Last Updated on August 30, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
If you play golf, golf club and technology marketing teams will find you! They will convince you that you can’t live without certain products. Maybe more importantly, they’ll tell you that you are throwing strokes away on the course. You’ll buy products hoping to shoot lower and then quickly wish you didn’t. Here are seven golf products that many players wish they never purchased.
Golf Ball Retriever
Let it be. When the golf ball goes into the water, you’ll just hold the group behind you up while you search for your ball. In addition, the ball retriever makes the bag heavier.
If you hit a decent shot that just rolled into the water hazard, you can pull it out with a 7-iron. Anything further in is for the divers now! Here’s an interesting thought, maybe if you don’t have the ball retriever you’ll do a better job of navigating around these hazards.
Golf Ball Washer
Have you seen these unique contraptions that hang on the golf bag and work to keep your golf ball clean for every hole? The concept is a good one. Hitting shots with a clean golf ball certainly makes the game easier.
However, this again takes up extra space on your bag and a damp microfiber towel does the same exact thing! Have you ever seen a caddy on the professional golf tour use anythign but a towel to clean the ball. Why? The towel is enough!
Golf GPS Device
A stand-alone golf GPS unit is really the same as a smartphone app. I can understand if you don’t want to have your phone out the entire time you play a round of golf. If that’s the case, get something like a speaker with a magnetic attachment. They will show the yardage as you play, something like the Bushnell or Blue Tees.
However, having another device to carry with you, one that looks and feels almost just like your phone, is probably not worth it. Download an app and get a great case to attach to the cart as you play.
Golf Multi-Tool
The multi-tools are actually really neat. You’ll see them on a pro shop counter and love the logo, the design, the weight, etc. Now, switch to on-course play, and suddenly, you have a bulky and awkward-looking thing you must keep in your pocket as you walk the course.
Multi-tools with a divot repair and ball marker should be smaller; they may even have a clip on them. Let’s face it: you can fix a divot with a tee and mark a ball with a penny if you need to.
Training Aids for Specific Swing Fixes
If you are struggling to get your swing on plane right now, you could be struggling with the clubface angle next week. Purchasing a training aid that only focuses on one specific area of the game can be a waste of money. Look for things that help you with multiple areas of improvement.
If you aren’t careful, you’ll have a garage full of golf products that don’t really help your game.
Golf Club Groove Sharpeners
If the grooves on your clubs are worn out, just get new ones or have the professionals work on them. The groove sharpener tools don’t work well, and they can even damage your golf clubs if you don’t use them properly. Professional regrooving is the way to go.
How many of these golf products have you purchased and wished you didn’t?
