2015 PGA Show Most Innovative Concept

[Aotearoa_Brad]

 

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tour View, a simple but effective training aid, won the Most Innovative Concept Award at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show. There is a story here.

 

The $29.99 device was created by Mike Jones, the son of a golf professional. I always pay attention to the children of golf pros, because so many of them have spent a lifetime contemplating the mysteries and joys of the game. Jones, like his father, Gene Jones, Sr., became a teaching professional.

 

Developed through many teaching sessions, Tour View allows any golfer to see and feel what it means to keep the head stable.

 

I know what you're thinking: "Not another one of those steady-Eddie training aids that looks like a bent coat hanger. You want to keep your head still? Just hit balls on the range when the sun is right, keeping your shadow in the same spot."

 

 

 

 

 

This invention (www.tourviewgolf.com) is better than that. It can be used on either the range or the course (for practice, not competition). It contains no dark lenses to obscure vision. It provides immediate and accurate feedback.

 

Tour View, with a vision circle for each eye, looks like a pair of goggles. It is made of polycarbonate and is virtually indestructible. It attaches to the bill of a cap and is adjusted by the golfer until the two circles are transformed visually into one large circle. This phenomenon is called stereo vision.

 

With the ball positioned precisely in the middle of the circle, the idea is to eliminate movement by keeping the ball in that exact spot.

 

"It keeps your eyes focused on the ball," Jones said. "All the great players stay stable. I believe we are on the verge of creating the best ballstrikers we've ever seen."

 

Said teaching professional Denny Alberts, a protege of Mac O'Grady: "You can take all my training devices, just don't take my Tour View."

 

A second Tour View device, based on the same visual principle, allows golfers to check body and eye alignment while putting or hitting full shots.

 

"We're talking about fundamentals here. They apply to everyone," Jones said.

 

For the record, the Jones family owns an extensive golf pedigree. Three Jones brothers (including Gene Sr.) were golf professionals, and the three sons of Gene Sr. (Gene Jr., Mike and Mark) also became golf pros.

 

Now one of the Jones boys can add a word to his career capsule: inventor.

 

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This is a great idea, and is actually something I could see using ... at least for a little while...

 

your thoughts? Would you use this on the range?

[Aotearoa_Brad]

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Missed this one -- there's so much to see at the show, and so little time!  Wouldn't mind giving it a try - I struggle with the "sways" so much that I wouldn't mind looking silly for a while on the range.

[Mr_Theoo]

I definitely could have used this last year when I struggled with a bad sway. I've gotten it under control for the most part but this would have been a huge help.

[BIG STU]

Is he the son of Gene "The Machine" Jones of mini tour and champions tour fame? Looks like a good idea honestly don't know if it would work for me though

[silver & black]

There again; simple things are sometimes are the best things. Seems like a great idea to me.

[hckymeyer]

I can't stop picturing this every time I look at this training aid...

 

[mr_divots]

If I find myself wearing one, I'll know its time to quit the game. At least it has purpose? LOL!

[slightdraw235]

This device seems like it would enable you to work on minimizing horizontal head movement (swaying). My problem has always been vertical head movement, leading to inconsistent club face contact height, particularly with irons. I wonder if there is an equivalent and effective training aid for that problem.

[mr_divots]

This device seems like it would enable you to work on minimizing horizontal head movement (swaying). My problem has always been vertical head movement, leading to inconsistent club face contact height, particularly with irons. I wonder if there is an equivalent and effective training aid for that problem.

Whatever that device looks like, it probably connects to the crotch of your pants. Eeek!