© Copyright Ben Hogan & Herbert Warren Wind. Illustrations by Anthony Ravielli
Introducing Straight Shot™
Hit a real golf ball in the comfort and privacy of your own home…without having to break concentration, timing or rhythm teeing-up or retrieving balls.
Play Video
“…the professional and the average golfer are both searching to master the movements that will result in a repeating swing—A CORRECT, POWERFUL, REPEATING SWING.”
“This can be stated categorically: It is utterly impossible for any golfer to play good golf without a swing that will repeat.”
— Ben Hogan
Mastering the Swing
The challenge of mastering the movements that will result in a repeating swing is to first find a place to practice that is readily and conveniently available so you can practice day or night at your leisure, when inspired.
Irons
Woods
In professional sports, the best players practice repeatable movements, repeatedly.
But they don’t waste time or break concentration, timing, or rhythm retreiving their own balls.
Practice Makes Perfect
In sport, the challenge of mastering the movements that will result in a correct repeatable motion is to find a way to practice that movement repeatedly, and do so over and over as many times as possible.
Basketball: The 3-Point Shot
“Every day you miss playing or practicing is one day longer it takes to be good.”
— Ben Hogan
Always at the Ready
Practice that is conveniently available at your fingertips 24/7, and does not interrupt your concentration, timing, or rhythm is smart, fun, and effective practice that makes perfect!
Baseball: The Knuckleball
Regardless of skill level, the concentration and body movements needed to swing a golf club and putt a golf ball, is a great way to exercise mind and body.
An elegant, durable, free-standing practice device able to accommodate 90+ MPH (144 KPM) tethered golf ball strikes is what makes Straight Shot a masterpiece of engineering perfection, precision, and function.
Take an inside look at the engineering and ingenuity of Straight Shot’s structural and stress bearing components.
Drum
Sail
Drum-Axle
Night Spotlight
Mast
Mast Plate
Electronic Counter
Ball-Tether
Wave Ball-Stop
Features
- Safely accommodates 90+ mph (144 kph+) ball strikes – all clubs
- The ball can be hit in either direction (can be used by both right and left‐handed hitters)
- Stand‐alone Base‐Frame sits freely on any flat surface
- The Small Rubber‐Base and Small Turf‐Mat attach to the Base‐Frame without fasteners
- Height‐adjustable Ball‐Tethers
- Height‐ adjustable Magik‐Tee
- Turf-mat Wave Ball‐Stop activates automatically after the ball is struck
- Fully charged, the Counter’s lithium battery and energy‐efficient actuator provides power for approximately 1,300 ball strikes
- Electronic Counter keeps track of practice session ball strikes, individual ball life, and total number of strikes on the device and can be placed on either side of the Mast
- Night Spot‐Light illuminates the ball for low light or late afternoon/nighttime practice
- Large Folding Stance‐Mat doubles as a practice green
- Four-piece interconnecting Large Rubber Base interconnects to the Small Rubber Base without fasteners
- Safety Net provides both a soothing visual backdrop, and an added layer of safety
- Straight Shot assembles in minutes and only requires 8 hex bolts to attach the Mast, Drum‐Axle and Drum to the Base‐Board and 7 screws to secure the Large Rubber Base to the Base-Board.
- Modular design means all critical parts are replaceable
- US and International Patents
Specs
Dimensions
- Knitted Nylon Small Turf-Mat: 91 x 51 x 1.5 cm (36.5 x 20 x 0.59 in)
- Knitted Nylon Foldable Large Stance-Mat: 150 x 120 x 4.5 cm (59 x 47 x 1.77 in)
- Small Turf-Mat surface to Drum center: 51 cm (20.4 in)
- Mast center to Ball-Tether center: 36 cm (14.5 in)
- Mast‐Plate diameter: 45 cm (18 in)
- Shortest Ball-Tether length, bottom of ball at to Drum center: 47 cm (18.5 in)
- Safety Net: 213.36 cm (7’ x 7’)
Weight
- Base‐Board: 28 kgs (61.7 lbs)
- Mast, Drum‐Axle, Drum & Sail: 11 kgs (24.2 lbs)
- Rubber Base & Small Turf-Mat: 11 kgs (24.2 lbs)
Total: 50 kgs (110.1 lbs)
- Large Turf-Mat: 24 kgs (52.9 lbs)
- Large Turf-Mat Aluminum Frame: 2 kgs (4.4 lbs)
Total: 26 kgs (57.3 lbs)
Packaging/Shipping Weight
Approximately 86 kgs (189 lbs)
Accessories
Adjustable-height Straight Shot™ branded ball-tethers are designed to withstand repeated 90+ mph club head impacts.
The unique, modular design of the Straight Shot system allows all parts for the Straight Shot to be replaced if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Straight Shot only for indoor use?
No. Straight Shot can also be placed outdoors as long as there is a solid flat-surface (concrete, pavers, tile, asphalt, etc.) and is placed under some kind of overhead covering to protect it from the sun, rain and the elements.
If placed indoors, what is the recommended ceiling height?
In general, the minimum ceiling height needed to swing a golf club indoors is 8.5-9 feet (2.5–2.7 m). However, depending on your height and golf swing, 10 feet (3.0 m) is a much more comfortable option. You need to be to swing fully and freely without fear of hitting the ceiling.
Does Straight Shot need to be anchored to the floor?
No. Both the front Base-Board section and the rear large Stance-Mat are free-standing and do not need to be fastened to the floor. Straight Shot can be placed on any flat surface flooring, including carpet.
Does Straight Shot need to be placed near an AC outlet?
No. Straight Shot’s electronic Counter and Wave Ball-Stop are both powered by a rechargeable battery.
How long does it take to assemble Straight Shot from unpacking to “ready for use”?
Approximately 30 minutes. The only assembly required on the front Base-Plate is to bolt the Mast to the Base-Board, and the Drum-Axle and Drum to the Mast. The only assembly required on the rear Stance-Mat is to assemble the black Aluminum Frame.
How hard can I hit a Straight Shot Ball-Tether?
As hard as you like. Straight Shot and its Ball-Tether system is designed to safely accommodate 90+ mph (144 kph) swings.
What does it feel like to hit a Straight Shot Ball-Tether?
The same as hitting an untethered golf ball. There is no noticeable resistance to the Straight Shot Ball- Tether system at club/ball impact.
What is the life-span of a Straight Shot Ball-Tether?
Research shows that most golf balls can withstand seven rounds of golf before you will note a drop off in performance. This equates to about 500 strikes. The life of a Straight Shot Ball-Tether is about the same and depends entirely on how hard the ball is hit and where the ball is hit. If a new Ball-Tether is struck consistently on the “sweet-spot” of the club, the Straight Shot Ball-Tether can withstand hundreds or even a thousand+ strikes. On the other hand, should any of the edges of an iron hit or nick the ball near the tether—even on a low-speed swing—it may cause a crack to develop on the surface of the ball. In general, a ball can be safely hit until a crack becomes visible on the ball. The more accurately your club head hits the ball, the more strikes you will get out of the Ball-Tethers.
How do I know if a ball is cracked?
Straight Shot Ball-Tethers should be visually examined for cracks before each practice session. If a ball is cracked and not replaced the crack will continue to expand until both the noise and feel of impact becomes noticeable. Golf balls are engineering marvels made of synthetic rubbers infused with polymers and are designed to withstand high-impact compression forces. However, repeated compressions will still cause material fatigue. A cracked ball indicates that repeated cyclic loading has caused material fatigue in the ball’s inner core/mantle and should be replaced.
What activates the Wave Ball-Stop?
The Wave Ball-Stop is automatically activated when the Drum is rotated in either direction one-quarter turn. At one-quarter turn of the Drum, a magnetic sensor in the Drum-Axle Sail sends a wireless signal to the Counter on the Base-Board, and activates and powers the Wave Ball-Stop actuator in the Base-Board.
What is the function of the electronic Counter?
The Counter is turned on at the beginning of each practice session and keeps count how many times you have struck the ball. It can be reset to zero at any time. A second mode also keeps track of how many times a newly replaced ball has been hit and can also be reset to zero. Like an odometer on a car, a third mode keeps track of the total number of strikes that have been made on the unit since purchase. If no ball-strike is made within a 15-minute time period, the Counter will automatically power off.
Does the Counter’s LCD calculate and display ball/club-head speed, ball direction or loft trajectory?
No. The Straight Shot design philosophy/objective is to provide a high-quality durable platform for users to practice and improve their golf swing. It is not designed to provide users with electronically-generated and simulated data, that may or may not be accurate or meaningful, or necessary to practice and refine the motion and mechanics of the golf swing.
How many times can the ball be struck and the Wave Ball-Stop activated on a full battery charge?
Approximately 1,300. When the Counter’s battery is low and needs recharged, the red LED on the counter will start to flash.
Does the Sail transmitter and Night Spot-Light also use rechargeable batteries?
No. The Sail uses two (2) regular AA batteries and the Night Spot-Light uses one (1) AAA battery, which are all included.
What is the function of the Sail?
In addition to housing the Wave Ball-Stop sensor and transmitter, the Sail also acts as a guard to prevent the Ball-Tether from hanging up on the Drum or Drum Axle.
What is the function of the Safety Net?
In addition to serving as a soothing visual backdrop, the Safety Net is there to protect the interior of your home or office should you fail to replace a cracked ball. If a cracked ball is not replaced, continued strikes will cause the crack(s) to deepen and expand to a point where the ball will eventually detach and fly off the tether.
Are Straight Shot critical parts and components replaceable?
Yes. All critical parts can be ordered and can be easily swapped out. These include both the large and small Turf-Mats, the Small Turf-Mat’s Rubber Base, the Mast, Drum, Drum-Axle, Magik-Tee, and Ball-Tethers.
How do I order Ball-Tethers and how long does it take to receive them?
For 3-day delivery of Ball-Tethers, there is a special Straight Shot hotline that can be called, emailed, or texted to order Straight Shot Standard or Straight Shot Premium Ball-Tethers.
