Budget Golf, SkyCaddie and Gyro Swing

Don't worry, no more of my 'golf instruction' ideas in this blog. I've run across a couple of things that are so interesting I just have to mention them. I've used one and hope to have a chance to try the other two shortly.

First, an idea about buying product online, saving money and getting no hassles service. I search the web for good deals and keep track of street prices for key items on the GolfDash website. As a result, when I was in the market for a new putter I knew who had the best deal. (I've found through experience that there are significant differences in online prices. It's not about one website always being better. Who has the best price at any given time on a particular product is up for grabs. You really have to compare the major sites.)

You who read this blog know I was hot for a MacGregor putter earlier in the year. However, when I tried the Rife 2Bar I fell in love immediately. BudgetGolf had the lowest price and free shipping so the choice was clear. Unfortunately, when I got the putter, it was the blade model instead of the mallet. When I checked my order I found out the mistake was my fault. When I called up to explain what happened, they couldn't have been nicer. I sent the putter back and they promptly sent me the new one - and - they didn't charge me shipping on the replacement. From now on, I'll be checking BudgetGolf first when I want to buy something online.

Second, I want to talk about SkyCaddie. Being an old fuddy-duddy I'd like it if there were no golf yardage indicators anywhere on a course and everyone had to play by the seat of their pants. I'm not so crazy that I don't realize how stupid this is. For better or worse, the world of golf is about knowing exactly how far away you are from where you want to hit the ball. The pros wouldn't score nearly as well without their faithful caddies giving them this information on every shot. So why shouldn't we amateurs have the same advantage. The new GPS systems make this all possible. From what I can see they've improved a lot so they are now quite accurate, work efficiently and can be used on any course. Even if your course hasn't been officially mapped (there are thousands nationwide), you can actually do it yourself quite easily. I checked the courses I play in Rhode Island and they have all been mapped.

If you play a lot of different courses like I do, think how convenient it is to have yardages to key points on every hole for a new course. It's almost impossible to play a good quality course for the first time without a course guide and now you can get all that and more in a GPS system. How about knowing how far you've hit every shot. Wouldn't it be nice to know what you really hit your 7 iron on the course. How about knowing how far you need to hit your second shot on a par 5 to your preferred lay-up yardage.

There's one feature about GPS tools that may actually most benefit the sport in general - speeding up play. Numerous tests have shown significantly reduced play times (30 minutes for 18 holes) for amateurs when using GPS. No more looking for sprinkler heads or even worse, walking off yardage. And why should amateurs have to guess if their approach shot is 60, 70 or 80 yards when the best players in the world demand to know it exactly.

I've looked at the GPS products out there and SkyCaddie seems to me to be the clear leader. No, I haven't received anything from them, so this is an unbiased opinion. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but if they operate as well as they are advertised I think I'll have to get one. When I've pushed one well into the rough, I'd love to know how far my carry is over the water to the front, back and middle of the green.

Lastly, there's Gyro Swing. If you watch the Golf Channel's 'Fore Inventors Only' you might have seem Larry Kelly introduce his idea for a golf club with a gyroscope in the head. After the show he teamed up with SKLZ to produce and sell the product. It was a tremendous hit with teaching pros at the PGA Show this year. You are better off watching a couple of videos to see how it works rather than have me try and explain it. Once you've seen it, I think it will make perfect sense as to why it works. Unfortunately the thing costs a little over $200, a bit steep for a training device in my book, but I sure wish I had access to one. Maybe the local pro or golf shop will get one. I think it holds tremendous potential because it forces you to 'feel' the correct plane of the swing and a proper lease of the club head. Many amateurs would progress much faster if they could just experience what a good swing feels like. I'm also encouraged because Rick Smith has gotten behind the product. Though I've never had lessons from him, I've always been greatly impressed with what I've seen of him on TV. He has tremendous knowledge and a true teacher's personality. He's really high on this thing and that's a solid endorsement as far as I'm concerned. If anyone of you get to try the Gyro Swing, please write and let me know what you think.