Tag: golf

Master the Shot with SHOT Master

Whilst not everyone can become a master of the fairways and dominate the greens, every golfer can probably improve their technique and with it their overall game. That’s the idea behind SHOT Master, an interactive golf guide and e-tutorial that helps golfers improve their skill. It features carefully organized and detailed game improvement tips and easy-to-follow videos that can be conveniently used wherever the golfer goes. 

SHOT Master is the brain child of independent developers Charles Casteel, Jr. and Charles Casteel, Sr., an Information Technology expert, and professional golfer and golf instructor Willie Roberson. SHOT Master specializes in those rough shots, such as being stuck behind a tree in the rough or trapped in a bunker. It is a great tool as a golfer finding themselves in these “rough” situations can simply take out their iPod touch or iPhone and find out in a nice detailed tutorial how to get the best shot from where they are stuck.

“We are pleased to fill a void for the avid golfer to get help in real time. We know there are some very difficult golf shot and we wanted to create a coach that can be with the golfer at all times”,  said Charles Casteel, Sr., SHOT Master part-owner and developer. “Golfers all over the world can improve their game by mastering some of golf’s most changeling shots by using our Golf App while on the golf course from the convenience of their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.” Continue reading Master the Shot with SHOT Master

The New Nike Club

Earlier this week we noted that some golf clubs have been banned for their laser grooves, and while still for sale might not be the best investment in the long run. However, Nike Golf has introduced a new set of irons to the VR line that will be totally legal and could just help your game. The new VR Pro Combo irons are a premium Tour-level iron set that offer higher trajectory on long shots. These use a new linear Center of Gravity (CG) Mapping that makes the clubs ideal for optimal launch and consistent distance control.

The irons are precision forged out of 1025 Forged Carbon Steel , and each face is milled to a perfectly flat surface and then die-stamped, pressing grooves to exact specifications, which conform to new USGA and R&A rules. These new X3X high-frequency grooves provide extremely low variance for shot-making consistency, along with better performance and distance control.

[Via Sandbox8.com: Nike Golf Introduces VR Pro Combo Irons]

Nike Golf Official Website

Hit The Links at TPC Scottsdale via aboutGolf’s PGA Tour Simulator

If you can’t make the trek to Arizona, you can still feel like you’re on the course at TPC Scottsdale, as the course is now exclusively available for aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulator as part of its partnership with the PGA TOUR. All 18 holes on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, including the famous 16th hole stadium green and challenging 11th, a 469-yard par 4, are fully 3D rendered, which is critical to realistic play. The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is the second course released as part of the aboutGolf exclusive TPC Collection, which also includes TPC Sawgrass, released May 2010, and TPC Louisiana, which will be released early 2011.

“TPC Scottsdale is a perfect blend of challenge and playability,” says Tim Hawes, Senior Vice President of Retail Licensing at PGA TOUR. “aboutGolf has once again masterfully brought a TPC course to life on the PGA TOUR Simulator, making TPC Scottsdale accessible to more golfers.”

aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulators use 3Trak, the most advanced machine vision golf tracking technology available in the world and advanced 3D golf-software design. aboutGolf’s graphics lead the industry, featuring highly-detailed terrain, reflective water, varying weather conditions, tee signs that can be read (and hit), and moving clouds, grass and flags that blow in the direction and intensity of the wind. The simulator uses data that is based on Global Positioning System (GPS) information and photographic survey data enabling rendering accuracy to within two inches. The TPC Collection retails for $1,500 and is now available online.

aboutGolf Pro Shop

OptiShot Puts the Green on a PC

With Halloween becoming a distant memory, Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas decorations up at the mall there is no denying that for much of the country the carefree days on the golf course are far and few between. But you can stay in the swing of things with a golf simulator.

There are plenty of choices with the ultra high-end models, but for those on more of a budget (and with limited space) the OptiShot Simulator by Dancin’ Dogg is the next best thing to trekking out to the back nine. This virtual golf program promises to be easy-to-use for both casual golfers and diehard hackers alike. Best of all it is replicates world-renowned courses, so can think of it as a mini-vacation every time you boot up the Windows compatible program (MSRP: $399.95).

And as we mentioned that space can be a serious issue, the OptiShot needs just eight and a half feet of swing space so you can get teed off in a home office or den. The plug and play program allows up to four players to compete with one another by hitting real balls, foam balls or even no ball at all. The device relies on infrared sensors and a durable swing pad to accurately record club head speed, face angle and swing path. Caddies not included.

OptiShot Simulator

Half Moon Bay Golf Links Joins With Naval Special Warfare Foundation

Following the success of the inaugural “SEAL Tribute Celebration and Golf Tournament,” which was held on October 4 and raised more than $500,000 for the families of U.S. Navy SEALs and their support personnel, the Naval Special Warfare Foundation, Half Moon Bay Golf Links and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, have already announced the second annual event for 2011.

This year’s event featured guests including Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant (SEAL) Michael E. Thornton (ret.), Vice Admiral (SEAL) Albert M. Calland, III (ret.), and Rear Admiral (SEAL) Thomas R. Richards (ret.). The exclusive golf tournament took place on Half Moon Bay Golf Links’ Ocean and Old Courses, with sponsors playing and interacting with members of the SEAL community. The event concluded with more than 200 participants attending a Gala Dinner in the ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, with addresses by Lieutenant Thornton, Admiral Richards, and Ms. Krissy Rankin, whose fiancé was a Navy SEAL and died in the line of duty.

“It was invigorating and inspiring to watch Americans rally on behalf of the Naval Special Warfare Foundation, the SEALs and their loved ones,” says Mark Kendall, SEAL Tribute Event Chairman and President of Kenmark Golf Management, who operates Half Moon Bay Golf Links. “Despite the economy and downturn in large events and outings, golf is still a unifying game that brings people together over a shared cause.”  

Opening ceremonies for the event began on October 4 with the U.S. Navy color guard and a Half Moon Bay High School trio singing the national anthem. A brief presentation followed with the retirement of an American flag recently flown in Afghanistan by a U.S. Navy SEAL team. Next year’s event will be held on September 30 and October 1.

For more information:

Half Moon Bay Golf SEAL Tribute Celebration and Golf Tournament

Straight Shooter

Tired of lost golf balls? There are now all sorts of balls with GPS, radar to find balls and other technology. But maybe the best way not to lose a golf ball is to simply shoot straighter. We’ve probably said that before, but it is worth saying again, especially as Polara Golf has announced their new self-correcting golf balls. These are ideal for the recreational golfer who might have some hooking or slicing issues when teeing off.

“It is estimated that 85 percent of golfers have trouble hitting the ball straight and then end up slicing the golf ball. If you want to prevent a slice, you have to understand how the ball behaves when you slice it.” said Dave Felker, Head of Technology for Polara Golf. “What Polara Golf has done surpasses anything that golf ball companies have ever tried. If a golfer has trouble hitting the ball straight, there is no other ball out there right now that has the same ‘Self-Correcting Technology’ that each Polara golf ball has.”

The new Polara Ultimate Straight and Super Straight golf balls should help even a crooked golfer go straight. These feature “self correcting technology” that guarantees to correct hooks and slices up to 75 percent according to the company. So is there a super computer inside or some sort of radio controlled gizmo? Not exactly. Continue reading Straight Shooter

Garmin Approaches the Golf Course with GPS

GPS has tackled just about every major sport that takes place on any area larger than a standard court of field. Cycling, running, swimming, skiing, and yes: Golf. Garmin just released the Approach S1, a wristwatch with built in GPS set up for time on the green. The new watch is sibling to touchscreen models Approach G5 and Approach G3 already out by the GPS manufacturer.

The Approach S1 comes pre-loaded with over 14,000 U.S. and Canadian golf courses. When you set it into golf mode it identifies the three closest courses and lets you select the one where you have tee time. It then gives you stats including distance and par for each hole. A GPS-enabled odometer tracks the total ground covered on foot during each round and in total.

While it doesn’t have quite as much information as the handheld units, the Approach G5 and G3, the Approach S1 is streamlined to the essential information needed on the course. Your opponents will appreciate the discreet device, and that you’re not fumbling with — or showing off — a handheld device to tell them how many strokes above average they’re swinging.

Garmin Approach S1

aboutGolf Helps JuniorThai Golfers

This week aboutGolf announced that it is helping a number of Asia’s top junior golfers, who are spending more time in the simulator and less on the fairways. Thailand’s Suchaya Tangkamolpraser uses the aboutGolf Simulator at the Bangkok-based Wilding Golf Performance Center, where she is being coached by Shane Wilding, founder of the center. She is not the only standout to be getting into the swing of things at the club either.

Wilding’s students use the simulator for both “on the range” to develop their swing, and “on the course,” which teaches club selection and management.  

“The aboutGolf Simulator has a proven record of improving the performance of golfers around the globe, including here at Wilding Golf in Thailand,” says Wilding, an Australian golf coach with extensive amateur and professional (including PGA TOUR stars Curtis Strange, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, David Eger, Graham Marsh and Stewart Ginn) teaching experience in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. “aboutGolf technology helped these Junior golfers reach a world-class level of performance and, as an instructor, it is exciting to have aboutGolf’s incredible technology enhancing my teaching philosophies. The accuracy of the aboutGolf system is absolutely mind-boggling.”

Let’s just hope these golfers still get out in the fresh air too!

aboutGolf Official Website

Wilding Golf Performance Center Official Website

Radar for the Golf Course

We’ve previously heard about a radar system that could find lost golf balls – but alas that product isn’t currently being sold. So instead we did some digging, and we realized that even better than finding a lost golf ball was not losing it in the first place. And that also involves using a bit of radar. It seems this technology will help you improve your game. TrackMan is a radar unit that can measure both club delivery and the full trajectory of any golf shot, up to 400-yards. That could mean no more lost balls.

It can be used to track date on club speed, attack angle, club path, vertical and horizontal swing plane, spin loft, ball speed, and even flight time – plus a whole lot more. No calibration is needed and the TrackMan Pro can be used with a computer via a USB 2.0 port, and provide a printable report of your efforts. An indoor version can help you train in the offseason as well. Either way, with TrackMan’s unique proprietary radar tracking system and software for your computer you can get the same type of analysis that is often used by the PGA, the R&A and USGA. Of course you’ll still have to work at it to make better swings, but here is where technology can show you what you are doing wrong, and how you can improve.

And some people think golf is just about hitting a ball into a hole on nicely manicured lawns.

TrackMan Official Website

Glasses Find Golf Balls Under Black Light-Like Filter

Hammacher Schlemmer is known for its nifty sports equipment such as the Seven Person Tricycle that’s always a blast; Mountain Scooter that can glide over some rugged and steep terrain; and Articulating Inline Casterboard that has kids squiggling around the block. One of its newer products is the Golf Ball Locating Glasses.

These glasses look like a pair of Oakleys with an alternate style that looks like you just walked out of the optometrist’s office (that fit over most prescription glasses) and cost about $40. The lenses contain a pigment that helps filter out light as it passes through. The affect is almost as through you’re looking at the world with a black light. All colors are overtaken by a predominately blue tone except for those balls and anything else in white that gets in your line of sight.

Continue reading Glasses Find Golf Balls Under Black Light-Like Filter

Tee Off With Prostroke Golf for PlayStation Move

Bowling pretty much remains the de facto demo game for the Nintendo Wii. Even after several holiday seasons, bowling is the game that just remains the gold standard for the Wii. And soon golf could do the same for the PlayStation Move, but not just any golf. We’re talking about O-Games newly released John Daly’s ProStroke Golf, which will arrive next week in North America. Continue reading Tee Off With Prostroke Golf for PlayStation Move

aboutGolf Monitors Your Swing

For those who take their golf game seriously, and we mean seriously there is no substitute for hitting the driving range to improve your game. Well, there is the aboutGolf aG Studio, a new monitor and club tracking device that might make you want to hit the simulator rather than the range. This new, integrated device is powered by 3Trak, aboutGolf’s proprietary 3D, high-speed photography tracking technology.

It is designed for indoor use, and from the comfort of your own home (or other indoor virtual course) can provide data on ball speed, trajectory angle, distance, spin, club speed, angle of attack and horizontal path. The system is further equipped with 3Trak, so that the aG Studio “sees” like no other launch monitor. Continue reading aboutGolf Monitors Your Swing

High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us

Golf isn’t exactly the most high-tech of sports. While there is much innovation in training, and of course in the development of the gear, some of the accessory products are essentially very low-tech. Shoes, attire and other apparel breath better, are made of our better materials and fabrics, but how do you innovate gloves?

Try adding a LED digital monitor. That’s the concept behind the Sensosulutions digital glove for golf. The SensoGlove is the world’s first golf glove with a built-in digital sensor that continuously reads a user’s grip pressure. This ensures a consistently accurate, smooth and powerful golf swing. The SensoGlove made of basic cabretta leather but goes high-tech as it is equipped with highly responsive sensors and it features a small, sweat-proof 1.2-inch LED monitor that analyzes the pressure of the swing. Continue reading High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us