Whatever will they think of next?

'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?

B2-M Heavy putter

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.

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.

Ladybug ball marker

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?

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!

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.