Gadgets and Gizmos for the golfer, the cheap way
Did you catch the new show on The Golf Channel recently, “For Inventors Only?” The show is seeking to present new products that will be good for your golf game, and be entertaining for the viewer. If you watch The Golf Channel, there are lots of training aids you can buy, but I thought I’d give you a few ideas that will not cost you much.
A good one on the show was a piece of tape you put on the club face to determine where on the face you strike the ball. This product exists, but the new version is erasable. Hint…Try Duct Tape. It’s cheap, and it will dent to show your impact point.
Lots of gizmos show the path of your putter. Get a carpenters chalk line for about $5 and stretch the string to about 5-feet on a straight putt. Now putt along the line, follow through, and you are “brand new.” If you have a line on your putter it will also show if your club face is square to the target line.
In putting, you want to keep the left wrist from breaking down during the putt. While wearing a golf glove or wrist watch slip a long comb or long pencil along the out side of your wrist as a splint. You’ll stay nice and firm and hit better putts. Oh…remove the object before you get to the first green, we would not want to have to penalize you.
Do you sway into the backswing? On the driving range, step on a golf ball on the outside edge of your right foot if you are a right hander. This will keep the weight on the inside part of your foot and help you to not sway. After impact and follow-through, walk off the ball. Stay steady and balanced going back, then move toward the target.
Do you have a big backswing like John Daly? Try a drill on the range that has you keep a head cover under your right arm-pit during the backswing and only release it through the impact and into the follow-through. This is one of Vijay’s favorites.
OK…there you have five drills with home-made or cheap props. You’ve spent about $5.95. On The Golf Channel in this time, you could have spent $499.95. Keep it simple, and maybe make a donation to your favorite charity, or junior golf.
News items
Tadd Fujikawa the 16-year old from Hawaii has decided to turn pro. Maybe he should call his neighbor Michelle Wie and see how she is doing? Look for his sponsors to be Jello and Fruit Loops. Up soon, the British Open. I love getting up at 6-AM with golf to watch…like Christmas Day for golfers. Lastly, the U.S. Amateur is being played at the Olympic Club Aug 20-26 and there are still a few slots for volunteers.
