Gizmodo: golf clubs

High Tech Titanium Golf Clubs May Lead to Hearing Loss

Sean Fallon — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST

It looks like golfers may have more to worry about than bad backs and jacked-up knees. Apparently, swinging those new fangled fancy titanium drivers may lead to hearing loss.

It sounds strange but driver faces are getting thinner and thinner which leads to a louder noise when contact is made with the ball. Tests conducted with clubs from manufacturers like King Cobra, Callaway, Nike and Mizuno revealed surprisingly high decibel levels. In fact, the Ping G10 hit over 130 dB when swung by a professional golfer. This kind of research is why some experts are recommending that players wear earplugs while on the tee.

Personally, I like the sound of a booming drive off a titanium driver. It's an audible cue that I have made good contact. Although, the sound always seems less intense when I am the one hitting the ball as opposed to standing in the vicinity of another golfer. Still, at least one person has been documented in the British Medical Journal as having suffered hearing loss as the result of using a King Cobra LD driver 3 times a week over the course of 18 months.

Is this something avid golfers should worry about? I'll get back to you on that when I see Tiger Woods using a hearing aid. [BBC via Neatorama]

Air Force One Golf Clubs Use Compressed Nitrogen to Help You Hit Farther

Sean Fallon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:50:00 EST

Have you ever heard the adage that you can buy a better golf game? I really is true. Over the years my game has improved dramatically because of improvements in club design—but I never expected to be swinging anything like the Air Force One. On paper, PowerBilt's idea makes a lot of sense—by filling a clubhead with nitrogen at pressures of up to 150 psi, you can dramatically reduce the thickness of the face and increase the sweetspot because there would be no need for mechanical bracing. The result is increased flex in the clubface on impact which translates into greater distance.

PowerBilt is releasing their line of Air Force One drivers, fairway woods and hybrid clubs with variable face thickness—allowing players to tailor their club to their game. In other words, users with a low swing speed can opt for the thinnest face (for easier compression) while faster swing speeds would require a thicker face. Either way, PowerBilt claims that these clubs can add 10-15 yards of extra distance to your drive. That's remarkable if it is true, but what may be even more remarkable is that the clubs actually conform to USGA regulations—so you can avoid crippling cheater's guilt when you step up to the tee. The driver, fairway woods, and hybrids will run you $500, $350 and $250 respectively. [PowerBilt via DVICE and World Golf]

UroClub Lets Golfers Go Pee-Pee in Public

Benny Goldman — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:20:00 EDT

Ever been on the golf course, knocking back a few beers, when nature calls? It may be against club rules to duck into the rough for a leak—that's why the UroClub, developed by awesome urologist Floyd Seskin, is an answer to your prayers. Just place an inconspicuous towel over your junk, unscrew the cap of the club disguised to look like a 7-iron, and whiz away—up to half a liter. When you're done, stick the leak-proof club back in your bag and take your next shot. The UroClub costs $50, a small price if you don't want to look like the guy below. [UroClub via Keith Olbermann]

Electronic Golf Caddy Carries Your Clubs Sans Judgment Or Teen Angst

Elaine Chow — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Yet another job for pimply 16-year-olds has been rendered obsolete with technology, now that golfers can use the Shadow Caddy—a fully autonomous golf club carrying cart that trails behind you automatically. The three-wheeled cart works by following a signal from a transmitter worn on the golfer's body. Switching the caddy's setting from "Follow-Me" to "Park" makes sure it never accidentally follows you into a bunker or onto the green.

The Shadow Caddy can function in all weather conditions and moves at a speedy enough clip to keep up with a fast walk. Right now, it's only available as a rental model rather than a full retail product. Trials are being conducted at four golf courses in Melbourne, Australia.

Not only is the cart cheaper than renting a real person to carry your clubs for you, it'll never make snide remarks under its breath about how any idiot would've known to use a nine iron for that shot. [Gizmag]

NeverMore Putter Grip Retrieves Golf Balls By Sucking More Than You Do

Jack Loftus — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EDT

There are very few gadgets out there today where saying "sucks balls" in the description is a compliment, but these putter grip replacements from NeverMore are one such example. The rubber grips replace your putter's normal grip, and allow you to retrieve a golf ball from the cup without bending over. They come in a variety of colors, which, if you're anything like this writer, will go nicely with the torrent of blue language that occurs regularly on the golf course. Mid-size or oversize grips go for $17 apiece. [Herrington via Book of Joe]

We've Got Wood: Callaway's FT-i Driver Has Square Head, Drives Straighter?

Charlie White — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:44:40 EST

This is a big day for golfers, the day Callaway rolls out its square-headed FT-i driver using what the company calls "Fusion Technology." Just like the old PF Flyer sneakers of yesteryear whose makers claimed would make you run faster and jump higher, these clubs are supposed to improve your golfing performance. Callaway claims it's "the world's straightest driver," because its square design supposedly moves its weight away from the center of gravity. That's supposed to give you increased horizontal and vertical stability.

The square-headed club is adjustable, too, so you can distribute its weight to compensate for your weaknesses. There's no word on whether there is any adjustment for overall terrible golfing technique. Just for the record, we're not thinking Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in the world because of the clubs he uses, nor was Ansel Adams a master photographer because of his brand of camera. That's one badass-looking club, though. – Charlie White

Product Page [Callaway, via Bogey Lounge]