New Product Reviews

By Bob Koczor

ASHWORTH GOLF SHIRT

Does the golf shirt make the man or the man make the golf shirt? (In other words, does the man make the shirt look better or the shirt make the man look better?)

The answer is neither. -- It’s a combination of both.

This holds true since the mannequins displayed behind the windows at the retail outlet are the perfect embodiment of size, weight and proportion.

Thus, most shirts look great on a mannequin.

Once you don that golf shirt on a 5’7” stocky septuagenarian, however, the shirt doesn’t look as good as when it was displayed on a mannequin.

Hope lies eternal, on the fact that the better-looking golf shirt will always help a golfer look better, thus we always try out best to wear the most attractive and most comfortable.

Ashworth has introduced colorful non-iron cotton golf shirt which is both attractive and comfortable.

This golf shirt’s inherent attraction consists, in part, of five stripes (light blue, white, green, white, aqua) presented in a soft manner, much as a quieter doorbell tone as compared to a clankety-clank dingle-ling obnoxious tone.

The colors are non-fading with use, which means you maintain that “new” look on and off the course for the life of the shirt.

This EZ-Tech golf shirt also features non-iron cotton, which means just that: no ironing required!

Piling and shrinkage is also a thing of the past and…of other golf shirts!

The look conveyed wearing this striped Ashwworth golf shirt is one of “I’m in charge, but I don’t have to wear boots to prove it, and besides, I’m in a relaxed time and place….so you can relax as well.”

Visit www.ashworth.com for more information about this special golf shirt and so many more offerings by Ashworth Golf.

SPOTLESS SWING

Multi-tasking is the new catch phrase during these economic times, thus pharmaceutical companies combine different ingredients into one medication to help alleviate different ailments and lower the cost of two meds. For example, Ambien, made even more popular by Tiger Woods, is intended to inhibit pain receptors as well as open the doors to a better and longer sleep.

Spotless Swing, a newly-introduced premium golf towel, offers three towels into one hanging from your golf bag or golf cart. –Multi-tasking at its best!

The first part of this golf towel is the outside which is designed for keeping one’s hands, face, gloves and grips clean and dry. This outside microwave fabric holds 60 percent of its weight in dirt, grime and water.

For most golf towels, this would fulfill their purpose of existence. --Not so with the Spotless Swing Golf Towel.

The inside of this golf towel captures debris from dirty, muddy and wet clubs.

The third part of this golf towel consists of a textured fabric on the inside back material which cleans the grooves of your clubs without strain.

This boils down to having three golf towels in one, multi-purposing at its finest.

Also featured is a carabiner clip which can be attached right side up when your golf bag is on the golf cart. Or, you can attach the carabiner clip to be hung upside down when you walk the course.

Available in Graphite Black and Classic Red, the Spotless Swing Golf Towel is another one of those ways you can improve your game.

For more information, visit SpotlessSwing.com

SWAY AWAY GOLF SHOE INSERT

We all know about alignment and correct stance. Even knowing about these two, however, does not cover what so often happens during a golf swing.

I’m talking about SWAY.

What’s that?

Sway is when there is too much lower body lateral movement away from your target.

Net result is less distance and distorted accuracy.

You only know about the “sway” after you swing your club and have contact with the ball.

Many players sway when there is too much lower body lateral movement away from the ball during the backswing. In these cases, most players' weight shifts to the outside of his/her right or left foot, making it difficult to get the weight shift that is needed during the transition and downswing phases.

What to do?

Insert Sway Away inserts into your golf shoe to improve the position of your body during your golf swing in order to stabilize your feet.

The shoe inserts for the right and left knee to stay stable, and feet connected to the ground.

This allows you to stay more centered during your swing, providing you with more distance and accuracy. A full solid to-the-mark swing.

"This product allows my students to feel when they sway and slide during their swing," said Jonathan Sutera, Head Teaching Professional at Medinah Country Club in Illinois and teaching professional for more than 15 years. "My students don't have to just take my word for it. They can feel it themselves and correct their swing by using this product. It is an easy way to improve your golf swing."

Sway Away golf shoe inserts force the right and left knee to stay stable and feet connected to the ground.

Sway Away golf shoe inserts are very easy to insert and are removable. They are available in Junior/Small, Medium (W 8-10, M 6-8), and Large (W 10+, M 9+) sizes at www.origin8-inc.com.

To see the product in action, visit www.origin8-inc.com. to view a complete demonstration on video

SURE PUTT GOLF

“I’d swear that there was a left break, but my ball went straight as an arrow!”

Can’t read the greens as well as you wish you could? –Happens to all golfers, some more frequently than others.

What to do?

Sure Putt Golf is a small handheld compass-like green reader that tells you exactly where there is a break, if there’s a break, whether you’re looking at an up hill or down hill putt. (Break and slope, all read for you!)

This quality training tool named Sure Putt is large enough to feature engraved directions in each quadrant on the dial, and is heavy enough to lay flat on the green.

Just simply place the Sure Putt directly behind your ball or at any point along the path to the hole. Point the top of he disk towards the hole.

By reading the dial around the disk, you instantly see the slope of the green. Its unique bubble in the spirit level will move around the dial to show you the direction of the break.

If the bubble lies directly in the center of the circle, the green is level.

If the bubble moves right on the dial, that is the high side and the slope will be to the left.

If the bubble is at the top of the dial, the putt is uphill, if at the bottom, the putt is downhill.

Either way, each quadrant on the dial tells you the path your ball will take on its way to the hole.

The farther outside the center circle on the dial, the greater the slope or the greater the uphill or downhill break.

Since putting is the one stroke that you can improve upon immediately, consider the Sure Putt.

For more information on this new putting aid, visit SurePuttGolf.com

Sure Putt will train you eye to see the subtle contours that can make even a short putt difficult.  The more you use it, the better your putting game will be!

GEOX GOLF SHOES

During January’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL, I met with the Intl. Sales/Marketing Director of Geox, known for its high quality shoes sold at 18,000 outlets worldwide.

I was highly interested in their newest golf shoe “that breathes”.

All of us have known for many years the “breathing” qualities of fine leather in the upper and side section of shoes.

How about 100% breathing qualities for golf shoes, including a Superbreathable Golf Outsole?

Sure enough, Geox (thanks to its Italian style and technology) had created a shoe that breathes, literally, on its two sides to toe area to back and downwards including the entire soles.

This is the first shoe of its kind in the world that delivers the dampness from the bottom of your feet and transmits it out of the shoe, providing you with dry feet while you’re playing golf.

Geox uses a patented and innovative NET System  which, over most of the surface of the sole, consists of a net. The net, combined with the special breathable and waterproof Geox membrane, increases the sole’s breathability and prevents water, mud and all other external elements from penetrating inside the shoe, thus keeping one’s feet dry.

Heat also is more easily transferred from the feet out over most of its sole thanks to this Geox Net System.

I wore the Geox Golf Shoes during the Golf Today Magazine-sponsored event at the Resort Golf Course at Genoa Lakes in Nevada May 4th. It had rained the day before, there was dampness on the ground the first several holes, but…….my feet remained dry, dry, dry!

Geox’s Net System for breathability, comfort and dryness inside the golf show works, and it’s an idea that in various ways, shapes and design will motivate other shoe manufacturers to do likewise.

For more information on Geox Golf Shoes, visit www.geox.com

Remember: Geox breathes!

ADIDAS CLIMA-COOL

Years ago, as most of us may remember, playing golf meant wearing golf shirts which became sweat-wrenched because of the basic fabrics used in clothing. So there we stood, walking into the clubhouse, sweat bands showing under the collar and under one’s armpits.

Not anymore.

Nowadays, golf apparel consists of micro-fabrics that “breathe” moisture away from one’s body completely. 

Adidas has come out with its Clima-Cool Golf Shirt that moves the perspiration away from one’s body instantly, with no sweat marks showing….even on the hottest of days.

Just as important, the nature of the Clima-Cool fabrics keeps one’s body cool as a result of being dry. Just the touch of the fabric gives credence to this breathability, coolness and dryness achieved no matter how hot the temperature on a summer day.

Off the course, the shirt’s design takes a lead role, in that its design presents a refined and sophisticated look because of its trim fit from top to bottom.

The appearance of this Clima-Cool Adidas Golf Shirt is enhanced to a contemporary style because of its slightly shortened sleeves and body. Stretch fabric lies close to the body for a smooth and sleek fit.

It goes without saying, but I’ll mention it, nevertheless, there is no way you can get cause a wrinkle on this quality golf shirt. Out of the box shows no wrinkle, as does wear during and after a round of golf.

The suggested retail price of $70 marks a “best buy” for this one, comparable to golf shirts that formerly sold (but didn’t perform or look as well!) for $150 a dozen years ago.

For more information, visit www.adidasgolf.com

GLUV-RENU

Every time I finish playing a round, I stuff my golf glove into a pocket on my golf bag, never to see the glove again until the first hole the next time I play golf.

And, what a mess that glove is!

It’s like rigor mortis has set in, thanks to the perspiration on the leather drying up. Yes, right before Hole #1 on the following found, I always feel like I’m putting my left hand into dry cardboard. 

What to do?

Along comes Gluv-Renu, which performs exactly as it reads. --Dry and fresh golf gloves for each and every one of your rounds!

Gluv-Renu is a circular sturdy plastic disc one inch high and 1 1/2” in diameter.

After play, you simply place your used golf glove over Gluv-Renu which attaches to one’s vehicle’s air vent or golf cart fan. The Gluv-Renu removes moisture, and softens and re-conditions your golf glove. –No more rigor mortis next time out!

You can use Gluv-Renu in vehicles with oscillating fans, with golf cart fans, and with home air vents.

Visit www.GluvRenu.com for more information.

DORNOCH PUTTERS

(From the Birthplace of Golf)

Dornoch Putters are the creation of Grant Mackay who lives in the beautiful Scottish Royal Burgh of Dornoch, home to the famous Royal Dornoch Links. 

Grant was a caddy there for 17 years and a member since he was three years old. It was because of this background and having seen hundreds of successful putters on the market that he felt he had something to contribute to the golfers of the world.

Backed by a college diploma in mechanical engineering and many years of traveling the world, Grant then started milling and hand-crafting some of the world's finest, quality putters.  The putters are made to measure in Grant's workshop, the same workshop where Donald Ross, a Dornoch man, started his working life as an apprentice carpenter. 

As a young man, Ross became a fine golfer, went on to be a green keeper and club maker under the tuition of 4-time British Open Champion Old Tom Morris, the architect of Royal Dornoch. 

In 1899, after time as the professional at Dornoch, Ross moved to the United States and went on to design 413 golf courses, including Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole and Oakland Hills. More than 100 U.S. national championships have played on his designs.

Dornoch Putters are perfectly crafted and balanced by Grant and can be custom-fitted to each golfer's requirements.

Models available include the Bird Dog 1, Bird Dog 1 Stubby, Lucky Dog 1, Lucky Dog 1 Stubby,  Curve Dog  1 and Curve Dog 1 Stubby. 

For individual putter information and specifications, visit www.dornochputters.com.   All Dornoch Putters are engineered, milled and constructed of the finest quality materials and are a tribute to the game of golf that can only be found in Scotland. They are the perfect putter for any golfer, make a great retirement, incentive or corporate gift.

For dealer/distributor information or to purchase, contact: Dornoch Putters, www.dornochputters.com, Email: gmackay@dornochputters.com. 011 44 77, 88, 404040.

GOING GREEN ON THE GREEN

The new Going Green Solar Panel by Earth Care Products received the ultimate "stamp of approval" at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando earlier this year when it was selected as the "Best New Product" at the Annual show.  (You may have seen this Solar Panel featured on TV and Radio as it continues to gain recognition.)

The key to the success of the Peel and Stick Solar Panel is that it uses three separate layers of amorphous silicon, each tuned to a different frequency of sunlight, therefore converting more available sunlight into electricity. 

In some cases, these panels produce enough energy for the golf carts to keep on going for days or weeks without any additional charging. 

Not to be overlooked are the tax credit benefits for purchasing solar, the ease of installation on any existing golf cart tops, and the obvious benefits of Going Green.

With the present economy at an all-time low, high fuel costs, and increased awareness about how various types of energy affect our environment...it has never been a better time to switch to solar power, but a solar powered golf cart?

The all new peel & stick design of Earth Care Products Solar Golf Cart Tops makes it easier and more affordable to Go Green. There is no need to buy a complete new solar powered-cart.

This product weighs only 7 pounds and can be applied to virtually any cart.

The new design comes with your choice 12, 24, 36, 48 or 72-volt controller.  

What can this product do for the individual golfer besides helping the environment? 

The cart's power is increased on hilly terrains and inclines and the chances of being stranded due to dead batteries are over. When first invented, no one was sure if the peel and stick product would increase battery life, but after the second year field test & endurance have proven, it increases the cart's battery life by 25-50% and reduces one’s electricity bill because the battery will stay charged for 60% longer.

The Federal Government also offers a 30% tax investment credit on the top and batteries and some states offer even more clean energy incentives.

Dr. Grady, Founder of Earth Care Products, said, "We were delighted that

our peers confirmed their  support by voting for us for this award. What

better way to debut this product. What is really exciting is the cost of the complete system begins at only $995."

For more information, visit the following web sites: www.peelandsticksolarenergy.com_(

www.peelandsticksolarenergy.com/) --www.solarenergygolfcarts.com_ (www.solarenergygolfcarts.com/)

DIVOT REPAIR PUTTER

The median age of golfers is getting higher, and that means more golfers with backaches and knee problems. –That means more golfers with pain which, in turn, boils down to more disgruntled golfers and those leaving the game.

One of the ways to overcome this obstacle of enjoying the long list of beneficial features of playing the game of golf is to eradicate those things that CAUSE the pain.

I’m talking about bending over X-amount of times to pick up your golf ball. I’m talking about fixing ball marks on the green. –Ouch!

The Double Duty Divot Repair Putter eliminates at least 50 bend-overs during a regular game, if not more.

How so?

This new center-shafted putter features an extended divot tool on the opposite trailing side of the putter face.

In addition, the Divot Repair Putter features a ball grabber attachment.

This means that a golfer never has to bend or stoop over to repair a divot! Never has to stoop over to pick up a ball!

Connecting the sweet spot in the face and the tool on the following opposite edge of the putter is a white guideline for proper alignment and dead reckoning to the hole.

As with most new golf products and equipment, necessity is the mother of most inventions and creative thought process.

Inventor and designer of the Double Duty Divot Repair Putter, Walter Graves, had to solve the medical problem himself of not being able to bend over and fix divots or pick up the golf ball. But, he thoroughly liked the game of golf. –You can easily figure out what followed.

But, it was with the help of others who consulted with Graves, that the putter was born, including Eric Yeh of Infinity Golf.

Last year, the USGA ruled that this new putter (both right-handed and left-handed) conform to the Rules of Golf. “It 

The Double Duty™ Divot Repair Putter is made of 431 stainless steel with a 72° shaft angle, with a 35 ½” shaft, 360 gram head weight, swing weight of F2 and 3° face loft.

I played with it during a recent Golf Today Magazine-sponsored golf event and, at first, the comments were mostly quizzical because of the putter’s design. Once those in the foursome saw the results of a true role of the ball, they couldn’t wait to try the putter themselves. I ended up grabbing it back after one golfer said he’s like to try on the next hole, again.

Performance of this putter is in the hands of the golfer with this one, and backaches and knee problems are reduced thanks to this putter.

For more information, visit www.divotrepairputter.com

Or, write to the owner/designer Walt Graves at walt@divotrepairputter.com

 (If you want your product reviewed, call Bob Koczor, Publisher/Editor, at 661-823-7842. Or, email: bob@golftodaymagazine.com)