Adams Golf Launches DiXX Digital Instruction Putter

For something so seemingly simple as rolling a ball with a flat-faced stick, it’s a sad fact that sooner or later putting bedevils every player. Were you aimed wrong? Did you pull it? Push it? Was it your tempo? Your transition? Do you even have a clue?

Well now, if you have very, very deep pockets, Adams Golf comes to the rescue with answers to all the above. They’ve reached agreement with a South Korean inventor to become North American distributors for the DiXX Digital Instruction putter.

The device, which Adams will unveil at this week’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, looks to me to be pretty amazing. Here’s the story…

What It Is
The DiXX is a putter with a unique patented motion sensor called an “Inertial Navigation System” and a color LCD screen built into a module that fits in its mallet-shaped head.

What’s remarkable is that the sensor provides feedback data on every aspect of the stroke including swing path, impact position, tempo, face angle, and speed balance. I don’t know about you, but that’s just about everything that has ever gone awry in my stroke at one time or another.

Not only does it give you instant feedback on a stroke, it also compiles data on a number of putts to give you a statistical profile so you can identify your tendencies and, eventually, your progress toward improving your action.

These are four of the screens available that reveal what you’re doing during the stroke. In these examples, it shows the dispersion over 10 putts. In the upper right are the navigation cues showing which way to twist the putter to get to another screen.

The motion sensors inside the module are used in another way, as well. Apparently you can switch from screen to screen as you hold the grip with just a quick twist of the wrist.

It will come with a practice weight that swaps out with the sensor/screen module so you can play with it on the course. However, it is not USGA approved.

The Inventor
The putter and its technology are the brainchild of Dr. Ci Moo Song of Seoul, South Korea whose company, Infinics, Inc., began marketing the putter in Japan in late 2005.

Apparently he knows something about technology, as he’s the former head of research for the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and is a professor of aerospace engineering at Sejong University.

Can you imagine conversations between he and Dave Pelz? Could anybody but an engineer understand what they were saying to each other?

Why I’d Love to Have One
I’ve worked long and hard on my putting and have become pretty fair at it. But, still, I run into stretches, like last October’s Newport Cup, where it just plain goes south.

I suspect it’s in my transition. But then again it could be my alignment. Or maybe my tempo gets quick. This device could definitely help me decide.

Too, after years of being more or less square-to-square, I’ve started to putt on more of an arc. It would be very interesting to me to use this thing to find out which path makes for the most consistent stroke and face angle at impact for me.

Why I Probably Won’t Have One
Hold your breath. This little number is going to go for a suggested retail price of $1,000. Wow.

Yeah, I know. Me too. But still, I can see a lot of teaching pros and clubfitters being able to justify its cost. And if you promise yourself to forgo new drivers or irons for a couple years, maybe you could rationalize the investment.

Then again, if you’re loaded and serious about your game, I think this is a no brainer. This is without question the best putting feedback device I’ve ever seen.

In the End…
The DiXX is going to begin shipping March 1 to high-end specialty retail stores, golf retailers, and pro shops. It will be available in lengths of 33, 34, and 35 inches. I’d definitely want a hands-on demonstration before considering a purchase. It’s pricey. But it’s very, very cool. What do you think?

P.S. You can order the DiXX at Edwin Watts for $899.