Tag: golflogix

12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide – Last Minute Ideas

Our 12 days of Christmas gift guide series was off to a great start, but unfortunately got derailed last week due to a family emergency. With just a few days left until Christmas, we still have a few last minute gift ideas for you!

V1 Sports – V1 Golf App

V1’s free golf swing analysis and instruction app helps golfers play their best by capturing and reviewing your swing with powerful analysis and playback tools. The V1 golf swing app also allows you to connect with one of thousands of instructors who teach with V1 Sports.

I recently connected with perennial Top 100 instructor Brian Mogg using the V1 app. I sent him 2 videos of my swing for analysis and in a few days he responded with his feedback and some drills to work on what I needed to improve upon. The results were immediate. Now I can send follow-up videos to make sure I’m progressing well and we plan on getting together in person at some point to reinforce what I’ve learned.

The V1 app really is the perfect way to improve your game, contact free, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Did I mention the app is free? OK, your lessons won’t be free obviously – That’s between you and your pro, but you can use the V1 app for free as long as you want to capture swing videos and use it to analyze your own swing videos.

For those of you that want more (who doesn’t), there’s the premium upgrade that costs $6.99 per month, or $59.99 per year. The premium version removes ads and adds a huge HD model swing library, allows you to compare two swings side by side in slow motion, overlay two videos for close inspection, and you get priority in-app support should something go wrong.

GolfLogix Green Books & App

We’ve written about GolfLogix before, and their golf GPS app has been one of the most complete and popular GPS apps available for several years, with over 5 million users worldwide. With the introduction of their Green Books, they’ve taken things to the next level.

GolfLogix Green Books provide yardage guides, but the real star of the show are the detailed heat maps and putting break maps of each green for over 14,000 golf courses. I brought one of the books to Pinehurst and they were especially useful on the famed #2 course with their extreme upside-down bowl greens.

For those that prefer to take advantage of more modern technology, GolfLogix also has their aforementioned phone app that provides accurate GPS distances, in-round pro-level stat tracking, approach view and the new Putt Line feature. It’s basically like having the green books on your phone. Membership for GolfLogix Plus is only $49.99 per year.

Bushnell Wingman GPS Speaker

If you are one of the lucky ones that can still find them in stores, the Bushnell Wingman is one of the most sought after golf gifts in all the land. Bushnell is already well known for their industry leading golf GPS and laser rangefinders, but the Bushnell Wingman was one of the most attention getting products introduced at the 2020 PGA Merchandise show, and it has lived up to the hype as they have been having trouble keeping it in stock all year!

The Bushnell Wingman is a high quality bluetooth speaker combined with a golf GPS that works with the Bushnell Golf app on your phone to briefly mute your music while speaking out distances to the front, middle and back of the greens, as well as water hazards. It’s all controlled by a little magnetic remote. You can even program it to spout sarcastic comments for your buddies. The Wingman also has a powerful magnet to stick it to any metal surface without falling off. Now the only thing you have to worry about is not offending your playing partners with your selection of music on the course! the Bushnell Wingman retails for around $149.99 and is available at most golf retailers, big box stores and Amazon.

December 22, 2020
Pinehurst Resort Trip Log – Day 3
For our final day at Pinehurst Resort, we saved the best for last – A round on the iconic No. 2 course. The legendary 1909 Donald Ross design has hosted more big tournaments and national championships than I can even list here, including the 2014 Men’s and Women’s US Open and the 2019 US Amateur.

Before you go on – Catch up by checking out the trip logs from the first two days of our trip to Pinehurst Resort:

Pinehurst Resort Trip Log – Day 1
Pinehurst Resort Trip Log – Day 2
- No 2 Course – First Hole & Clubhouse
- Donald Ross’ Home
Our caddie for the day was a Pinehurst veteran named Marshall who has been there for close to 20 years and knows just about every inch of the course and every subtle undulation on the greens.

I think what makes the No 2. course at Pinehurst so revered is that it is playable and challenging for golfers of all abilities, provided you play from the correct set of tee markers. There is ample room off the tee for most, but many landing areas pinch in at 270-300 yards with bunkers and native areas coming into play and make hitting the fairway more challenging for the back-tee bombers. Big hitters will not be overpowering this golf course!

Finding fairways is only the first step to scoring on the No 2 course, however. Donald Ross and his famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) upside down bowl greens demand accurate approach shots. Wayward shots or mishits will catch the slopes and false edges and, in many cases be directed away from the hole and off the green into collection areas and bunkers.

Knowing where to hit your approaches is critical to good scoring in general, but especially on this course, and a good caddie is invaluable in that regard. It also helped to have a detailed green book to refer to, like the ones used by the pros on tour. In this case, I picked up one of the new green books from GolfLogix before my trip. As you can see below, the heat map for the green on the second hole is quite dramatic, with false edges on every side of the green and a plateau in the middle for hole locations. Effectively, the green is only the size of what you can see in white and green on the heat maps. The areas in yellow, orange and red are slopes that will not hold a golf ball. That convex shape is what makes the greens at Pinehurst No 2 such a challenge.

GolfLogix green maps – Pinehurst No2, second hole

On this day, the pin was located in the back right on the edge of white area, which means missing long or right was a huge no-no. As it turns out, I pulled my 9-iron approach way left into the mounds to the left of the green but (with a little luck) managed to chip in for birdie!

After our experience sitting on the patio at The Deuce watching other groups coming up 18 to finish their round on the No. 2 course, my concentration levels peaked as we reached the last hole. I didn’t want to be heckled for hitting a bad shot on the last hole! I hit a solid tee shot up the right that found its way into the native area, but I had a good lie on some firm sand and hit a nine iron that drifted left on the wind and ended up in a greenside bunker. Without much green to work with, I took my medicine and decided to play past the pin. A decent bunker shot left me with a 20 footer for par, which I missed. Fortunately, the masses on the patio didn’t roast me, as most of them probably suffered worse fates than shooting 76 from the tips on a course that has hosted six majors and a Ryder Cup. I hit the ball very well, but five 3-putt bogeys was my undoing on those treacherous greens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7kVFewwjVM

The village of Pinehurst is small and quaint, with almost everything within walking distance. The shuttle service is always ready to take you anywhere you need to go, or you can even take a bike to explore on your own. After a great day on the No. 2 course we took the shuttle back to the Carolina Hotel just up the road from the clubhouse to clean up and sit down for a steak dinner at the elegant Carolina Room downstairs and wrapped up the evening with a few drinks at the Ryder Cup Lounge.

Day 3 of our trip is in the books, and our final day will be spent off site playing the very unique and visually striking Tobacco Road Golf Club before hitting the road back south.
July 17, 2020
7 Golf Accessories You Can’t Live Without
2020 hasn’t been the best year for humans so far, with the COVID-19 pandemic throwing our daily lives into a tailspin. Fortunately, summer is almost here and golf is starting to get going again. Let’s face it – The golf course is arguably a safer place than a grocery store these days! In the US, over 97% of golf courses are open, so it’s time to get ready for summer and grab some of the hottest accessories available.

Bushnell Pro XE

For years Bushnell has made some of the very best laser rangefinders in golf, and the new Pro XE rangefinder is no exception. Packed with cool features and innovative technology, Bushnell’s flagship Pro XE model (pictured above) includes Slope with Elements which adds temperature and barometric pressure to the slope technology to provide accurate, compensated distances. The BITE magnetic cart mount is a welcome new feature as well. Available direct at bushnellgolf.com

Bushnell Wingman GPS Speaker

Like it or not, playing music on the golf course is here to stay. Streaming music services and bluetooth speakers are everywhere, so it’s only logical that the casual weekend golfer would want to play music on the course while they play. I’m not interested in talking about the why, but the how. To that end, the hottest new speaker for golf is the Bushnell Wingman. Not only does it sound great, but it has a powerful magnetic mount and a built-in GPS remote that speaks front, middle & back distances from over 36,000 courses worldwide using the Bushnell Golf App on your phone. Available direct from bushnellgolf.com.

Flightscope MEVO

Launch Monitors – Most of the world’s best players have them, why don’t you? Well, for starters they cost as much as a nice car. Until now that is. Flightscope has taken some of their industry leading Doppler radar technology and shrunk it down to a pocket-sized personal launch monitor that everyone can afford. The Flightscope MEVO costs only $499 and measures 8 performance data parameters like carry distance, club head speed, smash factor, apex height, flight time, ball speed, spin rate and launch angle. I use mine all the time. It’s invaluable for testing clubs and measuring my swing performance. https://www.flightscopemevo.com/

Golflogix Green Books

If you watch the pros play on TV, you’ll notice they are always looking at their yardage books, especially around the greens. For years they have had access to professional green books that detail all the slopes, humps and bumps on the greens of the course they are playing. Wouldn’t it be nice to have access to that kind of information for your home course? Now you can! One of the leading golf GPS apps – GolfLogix – is now taking their industry leading digital Putt Breaks technology and offering it in highly detailed, full color green books complete with heat maps. More than 14,000 courses have already been detailed, with more to come! To check for your home course, just go here: https://store.golflogix.com/

Tanto Ball Mark Repair Tools

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with ball mark repair tools. I love the switchblade style, but I can’t seem to keep them in good working order. For some reason they are always breaking. I use this style of divot repair tool because it won’t poke me in the leg or tear a hole in my shorts, but the spring loaded mechanism never lasts very long. But now there’s Tanto USA with their overengineered divot tools! Their stainless steel bladed, titanium powder coated tools are heavy and solid, like an expensive pocket knife. I’m looking forward to many years of repairing ball marks with this tool. To get yours, just visit: https://www.tantousa.com/

Tattoo Golf Apparel
Tattoo Golf has been one of my favorite golf apparel brands for years. You may not have heard of them until now, but you’ll be glad you did. Their youthful designs are colorful and fun, and the modern technical fabrics perform well even in the humidity of a hot Florida summer. While many of their designs feature a variation of their ubiquitous skull and “crossclubs” logo, you can also get golf shirts with cool Hawaiian style floral patterns. They make shirts, shorts, pants, hats and accessories for men and women and run frequent sales through their website where you can save up to 20% or more. Check them out today at https://www.tattoogolf.com/

Walker Trolleys

While some of us have used golf as a form of therapy through all this COVID-19 business, in an effort to practice social distancing many golf courses have adopted a single rider per cart policy or encouraged walking the course. The physiological benefits of walking on the golf course are well known and cannot be understated, so it’s no surprise that the golf push cart market has blown up recently! For those that demand quality craftsmanship in a classic design with some modern engineering and materials, Walker Trolley’s Cape Model premium golf push cart might be right what the doctor ordered. Made with anodized aluminum, waxed canvas and and leather, Walker Trolleys have built a sturdy, functional push cart that seems to be imported from a bygone era where walking was the only option. To get one of your own, pre-orders are being accepted now: https://walkertrolleys.com/products/walker-trolley
May 28, 2020
2018 Holiday Gift Guide
2018 has been a pretty good year for golf, despite course closures all around the globe and the unfortunate trend of driver prices regularly creeping up to and past the $500 mark. There is more technology than ever out there for golfers of all abilities to get the most out of their game. Since the holiday shopping season is upon us again, here are some gift ideas for the serious golfer on your list, or yourself!

Clubs
- Ping G400 – Arguably the best driver in golf, it is among the top 3 sellers and owners of one like me will be happy to tell you how good it is. Paired with a high-performance shaft from TPT Golf, I gained 9 yards and hit it straighter too. Demand for the #1 selling G400 MAX is high, with prices rising to more than $500. ($570.00 on Amazon)
- Wilson Cortex – If you watch the Golf Channel, you are probably familiar with the hit show Driver vs Driver that gave us the controversial Wilson Triton driver a few seasons ago. Driver vs Driver 2 just wrapped up and this year’s winning club is called the Wilson Cortex, and it has already hit the market. The buzz with this club is that it produces very low spin. If you are a Wilson fan and your driver is a few generations old, the Cortex is a must hit! ($498.95 on Amazon)
- Miura irons – Japanese company Miura Golf has been forging some of the best quality irons in the world for many years, and they keep getting better. Previously available only through high-end club fitters, Miura is now making custom sets available direct from the manufacturer. The new MC-501 irons have been an object of sheer lust for me since I first saw them at the PGA Show a while back. (Iron sets starting at $1350 and up)
Wilson Cortex Driver

Training
- Putting Mirror – I’ve been using my EyeLine putting mirror for a few years now and it has helped me become more consistent on the greens. Many of the top players in the world use similar mirrors to check ball position, eye and shoulder alignment and iron out problems with their putting stroke.
- Eyeball Golf – Remember that old saying – Keep your head still? Well, the eyeball trainer can help you do that! It’s simple, easy to use and won’t break the bank. Give it a try! (.99 direct)
EyeLine Golf Putting Mirror

Software
- Golf Logix – The USGA has recently weighed in on the topic of green reading charts and maps by limiting the size and scale of the books people use, but the leading app company GolfLogix is ok with that, and the typical user of their service isn’t a tournament golfer anyway. The innovative PuttBreaks feature in the Golf Logix app is easy to use and can really help you read the greens on unfamiliar courses, or even help confirm what your eyes see. (Available for free in the iTunes and Google Play store – $29.99 for 12 month Putt Breaks membership)
GolfLogix with Putt Breaks

Shafts
- Breakthrough Golf technology – Golf industry veteran and living legend Barney Adams has set his sights on making you a better putter, and Breakthrough Golf Technology’s new Stability Shaft is how he’s doing it. Guess what – It works! My putting has improved ever since I put the shaft in play, and I’m looking forward to converting a few more putters soon. (Available direct w/ free install – $199.99)
- TPT Golf – I’m a big fan of TPT golf and their innovative new shafts. Earlier this year I tested one in my Ping G400 driver and gained 9 yards. They aren’t cheap, but for demanding golfers with spare cash, TPT is the shaft you must try when you visit your custom club fitter for a new driver.
Breakthrough Golf technology – Stability Shaft

Apparel
- Oakley – I’m not impressed too much with the apparel options available this year. That’s not to say there isn’t anything good out there, it’s just that nothing stands out. Nothing except Oakley that is. The Engineered Polo Bubba is a shirt I could live with almost every day, and they are super cheap right now. (Available direct – $24.00 as of 12/7/2018) Why not pair it with a slick Bg Emb Visor too? (Direct – $28.00)
Oakley Engineered Polo Bubba

Misc
- Craftsman Golf Headcovers – Why not customize the look of your golf bag and protect your clubs from theft by getting rid of the factory headcovers and replacing them with fun head covers from Craftsman Golf? I recently covered my Callaway XR16 LD Long Drive club with a funny cat head cover with a bell that drove my playing partners nuts! It was great fun. Seriously though, Craftsman Golf makes good quality stuff at very reasonable prices! (Available direct – www.craftsmangolf.com)
- Bushnell Rangefinders – Bushnell continues to make market-leading laser and GPS rangefinders. I’ve been using the awesome Pro X2 Laser Rangefinder for a while, and the perfectly sized Phantom GPS is a perfect compliment to any laser rangefinder and easily fits in your pocket. If you want the best of both worlds, consider the Bushnell Hybrid Rangefinder, that has both a precision laser rangefinder and GPS in one easy to use handheld device.
- Club Champion Fitting – Club Champion is the largest custom club fitting company in the US, and they are brand-agnostic, which means they aren’t going to push you towards a certain brand, just what works best with your golf swing. I recently had my Cobra F8+ driver upgraded with a new shaft from Paderson Golf and gained 6 yards and greatly tightened the dispersion. They have 40 indoor fitting centers all over the country, so weather isn’t an issue and there is probably one close to you. If you take the game seriously and want to play your best golf, there’s really no excuse not to get custom fit for every club in your bag.
- NoSweat Liners – It may be chilly outside now, but at some point, it’s going to warm up again outside and you’ll start sweating on the golf course. Living in Florida, the summer heat and humidity makes it impossible not to sweat profusely when playing golf. NoSweat liners install easily inside your hat and really help soak up the sweat coming from your forehead. Sometimes I sweat so much that it’s hard to putt because sweat keeps dripping on the ball! NoSweat liners fixed this problem for me, and they are used by professional golfers and many other athletes in sports like hockey and football under their helmets. If you are a sweater like me, you’ll want to give them a try! ($9.99 and up on Amazon)
- SkyCaddie SX500 – SkyCaddie has been around for as long as I can remember using such distance measuring devices, and their products are always recognized as one of the best GPS for golf, and their newest model is no exception. The SkyCaddie SX500 has a large (5″) bright screen, solid battery life and is easy to use. All SX500s come with a 1-year subscription. SkyCaddie maps all their own courses for greater accuracy, and I’ve always found their distances to be very precise when compared to a laser rangefinder. The difference is rarely more than a few yards, and for amateur golfers, this is certainly within the acceptable range. ($399.95 on Amazon)
Bushnell Hybrid GPS/Rangefinder
December 7, 2018