Boobs are the best way to sell golf equipment… Click to expand, if you have a big enough monitor.
Though I am not at the 2014 2015 2016 PGA Merchandise Show this week, I can tell you everything that is going to happen there. Here’s a bullet list of some of the highlights one can expect at the PGA Show:
- Every golf company’s new and bestest awesome driver ever in the universe will be longer than ever! BOOM! LONG! BIG! POW! LONG LONG LONG!
- Every golf ball manufacturer’s ball is the longest ever and has more spin for control around the greens! More control and more distance, every year! How do they do it!?!?!?
- Puma will have a DJ and the guys across at FootJoy will be deaf by the end of the show! Boom-tis boom-tis boom-tis… OOOHHHHH YEAH!
- Some golf companies will attract visitors to their booths with hired local strippers! Yay for strippers! Booth babes! Problem is, the visitors will never remember the company or its offerings: “Hey Bob, remember the boobs on those two blonds at that one booth? I can’t remember the company, but I sure remember those boobs!”
- Many first-time companies will display puzzling products, like golf club stands. Why they decided to blow their life savings on a booth at the show for a product which can’t even garner $5 on ebay is beyond me.
- Companies and entrepreneurs who don’t have enough money for a booth will be soliciting people on the show floor, like flashers or counterfeit watch salesmen on the streets of NYC: “Hey buddy, wanna see something cool?”
- Chinese companies will be going around the show covertly taking photos of the products they will counterfeit.
- Foreigner will play the after show concert for the 208th year in a row.
- Non industry professionals who borrowed passes from their golf industry friends will be scouring the show for all the free golf schwag they can carry in a bag they got at the first booth they visited. “Look at these free tees I got!!! Yippeeeee!!!”
- As each show morning comes, every participant will have a bigger hangover and sorer feet.
- People will stand in line for TWO hours to hit the latest TaylorMade driver.
- Golf Channel TV personalities will cut in line at the hot dog stand in front of us low-lifes who are politely waiting in line. This happened to me more than once!
- Educational conferences will cover “growing the game” and new “golf initiatives,” but they will be completely forgotten and ineffective. New drivers will still be $400. Golf will still be too expensive. Golf will still take too long. Handicaps will stay the same. The game will remain difficult…just like the last year and the year before… and so on, and so on.
- Parking will suck. Ride the shuttles!
- Show food will suck. Pack a lunch.
- By the last day of the show, exhibitors will be nodding off to sleep in their booths which they paid $40,000 for. Then, after waking up, they will start packing up the booth many hours before the show ends.
- Astonishingly, many expensive booths will be staffed by people who do not speak english. Countless communication problems will likely lead to lost sales.
I could go on, but it is lunch time…
The courses have been closed for months here in northern Utah. I’ve enjoyed the break from golf, mainly the break from my short game. So during the winter layoff while working in my office I’m watching Tom Watson’s Lessons of a Lifetime II, a multi-DVD golf instructional program with over 3.5 hours of instruction. Who better to teach me chipping and pitching than one of the best ever?
Watching some short game lessons during the big snowstorm
Topics Covered
Every aspect of the golf game is covered by Mr. Watson, from full swing to short game to putting. There are even lessons targeted specifically to kids, and seniors. Here are most of the topics:
- Terminology
- Basics of the grip
- Stance
- Ball position
- The swing (takeaway, backswing, downswing, finish)
- Shotmaking (high, low, draw, fade, hook, slice)
- Distance
- Bunker play
- Playing in varying weather conditions
- Short game
- Putting
- Practicing
- Handling pressure
- “The Secret”
- Pre-shot routine
- Bottom of the arc (perhaps the most important factor in many swings)
Sensible
What I like about Tom’s style is how clearly and easily he describes the situations, the objectives, and how to execute the shots. I’ve been trying to absorb as much as I can from Tom, especially that pesky short game.
Most Valuable Lessons For Me
I’ve found there are several things I’m not doing in my short game which Tom says are crucial: Find the bottom of the arc and put the ball slightly behind it. Set up square to the target, then open up the body, but close the left hip/side. Pick a landing spot, and see how long the roll is with varying clubs while still hitting the same landing spot.
I’ve watched Tom’s tips for handling pressure a few times now. Since I only compete in high pressure situations a few times per year, I seem to get pretty jumpy and nervous. I find it hard to slow my heart rate down and calm down. When the snow melts and I’m in one of those first pressure situations this next season, I’m looking forward to employing Tom’s advice.
Conclusion
This multi-DVD set is full of great golf lessons and I should be better at playing it more often to help my own game. It’s nice to pick a point of focus, like short game, putting, bunker play and try to absorb the concepts.
For a price less than a single golf lesson, this DVD set from Tom Watson has hundreds of great golf teachings which can be viewed over and over again. What a value.
My winter torture continues. Now in my hands is a micro golf GPS from GolfBuddy, the CT2. I’m hoping for some global warming so the snow melts fast and the courses open up, allowing me to start testing this baby. For now, here’s a picture and a few of the features listed below. Pray for the snow to melt.
Golf Buddy CT2 Mini Golf GPS
- Versatile design fits in pockets & clips to towel rings, belts, lanyards, golf bags, etc.
- Dynamic green view with pin placement and distance readings from the golfer’s perspective
- Distances to front/center/back of the green
- Distances to hazards and layups
- Digital scorecard
- Automatic course/hold recognition
- Legal for tournament play
- Rechargeable battery provies up to 17 hours of golf GPS
- Time
- GPS Odometer
- Waterproof up to 10 meters
- Lanyard included
Talk about torture. In my hands are the new FootJoy Freestyle Golf Shoes, just waiting to be put into action. The problem is all of the local courses are closed, all covered with snow. Come on global warming.
FootJoy Freestyle Golf Shoes
The new Freestyle’s look to me to be a combination of several of their latest models, from the D.N.A. to the Icon to the Hyperflex.
FootJoy Freestyle Golf Shoes
If the Freestyle is as comfortable as the D.N.A. and as stable as the Hyperflex, they could be the best golf shoes ever.
As soon as the snow melts I’ll be strapping these bad boys on and beginning the rigorous Hooked On Golf Blog test battery. I might have to schedule a golf trip before the snow melts though. Not sure I can wait that long.
Here’s the skinny from a FootJoy press release:
– Innovative new shoe from the market leader offers freedom of movement & outstanding traction –
FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf, introduces a radically new category of golf shoes, called FreeStyle, highlighted by unique technology specifically designed to deliver exceptional traction, mobility and comfort.
FreeStyle shoes help generate maximum power by providing greater freedom of movement throughout the golf swing.
Through internal testing it has been determined that some players can benefit from structured, stable shoes (like ICON Black™ and DryJoys Tour™) to help quiet their lower half and maintain control while maximizing performance, yet this testing also found there are others who want to be able to roll uninhibited throughout their swing. Freedom of movement for these types of players equates to increased power and the construction of the Freestyle shoes deliver the most mobile characteristics of any category in the FJ lineup.
“FreeStyle is arguably FootJoy’s most imaginative and distinctive shoe ever and will particularly help golfers who would benefit from increased freedom of movement when swinging the golf club,” said Doug Robinson, FJ Vice President of Design and Development Worldwide. “By drawing inspiration from a tree frog and emulating their incredible grip and flexibility properties in the texture and functional elements of an outsole, our design and development team has created something truly unique in the golf shoe market.”
While FreeStyle allows for a more natural movement, the shoe doesn’t compromise on grip – a crucial factor in generating more power. The inspiration for this supreme grip comes from a Red-Eyed Tree Frog who generates incredible gripping power on any surface; hence the birth of F.R.O.G.S. outsole technology, where traction elements increase ground contact points throughout the swing in all weather and underfoot conditions.
F.R.O.G.S. Technology incorporates a super-flexible new SoftMaxTM translucent outsole that offers both a softer feel and extra grip, while a new FTFTM 3.0 midsole compound is the brand’s softest and most comfortable yet. The Softspikes Tour LockTM system and new translucent Pulsar cleats deliver exceptional low-profile grip with a dynamic, frog-like flex.
Beneath the upper is an InnerSokTM Fit System – including both TongueLokTM and HeelLokTM mechanisms – to help hold the foot securely in place throughout the golf swing.
FREESTYLE KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
- Superior Traction
- The F.R.O.G.S. outsole (FJ’s Revolutionary Outsole Grip System) is constructed utilizing SoftMax™ molded translucent rubber delivering soft cushioning and complete mobility. The Pulsar cleats feature dynamic cushioning and green-friendly traction.
- New translucent and super-flexible SoftMaxTM outsole provides a softer feel and extra grip;
- New FTFTM 3.0 midsole compound, FootJoy’s softest yet, delivers outstanding underfoot cushioning
- Softspikes Tour LockTM system delivers a low-profile and high-retention receptacle and cleat combination.
- New translucent Pulsar cleats offers dynamic, green-friendly traction.
- Upper Features
- Lightweight performance mesh upper delivers incredible comfort, breathability and durability
- The InnerSok™ system offers an achilles pad for additional support and comfort in the heel counter, while the Tongue-Lok™ instep grip ensures additional slip-resistant fit in a key location under the tongue;
- L4 BOA Lacing System with translucent dial provides the ultimate fit;
- 2 year Waterproof Warranty.
- Natural Motion & Cushioning
- New midsole compound and construction methods allows for greater torsional flexibility;
- No internal shank encourages maximum freedom of movement and ground contact.
This is a fun time of year, when golf companies are releasing their new products. For the last several years FootJoy has started their year by sending out “mystery boxes” to the media, and bloggers. Each box has clues leading to the release of their newest, latest product.
Last year that product was the FootJoy Hyperflex golf shoe. I’m still wearing this groundbreaking shoe and it has been fantastic. Very comfortable and super stable.
Two years ago it was the FootJoy D.N.A. golf shoe. It’s still a gamer shoe for me and I’ve logged literally hundreds of miles on it.
This year’s first mystery box features some frog action. So what’s great about frogs? Suction cups. Long tounges. Hopping. Green. Ribbits.
Obviously one of the frog characteristics (or more) will be in the new shoe. I’m going with hopping. You thought I’d go with suction cups.
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