PGA Show, Orlando, Florida
The M(3) awards are the result of my wanderings through the isles each year of the PGA Show to find products that capture my attention, and in my humble opinion have a chance to flourish in the difficult to navigate world of golf.
The Been Around a While Award: The Q Link: Though the Q Link has been around for 12 years now; long before their entry into golf and literally hundreds of players now use this device which wards off the harmful effects of electromagnetic frequencies. The product still has its skeptics and critics, who all voice the same thing which is; so what the heck does it do? It is interesting that the marketing of the Q Link avoids the technical and highlights the practical effects of calmness and focus. For the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious explanation or "the facts" go to www.clarus.com and you will find that sympathetic resonance science detailed and which has a lot of traction in the scientific community…and yes, the dang thing works. I know because I have worn one for ten years, before it was introduced to golf.
The Diamond of Clubs Award: Maruman Golf has been the leading golf equipment manufacturer in Japan for 35 years, but has had some difficulty gaining traction in the USA due to distribution problems and branding. However, a brief visit to a shop, or their website reveals the almost jewel like quality to this line. The new "nano" technology was actually patented by this company. It is one of the highest priced golf equipment, but if you want to combine performance and looks, this might be something to look at. I can’t wait to give them a try. They have over 100 Tour wins worldwide under their belt, so this is not just cosmetics.
We Are Not Done YET Making Hot Shafts Award: The Hybrex Shaft. As always, I want the hottest shaft I can put in a club and by hot, I mean shock free, lots of feel, long and accurate with lots of control. This product combines a titanium metal shaft with the middle carved out by lasers in a "helical" design which removes 33% of the weight which is then replaced by a carbon composite which reduces torque for more accuracy. Specifically designed for only hybrids or fairway metals this shaft delivers in spades. Long, great feel, accuracy and wow, what a punch! This is for the custom club market, and is not cheap, but then again, since when is great performance cheap? Already successfully used in baseball bats and cycling this might be the shaft of the future. www.hybrexgolf.com
IT’S Your Feet Stupid Award: The entire golf swing is dependent on your balance over the shot, and that balance is entirely dependent on your feet. I know we don’t think about it but when you step into the ALINE foot alignment gizmo, you find out if your ankles and knees are skewed inside or outside the center of your legs. It was not a pretty picture in my case. My ankles cave in to the inside and as a result my knees are skewed to the inside as well. This explains those shots where my right side collapses and I come over the top. The Cure? The alignment insoles for shoes silly! Using their patented fitting system, the folks at ALINE and their dealers can quickly and easily provide a high tech plastic insert with the proper elevations in the sole to move your ankles and knees to the center line, and yes, they use alignment lasers in this system. For only $50 bucks, you can be fitted. Damn, it felt good to walk straight during the Show! Already successful in the ski industry, this high tech company is now coming to golf. www.aline.com
The Do We Need Help With Putting Award: There have been a plethora of putting training aids, but this is the first to double as your ACTUAL putter as well! Red Eye Golf (www.redeyegolf.com) has developed this very cool system. Let me say first I have never been a fan of "putting aids" but in this case, I may have to make an exception. The designer is a retired high level custom home builder, who values perfection and has spent over two years developing a putter which doubles as a laser based training aid, but first and foremost is a real putter. Using the finest materials he has put together a putter head that has two separate components that can be swapped out with a few screws…even I can do it! First it houses the laser unit inside the face of the putter which coincides with the "Smart Target" which is a laser receiving golf hole simulator. You line the putter up, press the ground; the laser activates and you aim at the "Smart Target" which gives you visual and sound feedback that you are aimed at the target. Make your stroke, sink the putt. Then, you can remove the laser system and replace it with a sole weighting system which now makes this you a putter which is USGA approved and go to the course. Now, this is DUAL tasking at it best! This is all in a package with a DVD training aid for a price less than $200 bucks. Awesome.
The Look Out Sun Mountain Award: We all know that Sun Mountain has dominated the push cart category forever. However, finally there is a player to challenge that dominance. "ClicGear" is the new player on the block. There have always been "others" in this category but no one until now has brought a better product. These guys have. First off, it looks cooler. It folds down to about 2′ by 18" without taking off the wheels in about 6 easy twists or pulls. Pure origami! It rolls straight and if it doesn’t you can align the front end. YES! I love that. It is lighter, it rolls better, it folds up smaller and it costs less money. Okay…there you go…next! www.clicgearusa.com
BAR TIME PUTTING ACTION Award: I am tired of going to bars and having to play pool or Triva or Poker; I want to have putting contests and now I can. Puttalite from the UK has it going on! It is not designed for pubs, but that is who wants it! HAHAH, now that is funny! Instead it is a high tech putting target that simply puts a 4.25" light on the ground for a hole, but it doesn’t stop there; it has sensors which read the putt…too fast, you miss, left edge roll in, right edge and it has a computer interface which keeps track of all the putts and others for competition. It looks really cool and streamlined with a simple interface and affordable. Very cool, from the UK, but we won’t hold that against them. You have to try to this to see just how good it is, but all who tried it wanted one. I do too, but I don’t have room in my apartment. Shucks! www.puttalite.com
The See YA Later to High Priced Simulator Award: For years we have been seeing the most fabulous full screen golf simulators and launch monitors with Pebble Beach and other fabulous courses for the home user and we are all amazed and astounded and want one, but at $40K, or $30K, or maybe $20K, who can afford it? Well, now we can. Dancing Dogg has the answer at less than $400 bucks! Oh, my…there goes the industry! Sorry to say, but technology has caught up with golf in this respect much like the calculator. The technology is flawless and has the support of a world class software guy with affordable high speed laser readers which measure everything. Swing speed, open or shut face, direction, ball flight, distance…you get the drill. It is incorporated with Tiger’s EA game or you can just place your ball and practice impossible shots and make them like he does. This product turns the ear on high cost, high quality simulators. It can be hooked up to your laptop or your TV in your garage for less than $400; and yes, you should charge your friends to play. Who are they? www.dancindogg.com
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