Salt Lake Golf Show is this weekend

Anyone in my area? You may want to visit the Salt Lake Golf Show. I’ll be there checking out the booths and equipment. Comment in here and let me know when you’ll be there.

* Friday, Mar. 23rd – 11am to 6pm
* Saturday, Mar. 24th – 9am to 5pm
* Sunday, Mar. 25th – 9am to 4pm

South Town Exposition Center
9575 S. State Street
Sandy, UT 84070
801-565-4490
Driving Directions

* $9 adults | $5 Students (13-17) | Kids under 12 free

RedEye i300 Laser Putter Review

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Clubs • Golf Equipment • Golf Videos • Reviews

Is there a sport with more funky gadgets than golf? We golfers have global navigation systems (GPS), laser yardage and slope finders, golf swing computer analysis, launch monitors, automated teeing devices, swing jackets and now laser guided putters.

redeye golf laser putter i330 RedEye i300 Laser Putter

The RedEye i300 Laser Putter is a club which has a laser beam in the face of the putter. The beam draws a laser line on the ground in front of your putter, showing you the line. There’s also a receiver target unit which can sense when the beam is lined up properly and beeps to let you know.

With the laser beam module installed, the putter does not comply with USGA regulations. However, you can change out the laser unit for a standard weighting unit which does comply. This allows you to take the same putter onto the course and gives you confidence and the same feel you had during your practice sessions.

You’ve gotta love this putter. It’s actually a great feeling putter with perfect weighting. It can be very shocking for people to see where they are really aimed. It’s quite interesting to see how even the slightest change in face angle can mean several inches or even several feet of difference depending on the length of putt.

My friend, the local pro, used the i330 for his students for a while. It was great to show them where the putter was aimed and get them lined up correctly.

redeye golf laser putter i330 Check your face angle

If you aim at a target with a wall behind it, you can also see your club face’s loft. Some of my pals would have the blade very lofted at address as you could see the laser dot on the wall several feet above the target.

Electronic smart target

The companion unit to the i330 is the “electronic smart target.” This is a canopy shaped plastic unit which can act as a hole or can cover a golf hole. The canopy helps block sunlight. The target has sensors which detect when the laser hits them and the unit feeds back to you with a beep. A constant tone is emitted when you’re right on line. It’s quite difficult, especially on longer putts to get the constant tone.

You can use the electronic smart target on breaking putts as well. If you have a putt that breaks one foot left, you set the smart target up one foot right. When you get the tone you know you’re properly aimed one foot right and on the correct line for the break.

redeye golf laser putter i330 Using the putter

To activate the laser you simply tap the putter on the ground. The button on the bottom turns the laser on for eight seconds. I’m not sure why RedEye picked eight seconds. I’m guessing they figured it takes someone eight seconds to line up and then they turn the laser off for the actual putt. One good reason is also to save the battery.

If you don’t mind playing win an illegal putter on the course you could use the laser during a “practice” round to see how you are lining up. This would especially help many amateurs on their short putts.

Switching out laser and weight modules

I did a quick video demonstration to show how long it takes to switch from the laser version of the putter to the USGA legal version. You may be using the laser for your practice putting before a round and then only have a minute or two to switch to the legal setup. As you can see from the video it barely takes over one minute to make the switch.

Head Cover

The head cover which comes with the i330 is good looking and functional. I like the fact that they used a magnet instead of Velcro for the flap. Velcro wears out over time.

redeye golf laser putter i330 Parts and accessories

The RedEye i330 comes with a 125 gram cartridge, bringing the head to 342 grams and the club’s total weight to 528 grams. If you prefer a heavier putter, for $19.95 you can pick up the Speed Weighting Kit which comes with two additional weights (140 and 160 grams).

If you lose or break any of the components, tools or weights, they’re all available at a reasonable price on the RedEye Golf web site under “other products.”

Critic’s corner

On the critical side I’d like to see a small bag or something included with the putter to carry the screws, weights and laser unit. I had to go with a zip lock storage bag, which isn’t the most elegant way I could think of to haul the extra parts around.

I found eight seconds wasn’t quite enough for me to absorb and adjust my alignment. I wouldn’t mind being able to leave the laser on for more time or perhaps having a new version of the putter keep the laser on for say 30 seconds with a quick double tap of the button. Maybe even a small pot on the laser unit which lets you specify how long it stays on.

Conclusion

For about $180 this would be a nice mallet putter. Add to the fact that you’re getting a laser alignment system with a smart target and $180 seems very reasonable.

I have many photos of the RedEye i300 Laser Putter in the HOG Photo Gallery.

There are also a few other Laser Putter videos in my YouTube gallery.

“Laser”

Titleist Tour Blog Launched

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Apparel • Golf Balls • Golf Clubs • Golf Equipment • Golf Media

Our pals at Titleist have now gotten into the blogosphere with the Titleist Tour Blog at www.titleistblog.com. The Tour Blog started out yesterday and already has some posts from a few big names like Bob Vokey. I was happy to hear from them and hear that they have actually been following HOG for over a year.

What I already like about what they are doing is that they are using a lot of photos. Any regular reader here knows I love to use a lot of eye candy to support my ramblings.

They’re using WordPress, which is a great choice. HOG runs on WordPress.

What I Hope To See

Titleist will certainly generate a lot of interest if they manage to put prototypes, upcoming gear information and photos on the blog. I’d also like to read about how they’re working with individual pros and what custom work or setups they have for their equipment.

If they truly want to “blog” in the purest sense, they’ll cross link other blogs and generate a blogroll. I can’t fully call a site a “blog” which doesn’t have a blogroll. I realize a big company like that might have a hard time doing that because of so many legal or “corporate” issues, and the possibility of linking to sites which may promote their competitor’s products. We’ll see what they do in that department.

Best of luck to the Titleist Tour Blog and welcome to the “blogosphere.”

Hooked On Golf Blog Photo Gallery tops 4000 images

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, March 20th, 2007
Categories: Site News

The Hooked On Golf Blog photo gallery now has OVER 4000 golf images! WOO! From courses, to equipment to players it’s gotta be in there somewhere.

Divix Switch Blade Ball Mark Tool

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, March 19th, 2007
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Equipment • Golf Videos • Reviews

golf repair tool switch blade divix OK it’s going to be hard to write a 1000 word product review on a golf ball mark repair tool…

Divix Switch Blade

One of my favorite tools right now is the Divix switch blade. It’s well built and lots of fun to whip out and fix greens. The Divix tool is about two times as long as a normal repair tool when extended, so you have much better leverage for fixing ball marks.

Easy on the pocket

No I’m not saying the Divix is cheap. It’s about $20. But unlike other repair tools, this one won’t poke you or poke a hole in your pocket. It’s nice to have the blades retracted so it is comfortable in your pocket or when you’re digging around for it in your golf bag.

Not just a repair tool

There’s a magnetic ball marker built into the unit as well which is very convenient.

You can extend the blades and punch it into the ground forming a club or cigar stand. This keeps your grips dry or your cigar cherry red. Speaking of cigars, there’s an optional cigar punch too!

Fun

This repair tool makes fixing ball marks (or harassing your golf pals) fun.