Adams Golf Launches DiXX Digital Instruction Putter

For those of us who find putting a mysterious, elusive art, here’s a gizmo that can separate fact from feel to tell you exactly why you’re missing all those putts.

Bag DropFor 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…

Volume Eighty-Two

This week we have the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Kermit the Frog, MIT, and the reloading of OSU’s men’s golf team.

The PGA Tour season returns to the mainland and is in full swing with the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (hey, a Phil Michelson sighting!) where you not only get to watch Tour players but you also get to watch the celebrities show off their golf games as well.

This week we have a recap of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the rumors of Annika’s retirement, and the MIT crew getting involved in golf technology.

Tadd Fujikawa is the New Wie

Just when you thought it was another weekend that the Wie media circus would flourish Tadd Fujikawa steals the show.

ProFilesThe media’s neurotic obsession with golf’s new bionic woman got shelved last weekend and a little amateur stole the show. Tadd Fujikawa was the youngest player in fifty years to make the cut at a PGA Tour event. My new favorite amateur golfer showed us what is sorely needed on the PGA Tour. Just as Wie, with her injured wrist, was thrashing around the Sony Open to another disappointing missed cut (+14) this five-foot-one firecracker steals the show. It was the best golf story since Tiger won the British Open.

Wie has more than her fair share of talent. She plays exceptionally well considering her age. She nearly made the cut at the Sony Open in 2006 and finished T3, T5, T3, and T26 in the women’s majors last year. That’s a good year for most of the LPGA field and she’s only now 17. But her propensity to accept every PGA Tour sponsor’s exemption is annoying.

Strength of Field: Tiger vs. Phil, Part One

The debate over whether Tiger Woods plays stronger field events than Phil Mickelson is about to come to an end. Well, maybe not, but perhaps this will provide some food for thought and show who plays better in stronger field.

The Numbers GameIt’s been said that Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods differ in schedule in one critical way: Tiger plays (and excels) at events with stronger fields while Phil Mickelson excels at weaker-field events.

I’ve compiled a list of statistics from last season which speak to this statistic. Bear in mind that one season is far from representative (particularly given Tiger’s eight wins, two majors, and father’s death which forced an extended break). To illuminate true patterns, an entire career (or at least, say, the most recent five years) would have to be examined. The manner in which I’ve compiled these numbers is assuredly a less than scientific way of determining which player is playing in the toughest events.

Golf Talk [Episode 044]

Quite seriously, if you were Michelle Wie, wouldn’t you rather be at the mall than shooting 78-76 and missing the cut again?

PodcastThe Golf Channel settles in and an oldie (but goodie?) wins the Sony Open in the form of Paul Goydos, knocking off the forever-bridesmaid Charles Howell III and young gun Luke Donald. Tadd Fujikawa makes a compelling start, makes the cut, and makes a lot of friends, while Michelle Wie’s play on the men’s tours of the world continue to stir up opposition. Her 78-76 next-to-last-place finish didn’t help much, either. All that and more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 044 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

The Architects Golf Club (Lopatcong, NJ) Review

On New Jersey’s western border, just across the Delaware from Easton, PA, lies a golf course that proves a great test doesn’t have to bring you to your knees.

Architects LogoLucky to play so many wonderful courses over the years, I’ve devised my own simple Goldilocks rating scheme. Some are too hard. Some are too soft. Some are just right.

Too hard? Bethpage Black, Winged Foot, Kiawah Ocean. Too soft? The Old Course at 70°F in dead calm from the forward tees with a great caddie and your “A” game working. Just right? Harbour Town, Troon North, and Somerset Hills come to mind.

The latest in my life long list of “just right” is my home club, The Architects Golf Club in Lopatcong, NJ. Here’s as unbiased a review as I can muster given that I love it so…

The Art of Choking

The PGA Tour’s brightest young stars can’t seem to finish the job on Sunday.

Thrash TalkForgive me if I sound a little hasty this week. It’s no secret by now that Charles Howell III is far and away my favorite golfer in the world. Howell III had The Sony Open trophy well within his grasp this past Sunday before crumbling like an Oreo cookie. I had my victory celebration planned out, but I should have known better. Just when CH3 looked to be getting over the hump, he let himself and his number one fan down yet again.

I’ve watched the PGA Tour since the early-to-mid 1990s, and I can’t recall being so disappointed in a tournament finish as I was this past Sunday. Even after Howell III lost his lead, he still had a chance to birdie the 72nd hole to force a playoff. An awful chip and putt later, and he finished in a tie for second with fellow young gun, Luke Donald.

Scotty Cameron Unveils Latest Prototype Putters

The Cameron Detour putters created quite a stir with their revolutionary arced sightline. Now Scotty is applying the concept to traditionally shaped heads.

Bag DropWhether you’re a fan of Scotty Cameron or not, you have to acknowledge that his putters are something special. Not only has he succeeded in refining and improving classic designs, he’s been a true innovator with putters like his Futura and Futura Phantom models.

Last year’s introduction of the Detour putters took his innovations a step further. A subtly curved sightline mimics the path the putter head takes on an arced inside-square-inside stroke… the technique espoused by Cameron and Stan Utley, among others.

While the Detour won a lot of converts, it was a radical-looking head shape. Now it appears Cameron is marrying the curved sight line to a more traditional head. Here’s a first peek…

Volume Eighty-One

What do Vijay Singh, Michelle Wie, Nick Faldo, The Golf Channel and the Golf Digest Hot List have in common?

The last of the fruitcake is ready to be re-gifted for next Christmas and I have already broken all of the resolutions I made for the new year. Big deal you say. Give us some links we can check out at work.

This week we have a recap of not only the Sony Open but also a bonus recap of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, a Hot List, 2007 predictions, and a teen golfer in Hawaii.