Eyeline Golf's Metronome Pro Review

I hope the kind people at Eyeline Golf forgive me for being late with my review of their new Metronome Pro tempo trainer. We are in the midst of redesigning the GolfDash website and I've been up to my neck in it.

I did get the product out of the box and it does exactly what it says. You set the overall tempo by adjusting the 'beats per minute' setting. This way you get a faster or slower pace. Then select how many beats you want to count out, such as 2 in 4 or 6 in 8. You can select any tempo from 0/4 to 8/8. Hopefully this doesn't sound complicated because it's not. Once you've set it up just clip it to your hat visor or shirt and it chirps the beat in your ear. You can also plug in headphones so nobody else has to listen to you. In total it took me about 3 minutes of reading the directions, scratching my head and hitting buttons to understand how easy it really is. The Eyeline Golf site has a simple VIDEO to explain the whole thing.

So much for the easy part. The real question for me is 'can tempo training make a big difference in your game'? That's just what I'm going to attempt to answer in my next piece on this product. It comes at a good time for me as I'm understanding that controlling tempo may be the most important part of my game. I can feel myself make a jerky and/or quick swing when I'm under pressure - usually with poor results. Next, I'm going to take the Metronome Pro out on the range, where I go at least 3 times a week, and see if I can use it to manage my swing tempo. I hope to have something for you in about a week.

Alpha V5 Driver Review

Back in February I received a brand new Alpha Golf V5 driver and wrote a blog about my intentions to review it. The weather in New England finally eased up in April and I have completed my tests.

Initial Impressions and Unique Head Cover
First, let me recap my initial impressions; it's a gorgeous club, elegant but not showy and comes with the best head cover I have come across. It's important to protect the graphite shaft on a new driver, but trying to put the long necked head cover on can try your patience enough that you decide to leave it in the car. That's great for the short term, but bad for the long term. It only takes a small nick on the fragile shaft to weaken it enough to break in the middle of a round. For my money, Alpha has solved the problem with a slick design that uses magnets to control the opening in the head cover. It's so easy to use that there's no excuse for not protecting your driver. Even if you don't need a new club I encourage you to check out these great head covers.

Now on to the club test. I compared the Alpha V5 to my current driver. I have a range where I can hit my own balls. I used the exact same balls, marked red and black and hit both drivers in alternate sets of 5 over numerous practice sessions. I also took the club out on the course to try it where it actually counts.

It's not easy to test drive a new club and really know whether it's right for you or not for a number of reasons. A new club is usually setup differently - you are looking for something different aren't you? Accordingly it's going to feel different while you learn how to swing it. If you can't test it over an extended period against what you're currently using, how do you know the results aren't colored by your swing on that particular day.

Configuration
The Alpa V5 came in the same length as my current driver and with a similarly configured stiff shaft. They sent it with a normal size grip. While I use mid size grips on my clubs I wanted to test it first with the normal size as this is what you're going to find on most demo clubs. I found that it definitely affected my ability to hit the ball. So be careful in evaluating a new club if the grip is different from what you normally use. After a few days with the normal grip I replaced it with a mid size Golf Pride Decade Multi-Compound Cord grip. (I not reviewing grips here, but I have to say that these grips are incredible-though expensive.) I noticed a difference immediately. Without the change I don't think I would have given the club a fair evaluation.

Aesthetics
Let's look at aesthetics for a moment before getting to the results. I've talked about the great look of the club which is important for building confidence. I also want to mention sound because this is important to many golfers when considering metal woods. When I first hit the V5, the sound was a definite surprise. It wasn't bad, but it was just different from what I am using. Where my current club makes a clank, this club makes a clink. The more I hit the club the more I got accustomed to the sound, to the point where I actually forgot about it. If you find the sweet spot the sound almost disappears, which is quite pleasing - in a biofeedback sort of way.

At The Range
What about the results? On the practice range I found the Alpha V5 to be, on average, between 15 and 20 yards farther on solid center hits. I didn't check off center hit distances as carefully, but my impression is there was little difference there. The results can't be an absolute number because this was not an exact scientific experiment. I'll leave it to the physicists and Iron Byron to come up with absolute performance figures. Golf clubs are hit by humans and this brings in a lot of variations, even with an individual golfer. I noticed that the biggest differences in distance came in the later tests. Maybe I was learning how to swing the club. Or maybe my confidence was increasing due to the results of the earlier tests.

On The Course
Finally, I took the club out on the course. After all, this is where any club has to perform. No two days on the golf course are ever the same, but when you've played a course enough you have a pretty good idea of how far your drives go. I was definitely hitting the ball at least 10 yards past my normal landing spots and this in cooler spring conditions. There's a 292 drivable par 4 - at least for some - on the course I used for my test. My previous best there was about 10 yards in front of the green. I don't remember the conditions, so I can't say if mother nature helped or not. I'm delighted to say that I was able to put one of my drives with the Alpha V5 on the front fringe. It's important to note that the last 15 yards of the fairway rise about 12 feet up to the green. There was no helping wind with the V5 and the ball ran up the slope. Regardless of what happens on the practice range, it's those kind of results that 1) make it easy to covet the club and 2) get you psyched up to try it on your favorite driving holes. Now I'm anxious to see if I can repeat my 'longest drive' on a few other short par 4's that I've never been able to reach. It would also be great to reach the par 5's in two that have been impossible up to now.

After testing it myself, I whole heartedly encourage anyone who's looking for more distance in a new driver to give the V5 a try. Though it's not as universally carried in golf stores the way the most advertised brands are, you can buy it on line with a risk-free 30 day guarantee. Just a couple of last remarks. The club has customizable weight ports which I didn't mess around with. For those of you who want the club to help you change your ball flight, the option is there. I don't think the average amateur is really working his drive intentionally. I don't try to move mine much as the results can get scary. My natural shot is a draw. On the course, I was able to fade the ball a little with the V5. Hopefully it wasn't just luck, but I'm confident this club will not hold any skill level player back.

As soon as it stops raining here, I'm going to go out and play some more with the V5. I'll keep you updated on how the club performs. Right now the old club is confined to the trunk of my car! It's no wonder that Alpha Golf has won 6 ReMax World Long Drive titles.

Alpha Golf Driver Test

The folks at Alpha Golf have been kind enough to send me a driver to test. Never heard of Alpha? You'd know them if you followed long drive competition. In 2006 Alpha drivers won four of the major long drive tournaments against the likes of every big name stick you can think of. If you read a lot of golf articles, you may have seen their driver referred to as the 'best driver you've never heard of'. What I want to know is can a lessor known brand driver hit the ball just as far as the ones that do all the advertising, or maybe further?

I just received the Alpha V5. Having never even seen a picture of the club before it arrived, I was impressed to find one of the best looking drivers I've come across in a long time. I'm not a big fan of all the modern graphics and paint jobs on many of the new clubs. For a traditionalist, the V5 is a welcome return to a classy, elegant and understated look. There's nothing cheap about the looks of this club. I'd put it in a beauty contest with any club on the market! Call its look 'cool stealth'. This thing will definitely turn heads on the first tee. This is one club where you don't have to close your eyes when you hit it.

As soon as the weather warms up a bit in New England I'm going to put this club through the paces in a one person golf test. After all, this is what it finally comes down to for any of us. You go out and hit clubs, compare to what you have and decide if it's a go or not. Regardless of what reviewers say or golf club tests show, any club has to work for you. I figure the best and fairest way to do this is to take the club to an outdoor practice range and compare it against the club I'm currently using. Joe Simon of Alpha Golf swears I'll get an extra 20 yards - time will tell. To be fair, I'm planning on alternating between the Alpha V5 and my existing driver, hitting groups of five shots with each. By using different color coded golf balls I'll be able to walk out on the range and judge for myself the difference between each club. To make it even fairer, I'll try the same exercise on at least 5 different days.

No test is perfect, but I hope to get a true comparison between the two clubs and create some information you can add to your own experiences. Both clubs are set up the same way, are the same length, fitted with a firm shaft and have a 460cc head. I like my current driver so I'll be surprised, pleasantly, if the Alpha gives me more distance or greater control or both. So far it gets top marks for appearance.

One more thing, it came with the best head cover I've ever seen. It's not a sock or a zip or just plain open. It's a leather cover that uses magnets to close the seam on the underside. It's simple and foolproof and there's no struggling to get the cover off or on. It also looks great. Check out the head covers on their site. Regardless of the test results I'm going to get myself a head cover.

For now I'm praying for some warmer weather so I can begin the club test. Stay tuned as I'll blog my way through it.

Changes Are Coming For Equipment

First, I recommend that you read John Duggan's interview with Peter Dawson, the secretary of the R&A. Find it at Golf Observer or go to GolfDash and find it under the January 31 Daily Headline. I've never heard Peter Dawson speak nor have I read his comments before, but he strikes me as extremely down to earth, fair minded and generally lucid.

Towards the end of the interview, you'll find very interesting information on grooves, distance and side spin. Read his remarks carefully because more than likely this man is going to have a lot to say about what kind of clubs will be allowed in your bag in the future. Mr. Dawson did not directly give away his hand, but it's not hard to imagine that changes are afoot if you read between the lines. He's got some really interesting facts to back up his conclusions. These alone make the article worthwhile reading.

Bottom line, the USGA and the R&A are finding out that it's too easy to get out of the rough and to make balls spin when your club has the new U grooves. I'd bet a sizable sum that these will be outlawed soon. How about 70 degree wedges? The problem seems to be that they make it easy to swing hard in the rough when you only want to hit the ball a short way, greatly eliminating the skills of finesse and feel. I'm not sure I'd put one of those pancakes in my bag if I was planning on keeping in line with future club conformance rules.

Here's a very interesting fact from Mr. Dawson, 'there is no longer a correlation between driving accuracy and scoring' for the pros. I can sympathize with him wholeheartedly that this is an alarming development. The good news for driver makers is that they have seen no further distance gains in the last five years. HOWEVER, the new clubs are so good at reducing side spin that the balls don't stray off course nearly so easily. Mr. Dawson says the officials intent will not be to punish shots in the rough, but to reward those in the fairway. Given the fact that millions of drivers have been sold in the last five years, I don't see them outlawing what we already have in our bags. On the other hand, he seems very intent on getting driving accuracy and scoring to correlate once again.

Any moves the R&A and the USGA can make to save more of the original nature of the game would be greatly appreciated by this writer - as long as it doesn't cost me money to be in compliance. One last thought, I wonder if they'll ever consider outlawing the long shafted putters? I'm not sure if I really despise them or that I'm just afraid of what my friends would call me if I started using one.

Cheers

Why You Shouldn't Buy A New Driver

If you want to be a better golfer, don't spend your money on a new driver! I'll make one exception to that. If you haven't bought a new big stick in the last 10 years, you'll benefit from the new larger heads and more perimeter weighting. Other than that, you can do much better by purchasing a new putter. Let me explain why.

First, answer this question honestly - Why do you want a new driver? Because you want to hit the ball further. That's the honest to god truth. A new driver isn't going to make you hit the ball straighter or correct your slice or duck hook. Only a new swing can do that. So what's wrong with wanting to hit it further? It's the ultimate curse any amateur can put on their game.

Trying to hit it further means swinging harder to us amateurs and that's the biggest problem we have. If we slowed down our swings and worked on a nice smooth tempo, we'd see our games improve beyond our wildest dreams. If you don't believe me, maybe you will believe Jack Nicklaus who says the full swing for every club should be the same. In fact he suggests alternating shots on the practice range between your pitching wedge and driver to condition yourself. If you buy that new driver, you're not going to be able to stop yourself from constantly trying to get another 10 yards out of it. It doesn't even matter how far you hit it, your always going to want it to go further and in the process completely destroy your swing.

A better ideas is to put your dough towards a new putter. If you're a terrific putter and love the club you have, then don't buy anything, but I'll bet that's less than 5% of the amateurs out there. There are some terrific new putters on the market, clubs where technology and new design can really help. One of the most interesting new putters I've seen is from MacGregor. Who would have thought that? They're using something they call Face-Off Technology. I don't know how it works, but I can tell you what it does. It feels like you've hit the ball in the center of the sweet spot no matter where on the face you make contact. You really have to feel it to believe it. I suggest going to the local golf shop and trying it out. As soon as my piggy bank gets full I'm going to run down and buy one in time for next season. I'm also going to take an oath for next year that says I'll practice my pitching,chipping and putting longer than I practice the full swing. If I can do that and forget about adding distance, I should be able to lower my handicap by at least 5 strokes.

Good golfing! PS, if anybody knows of a good practice putting surface that is cheap and can be rolled out on a hardwood floor for indoor practice, please drop me a line. Thanks!

Getting the Most Club for the Money

It ain't cheap to own the latest and greatest golf equipment, but there's no doubt that technology has improved balls and clubs in the last 15 years. Anyone who doesn't know that by now has been golfing in a cave. The big question for all golfers is how to buy what will actually help, avoid what won't, and stretch your money as far as possible. Based on my own experience, I've got a few tips that may help.

Forget the $40+ a dozen golf balls. Yeah, they're nice, but for anyone with a double digit handicap they aren't going to make a noticeable difference. There are actually some good 3 piece balls for less than $26. Check out the e5 and e6 from Bridgestone for starters. They're soft, they fly long, and they spin well for the short shots. Most major golf ball suppliers have there own version.

If you have to get the latest equipment, try to wait for the sales - which happen more frequently than you may think. Lots of clubs get marked down this time of year in an attempt to move inventory for the new '08 models. Let's face it, if it was the new 'hot' technology for '07 or '06, it will be just fine for you. Before you buy, go online and check the price of your equipment at the major Internet retailers. If you don't know who they are, go to www.golfdash.com and look under equipment/ishop. It won't take you more than 10 minutes to find the street price. Your local golf shop will match it if they plan on staying in business. You can also go to the GolfDash website and find out street prices for many items under the Daily Specials tab.

My final piece of advise is for anyone looking at Callaway equipment. I just bought my wife a used Ladies Big Bertha 460 driver and saved one hundred bucks - honest. If I showed you the club, it would be impossible to tell it wasn't new. They test every club they sell and guarantee it will perform as new. If you don't mind a few cosmetic scratches, you can even save more.

Good luck shopping.

Can Clubs Make You A Better Player?

Not all clubs are created equal. Could Tiger use your clubs and shoot par - sure! But he can do better with his own clubs. And think of the pros that have switched clubs, ruined their game, and had to come running back to their old sponsor.

Of course this doesn't mean that new clubs will fix your slice or suddenly have you hitting down on your iron shots. Probably most of how you hit the ball has to do with the quality of your swing. But there is still enough variation beyond that to make club selection important. Certain types of clubs are better for certain types of games. If you are a 20 handicapper, you're not going to play better golf if you suddenly find Tiger's clubs in your car. If you're not hitting the center of your irons 9 times out of 10, then a perimeter weighted cavity back club is going to help.

And then there's the mystique of a club - how it looks to your eye, feels in your hands and whether it inspires confidence. Up until yesterday I have been playing the last 7 years with custom Ping I3 blades. The custom being an inch and a quarter longer, a bit more upright and oversize grips. I traded them in Sunday for a new set of Cleveland CG4 Tours with stiff True Temmper Actionlite shafts.

Of course I had to play them the same day. Never even went to the driving range. I LOVE them. I'd sleep with them except that my wife would make me and the golf bag use the couch. Are the CG4 Tours better than the Ping I3's? Darned if I know. I only know they're better for me. The again maybe it's just the fact that they're new and shiny.

I've got to add that the new clubs are not custom, they're straight off the rack. Not sure if I'll lengthen them or have the lie checked. I may change the grips, but even that's not a given. For now, I'm enjoying them too much just the way they are.

Forget The Square Heads

Seems you can't pick up a spring golf publication without a headline proclaiming the latest and greatest driver test. I've waded through my share of articles trying to figure out if there's any real information I can gleam from them. Bottom line, there's very little difference in drivers when you look at the hard data. What first appears like a big difference in distance turns out to be 6 or 7 yards. I know I work too hard for my money to spend $400 bucks on 7 yards.

I can't see any reason to buy those square headed freak clubs. Golf is about aesthetics as much as anything, and those things just don't cut it. And the sound of some of these new drivers - they're almost as disturbing as the ring from the cellphone that your partner forgot to turn off.

I'm not saying you shouldn't upgrade your 240cc driver. There are plenty of cost effective options out there that will give you more distance than your old antique, particularly on off-center hits. But take the $200+ that you'll save and buy sunscreen, a good hat or a 19th hole cocktail - something that will give you real value for money.

TaylorMade Marketing

Have you tried the new TaylorMade TP ball? You realize what marketing is all about when you read the descriptions of both balls on this page:

TaylorMade TP

TP Red: Tour Launched. Increased distance.

TP Black: Higher launch. Increased carry.

OK, clear now?

I then went to the specs page only to find out the TP Red is slightly larger than the TP Black. But the lingo only gets more confusing when terms like, "multi-blend ionomer mantle," "tour-caliber launch angle,""Advanced 322 PDP (pentangular di-pyramid) are used.

I do get the stamp on the seam (for alignment) and that it is available here in the USA and Canada but the rest...

Well, maybe that's the point.

Scotty Cameron putter goes custom

Now is the time of year to re-assess your clubs - what is working, what is not working. You might even want to give your favorite Scotty Cameron putter a little custom restoration so you can keep sinking those birdie putts.

Cameron now offers a program that can add custom options to your Scotty Cameron putter. Scotty’s Custom Shop is located inside the Putter Studio and is staffed with the same crew that works on the putters of the best players in the world everyday.

If you have always loved the shape of the Newport head, but felt it needed a sight line to put it in play, send it to Scotty. If you desire a non-glare, rust free finish on your carbon putter, send it to Scotty. Maybe you just want to add your initials on your putter to make it your own, send it to Scotty. Whether you want to personalize your favorite Cameron with a new grip and headcover or be more creative, Scotty’s Custom Shop is the choice.

check out the: Custom Shop Options

The Amazing Tri-Bag

Do yourself a favor and take a look at this innovative new golf bag from Tri Bag. It is quite unique in that it can be pulled OR carried. By pulling the bag, the senior player can save their back much wear and stress, but also have the flexibility to carry at select times, for example, one could then carry the bag to the green if you were not sure what club to use in a short game situation. Conversely, if you are a young adult or junior player pulling your bag it might make sense to pull in multi-day tournaments or the second (or third) round in a loooooong day of golf and, of course, you have the flexibility to carry.

Some other features of the Tri-Bag include:

• Adjustable dual harness - meaning you can shoulder it or "backpack" it

• Featherframe - a unique ultra-light, ultra-thin yet radically rigid polypropylene tube exoskeleton gives outstanding stability and protects your precious back

• Switchblade Handgrip - fully retractable telescoping swan neck grip rotates for right or left hand use and distributes weight evenly for even and smooth pull stability

• Slickwheel System - give optimum terrain traction and bag stability. Wheels detachable in one snap with separate nylon drawstring wheelbag for storage. Sealed twin bearing for cleaner, smoother running. Pull out mud cover protects your car interior

• Color combinations include: black/red, black/silver, black/blue, black/green, royal/pink, pink/white

• ALL Tri Bags include a removeable club rain hood and a separate bag for wheel storage (when not in use)

We encourage you to investigate this state-of-the-art golf cart/bag and see what it can do to further your performance and enjoyment of the game.

Interested in purchasing a Tri-Bag? Then please contact Tri-Bag via their website below who will direct you to your nearest on course, off course or online retailer.

Visit the Tri-Bag website here: http://www.tri-bag.com

No more full iron sets!

Golf manufacturers appear to try and stay up on the latest trends in golf. You'd suppose they have to in order to compete. They spend lots of money trying to convince us that we'll play a lot better if we upgrade our 2 year old clubs.

It's not all hype. I do admit there have been some real game improvement clubs over the last 15 years. Who but the pros can't benefit from perimeter weighting. Try and buy a driver WITHOUT a graphite shaft. Perhaps one of the newest and most helpful inventions has been the hybrid club - half iron and half wood. Most everyone has one, including the PGA pros. On the Champions tour you can't find a bag without one or even more.

It doesn't take much foresight to see where this is going. I've been thinking about possibly upgrading my clubs. As I started to go through the selection process in my mind, I realized I don't really want to buy a full set up irons, 3-PW. Many of us already use wedges that don't match our set, same as most pros. And most amateurs can't and don't hit 2 and 3 irons. Some of us are seeing the light and thinking about getting rid of the 4 as well. Which leaves me wanting to buy a new iron set that goes from 5 through 9. That's four clubs less than I have to buy now, or half a set. I think I'll wait another year or so, in which time a smart manufacturer that makes hybrids and irons is going to offer me the choice to buy only the clubs I really need.

L2 Putter - time for a change?

I played in a team tournament last weekend that consisted of five 9-hole matches. One of our competitors, who is now in his 70's, was putting in way I had never seen. He stood tall, faced the hole and held a belly putter to the side. In this manor he used the putter like a pendulum, stabilized by his left hand which he held across his chest and gripping the top of the putter around his right armpit. He was able to putt this way while looking directly at his target. And he putted very well.

I asked him about his style and how he came by it. He said he picked it up from the best amateur golfer he had ever seen. Keep in mind that this gentleman was the state amateur champ a few times himself. We played at a course that is particularly noted for its very fast and difficult greens. Needless to say he putted much better than I did, but that's not saying much.

Today, while I was looking for interesting products to showcase on GolfDash, I came across the 'L2 Lateral Line putter'. This is a putter that was built specially to putt in the same way as the gentleman I played against. There's interesting video on the website (www.toolite.com/golf)showing how it works, and why it may be a better way to put. It's very compelling. Now I'm one who never liked the long putters. I thought the R&A and USGA should have outlawed them. But as long as they are legal, I sure would like to give the L2 a try. It certainly seems a more natural way to putt. As the video on the L2 site says, if you told any Tour pro that you'd pay them $20,000 if they could roll a putt into a hole 20 feet away (no putter mind you), how would they attempt it? Exactly, everyone would face the hole. No one would stand sideways.

If anyone has tried this thing, I'd love to hear their impressions.

Who's hitting it farther with Technology?

I don't think there's much dispute that the tour pros are hitting the ball farther these days, a lot farther. Tons of guys now regularly hit it over 300 yards. I just read the other day in Frank Hannigan's column that there has been an average increase in their driving averages of 27 yards over the last decade. General consensus has 15 yards of that due to the club and 15 due to the ball. And now we're finally getting some discussion on what might be done about it. But my issue here is with the rest of us.

Most pundits agree that the average golfer has not gained any distance. Yet, we have access to the same clubs and balls. Maybe we don't have the clubs fine tuned like the pros, but we can still get the same club heads providing the famous trampoline effect. Is it really true we don't hit it further today than we did 10 years ago?

When I first tried the Pro Vs, I did my own little test. I played by myself on a nice summer evening. I played a couple of Stratas and a couple of Pro Vs. I could swear I was about 10 yards longer on the drive with the Pro V, but I admit the test wasn't scientific.

I just bought myself a slightly used Nike 460. I haven't taken it on the course yet, as we still have snow on the ground, so I don't have any experiencial data to report. I'm thinking of taking it to a really good local clubmaker and trying the swing launch monitor thing. This involves about $4,000 in equipment and with it they can tell you everything about your club and ball at impact. How fast, how high, launch angle, how much spin and who knows what else. Then the clubfitter selects just the right shaft, with all the right characteristics to maximize your distance and control. The evaluation costs about $50 and then there's the cost to revamp the club. The shaft alone could cost more than $100 bucks. Don't know if I want to spend that kind of money, but maybe I'll do it in the name of science. If I do, I'll be sure to write about the experience here.

What I want to know is what is the experience of the rest of you. Are the 'experts' right that we amateurs aren't gaining any distance. Or could there be another explanation. Maybe we are gaining, but nobody tracks it so no one knows. Or maybe you have to be at a certain handicap level to take advantage of the technology. I'd sure like to know. I think I'd be most releaved to find out we aren't gaining anything. Then I could stop lusting after new clubs, believing that they are the answer to what ails my game. And think of the money I could save!

The People Have Spoken About Technology

The responses are in, at least 4 or 5 anyway, AND the people say let the manufacturers take the technology where they will, just change the ball the pros use. Then we might see more shot makers win tournaments, and more grand old courses reclaim their rightful place. And the rest of us can still hope to hit a golf ball 300 yards at least once in our lives through the wonders of titanium and exotic poly-something cores.

The general opinion seems to be that the average joe's or jane's game is not affected that much by the new technology. If we hit the ball further, it means we are just hitting it further into the rough most of the time. Personally, the new technology allows me to hit a driver off-center and still get reasonable distance and end up no worse than the first cut. I know I'm playing better with my titanium humongous head thing than with the old persimmon even though my swing may be no better.

A lot of amateur golfers have to be buying this new stuff or the equipment manufacturers wouldn't keep making it. How many people do you play with that aren't using at least a 360 cc head on their driver. That size was almost unheard of 6 years ago. How long before we all have something over 400cc. Bigger is better and who amongst us can resist the urge to hit the ball a little further. Think of all your drives times 15 extra yards divided by $299 and it's not such a bad deal on that basis.

And for you who have resisted the temptation and still have your Spalding Executives, how long before you try your friend's new driver and discover you just gained 25 extra yards with nothing more than money. Will you be able to resist the temptation to buy then, especially when that 25 yards moves you up two clubs for your approach or allows you to clear the fairway bunker you've always had to layup to.

Let's be honest, let's see the hands of those who practice and spend more time on learning to work a ball versus trying to hit it further? I didn't think so. And probably for good reason. You get more bang for your buck on the average course with some extra yards as opposed to being able to fade or draw your approach shot. Not so on the great courses, but how many of us play on these regularly.

Pushing Technology Too Far?

Unfortunately we live in a world gone mad with consumerism. And it's unbridled consumerism that's killing golf. To those making the big bucks in golf, everything looks rosy. That's probably what Nero thought before he saw the flames devouring Rome.

Equipment companies are having a feast, though they probably feel more like junkies - 'wish we could stop this technology madness but I don't think we can live without it'. Golf ball manufacturers are in the midst of the 'Great Golf Ball Wars of the 21st Century'. Pretty soon even us slugs will be able to manage a 410 yard drive. Our old par 71 course will be reduced to a par 50 or maybe just 7 holes averaging about 600 yards.

And only a few have been brave enough to standup and say anything. Some who should be listened to, like Jack, are politely ignored. TV commentators, some so painfully honest that they've never seen a really great golf shot, can't be bothered. Or, maybe they fear for their jobs.

I like technology. I like my perimeter weighted clubs and I like golf balls that are really round. I enjoyed my first big bomber driver when I gained an extra 15 yards to offset my age. But we don't know how or when to stop anymore.

Where are the governing bodies? Has someone gotten to them - told them to bury their heads if they know what's good for them. There have to be some limits somewhere. Limits are good for you. I'm most disappointed by the R&A. I've always assumed that they have a much better appreciation of 'tradition' than the USGA. America has been clearly about money since the end of WWII. But doesn't 'old Europe' have a bit more common sense?

At any rate, let's have a dialogue - you know, a friendly discussion of the situation. Let everyone express themselves, hear all sides - amateurs, tour pros, club pros, retailers, equipment makers, and organizations.

Amateurs, let's not forget that we are the driving engine. It's our money that pays for everything else including the tour pros. Without us the whole thing sinks like a 55 Caddy in a peat bog. Go to the forum sites and make yourself heard and to the blogs. It's not just about saving ourselves some money, or saving courses, it's about saving the game we love. If the governing bodies won't do it, then we've got to do it ourselves fighting hand to hand combat.

Rise Up and Save Your Sport

The more I think about the distance thing, the more I think it's bad for the game of golf - the distance thing being the more yards we can get from buying technology rather than improving our swing.

I use to race sailboats - a little. It was open racing, not one designs. Invariably the guy who spent the most money won, not the guy who was the best sailor. One design does away with a lot of that. Everyone races virtually the same boat and may the best racer win. Is golf becoming a game of distance only and distance you buy with a credit card?

In golf, it seems that these days the biggest gain to shot distance isn't from faster club head speed due to better swing fundamentals, it's coming from expensive clubs and golfballs. Want to add 20 yards or more to your drive, get a new $500 driver and use the balls that cost $45 per dozen. If you can afford it that is.

And the worst part about it is that every course has to be lengthened and/or 'tricked up' to avoid becoming mincemeat. If you want to host a world golf major, then you've got to get out the chain saws and bulldozers or you won't even be considered. Does this make for a better golf experience. It does make all us amateurs poorer if we want to stay competitive with our wealthy playing partners. And it requires golf courses to spend a lot on upgrades to length, which means their rates will have to go up. I'd rather see the local course maintain what they have and keep the playing fees within reason.

The problem is how to stop the trend. Right now money talks and the equipment folks are having the last word. Can we golfers do anything about this. Can we just say 'no' to another 20 yards or are we all too vain? More tomorrow.

Callaway Golf Magazine

I mentioned Callaway Golf Magazine in one of our recent featured "Sites of the Day" at GolfDash.com but thought I would mention it here as well. the magazine obviously promotes Callaway products, players, technology, etc. but the articles, interviews, tech-talk, new products are terrific. CGM is also beautifully designed so it is very easy on the eyes. The best part, however, is that it is free. Either give them your name and address to get the print version mailed to you or download the magazine instantly via PDF file and read online or print it out. I wish someone would have told me about this earlier.

Titleist on Top

According to Sports Marketing Surveys (which produces data on the equipment players use) Titeist came out way on top as the ball most pros prefer. Points were awarded as follows: 10pts for the brand used by the winner, 8pts for the runner-up, etc., etc. Due to Titleists' Pro V1 and Pro V1x models comfortably out-scored the competition. The premium ball market has seen some serious launches in recents years but it appears Titleist clearly leads the way.

1. Titleist - 807
2. Callaway - 218
3. Srixon - 77
4. Top-flite - 44
5. Nike - 43

(source - Golf Monthly, October 2005)

Ingenious little product - GolfRound towel

Doug here, another member of the GolfDash team. I will be focusing on the latest and greatest new and cool golf products and accessories. Stay tuned - it's going to be fun. And please share your comments, suggest a product or accessory or ask any questions.

I just recently found this GolfRound product when I was playing in Myrtle Beach. It is a small round piece of material that has a water repellent outside and a terry cloth inside. All you do is wet the terry cloth portion fold it up and put in your pocket. Makes life much easier when you are trying to clean a golf ball or a club - no racing back and forth to your bag for that big horsey towel.