GoSports SpeedStix: A Closer Look Before You Swing

Alright, let’s cut to it—GoSports SpeedStix show up dangling a promise most folks can’t resist: mess around with hitting drills, practice martial arts moves, or host a raucous family gym night without ending up at urgent care. They’re brightly padded, seriously harmless on contact, and make you feel like you’re getting away with something your coach would’ve smacked your knuckles for back in the ‘80s.

What you get is a pair of chunky, foam-clad sticks, capped off with handles and wrist loops. Nothing complicated. They’re advertised as tough, tear-resistant, whatever-resistant. And for the price, they do look like they can catch more wild swings than a pickup game in Fairview. This isn’t snazzy handcrafted stuff—it’s gear you toss in the trunk because you might need it, and you won’t cry when it picks up garage dust.

Let’s talk handling. For light training, especially with your kids, friends, or folks who are new to striking drills, these things are great. Foam soaks up the impact, so nobody’s worrying about bent fingers or bruised headlines. That’s why you see them at rec centers and birthday parties—less ouch, more fun.

But truth: put these through regular, hard sessions—adult-level sparring, rough-and-tumble sticks practice, that sort of thing—the foam padding loses its spring faster than a Camden boardwalk on a windy day. At first, they feel bouncy, then after a handful of weeks, that “pop” dulls. You notice it doesn’t bounce back, and soon enough, the sticks just start to feel limp and dead. If you’re pounding them week in and out, expect saggy padding and a generally tired feeling well before you ever hoped.

Grip’s another quirk. The so-called “universal” handle gets snug and sweaty real fast, especially if you’re working hard or you’ve got hands like you’ve been swinging hammers since you were twelve. Getting the wrist straps on and off with wet hands is its own workout. Worse, the straps have a habit of digging into skin—either too tight or sliding off at the worst moment. You’ll end up fiddling with the grip more than your form, and that’s not something you want in the middle of a class.

On the precision side—the feedback’s, well, muffled. Foam solves safety, sure, but it also turns technique into guesswork. You can give full effort without breaking anyone, but don’t expect crisp, instructive feedback. Want to sharpen your block or fine-tune a strike? It’s like trying to play a snare with oven mitts. Youngsters and recreational folks won’t mind, but you’ll notice if you care about details.

Durability’s not the calling card here, either. Kept for occasional gym days, they’ll survive longer than that old softball glove in the closet. Push them daily, they fade. This isn’t gear meant to pass down, unless you’re talking as a cautionary tale. Soggy foam, twisted handles—after a bad winter or simply because you’ve got grandkids with too much energy, they wear out. Not catastrophic, just very much “you get what you pay for.”

Bottom line? For casual fun, family game night, or a basic intro in youth class: yes, they do what they claim. There’s peace of mind in knowing your kid (or your cousin who thinks he’s Bruce Lee) can go full tilt without heading for stitches. But if you expect them to take regular, relentless punishment, think again—a pro-level or even moderately dedicated martial artist is going to want something sturdier, more responsive, and less fiddly in the grip.

In a nutshell: these sticks fit modest expectations and a gentle training schedule. Want throwaway gear for the nieces and nephews? Sure. Expecting workhorse performance or technical polish? Look for something better built and better balanced. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but you don’t want to be buying these again in six months, either.

Choose with eyes open, and, hey, if you do bring them to the park, at least be ready for a laugh when they slip straight off your wrist and bounce into the bushes.