THIS STROKE COUNTER? USEFUL ON + OFF THE COURSE!

The Golf Gadget : Leather and Swarovski Rhinestone Stroke Counter by Navika Golf Gifts

The Golf Gal : Whitney 

Whitney Says:  As a new golfer, I have been known to rack up the strokes - so having a stroke counter has really helped me track my game and my progress.  When I spotted these Navika Stroke Counters at the PGA Expo, I was really excited - they are blinged out and beautiful! 

Looking good doesn't always mean functions well - but luckily this stroke counter gives you a huge bang for a small buck!  It is lightweight, and can be attached to your belt buckle, belt or edge of your pocket.  The beads slide smoothly and pulling another bead doesn't feel too bad since they are so sparkly...  

The other advantage?  I take it to work with me and use it to track my water ounces throughout the day.   For every 10 ounces of water, I pull a bead.  This golf gadget is great for helping me improve my game and for keeping up with my health.  

I give the Navika Stroke counter 5 out of 5 balls! 

SHOULD YOU BUY A GARMIN GOLF WATCH?

The Golf Gadget : Garmin Approach S1 GPS Watch*

The Golf Gal : Whitney O.

The Golf Course : Taylormade Golf Course, Las Vegas NV and South Shore Golf Club, Henderson NV

Whitney Says :  I was really excited to try out the Garmin GPS Watch - this handy piece of distance measuring equipment combines two of my loves:  accessories and technology!  

Right out the box, it is very intuitive and easy to use - just push a few buttons and it is ready to go.  It found the golf courses quickly and was fairly accurate about the yardage on the tee box. 

The down side?  I only used the range finder on the tee box.  As a new golfer, I am not good enough to know the difference between how far I hit my 7 iron versus my 8 iron, so I need to get a better feel of that before I invest in an expensive device ($122+).  

The Pros and Cons : 

On a positive note, the watch was lightweight, comfortable, and didn't move around or feel bothersome throughout the entire round.  Another positive feature - this Garmin watch golf gadget is adjustable and will fit both women and men.  One suggestion?  Add a stroke counter - that would make the accessory more functional for mateur golfers.  Also, add more colors!  These are the only choices currently offered... 

 

Overall, I give this gadget 3 out of 5 balls - mainly due to its lack of necessity for the new golfer.  But, for a more experienced golfer, it may be worth the cost.  

*Special thanks to Lizzie Driver Golf Clothing for making this post possible.  We entered a raffle while visiting their booth at the recent PGA Expo...and won!  We look forward to playing many rounds with the Garmin - taking turns sharing, of course!

GTA TURF TALONS - THE PERFECT SPARE PAIR!

The Golf Gadget : GTA - Golf Traction Aids, size small to medium

The Golf Gals : Whitney and Shelley

The Golf Course : South Shore, Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV

Whitney Says : At the PGA Expo in Las Vegas, we happened upon the Golf Traction Aid Booth.  They were debuting their Turf Talons spikes - rubber contraptions with attached golf spikes.  You slip a pair onto most shoes and...you're golf ready!

  

At first I was skeptical; I  thought they would slip and slide and move around during wear.  I was pleasantly surprised!  They were snug, didn't ruin my shoes, and didn't slip around when teeing off or during fairway play.  I was pleased with how they looked when worn with my black Nike's.  The biggest drawback was they slipped when crawling out of large sand traps.  So - you need to avoid deep traps (!) or be extra careful when hiking out of a deep bunker.  My shoe size is a women's 8.5, so perhaps the sizing of the grips should be slightly tweaked to prevent this issue.

Shelley Says :  I thought the Turf Talons would pinch when worn - I'm pleased to report they did not!  After slipping them on at the clubhouse, I stood up and instantly noticed you feel 'squishy' or 'bouncy' when wearing them on hard pavement.  Hmm.  On the first tee, the spikes gripped the green well, and my feet felt more flexible in tennis shoes versus stiff leather golf shoes - I could really feel the weight transfer during my back swing.  I didn't encounter the slipping issue that Whitney did, but my shoe size is larger than hers (9.5).

The Pros and Cons :

Whitney : When traveling, GTA's golf traction aids allow you to leave your golf shoes at home!  Every course that's frequented by travelers should carry these - their price point is under $30.  The Turf Talons are lightweight and wouldn't add bulk to your luggage.  They're also a great spare pair to keep in your car - perfect for spontaneous trips to the driving range during your lunch break.  Just make sure to practice with them first, as they add a little to your height and will feel slightly different than your golf shoes.   On a creative note, I wish they came in different colors - maybe eventually?  I give this innovative golf product 4 out of 5 balls.

Shelley : I love this product for converting regular shoes into golf shoes.  They're constructed well, made in the USA, and you might enjoy the feel of them attached to your tennis shoes better than wearing your fancy retro Footjoy golf spikes!  As an experiment, I attached them to a pair of soft-soled shoes to see if they pinched and was pleasantly surprised.  They weren't uncomfortable and stayed in place when I did a practice swing.  Wearing the grips with shoes like this would not be preferable, but good to know they would work in a pinch!  Negatives?  Neither the name of the product or the manufacturer's website is printed on the product itself.  A dead end when searching for the item online!  I give this golf accessory 4 out of 5 balls.