Editors' Picks And Reviews

PuttOUT: Perfect Winter Golf Practice Aid

It’s just not possible to get too much putting practice. The world’s best sticks know it, single-digit handicappers know and higher handicappers should know more of it. That’s what makes PuttOUT, a new training aid from the U.K., so invaluable: It turns the repetitions necessary to dial in one’s aim and distance practice fun, easy and effective anywhere, including your living room carpet during that epic snow storm outside.

After spying PuttOUT at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show, Golf Tips was intrigued and finally got its testing hands on one this fall, putting it through its paces (pardon the pun) indoors and out.

PRESSURE PUTTING HELP

Shaped like a cross between an oversized shoehorn and a space-age ski jump, PuttOUT is designed to help build pressure putting skills and confidence, particularly from those crucial par-saving distances of four to 10 feet. The device’s action zone is a soft plastic regulation-sized cup backed by a parabolic, harder plastic curve that gives immediate feedback on both distance and line; after rolling up that concave six-inch-or-so slope, bad putts are rejected back toward the golfer sideways, while on good ones return on the same line they arrived — assuming you’re practicing on a perfectly flat putting surface. There’s a great benefit in terms of gauging and grooving speed, too: each successful putt is returned the same distance it would have gone past the hole if it had missed — great feedback for getting the pace just right, with that 18-inch-or-less comebacker the desired result.

HIT THE MICRO TARGET

But the feature that really puts PuttOUT in the must-have column is its “micro target,” a small hole revealed when you pull down a rear panel. Knock the ball toward that hole with perfect speed and line and it will “stick” there as if by magnetic magic. Then you’ve got a natural target to shoot at with a second ball, and a third.

Practice with PuttOUT turns semi-addicting in no time, and before you know it, muscle memory has kicked in, you’re not thinking about mechanics at all and everything slows down into that supreme relaxed state.

PuttOUT is ergonomically designed to fold and to fit into your golf bag easily, so you can take it with you once cabin fever sets in and you seek out warmer climes. But it’s a winner anywhere — break it out on a carpet at home or work or on a putting green, get a feel for what a smooth and accuract stroke feels like and start burying those knee-knockers.

$29.99 on Amazon.com | www.puttout.golf

GolfLogix: Analyze And Improve Your Game

Of the many golf game tracking apps out there, GolfLogix is among the best and easiest to use.

Modern technology is a boon for game improvement purposes. Why? We tend to have this love-hate relationship with golf. During a round, we reach the peak of excitement with perfect contact with the ball that leads to a perfect drive. In the same round, we find ourselves so utterly frustrated with ourselves when we miss that eight-foot putt to save par. It is a never-ending roller coaster in the midst of lush, green landscapes.

That’s part of the reason it is so addicting. We are consistently looking to sort out ways to become a better golfer. We take lessons and watch the pros play with the anticipation we will learn the secret to being a 1 handicap. It is a very mentally challenging game to play and we work hard to keep our emotions from affecting the way we play. The good news is that there is a way to take your golf game to the next level. The effective way to do this is by utilizing an analytical approach with your game.

One answer to this is the effectively analytical app designed to work on smartphones called GolfLogix. Besides its GPS capabilith, one of the lesser known functions of the app is its built-in tools for subscribers to use to help track their overall golf game. Utilizing features such as track your individual clubs to accuracy with each ball placement allows golfers to take their game to a data analytical approach. With the data input, golferas can now see their progress over time after reviewing their results and set goals to push themselves to the next level.

TRACK YOUR CLUBS

With GolfLogix activated and tracking for the round, you can select your driver or other club from your tee shot. Once you arrive at your ball on the fairway or rough, you can tell the app exactly where the ball went using GPS. Doing this for each individual shot over the course of three to four rounds will reveal a plethora of data to review for each club. You’ll have a better idea of exact distances for each club, making selection easier in the future. The next step will be to analyze your accuracy through ball placement.

TRACK BALL PLACEMENT FOR ACCURACY

Once you’ve used the track your club feature, you are already gathering ball placement information. You’ll be able to go back and see how your accuracy is for any given shot. For example, you’ll be able to compile on the info regarding for your approach shots; with enough shots, you’ll be able to see how effective you are at hitting the green when you are 100 to 180 yards out. In addition, if you are not hitting the green, you can see if you typically go left or right of the green. This becomes a simple adjustment to your shot and easy enough to track.

REVIEW YOUR RESULTS

So, now you’ve done. You’ve been gathering the data like a science experiment. It’s time to review your results. You can analyze how consistent you are with your distances with certain clubs. Maybe one club is performing sub-optimally and ripe for replacement. Now you will have data to support a $200 plus purchase.

SET GOALS AND TRACK PROGRESS

It is now time to improve your game. Set goals for each club. Design your goal system on a timeline of when you want to achieve them. Improve your approach and accuracy and quite literally see how you improve over time. I’ve seen individuals shave 5-7 strokes off their score in as little as 6 months and 10 rounds by analyzing and improving their game based on what they learn from data.

So there you have it. Golf Logix provides you with the tools to truly analyze your game like an engineer. Data analyzing is a proven and effective for anything that can be measured. So, take the next and analyze your game by tracking your shots and set boundaries and goals for improving your game. Before you know, you will be noticing an improvement in your score and winning more bets with your friends on the course. And the latest version of the app also provides green reading capability. It’s available for download for both iPhone and Android.

Caleb Amundson is Vice President of CartPros.com, an online golf cart parts store designed for fleet managers and consumers alike. He is a golfer and has been in the golf industry for over 6 years now working with golf cart fleet managers from a dealer level and also worked as a manufacturer rep for a major Golf Cart OEM. Reach him at camundson@cartpros.com

New Cleveland Wedges Cover All Short Game Bases

Cleveland Wedges CBX — The new Cleveland CBX Wedge.

For avowed golf geeks, getting one’s hands on the latest Cleveland wedges is like catching a surprise sunset: You thought the last one couldn’t be beat, but then you find yourself tingling with delight. There’s a reason Cleveland continues to command such a loyal following up and down the ladder of short game prowess: They feel right from the first grip and perform beautifully as the years blow by.

But eventually those grooves wear down and it’s time to rev up the Cleveland craving with a new wedge … or two. When the company announced its new cavity back CBX Wedge —designed for the 84 percent of golfers who play cavity back irons, according their research — I decided to do a head-to-head, on-course comparison with the blade version of its sibling, the RX-3, which debuted earlier in 2017 (there’s also an RX-3 “cavity back”).

Both were 54 degrees with standard stiff Dynamic Gold shafts; the RX-3 had a V-Fit “mid-range sole grind” to fit most amateurs’ games. Since I’m very amateur and very average, that configuration worked perfectly for me.

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Let’s start with each wedge’s look at address: Quite similar, with identical groove/strike zones (both of which benefit from Cleveland’s Feel Balancing Technology, which moves the club’s center of gravity closer to the center of the Rotex face), and identical toe shapes. The CBX has a slightly more curved leading edge to help the wedge move more smoothly through rough or sand. Overall the visual feedback from both is of generous dimensions and a broad strike zone whether squaring or opening the face.

Cleveland Wedges RTX — The new Cleveland RTX Wedge

BATTLE OF THE BOUNCE

Looking “down the line” at the wedges’ heads from the hosel end reveals their biggest difference besides the “classic blade” vs. deep cavity-back trailing sides — the bounce. The RX-3’s mid-range grind offers a narrower and shallower angle between the club’s bottom and leading edge, while the CBX is, as you’d expect, wider along the base with a more acute bounce angle. In other words, it’s built not only to launch the ball higher from grass but increase the odds of escaping a trap in one go.

SAND STORY

From a greenside bunker with very firm sand — a lie you might expect to be more in the RX’s wheelhouse — the RX-3 performed well with a slightly opened face, losing little momentum with a medium swing and cutting through the slightly wet surface with ease. Meanwhile, the RX-3 got the nod from a mid-range fairway bunker thanks to its slightly lower overall trajectory and tighter bounce. I didn’t get a chance to put either wedge through its paces on much softer, fluffier sand, but I’ll go out on a limb and say a wide-open CBX would come out on top.

TURF TALE

From various lies and lengths of poa annua grass and from a wide variety of distances — 95 full-swing yards to abbreviated pitches and chips around the green — both wedges boasted that solid yet soft and smooth feel that we expect from Cleveland. The ball responded beautifully off each model’s milled-grind faces, though the RX-3 seemed a bit more workable in terms of distance elevation control, especially from tighter lies (a welcome continuation of the versatility and touch I’ve always counted on from my old 588 RTX). The new stick’s more pronounced bounce was noticeable on those slightly hooded runners.

The CBX, meanwhile, did a great job hoisting my wayward tee shot from medium-length rough over a tall cottonwood on one short par 4, with no added effort. Both excelled on the spin side, completing check-and-runs and soft lobs with just the right amount of pull-back or roll-out depending on swing length. In other words, on a classic muni with tiny, relatively flat push-up greens running medium-fast, I could afford little margin for error, and neither wedge let me down. I had my share of makeable birdie and “recovery par” putts. Which is what a trusty utility wedge is for, right?

TOOLS FOR THE LOB

In the end, the Cleveland RTX-3 lives up to its stated purpose as a stick for more skilled players, while the brand new CBX is, as the company purports, “a forgiving yet versatile wedge that caters to the needs of the majority of golfers.” If you struggle in the scoring range with your current old-school blade and get can past the initially jarring thought of using a cavity back wedge — yeah, I know what you mean, I’m a purist in that department too — the CBX could be the club you’ve been looking for (and beyond it is Cleveland’s Smart Sole 3 wedge, also a new model, which is “created for golfers who want maximum forgiveness”).

Which wedge stays in my bag as we speak? The RTX-3, though that could change from week to week, course to course and turf to turf. It’s just cool to have the choice, and even cooler knowing that I can’t choose poorly.

The CBX is priced at $129.99 with a steel shaft and $139.99 with graphite; the RTX-3 is $129 with steel shaft only. Check with your dealer for available lofts.

www.clevelandgolf.com

More Cleveland wedges

Feinstein’s Inside Scoop On The 2016 Ryder Cup

This is an off year for the Ryder Cup’s biennial clash of the American and European titans (and the Presidents Cup doesn’t quite rate; sorry PGA Tour), so good thing our old friend John Feinstein is back with his latest book-long dish on the 2016 Ryder Cup, a perfect storm of history, personalities and planning that led to the United States’ big win at Hazeltine Country Club outside of Minneapolis.

The captaincy went to Davis Love III — one of the greatest second-chance gestures in golf after he and a loaded American team suffered a stinging comeback from the Euros at Medinah four years earlier. With plenty of input from his players and co-captains thanks to the inclusive “task force” concept — instituted in the wake of the Tom Watson-Phil Mickelson dustup after the U.S. lost the eighth of its previous 10 Ryder Cups at Gleneagles, Scotland — Love assembled what turned out to be one of the most powerful teams in memory; Euro captain Darren Clarke, meanwhile, was saddled with six Cup rookies and left without vets like an injured Ian Poulter and slumping Graeme McDowell. Mickelson assumed his “Papa Bear” role as U.S. team leader and resident sage, while young bucks Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth spearheaded the squad’s return to glory, punctuated by Reed’s epic back-and-forth singles showdown with Rory McIlroy — who nearly came to blows with vocal American fans and did his share of trash talking (and gesturing) each day.

Feinstein spends nearly three-quarters of the book setting us up for the 28-point war at Hazeltine, deep-diving into Ryder Cup backstory and behind-the-scenes conversations, power plays and personality studies to ratchet up the tension and reveal this as truly the biggest event in golf — on its own plane of passion and pressure in the players’ eyes, especially over the past 25 years. He keeps up the quick pace even while fleshing out the stories of individual players, and offers insights on just what motivates and challenges the world’s best to find another level on a stage unlike any other … even guys relegated to the sidelines, like a co-captain named Tiger Woods, who couldn’t contain his competitive fire. By the time Feinstein gets to the blow-by-blow of the matches, we’re feeling that fire, too. And loving it.

$28.95 | www.jfeinsteinbooks.com

XXIO X Woods, Irons To Hit Market

XXIO has announced the new XXIO X product lineup, the tenth generation of their flagship woods and irons. XXIO X (pronounced ZEK-si-oh ten) features the new True-Focus Impact Technology, which combines a larger sweet spot with a shaft that helps golfers find the face-center more often so moderate swing speed golfers can experience easier distance.

XXIO is one of the world’s fastest growing premium golf equipment manufacturers. With the highest quality materials and revolutionary technologies, XXIO products are painstakingly crafted for the discerning golfer with a moderate swing speed.

“We build golf clubs differently than any other manufacturer,” said Chuck Thiry, Vice President of XXIO’s North America headquarters. “XXIO equipment is lightweight and easy-to-swing. Each club features custom-made shafts and grips, ensuring that every component actively helps moderate swing speed golfers get more distance and more control.

“XXIO X takes this philosophy to the next level,” said Thiry. “The innovative shaft and head technologies in these clubs will actually help a moderate swing speed golfer improve their swing with more consistency and a tighter impact pattern.”

XXIO X is extremely lightweight compared to average golf equipment. With lighter components and a higher balance point, XXIO X’s Low Swing MOI helps increase club head and ball speed without requiring any swing changes.

The new True-Focus Impact Technology—the engine that drives every XXIO X club—is a combination of two innovations: Smart Impact Shaft and Hi-Energy Impact Head. Together, these two features increase a moderate swing speed golfer’s chances of finding the sweet spot from 58 percent to 68 percent.

XXIO engineers observed moderate swing speed golfers and measured strong centrifugal forces that pull those golfers off-balance throughout their swing. The Smart Impact Shaft was made with a unique flex profile that works to reduce those forces, resulting in more consistency and a 28 percent tighter impact pattern.

When developing the Hi-Energy Impact Head, XXIO mapped moderate swing speed impact patterns and found that most mishits are on the toe or low on the heel. To help golfers hit the sweet spot more often, XXIO X features increased COR in those specific areas. This produced the highest effective COR of any XXIO driver with the largest sweet spot in XXIO history.

XXIO X Woods Key Technologies

Increased COR in the most common impact locations for more distance
High-density rear weight improves center of gravity location for a higher launch
Thin, lightweight titanium crown redistributes weight for increased forgiveness

XXIO X Irons Key Technologies

Tungsten nickel sole weights positioned low and deep produce a higher launch
Progressive weight shapes optimize performance for each loft
Titanium face construction creates a larger sweet spot with higher ball speeds

The XXIO X line is available beginning Dec. 9, 20107.

Irons from $160 each | Hybrids $299.99 each | Fairway woods $399.99 each | Driver $649.99 each | www.xxiousa.com

Tour Roll Putter A True Game-Changer

True story: The first time I visited the practice green with a finished prototype of the brand new Tour Roll putter, I buried three 15-footers in a row. Then I spent an hour rolling it over the medium-speed muni putting surface, getting used to his heavy solid brass head, the solid contact it afforded especially when I lightened my grip and let it release, the way it got the ball rolling “end over end” from the get-go ….

And THAT’s the key to the Tour Roll, the impetus behind its revolutionary design in a sector of golf equipment that really hasn’t changed in many decades. While designers and engineers have nibbled at the margins of putter science by moving weight, expanding the sweet spot, reducing twisting at impact and on and on — all in service of reducing friction and producing a cleaner strike — they’ve somehow avoided two big modern factors: the speed of today’s greens and how the sole of the putter interacts with those greens.

That all changes with the Tour Roll, whose patent-pending “sole pillar” bisects the bottom of the club from end to end. A half-inch thick, three-quarters of an inch wide with its own three-inch-long sole, the pillar assures that the putter face actually strikes the ball at or slightly above the equator, thereby eliminating that initial backspin hop common to traditional putters no matter the materials used, the assembly method or the weight distribution. In concert with Tour Roll’s zero-loft face and slight offset, the pillar helps eliminate skidding and hopping on today’s lightning-fast surfaces.

MADE FOR MODERN TURF

“For 50 years, every putter has been designed with slow greens still in mind,” said David Korn, a Grass Valley, California-based marketing and sales professional who helped design the Tour Roll along with engineers Gail Snyder and Steve Baures. “They were built to help the ball get rolling out of small depressions on soft, slow greens, and that’s why you saw players like Arnold Palmer put with that wristy, jabbing stroke. Nowadays, everybody wants their greens rolling at least 11 or 12 on the Stimpmeter, and the ball sits up on the turf. So you don’t need that little hop off the face, which often sends the ball off its intended line. The Tour Roll is the first putter to lift the center of the face up and in line with the equator of the ball. We want what we call ‘horizontal spin’ instead of backspin.”

That horizontal spin can’t be seen at impact in real time, but after months of testing with slow-motion cameras, Korn and PGA teacher Shawn Kelly of The Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, California — one of his chief consultants — witnessed the Tour Roll’s ability to get the ball rolling toward the target as if they’d got it going with the palm of their hand, like a basketball on a hard court. Then they worked with local machinists to come up with the final mold for the one-piece brass head which, from above at address, offers that familiar Anser-style shape. So you get a more traditional look in a simple but groundbreaking package. Literally.

After meeting me to show me the putter and lay out the science behind the Tour Roll in great detail and relate his clear passion for its development and potential in the crowded marketplace, Korn sent me some info on the philosophy behind it:

BANNING THE BOUNCE

“With today’s shorter, smoother and faster greens it is not necessary to ‘launch’ the ball in the vertical direction in order to get up onto the surface of the grass and out of a depression. Further, this vertical launch component can have negative effects. First, the energy to lift the ball in the air is not transferred to the horizontal path of the ball, so the putter does not work as efficiently as it could — you have to hit the ball harder to travel to the hole. Second, and more notable, are the effects of the ball having to bounce and skid before beginning the proper rolling motion towards the hole. This bouncing and skidding is a direct obstruction to both the direction and distance intended by the golfer. Inevitably, trying to factor in these variables and adjust for them causes many putts that miss the mark on both direction and distance.

“Two of the primary functions of the Tour Roll putter are to A) minimize the vertical launch of the ball — rolling it immediately off the face of the club and B) maximize the energy transfer from the putter stroke in the horizontal direction — towards the hole. Again, the Tour Roll putter has been engineered to match the technology improvements of the greens. This directly translates to a more efficient putter stroke with a predictable roll and equally predictable direction.”

Those three 15-footers I sank when I first tried the Tour Roll — fitted with a SuperStroke Mid-Slim 20 grip and a standard 35-inch shaft — led to a full round with it on brand new, hard fescue greens at brand new Silvies Valley Ranch Links in eastern Oregon. Even with a couple instances of operator error when I gripped the putter too hard and lifted up the head, leading to a weird-feeling topped putt that came up well short, it performed beautifully in tough conditions. The greens were large and hard to read, but if I read the break even close to well, especially from longer distances, the Tour Roll would grip that line immediately and leave me in easy two-putt range.

The key is employing the lightest grip possible and letting the pillar do its thing, barely scraping the turf as the bottom of the face stayed that critical half-inch above it — right in line with the ball’s equator. It also worked from just off the green as long as the grass wasn’t too deep.

The main takeaway? Korn, Kelly and company are really onto something. They decided to look at putting in a different way. They devised a club that uses physics to full advantage by minimizing friction and promoting feel and trust. Which leads to confidence. Which means more buried eight-footers. Or perhaps three 15-footers in a row.

$599 | www.tourroll.com

Tour Edge Touts Exotics CBX Blades & Wedges

Tour Edge has introduced new additions to their Exotics CBX line: Blade muscle-back forged irons and wedges.

Tour Edge all-new Exotics CBX Blade muscle back forged irons are the perfect choice for players looking for a classic forged look with an updated soft feel that allows the better player to shape shots and to strike the ball with greater confidence.

Triple forged from modern S25 carbon steel, CBX Blades embody a true classic muscle-back style, delivering unsurpassed responsiveness and shot control. The CBX’s narrow sole, thin top line, beveled leading edge and square toe design are guaranteed to inspire shot-making purists.

“These are true beauties,” said Tour Edge President and chief club designer David Glod. “When you are in my line of work as a master club maker and designer, the blade is the ultimate test meeting the standards for pureness in the look and feel of the clubs. The CBX checks every box and came out as our highest performing Exotics blade.”

Precision-milled square grooves are laser engraved, ensuring every iron is USGA compliant. The beveled leading edge promotes a smoother turf interaction and the S26 carbon steel provides a buttery feel on well struck shots.

Available this fall, the CBX Blades are offered in 3-PW and AW. Steel shafts include True Temper’s XP 95, True Temper’s Dynamic Gold AMT steel shafts and KBS Tour Steel shafts. Graphite is also in stock with UST Mamiya Recoil shafts. Lamkin Exotics UTx black grips. Numerous other custom shaft options are also available.

The Exotics CBX wedges are forged from soft S25 carbon steel providing superb feedback off the club face. The classic signature shape and thin top line are combined with a new custom DG Method — named for Glod, featuring a unique combination of heel, toe and trailing edge grinding to provide versatility and control on critical shots around the green.

The thin top line of the CBX wedges promotes smooth turf interaction while the Xtreme Spin Grooves, Exotics advanced groove engineering, produces the ultimate in wedge spin due to utilizing the maximum allowed USGA groove depth and width. The CBX series employs dual-groove construction so the lower loft (50-52 degrees) wedges are designed with deeper, narrower grooves while the higher lofts (54-60 degrees) have wider grooves. The result is maximum spin and exceptional shot control from each wedge.

The Tour Edge Exotics CBX forged wedge series is available in True Temper Dynamic Gold wedge shafts and is available in 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees.

Every Tour Edge club comes with a lifetime warranty and a 30-day play guarantee.

Exotics CBS Irons: $999.99 steel, $1,199 graphite

Exotics CBX Wedges: $124.99 steel, $149.99 graphite

www.touredge.com.

GEN i1 ‘Intelligent Golf Ball’ Now Available

Coach Labs has announced the much-anticipated production launch of the GEN i1, the world’s first intelligent golf ball with a 9-axis embedded sensor, an on-board MCU and Bluetooth radio.

To make the product even more interactive, the GEN i1 will come with a putter sensor that will show you the “cause and effect” of your stroke and ball.

The GEN i1 was introduced to the golf industry at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., where it won the “Best New Game Improvement Device of the Year.”

The founder of Coach Labs, Jason Koo, has been working with the top aerospace engineers to create and protect a 9-axis sensor while infusing the PCBA core inside a real golf ball. The ball weighs and feels like a regular performance golf ball. The sensor measures initial direction, speed, impact force and ball rotation that provides accurate data about the user’s direction and distance and relays it to a mobile device.

The sensor on the handle of the putter integrates with the sensor inside the ball to provide the “Cause and Effect” analysis right into the user’s smartphone.

The GEN i1 app is very easy to use and intuitive. Once the user creates an account, the GEN i1 will be able to assess his/her skill level and provide a customized practice plan that will entertain while improving their skills. The games and drills will challenge while creating routines that will help to improve squaring up the face and consistent tempo to improve distance control and accuracy.

“Did you know that on average, amateurs miss up to six putts inside of six feet per round?” said Koo. “The putter is the only club you use on every hole. So, by practicing your putting with the GEN i1, we can help lower your scores and make the game more fun and entertaining.”

The new version of GEN i1 is now on sale only at www.indiegogo.com. Early backers will get a very special price.

Light Therapy Device Relieves Golf Aches & Pains

Golfers often utter the phrase “green light” when conditions look perfect for going straight at the pin. But thanks to new light therapy technology, it’s time to slip the words “red light” into the golf conversation — in a good, healthy way. A company called Joovv has created an affordable home-use device uses high-powered LEDs to emit red and near infrared wavelengths through your skin. Clinical studies show that light therapy naturally aids the body in recovery and healing, sports therapists, athletes, and doctors are using it to treat muscle, fatigue, bone and joint injuries, arthritis, and a lot more.

The Joovv Light hangs on the back of any door and delivers a safe, clinically significant dose of light energy in just five minutes a day. The best part? The entry-level Joovv Light starts at $495.

UFC fighters, former Crossfit champions, and professional baseball players already incorporate the Joovv Light into their daily regimen, and it’s a perfect solution for golfers struggling with everything from run-of-the-mill muscle aches and strains — through repeated motion, overcompensation, aging, whatever — and looking for relief beyond the temporary (over-the-counter pills) or out-of-reach expensive (periodic trips to a high-end rehab facility, for instance).

Scott Nelson, one of the founders of Joovv, offers a deeper look at what his company’s products offer via their blog:

“Light therapy has been used for years to treat an array of medical conditions and diseases, from skin conditions like psoriasis to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and depression and most of these studies have focused on broad-spectrum and UV light — the “shortest” types of light waves. But it’s only been more recently that scientists have begun studying the effects of light waves at the other end of the spectrum — red and near infrared (NIR) waves. Like UV waves, red and near infrared waves can penetrate the skin — triggering chemical and other physiological actions deep inside the tissues. And now, medical researchers are beginning to realize how important those mechanisms can be in promoting good health, specifically for the repair of damaged tissues.

“One of the primary ways light therapy helps promote better muscle health and function is by preventing or limiting muscle fatigue, which naturally occurs as a result of physical activity — especially strenuous exercise and training (and yes, golf can be strenuous). In fact, research shows red and infrared light therapy is effective in preventing muscle fatigue and enhancing skeletal muscle performance.

“So how does light therapy reduce muscle fatigue and repair cells? At the most basic level, red and NIR light therapy improve the mitochondria respiration cycle and help mitochondria produce energy more efficiently — and that means muscles are less likely to suffer from fatigue. That’s it in a nutshell, but of course, the physiologic mechanisms behind all these benefits is a lot more complex. For instance, application of red and near infrared light helps promote production of antioxidants which play a central role in reducing oxidative stress associated with muscle fatigue. And they also increase the production of heat proteins — special proteins that help protect cells from stress and early cell death (apoptosis). Plus, light therapy helps reduce inflammation that can lead to cell damage. Some studies have shown an increase in microcirculation following light therapy, indicating tissues are more able to receive oxygen and other nutrients important for tissue healing – in addition to ridding themselves of toxic byproducts.”

Few toxins, healthier skin and muscles, more strength, more energy — all are in view when it comes to using red light for quicker muscle recovery and overall health. And that means a green light for more golf … with a heckuva lot less pain.

www.joovv.com

Zero Friction Distance Pro Golf Glove

It was really the last frontier of app-driven GPS golf course rangefinders: Not the wrist — there are plenty of GPS watches out there — but the hand itself. As in the golf glove worn by the majority of players. Long known for their excellent golf balls and other accessories, Zero Friction introduced its Distance Pro Glove this year, and it’s both easy to use and accurate.

After several rounds putting it into action, Golf Tips can recommend the Distance Pro without hesitation. Powered by a small watch battery, a small, lightweight digital screen rests atop the flap of the glove, surprisingly unobtrusive and readable at a quick glance (though if you’re wearing polarized sunglasses, you’ll most likely need to remove them to read the numbers). The accompanying Zero Friction app is loaded with more than 35,000 golf courses and, after a quick registration and Bluetooth pairing between phone and gadget, all it takes is a tap of the “Play Golf” button to put the glove into distance-dialing action (it’s best to tuck your phone into a pocket and carry it with you from shot to shot to maintain a steady connection). Numbers for center, front and back of the green are displayed. Small buttons below the screen either turn the unit off and on or allow you to advance or backtrack between holes; we found that the app sometimes won’t move to the next hole automatically so you need to make sure it’s showing what you’re playing (and make sure the device is set to auto-advance mode).

If you want a more detailed view of each hole, just pull out the phone and view a clear, full-color satellite view of it on your phone’s screen, along with more information on distance to bunkers, landing areas, etc., via a movable “bullseye” target.

The glove itself is available in two models — synthetic with a Cabretta leather palm ($139.99) and a durable “Motion-Fit” combination of Cabretta leather and stretchy spandex ($159.99), and once it wears out the display unit can be removed and attached to a fresh glove. Each device is sold with two gloves, with more available online.

Of course, if you don’t wear a glove to play golf, you’ll go with a stand-alone app, watch or handheld device. But if you do, the Zero Friction Distance Pro is worth a look.

www.zerofriction.com