GOLF NEW PRODUCTS:Golfers the world over are still prepared to try any means, no matter how strange, to get a little white ball into a tin cup, writes Philip Reid
THE HISTORIANS, if they care, can delve back into the 1st century BC for a form of golf, known as “paganica” and apparently played by the Romans. Then there was “chuiwan” – in China, in the eighth to 14th centuries – and “cambuca” in the low countries of the Netherlands and Belgium.
And, of course, the true start of the game we know today, was in Scotland in the 12th century, where shepherds hit balls into rabbits holes on what is now the Old Course at St Andrews.
The point of all this, you may wonder? Well, the rudimentary tools used by those shepherds has changed and, so too, has the assistance players – of every level, men and women – receive in their efforts to get a little white ball into a tin cup.
Golf clubs and equipment have improved exponentially (some would say things have gone too far!) but the point is that, all these years later, there is still room to find something new as accessories evolve.
Take the case of Jonathan Elliott. A couple of years ago, he was on holidays in the United States and came across a powder used by Ten-Pin bowlers to combat sweaty palms. Now, Elliott – who plays his golf at Foyle – markets worldwide from his home in Derry a product called “Powergrip”, which can be used as an alternative to wearing a golf glove or which can also be applied to increase the tacky feel to a glove.
“It’s waterproof, sweatproof. All you need to do is to sprinkle a small amount on to your hand, or on your glove, about a third of a tea spoon, and to dampen it . . . and it works brilliantly in wet, dry and humid conditions,” said Elliott, who uses the internet and eBay as his main distribution tool but also supplies golf shops in the Derry area where the effectiveness of the product has produced strong word of mouth demand.
From limited marketing resources, however, Elliott has also discovered a global demand for his product.
Retailing at £6.99 (€8.35) a bottle, or £9.99 (€11.90) for two, including post and packaging (available on www.powergripsport.com), it has proven very popular with players in humid conditions and also in wet weather, with sales emanating from as far afield as Australia, the United States, Spain, France and even Hungary, as well as Britain and Ireland to back-up Elliott’s decision to launch it on the market.
If Elliott’s idea was a simple and effective one, a bit more research was required to develop the Bionic Glove (available on www.bionicgloves.ie and retailing from €19.95 for the Classic to €34.95 for a pair of the Silver Series that aid players suffering from arthritis), which was designed by Dr Jim Kleinert, one of the world’s leading orthopaedic hand surgeons.
The gloves have “an innovative Anatomical Pad System . . . that evens out the natural peaks and valleys of your hand to help relax and lighten your grip (for) increased swing speed for added yardage and greater control.”
An independent study conducted by the Pinehurst Golf Academy has shown the glove provides more distance (an estimated six yards for mid- to high-handicappers) and also the gloves last two to three times longer than the traditional leather ones.
The technology was first developed for ice hockey gloves and then evolved into baseball gloves and now has progressed to golf.
Paul O’Connor, of American Sports Equipment, who plays his golf out of Howth Golf Club in Dublin, markets the Bionic glove in Ireland and is obviously a golfer with a conscience: he has instigated a “recycling” scheme which gives a discount to players handing in old gloves, while a portion of the money from sales of the Pink Ribbon Classic (available for €19.95) is donated to ARC Ireland, supporting cancer research.
Although there are three versions of the golf glove available – the Classic, the Silver Series and the Pro – the Silver Series is particularly noteworthy in that it is designed to help people with hand ailments or arthritis to get back out on to the course.
“Golfers with pain in one hand should actually consider wearing a glove on both hands,” advised Cheryl Fink, Bionic’s marketing director.
“Research shows that both hands play a significant role in controlling a golf ball.”
Another new product on the market is a Power Balance bracelet – take a close look at Ian Poulter at the top of his golf swing and you’ll see on his wrist – which is “designed to work with your body’s natural energy field . . .” (and) is based on the idea of optimising the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies.
“The hologram in Power Balance is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body,” according to the marketing blurb. You can check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_Ow-ZGMy5o
One of the more innovative new products on the market is the GoKart (www.GoKart.ie) electric trolley which has been described as “funky” but, more pertinently, has been designed with the comfort of the golfer in mind and also to fit easily into a car boot and have room aplenty for the golf bag and clubs.
Designed in Britain by Chris and Sandy Catford – Chris’s father Joe invented the original Powakaddy, and they went on to produce the Hillbilly trolley – the GoKart is the latest in a line of successful products and a sure sign that time stands still for nobody, but especially for those with inquiring minds.
Made out of thermoplastic polymers, the trolley has a fresh look and folds into a compact block (weighing in at 7.6kgs with a 230W motor) which comes in a choice of six colour combinations with a wide range of accessories, including a golf bag, umbrella holder, transit bag and bottle holder.
“We’re excited to launch in Ireland, we know it will be a busy market for us,” said Chris Catford, adding: “We can offer the GoKart at a really competitive price (at €285 including delivery anywhere in Ireland) . . . because we make the trolley ourselves (at the factory in Kent) and sell direct, we can keep prices low. It also makes it possible to keep the closest eye on production and on quality.”
In the launch of its new women’s Casual Cool Hyrdomax golf shoe, Danish manufacturers Ecco has, it claims, “fused fashion together with performance”.
Ecco’s designers have used “street leathers and metallics in combination with rubber detailing” to craft the sporty shoe. Made from direct-injected PU, the low-profile midsole offers playability thanks to asymmetrical arch support.
It is available in four colour options: White/Light Silver, Black/Light Silver/White, White/Light Silver/Lime and White/Light Purple/Purple with a suggested retail price of €155.
