contact when testing it with a golfer who struggles with a chicken-wing impact position.
- It makes the most sense for golfers struggling with poor arm connection, flying elbows or chicken winging.
- If your arm structure is already good, you probably won’t get nearly as much out of it.
You can check out the Tour Striker Smart Ball here! But if you prefer watching reviews in video format, here is our fully in-depth Smart Ball Review!
Is the Tour Striker Smart Ball Worth the Hype?
Price: $39.99
The whole idea behind the Smart Ball is pretty simple: put it between your forearms and try to keep it there throughout the swing. If your arms start separating too much, you’ll know about it pretty quickly.
There’s no app, no data and no Bluetooth connection deciding it suddenly hates your phone. You inflate the ball, clip it onto the adjustable strap, position it between your forearms and start swinging.
We somehow managed to overcomplicate the inflation process at first, but once you know what you’re doing, setup takes a few seconds.
First Impressions
The first thing we noticed was how restrictive it feels. Half swings were pretty comfortable, but full swings felt strange at first because you’re suddenly focused on keeping your arms together instead of just swinging naturally.
That said, it got easier quickly. After a few swings the stiffness started fading, and we liked that the ball itself is soft and comfortable enough for a proper practice session.
The adjustable strap is another nice touch, letting you move the ball higher or lower depending on your arm length and what feels best.
Did It Actually Make a Difference?
This was the interesting part. We hit a few baseline shots without the Smart Ball and then repeated them with it.
For Carl, the difference wasn’t massive. His arms already stay pretty well connected through impact, so the Smart Ball was mostly reinforcing something his swing already does naturally.
For Arvo, though, it was much more noticeable. He’s struggled with a bit of a chicken-wing impact position, and the Smart Ball immediately forced the arms to stay more connected through the strike.
What Does the Smart Ball Help With?
The main thing is connection. Keeping the ball between your forearms encourages your arms and body to work together instead of separating throughout the swing.
- Backswing: helps keep the arms more connected and can reduce a flying trail elbow.
- Impact: encourages a more connected position and can help reduce chicken winging.
- Follow-through: helps the arms extend together rather than separating immediately after impact.
We especially liked it for shorter L-to-L swings, which make it easier to learn the feel before gradually moving into full swings.
What About the Smart Ball Sleeve?
Tour Striker also sells an optional Smart Ball Sleeve, which makes the ball quite a bit more versatile.
You can use it around the wrist to work on excessive cupping at the top of the swing, or position it around the upper arm to work on things like a flying elbow.
The normal Smart Ball is already useful on its own, so we wouldn’t say the sleeve is essential. But if you like training aids and want to get more than one drill out of it, the sleeve definitely adds value.
Who Is the Tour Striker Smart Ball Best For?
The Smart Ball is best for golfers who struggle with arm connection and want a simple physical feel rather than more swing data.
- Chicken wing through impact
- Flying trail elbow
- Arms separating during the swing
- Poor extension through impact
If your arm structure is already solid, you probably won’t get as much out of it.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Costs only $39.99
- Very easy to set up and use
- Adjustable, comfortable and portable
- Gives immediate physical feedback
- Can noticeably improve connection and contact for golfers with the right swing fault
❌ Cons
- Feels restrictive when you first use it
- Full swings take some getting used to
- Won’t be especially useful if you already have good arm structure
- Like most training aids, you still need to learn how to reproduce the feel without it
Final Thoughts
We weren’t expecting a ton from the Tour Striker Smart Ball. It’s literally an inflatable ball on a strap, but sometimes a simple training aid that gives you a really obvious feel is exactly what you need.
For Carl, it didn’t make a huge difference because his arm connection was already solid. For Arvo, the change was much more noticeable, with a more connected impact feel and some noticeably purer strikes.
It’s not going to magically rebuild your swing, but if you struggle with a chicken wing, flying elbow or disconnected arms through impact, it’s a pretty solid training aid for around $39.
Ratings
Carl's Rating
“Good quality and easy to use, but I don't really struggle with the problem it's designed to fix.”
Arvo's Rating
“For something this simple, the impact actually felt noticeably better. If you struggle with a chicken wing or poor connection, this thing makes a lot of sense.”
