Conceptual Training Gadget - Would You Buy It?

[bmartin461]

I was watching GC and they had a segment on with Tom Kite.  He was showing how he would practice his chipping from 20, 30, 40 yards.  Basically he had his caddie stand at each station and bark out how close he was to hitting the yardage.  So if he hit it one yard past the 20 mark, she would say 21, etc.  Immediate feedback.  He said he did that drill every day.   I thought it was a great way to practice, but unfortunately, I don't have a full time caddie at my disposal.

So, imagine a device about the size of a Amazon Echo, that you would place out at whatever distance you wanted to practice hitting to.  It would have a spinning laser that would create a 10 yard circle (non-visible) and track where your ball hits in relation to it.  It would communicate back to your phone the results, audible each time and also track the entire session.

Is this something you would buy?  

[woodzie264]

4 minutes ago, bmartin461 said:

So, imagine a device about the size of a Amazon Echo, that you would place out at whatever distance you wanted to practice hitting to.  It would have a spinning laser that would create a 10 yard circle (non-visible) and track where your ball hits in relation to it.  It would communicate back to your phone the results, audible each time and also track the entire session.

Is this something you would buy?  

sounds cool - I guess it depends on price

[klineka]

I think this would be more beneficial for chipping and wedge gapping, the circle would have to be pretty big in order for this to work from far distances. Also, the device would have to be rugged enough to not break when a ball hits it. Not a bad idea though!

[bkuehn1952]

9 minutes ago, bmartin461 said:

...So, imagine a device about the size of a Amazon Echo, that you would place out at whatever distance you wanted to practice hitting to...

It better be bullet proof considering how inaccurate I am.  

[sirsteveo55]

Yea, I would say it depends on price. I think there are already some gadgets out there that kinda are something similar. I feel you are kinda looking for instant feedback and you get that from launch monitors. I know some can get very expensive but some are not as expensive so it depends on price. You also get a lot more data from a launch monitor. I am not a market professional but I feel the golf technology market is extremely dangerous, its very niche.

[nevets88]

Would it work if you were in a bunker, say 10 feet below the putting surface? I'm assuming yes.

I had to chuckle, the reference to the Amazon Echo (Dot), as opposed to a hockey puck. We're so technologized, most people probably know what an Echo is.

[bmartin461]

10 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Would it work if you were in a bunker, say 10 feet below the putting surface? I'm assuming yes.

I had to chuckle, the reference to the Amazon Echo (Dot), as opposed to a hockey puck. We're so technologized, most people probably know what an Echo is.

Since it's conceptual at this point the answer is yes, it will work.   

[Hatchman]

Yes I'd acquire one for practice.  The one (pond) in front of our elevated hole 18 makes an unpleasant sound.

Edited March 14, 2017 by Hatchman

[iacas]

People would just put a stick or a headcover out there and note how far the ball went relative to that.

Plus, most people don't practice this kind of thing as often (or 1/10th as often) as Tom Kite because… golf isn't their job like it's Tom Kite's.

And for me, well, I'll just use a FlightScope if I want to do this sort of thing accurately.

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Also, this is a good thing to do, but I just gap my wedges and measure my 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 swings (and full swings) now and then, and check on them now and then as well.

[No Mulligans]

Or, instead, a hula hoop

I do the 10 yard one in my backyard all the time.  I use a hula hoop and my eyes.  I think it's just as effective as Kite's caddy.

[Hacker James]

I kinda like the hula hoop idea, but you can also buy those small pitching net catcher things that sit at an angle. Or I suppose you could also sit the hula hoop on its edge and try to go through it on the balls downward trajectory. Golf Towel would also be okay. 

Edited March 14, 2017 by Hacker James

[No Mulligans]

Maybe Kite used a caddie because he was as blind as a bat.  At least until he got eye surgery.