Tag: golf

Hybrid Clubs Look to Be Game Changer for Miura Golf

Sometimes to stay ahead you need to change your game, and in the game of golf that can mean changing your clubs. British Columbia-Japanese golf-club manufacturer Miura Golf, which has made a name making high-quality forged irons for 44 years, is changing up. The company has officially introduced its MG Hybrids, which should be exciting news for golfers

Miura Golf has never had a fixed time frame for new-product introductions, and typically only debuts new models when the quality of new technological advances demands it. Apparently that time has come, and the MG Hybrids will be available in HB3 (20 degrees of loft) and HB4 (23 degrees of loft) models made from SUS455 steel in an I.P. Black finish. Continue reading Hybrid Clubs Look to Be Game Changer for Miura Golf

On the Green With Robotic Putter Helper

In the future there could be robotic caddies that help golfers choose the right clubs, keep track of important data and eventually take over the world – if not at least the golf course (yes, I worry a lot about robots taking over the world). Now however, there is a new robotic device that will potentially aid golfers on the greens. Katherine Kuchenbecker at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is leading the way with a new project that could help players improve their putt.

To achieve this goal, the team devised a 1.5-meter long training frame with a practice hole. Players take aim and practice with a wired putter that measures the swing and actually corrects deviation to the swing, encouraging better form. The wires actually pull the club, and the golfer can feel the forces, which in turn force him/her to swing correctly. It certainly has promised to get golfers not only in the swing of things, but to get into a better swing in the process.

[Via NewScientist.com: Wire robot yanks your golf game into shape]

Golf is Rad? Really!

‘Golf’ and ‘rad’ are two words that I would never imagine being used in the same statement. Though there are plenty of young players on the course, golf still conjures up images of Ted Knight and the pompous golfer he played in Caddy Shack. The golf ball manufacturer, PunkRockz, has made it their mission to change the way golf is viewed.

Even the company notes that “golf is rad,” and asks, “so why does it have to be so serious and stiff.” We agree, that golf should be about relaxing and having fun, which is why we like what PunkRockz has to offer in the way of innovative and yet entertaining golf products.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, PunkRockz is a company comprised of skaters, surfers and snowboarders who also love to play golf. Their products are inspired by music, art, fashion and action sports; and this ‘attitude’ is reflected in their marketing and current golf ball, ‘The Skull‘. Continue reading Golf is Rad? Really!

The Shoe of the Tiger

Everyone always talks about “the eye of the tiger,” but this month the talk could turn to the “shoe of the Tiger,” as in the new Nike prototype shoe for Tiger Woods, who has been working with one of the directors of Nike’s Innovation Kitchen. Tiger Woods and Tobie Hatfield, along with Nike Golf, have created a Nike Free prototype shoe that the golfer will wear during this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (August 3-7, 2011).

Developed in 2004 by a group led by Hatfield, the Nike Free provided “natural motion” technology that mimics and conforms to the natural motion of the wearer’s foot, while providing the protection and traction of a lightweight performance shoe. The Free-inspired elements in the new prototype model allow for greater movement for the front of the foot, while increasing stability with mobility.

“This will help give Tiger greater stability as he addresses the ball,” says Hatfield. “The freedom of movement that natural motion technology delivers will also allow more power to be released through the swing rather than through the body, which can happen when your feet are too static.” Continue reading The Shoe of the Tiger

iPING Helps You Putt

Driving is just part of golf. The other part is putting. If you have trouble getting the ball in the hole, maybe your iPhone can help. iPING has introduced an app that transforms your iPhone 4 or iPod Touch into a putting analyzer. The good news is that this means a less bulky device than traditional analyzers and the better news is that this app is free!

The app promises to be easy to work with, and just requires a cradle that can be purchased from iPING to mount your phone to the club. The PING cradle costs about $30, but can you really put a price on a device and app that will help you save strokes on the green?

(Video after the jump) Continue reading iPING Helps You Putt

Ain’t Got That Swing – Gold Flex Golf Swing Training Aids Can Help

With respect to Ella Fitzgerald, “It just don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing.” But she was probably talking about music and we’re thinking about golf. If you “ain’t” got that swing, then maybe give the Gold Flex Gold Swing Training Aids a go.

These are strength and tempo training devices that are designed to improve your swing while providing a core muscle workout. It also provides a great low-impact stretch to help get you warmed up. It further encourages users to make a flatter swing plane. It sounds to us like this could mean quite a thing and make sure you got that swing!

Golf Flex Gold Swing Training Aids at SKLZ
[Via BeSportier: Gold Flex Golf Swing Training Aids Provide Workout And Training]

Bracketron’s New Accessory Mounts GPS Unit or Portable Device to Golf Bag

When you’re out on the links the last thing you want is a cumbersome item in your pockets, say your cell phone. The folks at Bracketron, a company that makes mounting accessories for gizmos like smartphones, portable media players, GPS, and laptops, recently introduced its Golf Bag GPS Mount. The accessory easily attaches securely to the top of a golf bag with a clip, and the arms extend up to 4.5-inches wide to hold a golf-specific GPS device to help you navigate the course clearly without worrying where to place the unit. Contrary to its name, it’ll hold a smartphone (for browsing a golf app, perhaps) or MP3 player; an optional adapter can be attached directly to your portable device for mounting in lieu of spreading the arms. The accessory is available at Bracketron’s website for $39.

For bikers, Bracketron also makes a Universal Bike Mount. Does the same thing as the Golf Bag GPS Mount except it attaches to your bike’s handlebars, but you already figured that out. The Bike Mount sells for $39.95.

BRACKETRON

Tees Worthy of an Epoch

It might be easy to dismiss a golf tee as a small part of the game, but the pros go the extra distance with the Epoch Golf Tees from Evolve Golf. The company lives up to its name by creating tees that will stand the test of the time and help players evolve to the next level.

Since 2004 the tees have been used in 127 wins on tour. The revolutionary/evolutionary tees feature “radius posts” that span the width of the ball’s dimples, and this creates the lowest coefficient of friction of any tee currently on the market, and thus eliminates deflection at the moment of impact, while further increasing ball speed and control off the tee. The result is longer shots on the fairway.

The Epoch are available in three lengths – 3.25-inchs, 2.75-inches and 1.5-inches and are priced from $3.99 to $6.99. But can you put a price on evolution?

Evolve Golf Official Website
[Via BeSportier.com: Professional Golf Tees : Epoch Golf Tees]

SensoGlove Partners With Golf Schools and PGA Instructors

A year ago we had just heard about SensoGlove, and this week Sensolutions, the maker of innovative IT systems for sports analysis, motion and performance measurement has announced that it has partnered with 20 golf schools and PGA professional instructors across the world to glove up.

The SensoGlove, the world’s first digital golf glove, will be used as a training tool to help correct the dreaded golf club “death grip” and help get golfers attuned to making more accurate and powerful golf swings.

“Many of the students we teach at our golf school struggle with grip pressure. More than 90 percent of our students grip the club too tight,” said Mark Durland, Director of Instructions at Naples Grande Golf Club, Naples, FL. “Until now, it has been a challenge to communicate proper grip pressure to a student. SensoGlove gives the student immediate feedback and creates a feeling of the proper grip pressure. I recommend SensoGlove to any student.” Continue reading SensoGlove Partners With Golf Schools and PGA Instructors

Antigua Brings Fashion to the Fairway

Fashion on the fairway this fall will be about a lot more than just plaid. And while it might be hard to consider that the fall golf season is just around the corner – especially given that for a lot of us it still feels like winter – it is never too early to think fashion forward.

We’re hearing about Antigua’s fall based outerwear, which is created to function in various climates and will incorporate the trend that focuses on layering. As the weather changes – and do we know it can change – clothing needs to be able to be taken off or put on, to adjust to comfort and function. This year Antigua is layering up beginning with base layers that can be combined with wind resistant or water resistant wind shirts and jackets as well as worn with fuller weight outerwear pieces to function against more inclement weather, and feature a proprietary Desert Dry moisture management technology. These are constructed with a hyper-micro poly fleeced backing against a super soft interlock face which has enough weight to be worn alone and is light enough that it layers remarkably well. Continue reading Antigua Brings Fashion to the Fairway

Swing Like a Pro… an aG Balance Pro

While not everyone can be a golf pro, aboutGolf will let you get the pro treatment with aG Balance Pro, a new dual force plate technology that the company introduced this week. This new platform, which features Perform Pro software that can be integrated with any 3Track-powered aboutGolf ball tracking including the aboutGolf simulator and aG Studio, uses dual force plate technology that provides detailed analysis of weight transfer during the swing.

“With aG Balance Pro, it is now possible to specifically understand the impact of balance on the golfer’s swing,” says Chuck Winger, aboutGolf’s Vice President of Performance Products. “For the first time, we can see force distribution on the front, back, right and left of each foot, helping us better assess the impact of balance on the golfer’s performance and provide proper instruction.”

aG Balance Pro’s data is presented in easy-to-understand visual graphics, as well as detailed data tables to support scientific analysis. All swing/balance data is time stamped and synchronized to the swing motion from backswing to follow-through, including a clear indication of weight transfer and foot forces at the time of ball impact. The Perform Pro software also supports integration with the optional aG Flix module, providing time-synchronized swing video for analysis side-by-side with aG Balance Pro. Continue reading Swing Like a Pro… an aG Balance Pro

Rangefinder That Will Help Keep You Out of the Rough

Whether you’re hitting the links, or just want to stay the course, the Bushnell Hybrid Laser-GPS Rangefinder offers the best of both technologies. It features single hand vertical operation of the durable, rainproof device. It offers 5 power magnification with a range of 5-1000 Yards/Meters, and comes pre-loaded with more than 16,000 North American golf courses.

Best of all is there is no membership or download fees, while the Hybrid Laser-GPS Rangefinder offers auto hole advance, auto course recognition and is completely legal for tournament play. This makes it ready to use right out of the box without the requirement of additional software or hardware. So if spring has finally sprung for you, and you’re looking for some assistance as you get in nine-holes, this device will lead the way.

Bushnell Golf Official Website

Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls

Can Nike do for golf balls what it did for athletic shoes? No doubt that is what the company is looking to it, as it unveiled its new 20XI premium golf ball franchise. And yes, there even a “swoosh” adorned on the side, but from the outside these new balls otherwise look just like every other golf ball.

What makes these balls stand out is what out is that these feature innovative golf ball technology that will reportedly dramatically enhance the performance of golfers around the world and, at the same time, propel golf ball manufacturing into an entirely new level of innovation. Those are big claims, but again this is coming a company that has delivered on its past bold statements.

The Nike 20XI golf ball features a combination of proprietary technology that has actually never before been seen in the golf industry, and more importantly is the result of four years of collaborative research and development between Nike Golf’s golf ball engineers and a team of material and science experts at DuPont. Together they went to the core of creating a golf ball, as in the actual core and opted to bounce out the old conventional rubber core with a radically new resin material. Rubber has been the traditional core for years, so the switch to resin is quite a big deal. Continue reading Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls