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Whatever will they think of next?

Balls with no dimples, analysers in the putter head, ball-marker jewellery. It's a crazy world at the Florida golf trade show...


Posted: 26 January 2007
by Golfmagic correspondent

PGA Show 2007
'A smooth golf ball: Whatever next?'

The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando Florida this week - a showcase for what the manufacturers in the golf industry hope and pray we'll be using in 2007 - threw up its usual clutch of weird ideas.

And if you thought drivers with square, hexagonal and bullet-shaped heads was off the wall, try this lot:

Balls with no dimples

Costing about £40 for half a dozen, the smooth Caesar ball claims to produce similar results to the traditional dimpled golf ball - without the distance. It's a ball that has been developed for shorter courses and shorter holes and is more difficult to lose, say the makers Caesar Golf.

Among its plus points are its durable and easy to clean and the makers claimed one college student at the show's demo day holed 15 auccessive mid-range putts with it. But who wants to pay twice the price for a ball that goes nowhere and harks back to the featheries of the late 19th century?

PGA Show 2007
B2-M Heavy putter

Heavyweight putters

It makes sense that the heavier the putter, the better the roll on greens that are slow like the ones we find in the UK and Europe. The new A2-M and B2-M models within the Heavy Putter Matte series feature a non-reflective finish and encourage the use of larger, more stable shoulder muscles to promote a pendulum stroke.

With the Heavy Putter in his bag, PGA Tour player Troy Matteson had five Top 10 finishes, including a win, and Adrien Mork had two wins and a record-breaking round of 59 on the European Challenge Tour.

However, the cost of the putter reflects the complicated nature of the technology and the materials involved - approaching £200.

PGA show 2007
Five-hour energy bottles

Drink your way to better scores

Because we're not as fit as 'the athletes' on Tour, most of us tend to flag towards the end of the round - our concentration drops as our energy levels fade and no amount of chocolate or banana will pick us up.

However, a 5-hour Energy Drink (for the equivalent of £2) was introduced to the show which the makers claim will keep us going throughout the round - a powerful blend of B-vitamins, enzymes and amino acids yet without sugar and carbohydrates - but just enough caffeine. Ever played golf on 'a high'? Sounds a bit scary.

It's all in the hands

All of us demand better touch and feel from our golf grip but sometimes we just don't get it through the traditional golf glove - especially as it tends to be only used on one hand.

PGA Show 2007
Ladybug ball marker

Bionic Golf Gloves come in pairs and have been developed by an orthopaedic surgeon with 'anatomical relief pads' to even out the surface of our hands for 'a lighter grip leading to improved distance and accuracy.' About £20 a pair.

Ballmarker jewellery

Impress your friends with a ball marker that doubles as jewellery. Yeah, right!

Instead of reaching deep into your pocket you can slide your Luckie ball marker off Ladybug or Butterfly pins and use it to mark your ball on the green. Can't see it catching on at around £12 a throw. How many ball-makrers have you lost lately?

PGA Show 2007
Stinkaway soles

Your stinking feet!

Ever walked into a locker room and got that disgusting whiff of several pairs of smelly feet? Course you have.

Staff at Cup Enterprises Inc, have, too. So they developed 'Stinkaway pads' for those whose best friends won't tell them about their foot problem. The pads claim to absorb moisture and sweat from the most used and abused shoes. At around £5 a pair they'd make a great present from an anonymous donor!

PGA Show 2007
DiXX Blu putter

Instant analyser putter

One of the outstanding successes of the UK Golf Show in Birmingham pre-Christmas, was the stand where you could have your putting stroke analysed - wired up to a greenside lap top.

Infinics Inc have taken the technology one stage further by creating a screen - about the size of that you'll find on a mobile phone on the DiXX Blu putter. It will instantly record your swing path, the ball's impact position on the clubface, face angle and swing tempo.

What's the weirdest golf gadget or product you've ever seen, bought or used? Tell us on the forum.


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Discuss this story

What's the weirdest golf gadget or product you've ever seen, bought or used? Did it work or did your mates think you plain barmy?
Posted: 26/01/2007 11:44

The golf pendants that are meant to calm you or something like that.
Posted: 26/01/2007 12:05

Pendants, yep got one of those, does appear to make me calmer but wether its in the mind who knows.

I have a plastic thingy that fits in your glove to help it keep its shape, rarely use it, cant be bothered and i get mocked :o)
Posted: 26/01/2007 13:42

Head covers for irons, 2 of our gang use them and you can bet that the round is half hour slower when one of them are in your fourball.
Posted: 26/01/2007 14:44

Got some of those too, brought for me i hasten to add, the question is can you be bothered enough to keep taking them off and putting them on, its bad enough with putters and woods.
Posted: 26/01/2007 14:48

Putters? why would anyone need a cover for a putter?



doh! I know...to keep it red hot.
Posted: 26/01/2007 14:58

why would anyone need a cover for a putter?

simple.if you have a soft putter it protects it in transit (car,plane).when i take the putter out for the first putt i put the cover over the top of my umbrella and it stays there till the end of the round ;-)
Posted: 26/01/2007 15:57

I leave mine on throughout the round, stops it clonking on my wedges. Perhaps thats why all my putts come up short :o)
Posted: 26/01/2007 16:01

i use iron covers and i dont care what people think it stops bag chatter and keeps my clubs looking tip-top so if and when i come to sell them they will fetch a better price.
so there :)

Posted: 26/01/2007 16:35

I have a head cover for my putter too. I just like the leather and fur ;o)
Posted: 26/01/2007 16:55

I tried that putter with the TV screen on it at the Orlando Show. All I can say is what a peice of kit.

Apart from the analysis I'm hoping they can do a deal with Setanta so that I can watch the tour whilst trying to sink my 3rd putt on the green
Posted: 05/02/2007 14:19


Taz
Michael - "when i come to sell them they will fetch a better price"

If they're worth protecting, why would you want to sell 'em? Daftest product - the penknife style pitch repairers, what a load of crap they are. Heavy, get clogged up with mud so they grate and crunch when opened, break your nails and for the cost you can buy a dozen lightweight simple ones that slip in yer back pocket.
Posted: 05/02/2007 16:17

A plastic ventilated banana case.
Posted: 05/02/2007 16:42

Have to disagree there Taz, i was brought one as a pressie about 4 years ago, its a proper swiss army style one, not the cheap nasty ones you get and i am lost without it. Granted, it is best to oil the slide mechanism occasionaly but other than that its been great. Now some of the new pitch mark repairers are really heavy. :o)
Posted: 05/02/2007 17:08

Goggles to help you find balls in the rough. Never tried them so they might work, but they look really daft!
Posted: 05/02/2007 19:28

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