GOLF PRODUCT REVIEWS          From Winter 2008 Florida Golf Magazine ©Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved.

ECCO Ace Hydromax Women's Golf Shoe           The design of the new ECCO Women’s Ace golf shoe is to give a superior fit in the heel area. The experts at ECCO say this is often a difficult area for most women's feet. This is done by enhancing the snug heel and instep portion of the shoe which ECCO is noted for already.           The Women’s Ace golf shoe also removes polyurethane from the heel midsole and in its place places thermoplastic polyurethane. The TPU is harder than the PU. This creates a firmer more stable platform for the woman player to swing the golf club. Additionally the trampoline or rebound effect of the midsole is enhanced and more energy is transferred with the push of the golfers’ step.           ECCO Ace Hydromax™ Women’s Golf Shoes are available in White-Black-Silver Metallic, White-Sand-Gold, and White-Meadow-Silver Metallic color combinations, and are sold in more than 3,000 shops globally, including 551 mono-brand (ECCO exclusive) stores. ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com or call 800-886-3226.

GEL (Groove Equipment Limited) Putters           Unlike many industry counterparts, GEL (Groove Equipment Limited) line of grooved putters feature horizontal grooves milled onto a much softer aluminum insert. The result is a putter that starts the ball rolling faster, straighter and offers unparalleled feel.           Unlike grooves on an iron which impart backspin on a ball at impact, grooves on a putter produce the opposite effect and help generate a more immediate forward roll. Recent unbiased testing conducted by Quintic Consultancy Ltd. to analyze a putter’s ability to impart forward roll on a ball has shown that GEL putters outperformed the competition by an average of 14%. The head-to-head comparison tested three GEL putters against models from Titleist, Ping, Odyssey, TaylorMade and Yes! Two GEL models finished 1st & 2nd respectively and generated 20% greater forward roll when compared to the competition.           In general, a putt is more susceptible to stray off-target during the skid, while a rolling putt will hold its intended line and improve the chances of going in the hole, additionally, because the ball comes off the face straighter and with more forward roll it is easier to control distance, one of the leading factors in three-putting.           The MSRP for all GEL models in the United States is $165. To learn more about GEL putters, groove technology or to find a retailer near you, please visit our website www.gelgolf.com.

Bushnell Medalist Laser Rangefinder, So easy to use, it’s a real “No-Brainer.”           The Medalist Laser Rangefinder is Bushnell’s most compact and lightweight measuring device to date. Weighing only 9 oz. the Medalist is ready to be used right out-of-the-box, allowing it to be played at 100% of the courses around the world without the need for prisms, GPS downloads or reflectors. It’s so easy to use that you shouldn’t even have to read the instruction. It’s a real “no-brainer.”           It’s equipped with PinSeeker technology and combines pinpoint accuracy and consistency, enabling the user to range up to 300 yards +/- one yard to the flag.           Powered by a 9-volt battery, the lightweight Medalist boasts a 4x magnification and features a rubber armoring, making the product easy to grip.           Available at retail partners for $299, it also comes with a premium carrying case. Bushnell laser rangefinders are #1 on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour. For more information on the Medalist and the entire Bushnell family of laser rangefinders, visit the company’s website at www.bushnellgolf.com

Sand Magic DVD by Teaching Legend Phil Ritson, Improve your bunker play           The “Sand Magic” instructional DVD featuring world renowned golf instructor Phil Ritson, teaches Phil’s methodology of playing all types of bunker shots. Ritson, who won the Dunlop Masters Championship of South Africa in 1953 has been playing and teaching golf professionally for over 58 years. Over his carrer he has taught winners of all four major championships, and multiple winners from all maor professional tours around the world as well as many national amateur champions.           Phil's ability to play and teach the sand wedge is legendary in the world of golf and he has instructed many of the world’s greatest teachers, including fellow South African David Ledbetter. The techniques Ritson has developed and teaches in this DVD, make sand play simple to understand and easy to put into play. In this DVD, he shows you a simple way to play all the sand shots easily and consistently--including the dreaded buried lie, using his one of a kind "ice cream scoop shot."

VOLIK VIK3’s three-piece “mixed metal” construction makes it a longer ball with a softer “easy to control” feel.           Volvik has once again flexed its Research & Development muscles and released a new mixed metal, 3 piece construction ball, with a soft surlyn cover. The VIK3’s patented Dual-Core (US Patent #5184828) and it’s patented 446 Octahedral Dimple Pattern (US Patent # 650902) offers penetrating ball flight and a longer flight path for a wider range of swing speeds, while its multi-layer construction gives it amazing feel that translates into more control around the greens.           The three piece mixed metal Volvik VIK3 is a 70 compression premium golf ball. With 3 piece surlyn covered balls entering the ultra premium market at prices in the high 30-40 dollar range Volvik’s MSRP at $34.95 will likely find prices at street level in the $30 range.           Volvik is shaking up the market again with the VIK3. This new ball offers the average golfer a chance to play a premium technology golf ball for not much more than the price of an entry level ball, a golf ball that will perform better than a harder construction balls, and will stop on the green, even on less than perfect shots.           Volvik golf balls are distributed exclusively by FLGolf, Inc. of Summerfield Florida. For more information please call 888-899-1755 or see volvikgolfballs.com

SoloRider Swing System “A Golf Teaching Aid Solution”           SoloRider, the manufacturer of “America’s leading Single-Rider Golf Car” has developed a new product, the Swing System for use at Veterans Hospital’s Poly Trauma Centers, Rehabilitation Hospitals, and Adaptive Golf Programs such as First Swing, and First Tee.           The Swing System is a fixed location chair that elevates golfers and patients with mobility impairments from a seated position to an infinite number of adjustable standing positions. This is done easily and safely with a push of a button, allowing them to practice swinging their golf clubs and getting back to enjoying golf from a standing position. The chair portion of the Swing System is the same chair used with the SoloRider, so as the golfers becomes comfortable swinging from the Swing System, they can advance to the SoloRider golf car on their local golf course. This truly is a “a golf teaching aid solution,” from VA or rehabilitation center, to the driving range and ultimately to the golfer’s local golf course.           To date SoloRider has donated Swing Systems to VA Hospitals in San Diego, Palo Alto, and Lakewood, WA and five Rehabilitation Hospitals throughout the United States, where doctors, recreational, physical and occupational therapists all work with “wounded warriors,” many from wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, and mobility impaired patients with spinal cord injuries, stroke survivors, brain injuries, blindness, and senior golfers recovering from hip and knee replacements.           The response to initial prototype testing of the Swing System has been simple and to the point. In many instances there is a huge smile and some tears followed by, “I can play golf. I never thought I could do this from a standing position, ever again in my lifetime.”           Golfers with mobility impairments can also use the specially designed Swing System Knee Brace to hold their legs in place and they then have the ability to concentrate on their practice swing. At a recent installation of a Swing System at First Tee Driving Range in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Mark, the golf coach mentioned that the teenaged girl using the Swing System had been unable to consistently hit her golf balls and get any distance, but with the chair and knee brace consistent improvement became readily apparent.           Finally, Recreational Therapists at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver have begun using the SoloRider Solution at parks near their hospital to get patients out in the fresh air using a combination of the Swing System and their Solorider single rider golf car. Patients know the day is quickly coming when they will be able to play golf at their local golf courses with their friends.           For more information about SoloRider products see www.solorider.com or call 1-800-898-3353.

Pg.30-31 From Winter 2008 Florida Golf Magazine ©Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. Subscribe at www.floridagolfmagazine.com/subscribe