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Reviews

From golf books to golf gadgets and products, we read, test and try 'em for you first!

Walking the Golf Course Just Got A Whole Lot Easier

August 27, 2014 | By Greg D'Andrea | Leave a Comment

The ForePack
Your stand bag needs a built-in hydration system!

In 2000, Nissan was holding a promotion: Test drive a new Xterra and get a free hydration backpack. Back then I was a bit of a wannabe hiker (though never as much as I was a wannabe golfer) and hydration packs were new and popular.

Anyway, I took the test drive (could care less about the SUV – no offense Xterra owners), received my pack a few weeks later…and I loved it. I loved the way the water tube was right there on your shoulder strap – hands free accessibility while you walked.

Now even though I was a hiker and avid golfer, it never crossed my mind to have a hydration system built into a golf bag. Though it would make sense, since we drink lots of water on the course. And not to mention most stand bags are duel strap, just like a back pack. I guess I’m just not much of an inventor. But I’ll tell you who is: Mark Kreutzer.

You see, Mr. Kreutzer not only realized the genius in having a hydration system on a golf bag, but he also realized how to turn one useful idea into four useful ideas. His invention is called The ForePack and for those of us who like to walk the golf course, this is no gimmick.

The ForePack unobtrusively fits around your golf bag to provide a hydration system that snakes up via your shoulder straps. That alone is worth it. But The ForePack goes three steps further: It has a holder for a scorecard and a separate holder for a pencil; it has a Velcro patch for holding your golf glove; and it includes a pullout rain hood. And all these things are conveniently located right near the top of your bag. Check out his Kickstarter video:

I can’t tell you how many times I empale a finger searching for the pencil in my pocket, or how on hot days my scorecard turns to mush in my back pocket. The ForePack solves these seemingly trivial, yet completely annoying issues we course walkers have to deal with.

Now I should add I have not received or tested this product. I do not know Mr. Kreutzer personally nor had I heard of The ForePack before he emailed me about his campaign. And I am not receiving any monetary compensation for this blog post. He simply sent me an email to check out his product – and honestly, I don’t have time to follow up on all the emails like this I receive.

But the hydration system reminded me of my old backpack and after viewing his video, I not only felt the product was worthy of my time, but that it was quite possibly one of the most important accessories a walking golfer could have on his or her bag.

I wish Mr. Kreutzer luck in his endeavor and hope The ForePack helps make a difference out on the course for us walkers!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: hydration, The ForePack, walking the golf course

We Go Together Like Golf And…

August 18, 2014 | By Chris Chirico | Leave a Comment

20140818_002545Some things just go together.  Peanut butter & jelly.  Bread & butter.  Burgers & fries.  Raiders fans & felonies.  You just can’t have one without the other.  But if you’re not a golfer, you may not realize that golf and alcohol can fit right in with those examples.  Whether it’s the relaxed atmosphere of the game which makes taking a few swigs seem second nature, or your game itself which drives you to drink, there’s something about the sport which ties the two together.  But just as much as what you choose to drink, it’s what you’re drinking from.

Take a beer for instance.  Something about drinking a beer from a can sends a certain message.  Step up to a bottle seems to be a bit more grown-up.  Where as having a beer on draft, especially in one of those glasses crafted specifically to accentuate the flavor of certain brews, makes you look like the ultimate brew snob.  But taking a swig of your spirit of choice from a finely-crafted hip flask?  Now that can tell your fellow golfers you take your drinks seriously.

Enter our friends over at buyahipflask.com.  Personally, I have my own hip flask.  I received one, custom engraved, as a gift several years ago from a friend who knew what I liked to drink.  I thought mine was nice, until I got a look at one sent to us from our buddies across the pond.  One of the flasks from their golf collection simply puts mine to shame.  While mine did come in a nice box, the presentation of the one we here at GolfStinks received was quite luxurious.  Taking off the cardboard sleeve reveals a quality, textured cardboard presentation box featuring the logo of the English Pewter Company.  Pop the top on that, and it contains an attractive, black velvet bag with an EPC Finest Pewterware printed across the front.  Once you dig into that bag, you’ll pull out a foam-wrapped, shiny piece of libation-holding beauty.

But it’s not just the look.  It’s the feel of it, the weight.  You know this is no shiny-painted piece of crappy metal.  This is good quality, lead-free pewter.  The leak-proof top and funnel are nice touches, although I would have preferred the funnel to be something other than plastic.  But this doesn’t alter my thoughts toward the flask itself.  Along with the look and the feel, the engraving on the front of the flask is highly detailed, to the point where features of the club such as the grips, sections of the shaft and the club face are all there.  Even the shadow on the engraved ball looks good.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is no piece of cheap tin.

And as always, your friends here at GolfStinks do not keep everything for themselves.  No, we share as usual.  Do you want a chance to get your golf glove wrapped around one of these flasks yourself?  Then simply head on over to the Golfstinks Facebook page and give this post a like.  You’ll be entered to win this very flask.  And while you’re there, don’t be afraid to share with us your favorite pre-, during and post-round libations.  Don’t drink alcohol during golf, or at all for that matter?  Then share that with us as well.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: beer, buyahipflask.com, drinking on the golf course, English Pewter Company, flask, hip flask

Book Review: Psych-Out Golf

July 9, 2014 | By Greg D'Andrea | 1 Comment

product_thumbnailBeing that we’re not your average golf blog, we typically don’t review your average golf book. And nothing fits the atypical golf book mold better than Psych-Out Golf. They say golf is half mental. If that’s true, this book can help you in ways you could have never imagined!

Written by a father/son team (Todd and Judah Domke), the recently published Psych-Out Golf has ten chapters and none of them help you shave strokes off your game. Instead, this book helps you add strokes to your playing partner’s game – genius!

Messrs. Domke and Domke have brilliantly put together countless ways to get the best of your opponent on the links – from making subtle yet mentally debilitating statements to getting them a bit tipsy, Psych-Out Golf is packed with ways to win a hole or round without actually playing well yourself!

Now the authors do point out this book is really for those of us who like to wager on the course. That’s when the pressure is really on, and subsequently when a good POG (psych-out golf) will work its magic. But it can be utilized in other situations. As one of their POG “Commandments” states: “Thou shall not practice Psych-Out Golf unless money or pride is at stake. Or if the opponent is a jackass.” Beautifully said if you ask me.

So what are some of these POGs? Well, let’s take the chapter on putting, for example. Messrs. Domke and Domke give you plenty of ammo for launching an all-out assault on your opponent whilst on the greens – from not granting that 18-inch gimme when skins are on the line (after you’ve been granting them the rest of the round) to saying something like “Those [short] putts kill me. The hardest putts can be the easiest” just before your opponent’s seemingly easy putt. While you’re not saying anything flagrant, you are definitely getting into his head!

But the aforementioned POGs while putting are just the tip of the iceberg. There is a chapter on using the rangers or MOFOBETEs to make your opponent nervous; a chapter on citing rules to incite mental disruption in your opponent; and there’s even a section on how to use the (motorized) golf cart to your advantage!

Now I have to admit, I don’t bet too often on the course. But I do like to have fun out there so I’m anxious to put some of these POGs to the test! And who knows, if they seem to work, maybe a friendly wager will be in order!

Psych-Out Golf is a rollicking guide to winning a few skins on the course while driving your playing partners batty – and it’s all in good fun. You can purchase your copy of the book HERE. But as always, the Domke gentleman have graciously provided us with a copy to giveaway to one of you! Simple head on over to our Facebook page, find the “Psych-Out Golf” post on our wall and tell us why you can’t wait to psych-out your golf buddies! That’s it – we’ll choose one winner next week!

Good luck!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: betting, book review, golf book, psych-out golf

The New Backyard Golf Game…Bonzi!!

June 23, 2014 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

untitledIt sometimes seems like backyard golf games are almost as popular as the game of golf itself.  I guess that’s OK though.  It gives fans of the game something golf-related to do when they can’t quite make it out to the course.  And hey, anything that keeps people interested in the game is OK with me.  But every once in a while, one comes along that does more than replace your regular round.  It’s actually a fun game to play with your friends or your kids, and may even take you back to when you were a kid chipping around your yard. That game?

Bonzi Golf!

Bonzi Golf is a very simple game, or….actually, two games.  Consisting of two small “pods,” which are basically the greens, and six foam balls concaved on one side which, when placed in certain positions, allow the ball to travel differently and simulate different course conditions.  Pretty neat, right?  Instantly, the first thing I liked about Bonzi was it’s portability.  All of the above mentioned pieces fit into a zippered and handled vinyl sleeve, no more than 20″ across and about 2″ thick.  Weight?  Roughly three or four pounds.  You can pretty much take it anywhere you’d like.  Even better, you can set it up just about anywhere you’d like as well.

For instance, me and one of my kids set up the game in my front yard.  We dropped one of the pods at our feet and tossed the second one out about 10 yards.  Then, we began chipping away.  I was surprised at how easily the foam balls actually travel and simulate a real golf ball, albeit at the as advertised 1/8 distance.  And the game also allows you to swing as you normally would.  You don’t ease up…you just swing.  Within a couple of minutes, my neighbors kids were watching us play like a mini gallery.  Then my neighbors from two doors down came wandering by asking questions such as “What are those balls made of?”  Everyone was quite interested in the game.  I have to admit, I could certainly spend some time playing around with this whenever I can’t make it out to the course, or if I’m just looking to practice my swing a bit.  And even better, my kid described it simply as “awesome.”

Everything about Bonzi is simple – scoring included.  The game is played by very simple rules, conveniently printed on the bottom of the tin containing the balls.  Toss the green out to wherever you’d like and take turns hitting your three balls at it.  Closest to the green gets a point.  If one of your balls lands on the green you get 2 points.  Lucky enough to land one in the hole?  3 points, and minus 3 for your opponent.  First one to 18 wins.  However, playing specifically by the rules is not necessary.  Playing just to simply practice or make your own rules is fine as well.

LINKS-products-grouping

Further, as I mentioned earlier, Bonzi actually offers two games.  In addition to Links, which is the game I’ve been describing, is a game called Aces which is designed more to be an indoor game.  Containing only three balls and one pod, Bonzi actually includes in it’s rules to play this game for money, which I’m all for!  Quite simply, rather than hitting your ball into a cup, you chip from the pod into the tin containing the balls.  If all three shots miss, you drop in a quarter.  First person to get a ball in the tin gets all the money.

Links and Aces can be purchased separately.  However, since Aces is simply half of Links, you really need only to purchase Links in order to play both games.  And speaking of which, you can purchase either one here.  But one lucky reader will not have to purchase anything at all.  As usual, we here at GolfStinks have one to try out and one to give away; Simply head over to our Facebook page and give this post a like.  One random winner will receive both the Links and Aces games from Bonzi Golf.  So click like and get your quarters ready!

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: backyard, Bonzi Golf, golf games

Finally, Prescription Sunglasses For Golfers

May 16, 2014 | By Pete Girotto | 1 Comment

What is one of the most important factors that directly affects our golf game or any other activity for that matter? If you said vision, congratulations you are 100% correct! In the literal and figurative sense, vision is a much needed tool to enjoying our round, obviously. So why do we take it for granted? I’m willing to bet most of us hacks never think about how important it is to see clearly while chopping up the local track.

Whether we are a 30 handicap or scratch golfer, correcting our vision and properly protecting our eyes is vital to a long and happy golf career. How do I do that you ask? Enter SportRx.com. SportRx is a  company geared towards creating, promoting and delivering the proper prescription or non-prescription eye-wear customized to our lifestyle and activities.

Recently, we connected with Rob and Stephanie at SportRx.com and after a consultation they graciously sent out a pair of the Adidas TourPro sunglasses to review. Let me also add that they have 6 opticians on staff each specializing in their respective activities from golf and cycling to skydiving and motocross. Pretty cool , right?

So, let’s get to the glasses! In order to give these a thorough review I hit the driving range and followed that up with a round at a nearby course. There’s 3 categories I feel important when it comes to golf sunglasses; fit, performance and value. Here goes…

Adidas tourpro

Fit – Upon opening the box, the first things I noticed were the weight and quality of the craftsmanship. Very light and very well made.  A couple key comfort features are the double snap nose for adjusting the nose bridge and the tri-fit temple hinge for a more custom fit. You can check the video of Rob demoing them here.

Performance – After wearing them for a few hours I actually almost forgot they were even on! The wrap around lenses did a great job in keeping my field of vision even especially when it came to tracking the ball flight.  The LST Active lens Adidas uses enhanced any contrasts and really helped with depth perception. Normally, I’m a fan of polarized lenses but these really impressed me with their clarity and brightness.

Value – Worth the money! Between the overall quality and performance plus the value added services SportRx.com provides, it’s definitely a wise investment no matter what level you play at.

So, how do you get your own pair of prescription sunglasses from SportRX.com for free? Glad you asked! Just head on over to our Facebook page, find the post entitled “Win a new pair of prescription sunglasses!” and tell us why you deserve them in the comments – that’s it! We’ll choose a winner next week.

Hit ’em Long…Yell FORE…See the Ball!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Adidas, prescription sunglasses, SportRX.com, sunglasses, tourpro

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