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**DennisM** · 09-30-2007, 06:00 PM

There's an old saying, "There are lures that catch fish and there are lures that catch fishermen." Obviously, the meaning is, some gadgets work and others are meant to make us look silly. As golfers, most of whom get catalogues or look at websites, I KNOW we are the same way. I wonder how many of us have tried some of these crazy things and found whether they work or not?

One of my buddies gave me a brush tee.

Another buddy uses 3 prong tees and is convinced he is longer...

I tried a laser range finder. Not all it's cracked up to be.

Another friend carries a scorecard cover in his back pocket like a tour pro.

In one of the catalogues, I saw an electronic device that you lay on the green and it tells you the break.

In the same catalogue, there was a wind meter... I wonder if it comes with an extension pole to get it up high where the wind is actually blowing?

Something I might try is a set of glasses I saw. The lenses are blue and when you are trying to find a lost ball, it supposedly makes the contrast between the green grass and white ball much higher so the ball stands out.

How about all the gadgets you can use to draw a line on your ball?

I have a little wristwatch with a peton clip built in. It's handy.

And I do admit to having a fuzzy animal headcover. I have a Garfield the Cat cover on one of my drivers. Since it's Garfield, he's there to remind me that I'm not Tiger.

C'mon - admit it... What have you tried? What have you got? What do you find funny?

**DennisM** · 10-02-2007, 09:24 AM

I seem to have scared everyone away...

Fourputt · 10-02-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisM

I seem to have scared everyone away...

He he

Not much a gadget guy myself, at least not for golf (don't get me started about my kitchen gadgets). I do have a laser rangefinder and I like it a lot. I don't have any illusions that it's a cure all, it just does what I need and that is to give me an accurate distance to what I aim it at. It doesn't always pick up a flag out of the background clutter, but it does so often enough to be a valuable tool.

Using a special tee to get more distance.... IMO that's bogus.... pure snake oil. Same with the line on the ball.

Wind meter and break meter... totally illegal.

I don't use any of those other things you mention... Half the time I even take 4 or 5 clubs out of my bag to lighten the load when I want to carry it. I like minimal golf at times, especially now with the season here in Colorado drawing to a close. By Thanksgiving, golfing opportunities will become more spotty, so I just carry a few things in my stand bag in the trunk so I can zip over for a quick 9 holes when the chance presents itself. Sometimes the simplicity of a light bag, 6 or 7 clubs, and a half dozen balls and tees are all that is required to have a great time on a 50° winter day.

**DennisM** · 10-02-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

now with the season here in Colorado drawing to a close.

Rick, I keep telling you, your room is ready.

PLEASE give me an excuse to take off work and play golf... I'm on my KNEES man!!!

Powerfade · 10-02-2007, 05:54 PM

First, I guess, is what is a “peton clip”? Who knows, I might NEED one!

Not really a golf gadget, I sometimes wear one of those elastic tube elbow thingies used for sore or strained joints. Put it on my left elbow as sort of a mental note to keep my left arm straight. Doesn’t restrict very much, just enough to make me aware. I dunno, it works for me.

I did allow myself to buy one (and only one) gadget. Went to the cheap side and got the “Swing Glove” that is supposed to keep your wrist cocking properly. Pretty useless for me, but it does fit me like a second skin and is very comfortable to wear. I’ll break it out for a few holes when I’m struggling, just to give myself a different “feel”. Too expensive to even think about buying another when this one wears out tho’.

I have been using a steel “donut” on the driver for a long time. Does little more than help stretch out when warming up before the first tee. But I like it and think it helps get loose.

Watched a guy warming up on the first tee with a Medicus a couple weeks ago. Guy had a butt-ugly swing, but never “broke” it once. A few of us were watching from the snack bar and we all sort of snuck out to get a better look and watch him hit. Pulled out his driver and after a lengthy pre-shot routine, he proceeded to duck-hook one into the trees about 80 yards out. We all went back to our hot dogs…

One gadget that I’d love to try sometime is that “Gyroswing” club that was on the Golf channel inventors show. Really piqued my curiosity! Premise is that instead of showing you what you are doing wrong, it guides you into doing it right and showing you how to keep your swing in plane. Probably was the only real “invention” on the show, and not just some sort of modification of something already on the market.

But I wonder… If I were to buy some of these gadgets being touted every day, the ones that promise to take anywhere from three to seven strokes off my game, and really work on their programs, would the effect be cumulative and have me shooting in the low twenties on my favorite 9-hole course?

OK, I’ll go take my medications now.

xiphos · 10-03-2007, 02:21 AM

The gadgets work if used properly.
The blue glasses work. They filter out a bunch of colors leaving the ball standing out.
The device for reading greens is not for playing. It is for practice. It helps one learn how to read greens, awell as charting breaks in new courses during practice rounds.
The lasers are great for dialing in distance shots. They are also very handy on short shots around the green where yardages are not marked, say 34 yards.
As for saying a line on the ball does not work, tell that to Tiger. There is a ton of great players that all mark their golf balls with lines. I do not know how you could say that a line does not work. It is similar to picking an intermediate target; one of the basic principales Jack used on all shots.
The Swing Glove is a good product, but it will not preform miricles. I have seen it help people around the green on the short shots where you can really feel if the plastic is pressing into your wrist.

Fourputt · 10-03-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerfade

First, I guess, is what is a “peton clip”? Who knows, I might NEED one!

I think he's talking about a spring carabiner, the sort of metal ring clip used by rock climbers to put the rope through for a safety belay. They are very handy for all sorts of uses beyond the original intent.

You have to cut Dennis some slack... he's from Florida... they don't have any rocks to climb there. I'm surprised he could even find such gadget down there...

Mike-A · 10-03-2007, 05:10 PM

I have the skycaddie, I love it.

I have the line em up thingy to draw a line on the ball, like it.

I use a spray bottle with brush for on the course club cleaning

I know it seems normal to US but I have one of those ball mark repair tools, AND ACTUALLY USE IT.

Fourputt · 10-03-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike-A

I know it seems normal to US but I have one of those ball mark repair tools, AND ACTUALLY USE IT.

If only there were more like you... and me (I use mine too... at least 2 craters repaired per green)

Platinum_Shafts · 10-04-2007, 05:59 PM

Dennis,

I find the Sky Caddie to be a very very reputable piece of "tour worthy" gear.

I tend not to use things(gadgets)that I don't see or hear about on any of the tours. I don't like to feel that I'm not being "pure to the game". I like the Brush Tee, and do use them on occasion; but I mostly use my standard-orthodox wooden tees, I don't think the Brush tees reduce that much resistance that it's noticable on any drives, but they are durable and sturdy and convenient and they do look cool. I like the Sky Caddie because it's accurate and it's used on Tour by some. I like your Garfield head cover, alot .....mostly because I'm not a "Tiger" fan at all .....unless I'm at the Zoo (Los Angeles Zoo rules!)

Tony

P.S. The Glasses are great!!, but all they are, are polarized lenses. Any good polarized sunglass will work fine. Blue lenses work best in brighter sunlight, and a yellow tinted polarized lense works best in low light conditions

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