Author: Erik J. Barzeski

Leupold GX-I Laser Rangefinder Review

Laser rangefinders are getting smaller and less expensive, and Leupold has entered the fray.

Leupold GX-I Laser RangefinderI started a Bushnell PinSeeker 1500 review in 2005 with the sentence “Tiger Woods has long said that the secret to good golf is always being pin high.” A lot has changed since 2005, but Tiger’s advice still rings true.

What has changed is that three years ago rangefinders and GPS units were a rarity. In 2005, these types of devices were illegal. Since 2006, they’ve been legal for tournament play under a local rule, and it seems as though every serious golfer has one (or more!) in their bags. The market has expanded quickly, and the early guys in – Bushnell with laser rangefinders and SkyGolf with GPS – are being challenged at every turn.

One of the challengers in the laser rangefinder category is longtime rifle scope-maker Leupold (& Stevens) with their GX-I and GX-II laser rangefinders. These rangefinders notably improve upon the venerable PinSeeker 1500 in just about the only ways I think a laser rangefinder can really be improved: by adding features, making it smaller, and shaving a hundred bucks off the asking price.

I’ve put the GX-I to a thorough test. Read on for my results.

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Golf Talk [Episode 098]

Odds of Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh both making 25+ foot putts? Less likely than you getting a hole in one in the next five years, that’s for sure.

Golf Talk PodcastSergio Garcia… loses again. And to none other than Vijay Singh! What’s more, both make long putts to continue the playoff! What’s going on around here? Plus Ryder Cup news, a bit on rules, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 098 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.

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Fall 2008 Sneak Peak: Titleist Vokey Wedges and Cameron Putters

A sneak peek at Bob Vokey’s most extensive line of wedges to date and some new flatsticks from Scotty Cameron.

Bag DropLast week we brought you the news of Titleist’s fall 2008 909 driver, fairway wood, and hybrid lineup. This week we bring news of the rest of the new Titleist gear: Bob Vokey’s most complete line of wedges ever and some new creations from putter craftsman Scotty Cameron.

With the spring release of the AP2 and AP1 irons (along with the ZB and ZM) and new putters, and the impending release of new drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids, new wedges and putters will mark a wholesale replacement of Titleist’s equipment line in 2008.

Read on as you prepare to have your wallet lightened a bit this fall.

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Caesar Featherie Dimpleless Golf Ball Review

There’s no other golf ball like the Caesar. Find out why in this review.

Ceasar Dimpleless Golf BallA baseball pitcher can make the ball curve because the stitched seams disrupt an otherwise smooth surface. The seams “grip” the air when the baseball is in flight and can cause the ball to curve, dip, rise, and dive on its way to the plate, frustrating batters.

The golf ball’s equivalent of seams are dimples. Every reasonably well-struck shot in golf has backspin, and backspin creates aerodynamic lift, which keeps a golf ball climbing in the air well beyond what would be its maximum height without the aid of lift. The dimples, like the seams of a baseball, provide a little “grip.”

Of course, the downside is that the same is true in the horizontal direction as well: any sidespin applied to the golf ball will result in the dimples “gripping” the air and turning the ball to the left or right. Good players can play draws and fades, but bad players are plagued by hooks and slices.

The folks at Caesar Golf Company have eliminated the problems of hooks and slices by – get this – eliminating the dimples. Their ball, the Caesar “Featherie,” is round like a pool ball. Unfortunately, eliminating hooks and slices also eliminates the aerodynamic lift, so the Featheries are also a shorter golf ball.

We played several rounds with the Featherie. Read on to see if we feel the tradeoff is worth it.

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Golf Talk [Episode 097]

Padraig Harrington, current World #1 (except in the official rankings, where he’s still #3), wins again.

Golf Talk PodcastPadraig Harrington wins back-to-back majors with a pair of Sunday 66s at Oakland Hills. We break down the final major of 2008 and talk Paddy, Sergio, Ben, Phil, and others, plus Amanda Blumenherst and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 097 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.

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Fall 2008 Sneak Peek: Titleist 909 Metals Series

Titleist is set to replace every driver, fairway wood, hybrid, and wedge and is also adding four putters this fall. Get in and buckle up.

Bag DropChez Reavie won the Canadian Open two weeks ago and Parker McLachlin won the following week using a prototype driver that’s been getting a lot of buzz on the PGA Tour, in our forum, and around the golf rumor mills, websites, and 19th holes.

The drivers, which debuted shortly before the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, have even been talked about at Titleist’s Tour Blog – a small but important step for the usually secretive Acushnet company.

A few weeks after the U.S. Open I was invited to Titleist’s Oceanside facility to try out some of the new equipment – it’s far more than just drivers – and I’ve come away with some information. Here, now, is what I learned.

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Golf Talk [Episode 096]

Vijay Singh putted like a Tourette’s patient with the yips, but still won!

Golf Talk PodcastThe PGA is coming, and Vijay Singh is warming up… kind of. Michelle Wie misses another cut, the USGA moves forward with groove regulations, the PGA is exciting, Colin Montgomerie is whining, a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 096 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.

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Golf Talk [Episode 095]

We signed our podcast so at least we won’t get disqualified. And we’re not even 53!

Golf Talk PodcastPadraig Harrington defends his British Open title, but has to beat a 53-year-old Greg Norman in the process. Also this week, John Daly bad attitude, Michelle Wie’s DQ, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 095 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.

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Frogger BrushPro Review

$14.99 for a golf brush? Sure, but it’s worth it. Find out why in this review.

I once heard that Tiger Woods, when he’s working on something, will clean his club between each of the thousand or so golf balls he might hit on the practice range that day. The rest of us, why, we’re often content to clean our clubs on the golf course between shots.

Unfortunately, most of the brushes I’ve ever seen are ill-suited for the task. They’ve got thin handles, weak bristles, and ineffective clips.

The Frogger BrushPro solves each of the problems with the traditional brush and includes a few extras as well. Read on to find out what makes the BrushPro the best brush on the market.

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