Published Golf Infomercial products: I have purchased $ 500 + from as seen on TV wave material, and here is what happened

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Every enthusiastic golfer watching The Golf Channel has probably seen hundreds, if not thousands, of golf infomercials. They all look very similar – a spokesperson who has 1-2 PGA Tour victories promises to fix your golf game, mid to tall handicappers are shown with their magic swings and they all seem to take place in Arizona with the mountains as a backdrop.

Their claims are ridiculous and the product designs are even more laughable. But the truth is that there are tons of golfers who buy them. Why do you think they will continue to buy advertising space? It's working!

After seeing the same products over and over for years, I decided that I had to make the golf audience a solid and test a lot of them. So I charged some costs on my credit card and ordered some of the usual suspects:

GX-7 Metal
Supersonic X10
C3i Wedge
B1 Blue Strike
Square Strike Wedge

I gave them all a fair shake and tested them. In this article I will investigate how each product performs in comparison to its claims and whether or not a product is worth buying.

GX-7 Metal

The GX-7 Metal is perhaps the most popular of all golf-infomercial products in recent memory. I just had to know how this thing performed.

The Claims

The GX-7 people make some bold assertions, here are a few taken from their website:

Increase the driving distance value compared to your current driver (no party or famine fluctuations from hole to hole)
Improve your accuracy with big jumps (make the center of the fairway your personal domain)
Turn even your worst miss hits into decent shots (cut back on those dreaded blow-up holes)
No need for separate fluctuations (you can hit the GX-7 just like an iron)
Help you keep pace with players who can go faster than you (if you haven't passed) (increase your confidence and lower your scores)

My testing

Admittedly, I am not the target market for the GX-7, but I wanted to try the club to see what kind of results I got. In recent years I have tested a lot of equipment and learned a lot about clubs from some of the best in the industry. I can tell you that many of the claims they make are very suspicious (before you even try the club).

So I ordered a GX-7 in a rigid flex to accommodate my swing speed of about 105 mph with my driver.

The GX-7 driver is not particularly impressive when you see it in person; it looks like a cheap golf club. The face is huge on address, which gives the impression that it is very forgiving. After my first wave, I felt my eardrums bursting. This thing is loud at impact.

After five swings, something began to rattle in the club head. I know the club is designed for golfers with slower swing speeds, but something that bursts almost immediately is probably not a good sign.

GX-7 Launch Monitor Data

I set the 14-degree GX-7 against my Callaway Epic Flash Driver (12.5 degrees) using tees. Despite the claims of the commercial, I had very little hope that it would perform better than important statistics. Here is the comparison that I saw:

Club Ball Speed ​​(mph) Total Spin (rpm) Starting angle (degrees) Carry Yards Total Yards

GX-7142293412.7228250

Callaway Epic Flash152213715.2256283

You could see that the GX-7 was not a match for my driver on any of the statistics. I will say that the spread was a bit tighter, but that is to be expected because there was a significant difference in the total distance. Surprisingly, I thought the club performed well for what it is, what a 3-timber is. These are pretty good start numbers and not far from my current 3-wood (a Callaway XR Pro).

It was less successful to use the club off the ground. The commercial claim that the GX-7 is just as easy to remove from the turf as your 7-iron. I didn't think that was the case. It is about as easy to get off the ground as a 3-wood, which can be difficult for many golfers. I don't think there are any magical features in the GX-7 that allow you to get this off the ground better than all 3-wood species from popular manufacturers.

No waste, but nothing special

In my opinion, the GX-7 is not a complete disaster. But the rattling piece in the head after various fluctuations made me think about the quality of the materials used.

I don't think you will find it as easy to hit as your 7-iron, because it's a metal wood with a 43 "shaft. I also don't think it will eliminate 4-5 bad discs a round no club can promise that.

Based on what I saw, I think the company has manufactured a relatively forgiving 3-timber. Is it better than comparable models from companies such as Ping, Titleist and Callaway? Probably not. But it's not terrible.

Because the commercial makes such outrageous claims, I think that many golfers will be disappointed after buying this club and realize that it is doing nothing that is special to them. If they had promoted this for what it was, they probably would not have sold as much as in recent years. Let's be honest; if they continue to run the commercials, they must earn money. The display of advertisements for an everyday 3-timber file probably does not generate too much income.

Supersonic X10

Who doesn't want to add any club head speed? The Supersonic X10 says it can almost do it for you.

Their claims

Here are a few claims I got from their website:

You will go through the bag longer, more linearly and more consistently
It will increase your swing speed (and distance) faster than any device
The SwingSpeedometer and SpeedSlider offer unparalleled feedback and motivation
Spend two months practicing with the Super Sonic X10 and you take at least 8 mph and 20 yards off the tee

How does it work?

There are two main elements for the Supersonic X10 – the SwingSpeedometer (yes that is a real term) and the SpeedSlider.

You can see how it works by watching this video:

The SwingSpeedometer (try saying that, then quickly) shows how quickly you swing the club to give immediate feedback.

The SpeedSlider is the more critical element of the club. It has two functions – to work as a resistance trainer and to promote more "lag" in your swing. There are ten settings on the dial, one of which is the easiest and the ten the most difficult. The idea is that the slider is not released until you have exceeded a certain speed swing speed and "left" the club. In theory you should start with the easier settings as you build up speed and then go to the higher numbers.

The SpeedSlider also provides feedback on whether you create lag in your swing. You will hear an audible click around the time you make an impact. This is a general tactic used by various other training tools, including the Impact Snap

.

So in short, the Super Sonic X10 tries to make you swing faster, with more delay in your swing by giving feedback via the digital monitor and using a slider with different resistance settings.

My testing

I immediately cut through to the chase; I didn't like the Super Sonic X10 so much.

The main problem I had was that the SpeedSlider did not seem to work very well. I'm not sure if my product is defective or not properly designed, but I couldn't release the slider from the easiest setting (1 or 2).

I doubt that this was my problem because my driving speed was tested between 105-112 mph, depending on the length of the shaft I use. Moreover, I have seen my swing on video and in 3D motion analysis, and I certainly do not release my wrist angles too early.

So my main question is whether a scratch golfer that has a relatively high swing speed cannot activate the primary function of the product, what does that mean for a golfer who swings much slower and doesn't create much lag with their wrists? My guess is that they are likely to get frustrated and stop using.

As a side note, I found the SwingSpeedometer (there is that great word again) not very accurate. The fastest reading I could get was 94 mph, and I know I swing much faster. However, it can work on a relative basis because you can see if your numbers are increasing or decreasing.

There is no system here

Despite the poor functionality of the product, my main problem is that there is no great system here. If a golfer has practiced religiously with the Super Sonic X10 and followed the video on his site, it is possible that the speed of the swing has increased. However, I am not sure if this would be due to the actual product itself, but due to the exercises. My feeling is that the vast majority of people who buy it will not do it because there is no system based on any research and the product seems to have some design flaws.

If you want the help of a training aid, I would suggest looking at SuperSpeed ​​Golf

. I have worked with it myself and I believe it is much more effective. It is also designed on the basis of the latest research used in numerous sports to help athletes increase their throwing motion. Phil Mickelson uses it (together with 350+ other professional golfers) and the results are there.

In addition, I would like to propose a wave-specific training program. The Titleist Performance Institute has an extensive network of trained professionals who help you plan your body to become stronger, more flexible and more powerful. It is an excellent idea for injury prevention, health benefits and to increase your club head speed. I am currently training based on their philosophy and there is a noticeable improvement.

Long story short, there are no quick solutions if you want the golf club to swing faster. You have to be willing to do some work, and I'm just not sure if the Super Sonic X10 will lead you that way effectively.

C3i Wedge

The C3i Wedge praises itself as a savior for golfers struggling with wedge shots in the bunkers and around the green.

The Claims

This is what the C3i Wedge promises:

Get out of a bunker with a single swing

Practically eliminating fat shots within 50 yards of the flag

Aim directly at your target and attack without opening your posture or face

Any type of lie, from tight turf to downy bunkers

Play sky-scraping flop shots as a tourpro

Enjoy the same satisfying feeling of pure contact that you get with a traditional wedge

Here's the commercial in case you haven't seen it yet:

The story is short, the club has a very exaggerated design with its only and use of bouncing that tries to eliminate golfers digging with the front edge of the club. It also has a 65-degree loft to get the ball up and running quickly.

My testing

I came across the C3i testing a bit skeptical, but I must say that the club was one of the few infomercial products that surprised me. I would even go so far as to say that it lives up to some of the claims it makes.

I tried the C3i from many lies in the short game facility on my course. I laid it through narrow lies on the fairway, fluffy lies in the rugged, buried lies, and took lots of photos from various bunker lies. I also threw it on my launch monitor. Compared to my 60-degree lobwig, it was slightly higher and had similar spin values.

I am not a Seve Ballesteros from the bunker, but I consider myself a generally decent wedge player. I tend to dig the club and uncover the leading edge, so my sand wedge has an extra bounce and I am a good candidate for a club like this. From the bunker I found that the C3i performed very well. I did what the commercial said I could do, what was normal and let the club do the work. I have not opened the face at all or a & # 39; bunker swing & # 39; made. The ball rolled nicely out of the sand and the sole glided smoothly through the sand. You can still take big shots, but I would say that the club limits them considerably.

The C3i also did very well from the rough; the ball is very beautiful without too much effort in the air. There is a nice margin of error. If you struggle with bunker shots and many other lies around the green, I think this club can offer you some relief.

Some comments

Because the C3i Wedge has such an extreme design, there are a few things that you specify. Because the sole of the club is so large, the front edge of the wedge is slightly lowered to the ground. If you have very narrow lies on your course, this can result in a number of skulls. I found that to visually intimidate when addressing the ball on a range mat or tight fairway lie.

I think you will also give up a lot of remote control with a wedge that has a 65 degree loft. The wedge gets the ball into the air quickly, but you need a lot of precision with where you land the ball, rather than rolling it more onto the green.

It also limits the versatility of shots that you can play on the green. It's a bit of a one-trick pony, similar to what I thought the Square Strike wedge should be. The Square Strike can help you hit fairly low chips, and the C3i can get the ball very quickly from many lies – but that's about all they can do.

Finally, I don't think you can use this club outside 40-50 yards because it has so much loft.

Who is the C3i wedge for?

Modern wedge design has come a long way. Most wedges from the major OEMs are easier to hit than ever. In a perfect world, I would like golfers to play traditional designs because they are more versatile.

That said, I know that many middle-to-high handicappers struggle vigorously with bunker shots and various other lies around the green. I would say that the C3i Wedge can help those players as a sort of last resort. If the choice is usually not to get the ball to the putting surface with a typical wedge, or if you can land more of your shots on the green with the C3i, then choosing the latter may not be a bad idea. But for the sake of clarity, I think learning the right technique and using a regular wedge is the better route.

There are also some other options available with similar designs. Callaway has their Sure Out Wedge

and Cleveland has its Smart Sole design.

In general, I was impressed by the C3i Wedge. Although some statements may be a bit exaggerated, I think this club delivers its ability to get the ball out of various lies quickly without perfect technique. However, I would not call it magic; Don't expect your Phil Mickelson to be one night. You will make some decisions because of the design of the club, but if it's so bad for you in the greens, you might not even care. Moreover, the club looks strange, so expect something to take from your friends when you go out with it.

B1 Blue Strike

The B1 Blue Strike training aid is one of the more popular "as seen on TV" products. The famous instructor Hank Haney endorses this, and its primary function is to improve your position and prevent a popular swing called & # 39; creating & # 39 ;, which happens when your hands are behind the ball at the impact

Their claims

If you listen to their commercial, using the B1 Blue Strike multiple times will turn you into a world-class ball pointer. Here are a few of the claims they make in their marketing material:

After just a few minutes of practice with the B1, the golfers made great progress in their ball-stroke, distance and course.
Fix this 1 small part of your swing (that you may not know is broken) for Tour-level impact, rattling accuracy and constant consistency
The first training tool to take all elements of a tour-level impact position (and resolve those frustrating somersaults)

If you want to know more about how the product works, I recommend watching this series of videos with Hank Haney.

My impressions

I am not against what this product is trying to promote, namely to put you in a more functional impact position with your hands in front of the ball at the impact. I have done this type of exercise myself and it has produced very good results when I hit my ball.

In my opinion, the problem with the B1 is that there is too much going on, and I think it will probably confuse golfers. There are three separate elements for the product:

Impact Bow : a cable that extends beyond the grip that is supposed to stay in contact with your lead wrist when impact
Impact Slider : a slider that should click on the bottom of the club in the event of an impact, to deliver audio feedback
Compression Sole : Designed to force the golfer to lean the shaft forward in a collision, otherwise they will make poor contact with the club

My biggest problem with the Blue Strike is that the first two elements are not very functional. The impact slider didn't seem to work for me. If I had it firmly in place, what you should do, it would not let go while I waved. If I held it loosely, it wouldn't work the way it was designed. I would like to make this up for poor product design and material quality (similar to what I have experienced with the Super Sonic X10 slider).

The impact slider should come loose during the swing, but I had trouble getting it to work

The impact bow also seemed a bit picky. I think it can offer some value, but it can easily be cheated.

The actual club head itself, however, has value. It is very similar to the design of The Tour Striker

a popular training tool. It is very difficult to hit it properly unless there is a forward shaft that is tilted, but I believe it can be "cheated" a little "faster" than a product like the DST compressor that I am practicing with myself.

Long story short, only one of the three elements seemed to work. Moreover, if a golfer tries to satisfy all three elements at the same time, I think it would be overloading, which raises the question of why to use this compared to some of the other more popular impact trainers?

Your money could be better elsewhere

I don't hate the B1 Blue Strike at all, but I don't like it either. In my opinion, this product has the potential to overload recreational golfers, meaning it can end up in the garage quickly.

There are various other products that may make more sense to you. The Impact Snap trainer

that you can read more about in my review is probably better suited for a starting to intermediate baller. For more advanced golfers, I would probably recommend a product such as the DST compressor. It is much harder to use, but I really believe that it produces real results. Perhaps a middle way between the Impact Snap and summer time is the Tour Striker.

Square Strike Wedge

The Square Strike Wedge is another commercial that you have probably seen hundreds of times. It is designed to help golfers who are tortured by poor game play around the greens.

Their claims

The Square Strike wedge is very similar to the chip clubs you have seen for years. Except on steroids.

It is designed to function more like a putter with a very upright lie angle and heavier head. It has a 45 degree loft, which is comparable to a Pitching Wedge of many golf OEMs.

It has a huge sole, which is believed to prevent greasy shots and help the club "slip" on imperfect attacks and challenging lies. Moreover, the leading edge is angled in such a way that the club cannot dig. In addition, they have shifted the weight of the bat all the way to the toe, which is intended to promote a swing.

To make a long story short, they have designed a club to help golfers who are overly "handmade" with their wedges. These players struggle with lumps and skulls that always lead to double bogeys or worse. The Square Strike promotes a putting movement, which is much easier for most golfers to reproduce around the greens.

It's not a crazy concept, anyway, or new, but you can't resist peeking at the club when you first see it.

It works quite well

I have tested the Square Strike wedge several times on the practice green on my golf course. I was touched by various lies that you would encounter on the fairway and in the rough. Despite my initial preference, the club performs very well.

Regardless of what lies I threw over, the Square Strike was very good at producing a low running shot . It felt better than I expected, and the weight didn't bother me so much.

There was a golfer next to me who was the perfect specimen to test for. He had an excessively long swing on his chip shots and "clapped" the bat with his hands. He agreed to take a few photos with the Square Strike, and he simply made the same low shots that I touched. The golfer told me: "it feels like a sledgehammer, but I would use it."

I believe that this club can be very effective in getting the ball on the well surface if you have enough green in front of you. Based on what I saw, I think that golfers who struggle with this type of recording can benefit from using a club like this.

However, I have some reservations about the Square Strike.

There is no versatility

The main problem with the Square Strike is that there is no versatility for the club. It is very effective in producing a low-running chip or pitch shot, but that's about all it can do. Now that is a critical chance to have on the golf course, but being part of being a good wedge player has recordings in many situations.

If you use this club, it means that you specify one space in your bag for another wedge.

I tried to make 45-50 yard pitch shots with the Square Strike. I usually use my 60-degree wedge for those photos so that I can gently land the ball on the green.

Club Total Spin (rpm) Start AngleCarry YardsTotal YardsHeight (feet)

Lob Wedge583931465021

Square Strike374625435015

The Square Strike was launched at a lower angle with less spin and reached a lower height. You would expect this because it has much less loft than my lobwig. Although it is easy to swing the club and make contact, you get a lower running shot that will appear pretty much on the green. Again, that's not a bad thing; it only limits your options.

Who It Might Be For

I don't think the Square Strike is a gimmick. It may not be the mythical savior that the website and infomercials claim, but this club can help golfers. If you are someone struggling with wedge shots around the green, to the point where it is debilitating, the Square Strike can probably provide relief.

There is nothing more frustrating than being 20 meters from the green and not being able to get the ball to the putting surface. It is one of the main reasons why recreational golfers post double bogeys or worse. If this club can help eliminate those shots (and your fear of them), who am I to tell you not to try?

Why I would not really recommend it

The Square Strike is more like a plaster, and I would only consider it as a last resort.

Modern wedges offer so much versatility around the greens and they are easier to touch than ever because of improved design.

My recommendation for anyone struggling with pitch or chip shots is to first learn how to play them well. They are not very complicated, and with the right technique and practice you can improve drastically. I'd rather see golfers doing that first than buying a club that limits the type of recordings that you can play and don't allow you to develop your wedge technique.

But I know it's not a perfect world, and that may not be in the cards of many of you.

Packing

Golf is all about managing expectations. All these products make such great claims that it is almost impossible for golfers not to be disappointed by how they work. Fortunately they all offer money back guarantees and I hope that golfers will benefit from the offer if they are not satisfied instead of having them collect dust.

In general, I cannot recommend any of these products. Some of them were a bit dirty and suffered from poor design and material quality. While others were not that bad, I saw them as a last resort for struggling golfers (C3i and Square Strike).

So the next time you see one of these commercials and are tempted to buy one of these products, remember that reality may be a little less exciting than their claims.