Fore Inventors Only

[Arsenal Forever]

In case you guys havent noticed on the golfwrx forum they have already announced the winner. Look away.

We've already determined that.

[iacas]

In case you guys havent noticed on the golfwrx forum they have already announced the winner. Look away.

Yeah, we talked about that here too.

I didn't like how they were asking about the price of the Club Kaddie (the little clip thing). C'mon, it's gotta cost like $9.99 or less. I mean, they haven't asked about the price of that stupid one-use camera, but they ask about the price of a stupid clip? That thing should win: it's cheap enough for everyone to buy. They'll lose them and need to replace them. It barely takes up shelf space. It sells itself. I haven't seen where I can buy them. The guy should sell them himself. Strike and swipe is dumb. Sorry, but it's dumb. Very few people use impact tape these days outside of clubfitting. Pros know where they hit it and amateurs are just trying to find the clubface half the time.

[Undr Par]

I agree about the strike and swipe being useless, imho you can get the same result if you take 10 balls and marker/paint whatever them up and then place tape on your drivers clubface and hit them in an open field.......I'd save my $10.00 and do it the redneck way as I pointed out you could

[Striper]

You can also buy a can of foot powder, spray it on your irons, driver, or putter and see the same results.

[Undr Par]

You can also buy a can of foot powder, spray it on your irons, driver, or putter and see the same results.

exactly......

[Striper]

Perhaps this needs to be revisited. I didn't watch the last show, but the Strike and Swipe is not listed among the finalists on their website.

It may be for sale at Golfsmith but, clearly, that doesn't make it the winner of the show.

[iacas]

Perhaps this needs to be revisited. I didn't watch the last show, but the Strike and Swipe is not listed among the finalists on their website.

It's listed as a Show 4 Semi-finalist. The other half of the "field" was in show 5. Show 6 was in the GolfSmith show (yesterday evening) and hasn't appeared on their site yet... because nobody was cut.

The Strike 'n Swipe guy gave a HORRIBLE presentation, though, that's for sure. Based on the presentations, I'd eliminate these five:

1. Strike 'n Swipe
2. GyroSwing
3. ProPlay GPS (I hate the name too - it ain't a "GPS")
4. Clean & Drop
5. Shaft Skinz

[Big Lex]

I agree with Erik that the club caddy clip thingie should win. Very cheap, easy to make and buy, functional, etc.

The VJ putting machine is nice, but I think it will be very expensive, and it's probably a little too technical for the average guy. I also am not sure how well it would work. Although it is infinitely adjustable for different strokes, the rails make me think it sort of guides you through a stroke, rather than giving you feedback on your errors. Maybe I just don't understand the product completely...but I think it looks alot better than it really is.

I saw "Strike and Swipe" in a catalog, so yeah, maybe it is the winner. For me, this is lame. Nine times out of ten, there is a ball mark on the face of my club indicating where I hit it. It's a grass mark on iron shots, and a tee mark with a faint ball impression on teed up shots with woods, hybrids, etc. If you're hitting range balls that are even a little dirty, they leave even better marks. If you just clean the face of your club, you can always tell where you hit it. And with your real club, not your club with a plastic thingie on the face. Plus, you can check your impact on real shots during a round, and you wouldn't be allowed to use that thing during a round.

Also, even without ball impressions, anyone can learn to figure out where you hit the ball simply by feel. I went through a period about 10 years ago where I was obsessed with trying to get center face contact on all my shots. It helped me quite a bit, actually, to get better. Anyway, if you concentrate on this for a few range sessions, you'll be able to tell where you hit the ball a good bit of the time. With modern clubs, especially drivers, heel and high face hits are a bit harder for me to localize, but in general it ain't a big deal.

This would be a good product for a club fitter, but as a mass market product for golfers, no way. Maybe it's a bit better suited for putting, but I still think you don't need it there, either.

[Big Lex]

On Gyroswing:

People are so "wowed," as well as totally confused, by things scientific, that a product like this gets way, way overrated, in my opinion.

Yes, the "conservation of angular momentum" tends to keep something moving along a certain path/arc, according to the torque acting on it (forgive me, physicists, if I didn't get the words 100% there, but you get the idea).

But the question is: What line are you keeping the gyro club on? My impression of that product is that if you start the club on a terrible, flat, inside path, or horrendous, outside, steep, chopping trajectory, the gyroscope will ensure that you stay on that line, and will "teach" you to stop any corrections you may have been making.

Unless I'm missing something about it--and I well may be--all I can say is "what a stupid it is!"

I agree about the pro play (it isn't a GPS, and nobody asks them about that!!!!!), and the stupid little towel. But I really like the shaft skins. Great idea. I think he did himself a bit of a disservice by presenting only those hideous, avant-garde patterns...why not zebra stripes, or NFL team colors, or the American Flag or Union Jack, or candy cane stripes for ladies, etc.?

[ettsn]

I think the Gyroswing thing has some merit, but I'll agree it's not the one to beat on there. I'll also agree that the club clip thing is easily the "impulse buy" item in the running. I'd buy one today, if they were in the stores.

The towel is lame. Strike-n-Swipe is as bad as his preso was (although his wife is not too bad to look at). The shaft skins are kinda neat, but would you buy them? I sure as hell wouldn't. That's sorta been my thinking all along: would I buy this thing?

Which also kills both the uber-putt machine thing (I'm sure it will be prohibitively expensive) and the HillShot (which I think is brilliant, but not at the retail level -- I wish my local range had them to use!).

[Q.Q.Quillume]

I agree about the pro play (it isn't a GPS, and nobody asks them about that!!!!!)

The inventors are using "GPS" to stand for "Golf Performance System". IMO, that's pretty lame.

[jowlar]

kills both the uber-putt machine thing (I'm sure it will be prohibitively expensive)

Exactly, this thing is already on sale at practicerange.com for $389. I am a chump for putting aids but not a $400 chump.

Also, even without ball impressions, anyone can learn to figure out where you hit the ball simply by feel. I went through a period about 10 years ago where I was obsessed with trying to get center face contact on all my shots. It helped me quite a bit, actually, to get better. Anyway, if you concentrate on this for a few range sessions, you'll be able to tell where you hit the ball a good bit of the time. With modern clubs, especially drivers, heel and high face hits are a bit harder for me to localize, but in general it ain't a big deal.

I use a bottle of baby powder. Maybe I should market it as "the sprinkle and swipe", here I come Stina.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Looks like http://www.practicerange.com/detail.aspx?ID=982 is selling the "Hill Shot Incline Golf Trainer" which appears to be virtually, if not, the same product as the one seen on Fore Inventors Only (Hill Shot Golf Trainer by Larry Koch & daughter Brandi). Right now it's on sale for $749.95.

[iacas]

Looks like

$750! Heh, yeah. Good sleuthing, but as I see it the problem with the stupid Hillshot golf is that NO GOLFER would buy it. It's great for a teaching pro, sure, but no golfer will buy it. Won't even fit in the trunk of most cars.

Other inventions were disqualified because they weren't aimed at individual golfers. Why not this dumb thing? P.S. My wife thinks the way the guy and the daughter behave is freaky. A bit too touchy feely if you ask her.

[Mr.Buckethead]

I think I read that they are from Louisville.

[Warik]

I like this show but I must say that a lot of the products that made it through really shouldn't be there. There were plenty that missed the cut that were much better.

Hill Shot Golf Trainer - GREAT idea, but totally un-marketable to the individual consumer. Too big to transport. It would be sold exclusively to driving ranges or instructors.

Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine - Cool product, but too fancy so it will be overpriced and no one will buy it.

ProPlay GPS - See above.

Clean & Drop - A wet towel will do 90% as good a job for 100% less money.

Strike 'N Swipe - Good for advanced players who want to improve consistency in hitting the sweet spot. Useless for beginners whose main problem is a poor swingpath or open/closed clubface.

GyroSwing - On the fence about this one. I'd have to play with it myself to really make a determination, but if it always stays on plane, won't it help me develop bad habits if I am taking it back on the wrong plane? Or is it supposed to be impossible to do so?

ClubGlider Travel Bag - Great product for those courageous enough to trust their precious clubs to airport security & baggage handlers in a soft case. I'll lug around my hardshell case if you don't mind.

The Power Stance - Yeah, good stance but lousy followthrough. Ever notice how nobody who demos it ever finishes with all their weight on their front foot and on the toe of their back foot? I'd be afraid to fall off the thing.

Shaft Skinz - Are you kidding me? I can't believe he made it through the audition. Who would seriously buy this?

Club Caddy - David Jones is my hero. This is the greatest product ever. If he somehow manages to lose this competition I will go to the ends of the Earth to track him down and ask him to make one just for me.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Club Caddy

I want one too.

Maybe two, one for a backup!

[iacas]

I want one too.

Make that three orders at least. Heck, I'll buy 4 or 5 myself!