Used this club all summer and have to say that I love it. Have been playing for 30 years, chipping and pitching have long been a weakness. I know the proper technique, just can’t pull it off under pressure. In my experience every fatted or skulled chip just amps up the anxiety for the next one and before long you are dreading even the simplest of chips. In essence, you become a headcase.
Enter Square Strike. Easy to setup with upright lie and short putter type length. Once you learn to just trust your putting stroke, in other words just smooth back and through with no real hit, it takes all the stress out of the shot. And it goes where you aim it.
It is by no means perfect and if you yip it, you can still hit some impressive skulls across the green. But over time, I have seen so many good ones that I have gained enough confidence that now I am actually trying to make ‘em instead of just hitting the green. Chipping has improved to the point that I take the Square strike out of the bag at times. When I am on, I can get similar result with and 8 iron or U wedge. Invariably , however, I find myself wishing the Square Strike were back in the bag at times.
It is also an excellent club for hacking out of the corn or any serious trouble where you just want to advance the ball.
I have previously used the SmartSole or Niblick with success. I like the Square Strike better, because of its beveled leading edge. SmartSole was more prone to dig in my experience, although it produced some incredible spin on 60 yards knockdown shots.
Initially I was somewhat embaressed to have this club in my bag. Even had a headcover on it. Seems though that everyone who saw the club in my bag wanted to try it and most people like it. It’s just a matter of whether you have room in your bag for a specialty club.
In our usual foursome, there are 2 square strikes in play. Part of the fun is that whenever somebody hits a good one with it, the hole foursome says “Square Strike!” Yes we are nerds, but it is fun nonetheless.
