Fore Inventors Only

[Everardo]

Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine - Little pricey at $300 but still, I would love to try one. Here's the website

ProPlay GPS - $400 on this one - Very cool and if it doubles good as a regular recorder then that might be nice. I'd like to have one for the shop to record peoples swings in conjuction with the launch monitor and replay it when we're going through the fitting process

Clean & Drop - Yeah I don't know how this one made it this far. They kicked other products off the show citing they can't make a 30 minute infomercial on it so how do they expect to fill 30 minutes of time on this thing?

Strike 'N Swipe - Again, 30 minutes of airtime?

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 - I have a soft case (Club Glove Last Bag) and knock on wood never a problem (It's more how you pack the stuff that's in the soft bag.) If I didn't have a travel bag already I'd seriously look at this one.......hell for as much as I travel I still may!

Shaft Skinz - Another one with 30 minutes of airtime but I like the idea especially since it's not permanent.

Club Caddy - I'm on this bandwagon!

So which 5 made it? I keep recording the show on the DVR but it keeps cutting off the top 5.....or are they announcing that on the next show?

[Q.Q.Quillume]

So which 5 made it? I keep recording the show on the DVR but it keeps cutting off the top 5.....or are they announcing that on the next show?

Well, one of the top five was announced on the last show. The CEO (or whatever his title is) of Golfsmith gave "immunity" to the "ClubGlider Travel Bag" -- the other four of the top five will be announced on Tuesday 8/28.

[iacas]

ProPlay GPS

See, here's my problem with that thing: a Canon SD 550 does 320 x 240 and 60 frames per second AND ALSO has an 8 megapixel (maybe 5) camera in it that's pretty darn good. Cost? About the same as the ProPlay GPS (which still is stupidly named). Double the functionality for the same price.

Normally I hate putting video cameras in still cameras, but for this purpose it works. For shooting video, no, the SD 550 is poor... but the PPGPS is even more limited.

So which 5 made it? I keep recording the show on the DVR but it keeps cutting off the top 5.....or are they announcing that on the next show?

On the next show, yep.

[golfchief]

I bought a strike and swipe package for $12, can't buy them in the store only online so you pay the postage. I think the old inpact tape is better. the s&s; is hard to see the impact spot and to clear with a swipe is not a one time swipe more like three and four times and the faint impact spot is still visible. It's crap.

[Arsenal Forever]

I'm rooting for the Shaft Skinz. I like the inventor, Martin Greeves, and I think it can become a popular customization for weekenders.

[Matt P]

Club Caddy

You guys really like this one eh? I just can't see myself using it. I already get some crap from people from having things like the ballzee, but then again my playing partners like to borrow it. With this thing you have to take it out, put it on and set up the club so it dosen't fall over, seems easier to just place the club on the flag stick or on my divot tool. Anyway what do you guys see in this product that I am not.

Additionally, the website says he has invested $40,000.00 in this thing. I think if I sunk that much into a clothes pin type thing my wife would kill me...kinda ridiculous amount of money. Some of the inventors have said they have a million in their inventions...crazy.

I bought a strike and swipe package for $12, can't buy them in the store only online so you pay the postage. I think the old inpact tape is better. the s&s; is hard to see the impact spot and to clear with a swipe is not a one time swipe more like three and four times and the faint impact spot is still visible. It's crap.

Can you re-use these things, i.e. take it off your club and use on a different day, or once they are on the club face is it a one time application I understand that you can wipe the mark off but can you use it at multiple range sessions?

[Warik]

You guys really like this one eh? I just can't see myself using it. I already get some crap from people from having things like the ballzee, but then again my playing partners like to borrow it. With this thing you have to take it out, put it on and set up the club so it dosen't fall over, seems easier to just place the club on the flag stick or on my divot tool. Anyway what do you guys see in this product that I am not.

I love that thing. In fact if this product is not available for purchase some time soon I'm just going to go out and make my own. Right now I have to put the club down on a tee and it's a pain to be bending over, placing the club, etc... Clipping and leaving it is so much easier. Great, great idea.

Additionally, the website says he has invested $40,000.00 in this thing. I think if I sunk that much into a clothes pin type thing my wife would kill me...kinda ridiculous amount of money. Some of the inventors have said they have a million in their inventions...crazy.

Wow... I can't believe that. Unless he's already been selling that product and making a killing, $40,000 is nuts. I don't see how they can manage to spend that much money.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Drat the luck.

George Lopez is going to host next week's season finale (9/4) when the winner will be announced.

I can't stand Lopez; earlier this year Lopez was in a televised PGA event or two with pros & amateurs in them. Both Danny Ganz & George Lopez drove me batty. I'm not sure whether to just skip watching the 9/4 show of Fore Inventors Only or have three or four stiff Chivas on the rocks before hand . . . .

[iacas]

Wow... I can't believe that. Unless he's already been selling that product and making a killing, $40,000 is nuts. I don't see how they can manage to spend that much money.

It's not cheap to have custom injection molds created for yourself, trademarks, patent applications, a lawyer, etc.

BTW, voting is now live at http://thegolfchannel.com/foreinventors/ . It seems you can vote as often as you like. I can't believe the dumb camera made it through. Or Hillshot. You can't fit it into your CAR!!!

[brookpe]

It's not cheap to have custom injection molds created for yourself, trademarks, patent applications, a lawyer, etc.

That poor little hillshot golf guy deserves to win though.... he has walked 10 miles just scooting around that thing and that's just the TV time I have seen.

[Golf4life]

I voted for the pro play gps. I think it's very practical to use. you know how many times i've wanted to take camcoder to range or golf course but you thnk about it and you start thinking, what you need, how are you going to use it. Do i have a tri-pod or need to make arrangements for some to go with me. The gps sits low enough that you can set up different angles.

The Z factor perfect putting stroke came in at a close 2nd, i will be testing this out and potentially buying it.

[ettsn]

Grab one of these at Best Buy for $10 and use the video mode on your digital camera.



ProPlay GPS is kinda silly.

[Golf4life]

Grab one of these at Best Buy for $10 and use the video mode on your digital camera.

DOH! now see that's thinking outside the box.

[Arsenal Forever]

I can't believe the gyroscope thing didn't make it.

I was also mad the Hillshot Golf made it, not only would you look like the biggest moron ever lugging that thing anywhere (although, hey, whatever works, works) but as Iacas said, it'd never fit in a car.

I don't like that guy David Jones at all. I also am not a fan of his product. I voted for the Putting Machine.

[Golf4life]

I can't believe the gyroscope thing didn't make it.

yeah i thought the gyroscope would have been a shoe in. I just dont see myself buying the club caddie. Didn't see that being in the top 5.

[Jeepthrills]

That poor little hillshot golf guy deserves to win though.... he has walked 10 miles just scooting around that thing and that's just the TV time I have seen.

He is a clown, but the concept they have is a good one. The problem, I agree with Erik, is that it's not remotely portable. Every range and training center should have a couple, but I don't have a big enough yard to use it at home and I'm sure as hell not throwing it in the back of my truck to haul it to the range. This is a contest for consumer products.

Z Factor: Great idea. It can be used anywhere and allows you to improve the most important part of the game. Club Glider: Very practical. When I go to get a travel bag, this will likely be the one. Just makes sense. Hill Shot: See above. Club Caddy: Simple and sensible. I think I will cut the heads off my old jumper cables and wrap them with something to prevent the shafts from getting scraped. ProPlay GPS: I'm torn on this one. It's a very cool idea, but if the guy in the group infront of me has one, I will have to throttle him. It would make play extremely slow. Unless you get your buddy to set it up while you are getting ready to hit and you review it while sitting in the cart, don't take it to the course.

[Arsenal Forever]

Also, maybe it's just me, but does anyone else find it odd how much the Hillshot dad and daughter touch each other?

[iacas]

Also, maybe it's just me, but does anyone else find it odd how much the Hillshot dad and daughter touch each other?

I commented on that earlier. My wife thinks it's flat out creepy. I agree - and not just because I've been conditioned to "yes, dear" everything. It's creepy.

Z Factor: Great idea. It can be used anywhere and allows you to improve the most important part of the game.

They balked at the $300 price, but I'm hoping to review the thing for the site, and I don't think $300 is a bad price for something that seems to do what it does. Putting is THAT important.

Club Glider: Very practical. When I go to get a travel bag, this will likely be the one. Just makes sense.

It's still a soft bag, though, which I don't particularly like. I don't travel that much per year, but I've never had that big a problem with the bags I use. They wheel around just fine.

Hill Shot: See above.

Yeah, I don't think it's gonna fit in anyone's trunk. How are people who buy it going to take it home?

Club Caddy: Simple and sensible. I think I will cut the heads off my old jumper cables and wrap them with something to prevent the shafts from getting scraped.

They might not be long enough to really stand the club up very well. They alluded to the price last night ($20???). At $10, the thing would fly off the shelves. At $20 it's gonna be a tougher sell. Even $14.99 would be fine... The CEO dude told everyone it's a high-volume thing, and I think it is. Every time I carried a wedge and my putter today I thought about how nice it'll be to use that when it comes out.

ProPlay GPS: I'm torn on this one. It's a very cool idea, but if the guy in the group infront of me has one, I will have to throttle him. It would make play extremely slow. Unless you get your buddy to set it up while you are getting ready to hit and you review it while sitting in the cart, don't take it to the course.

I've used my Canon SD550 in its 60 FPS video mode, and it doesn't really slow play at all. If buddies can help you out, it takes no extra time. If you're alone, you shouldn't be playing that slowly anyway.

I just think: A) why have "GPS" in the title, and B) why make something that costs as much as my Canon SD550 and yet which does so much less? It's a dumb product from that perspective, IMHO. Anyway, vote vote vote guys!!! I'm giving most of my votes to the Club Caddy and a few towards the Z Factor.