Before there was a Bad Chicken there were two old high school friends. Rob had just left a 15 year Wall Street career and was out of work, Jordan was working in technology marketing, and both wanted to play golf. It was early winter in New Jersey, fresh snow lay on the ground and no golf would be played for many months to come. There were hours of Tiger Woods PGA Tour® on the Wii® but little satisfaction with the concept of swinging a brick shaped remote control. Something had to change or they would be forced to find another way to pass time. The next day Jordan returned asking for construction paper after having had an epiphany. Rob mocked, as he often does, “Kids, it’s time for an art project with Uncle Jordan.” Nasty looks were exchanged, construction paper and lion shaped safety scissors that roar were passed out, and the idea began to take shape.

After some confidence in the initial concept, and more sarcasm from Rob, they got in the car and drove to the thrift store, purchased a sand wedge for $3 plus tax and then to the hardware store for some sheet metal, shears, and lots of duct tape. After some literal blood sweat and tears in his garage, Jordan returned with prototype number one. It was not pretty but the result was amazing, a full golf swing in the comfort of the living room, while outside snow continued to fall. There were many contests with thrilled golfing buddies, rewards and various penalties doled out and the realism of a missed shot was aggravating like real golf.

Months later the idea was hatched to form a company to pursue a product for retail. Momentum carried and there were patent filings, professional engineering, office space became warehouse space, more lawyers, more prototypes, molds, CADs, SLAs, more engineering, CPSIA & ASTM government testing, more acronyms, and a trip to launch the Chicken Stick™ at the E3 Expo.

The Chicken Stick has grown with the Tiger Woods PGA Tour software with Wii MotionPlus™ and now provides a legitimate training device for practicing your actual golf swing in a zero impact environment in your home or office.

If you would like to know about the how we came up with the name Bad Chicken, you will have to invite Rob and Jordan for a round of golf to hear the story.