What one gimmick "fix-your-golf-game-now" item got you? (at least that you will admit to)

[GrumpyGolf]

What is the one thing in years past that had a gimmick/quirk/stand-out-in-the-crowd piece of golf equipment did you add to your collection that you now look back and wonder, "Why did I do that?"  Could be a strap for you wrists, a folding club, a carbon steel shaft, an oversized mallet with shark fins and a laser, anything at all?

Mine is fairly easy - I bought a TaylorMade Bubble Burner the day they hit the shelves, didn't even try to see if it worked first, just walked in the store picked it up, paid for it and left.  That bubble caused me more grief, but stubborn as I was, I played it for two seasons thinking I must be doing something wrong.  However, I thought it was cool looking, never mind that no PRO in his right mind would touch one.

Edited May 28, 2022 by GrumpyGolf

[Goober]

The tour striker. Made sense, but did more bad than good. Developed the shanks and found that it made me drop the bottom of my swing arc before the ball. Almost like my body found a way to cheat it by hitting fat 

[GrumpyGolf]

2 hours ago, Riverboat said:

I had the bubble burner driver and LOVED it. Until my current driver, it was the longest, straightest driver I ever hit.

I wish I had those memories of it, outside of that "one" shot every round, it is hard to find good things for me to say about it.  In this case the "gimmick" worked for you. 

[Kenny B]

3 hours ago, Riverboat said:

I had the bubble burner driver and LOVED it. Until my current driver, it was the longest, straightest driver I ever hit.

I never bought one, but one of the guys at my club bought one and hit it very well.  I "borrowed" it for a few shots one day; loved it!  Should have bought it, but bought the original Big Bertha instead... that was a mistake!

[Kenny B]

My wrists have always been weak and since I started playing golf later in life, I thought that the Impact Snap trainer would be good for me.  I was traveling a lot and not always able to take clubs with me, so the idea that I could put the Impact Snap in my luggage and use it in the hotel rooms was appealing.  It never worked for me, and my wrists got very sore, not stronger.

[cksurfdude]

I dunno I am .. or was, trying to slow down on the As Seen On TV impulse buying .. a swing training aid 'ho...

In the collection gathering dust is... David Leadbetter Swing Setter, DST 8i and wedge, Tour Striker 7i and PW, Tour Striker tempo trainer you wear on your upper arm, SKLZ jointed shaft driver endorsed by John Daly, some other kind of really goofy driver release timing trainer I saw on the back of a golf magazine, and probably a few other oddities as well...

[scratchnurse]

I actually bought one of those Callaway orange straps for your arms. Even played a round of golf with it too some success. Helped as a reminder initially but now I’m always thinking snap the arms together on every shot so it hasn’t left the bag in years. 

[berkeleybob]

This is the one gimmicky thing I have in the bag. 

A 4 Yards More tee. Four more yards? Really? I don’t know, maybe. Frankly, I like it because my ball is at the same height every time I tee it up.

Still it’s nice to know that whenever I top my drive, it’ll reach 104 yards. 

[Pandaman]

For me...  David Leadbetter Swing Setter.

Did nothing to fix my main issues of out to in swing path and face open. As it gave no real feedback on these, if anything it may have ingrained the bad swing habits.  Did help me with my grip though.

[PBH3]

Back in the day I bought an Alien wedge, which did not do much to help my bunker game and the original Tight Lies that was fantastic and stayed in my bag for years.

[Middler]

None that “got me” but I got two well intended golf gifts decades ago. An Alien wedge and a tuning fork putter, but I didn’t buy their claims at all and never put either in play even for a minute…

 

[GaDawg]

6 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

This is the one gimmicky thing I have in the bag. 

A 4 Yards More tee. Four more yards? Really? I don’t know, maybe. Frankly, I like it because my ball is at the same height every time I tee it up.

Still it’s nice to know that whenever I top my drive, it’ll reach 104 yards. 

You should try this one.

 

[GaDawg]

Best irons ever made.

[berkeleybob]

2 minutes ago, GaDawg said:

You should try this one.

 

I’ve seen it used on the tee by a golfer years ago. I was surprised to see it still being sold … I guess we’re all born yesterday. 

[null]

There was a time where I thought a driver shaft change could drop 1200 RPMs of spin off my driver. 

[cksurfdude]

5 hours ago, PBH3 said:

.. the original Tight Lies that was fantastic and stayed in my bag for years

Those were amazing for their time! Barney Adams is really an under appreciated club genius, imho.

[cksurfdude]

2 hours ago, GaDawg said:

You should try this one.

I bought those ... kinda useless if the teeing ground is not super soft, in addition to the fixed height...

If anyone wants them lemme know

[Bossfan]

A Toir Edge 1 Out wedge. It made my sand game so much more consistent.

[cksurfdude]

17 hours ago, Bossfan said:

A Tour Edge 1 Out wedge.

I had one of those .. probably still in the garage .. def super easy to hit with. Got the ladies version for my wife and she loves it - plays decent bunker shots with it!!

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I picked upone of those face forward wedges years ago. Money wasted.