Golf Channel Infomercials: Another Rant

I just got the GC yesterday and am in golfer heaven. Watched a replay of the USGA Girls' Amateur Championship along with the final round of last year's Evian Masters. This should tell you that I'll watch about anything golf related. This being said, I watched about 3 hours of golf infomercials yesterday, having not seen any since the old "Swing Jacket" and "Medicus" ones (which I actually bought). I know this is a lot of time to be sitting on my butt watching informecials, but I had surgery on my left ankle and am on leave until it heals (may try to hit balls tomorrow). I noticed they show the same ones everyday, and it seems like they're filling up a large portion of air time with them. I have to say I am a little disappointed with the GC for this.

You would think they could replay the '86 Masters or '91 PGA instead of filling the time with what is essentially dead air, but I guess they don't pay as much as infomercials do. I guess I have to wait until the afternoon/evening to watch actual golf. Oh, well it's still better than SoapNet.

P. S. Award for worst informercial product goes to the "Scout" (see related thread).

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004]I just got the GC yesterday and am in golfer heaven. Watched a replay of the USGA Girls' Amateur Championship along with the final round of last year's Evian Masters. This should tell you that I'll watch about anything golf related. This being said, I watched about 3 hours of golf infomercials yesterday, having not seen any since the old "Swing Jacket" and "Medicus" ones (which I actually bought). I know this is a lot of time to be sitting on my butt watching informecials, but I had surgery on my left ankle and am on leave until it heals (may try to hit balls tomorrow). I noticed they show the same ones everyday, and it seems like they're filling up a large portion of air time with them. I have to say I am a little disappointed with the GC for this.

You would think they could replay the '87 Masters or '91 PGA instead of filling the time with what is essentially dead air, but I guess they don't pay as much as infomercials do. I guess I have to wait until the afternoon/evening to watch actual golf. Oh, well it's still better than SoapNet.

P. S. Award for worst informercial product goes to the "Scout" (see related thread).[/QUOTE]

the "Scouts" idea is cool but i doubt it actually works... i too hate infomercials (and yet i still watch them :confused: ) i agree that they should replay previous majors or even close tourney's... i thinkthat TGC is great but infomercials from 9am-4pm :rolleyes: thats a little to much

you actually bough the "Swing-Jacket" you poor sucker then the shock was it really didnt work ;)

[QUOTE=pingman360]the "Scouts" idea is cool but i doubt it actually works... i too hate infomercials (and yet i still watch them :confused: ) i agree that they should replay previous majors or even close tourney's... i thinkthat TGC is great but infomercials from 9am-4pm :rolleyes: thats a little to much

you actually bough the "Swing-Jacket" you poor sucker then the shock was it really didnt work ;)[/QUOTE]

I actually use the Swing Jacket at the beginning of every season and whenever my swing plane gets a little wild. Can't hit with it like the commercial says due to my Daly-esque backswing. Also have the original Medicus iron. I use it to warm up since I hate the range.

I actually want to see the SkyCaddy infomercial. If I had $300+ I'd get one, if for nothing else than just to keep accurate yardages of my shots.

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004]I actually use the Swing Jacket at the beginning of every season and whenever my swing plane gets a little wild. Can't hit with it like the commercial says due to my Daly-esque backswing. Also have the original Medicus iron. I use it to warm up since I hate the range.

I actually want to see the SkyCaddy infomercial. If I had $300+ I'd get one, if for nothing else than just to keep accurate yardages of my shots.[/QUOTE]

the jacket doesnt look like it'd work but i'm pretty skeptical and dont buy into training aids (i only take advice from my instructor)... but if it works i'm happy for you

When the informercials are on the Golf Channel, I vote with my feet and remote control. I'd rather do just about anything than watch an informercial.

I've been lucky enought to have had it for a couple of years and let me tell you, they're doing waaay better with the infomercials than they used to. In the old days it was infomercials all day till 5 and then the actual programing. I love it now and pretty much watch it if anything at all. I'm watching the LPGA Evian championship right now.

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004]
P. S. Award for worst informercial product goes to the "Scout" (see related thread).[/QUOTE]

You think the Scout is a worse add then the Power Band (or whatever they called it) that Big John Daly promoted a year or two ago? That last-resort-of-training-aids...wrap a rubber band from your waist down to your shin. :confused:

they could show old championships, but why do that when they can show the same medicus infomercials, and have people like you actually buy them? haha, not a stab at you or anything. does the medicus work for you?

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004]You would think they could replay the '86 Masters or '91 PGA instead of filling the time with what is essentially dead air, but I guess they don't pay as much as infomercials do. I guess I have to wait until the afternoon/evening to watch actual golf. Oh, well it's still better than SoapNet.
[/QUOTE]


The reason they show the infomercials is not primarily because of lack of programming. It's because the manufacturers of the Medicus, Power Band, etc. pay for the time. That reduces TGC's overall operating cost substantially. The same goes for several cable networks - FoodTV showing the Ronco Bassomatic or whatever ;-), etc.

Question for you re: the Medicus - it is one of the few 'aids' I've seen that makes sense to me in a mechanics' sense. Does it work? If so/not, why/why not?

There are dozens of commercials that give a different perspective on the game, hoping to getcha - the "100:1" philosophy. For every 100 adds they put out, they're sure to grab one sucker.

The only aid that will work is a golf instructor. Instead of paying $100 on a gimmic, use the money to pay for a lesson or two - the "give a man to fish vs teach a man to fish" philosophy. If you're taught the correct way to swing, then you can correctly practice fixing the flaws diagnosed, in person, for you.

To beat a dead horse. Think of being sick and you don't know what's wrong with you. No matter what you do, you can't get better. You can blame it on the food, allergies, or weather - but you know the truth. Now, you see an add on TV that says "this quick-fix pill will cure every illness, just listen to these testimonials...") So, do you A - order these super pills for only 3 easy payments of $33.33, or B - get off your lazy bum and go see a doctor?

The worst of all is the SWING GLOVE.

"Your friends will never know you're wearing it". Yes, if your friends are Ray Charles and Helen Keller. I assume one of my friends would notice my new golf glove damn near goes all the way to my elbow and doesnt allow me to bend my fukcing arm.

Hahahahaha I know what ya mean Lyle, I have made a similar post a while ago. That thing is BS. It's great for chips and putts to!!!. You would have the biggest idiot tan after wearing that for a few months. Half your arm would be a completely different color than the rest.

1.) Never saw the "Swing Band" ad. Just got TGC this week, so am still learning all the ads' pitches, but if it had JD, you know I'd pick up the phone and call, right now!!!

2.) I have the Medicus iron (original version). Bought it off a friend for $20, and as a swing aid, I can't really say if it works. I use it primarily as a weighted club for loosening up, but I can say that the grip does train your hands to be in the correct position. It's one of the reasons (yes, there are others) why I went from a weak slice to a solid draw (although the fade is my shot of choice these days).

3.) Yes, I know, the best training aid is an instructor, and yes, I have one of those too. Unfortunatley, mine won't fit in my trunk for road trips, or come over at 11 PM when I'm bored and hit balls in my backyard with me.

Having said all this, I would say that 95% of the cr@p on these infomercials are just that, cr@p. I have, however, see a few things that seem to make sense:

The Medicus Driver - Would never personally use it, due to my ridiculously long backswing that works, but it looks like it could help most players

The SkyCaddy - Not even for the correct yardages to the pin/hazard/etc., but just to get an accurate distance reading on my shots. Could finally put the ego away and play the right club every time.

The Plane Truth - I read an article about this 3 years ago in GD and it transformed my game. Learning what kind of swing you have and the knowing how to use that swing could make a lot of people a lot better.

I wonder where they hold auditions for these infomercials. I would be the one guy who says "Yeah, um, the product doesn't really work. In fact, it made me so much worse, I have decided to quit golf, sell my gear, and commit suicide. Thanks to the Tiger Woods Golf Jock Strap!!!"

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004]
3.) Yes, I know, the best training aid is an instructor, and yes, I have one of those too. Unfortunatley, mine won't fit in my trunk for road trips, or come over at 11 PM when I'm bored and hit balls in my backyard with me.
[/QUOTE]

It sounds like you need a new instructor :D

[QUOTE=bdgiant]It sounds like you need a new instructor :D[/QUOTE]

You want the job?

I'll take it. Maybe I can test out your driver too! See if I hit it better than you!

[QUOTE=Joeysdaddy2004] The SkyCaddy - Not even for the correct yardages to the pin/hazard/etc., but just to get an accurate distance reading on my shots. Could finally put the ego away and play the right club every time."[/QUOTE]


They're really helpful, as it's literally a yardage book.. So long as they have that course on their website that you can upload onto your Sky Caddy. It'll tell you the yardage to approach a hazard, as well as the yardage to carry it, and what you'll have left to the green after that. If they don't have that course on their website yet, you can manually setup all those things yourself but it's no good if you're only playing a course one time. They have a lot of courses on their site however so it's not too bad.

Sky Caddy unfortunately doesn't account for elevation changes.

A Bushnell Tournament edition yardage scope is also a very good item to have since it'll tell you right to the pin no questions asked.

Best scenario would be to have both, then you should never have the excuse about over/underclubbing

Does the Sky caddie have any suped up canadian courses???

Pick a province, I'll give you what they've got. I don't know a single course over in Canada so I couldn't tell you a thing

[QUOTE=emc]I'll take it. Maybe I can test out your driver too! See if I hit it better than you![/QUOTE]

No dice, buddy. besides, I cut it down to 44" so it might not be any good to you anyway.

I'll tell you what, we could have a driving contest, me with your 905 and you with my R7. The loser coughs up his club, and the winner keeps both, although if I hit your Titleist better than my TaylorMade, I'd have to get a whole new set of irons, wedges and woods (yeah I'm THAT guy).

The good news is I'd sell you my R7 at a discount (but it's still all profit to me, hahaha)!

[QUOTE=Mward2002]Pick a province, I'll give you what they've got. I don't know a single course over in Canada so I couldn't tell you a thing[/QUOTE]



How about Nova Scotia???

What 19Handicap said, only the New Ashburn Golf Club and Old Ashburn Golf Club. To be more specific, it's only got front/center/back green targets. It all depends on the course and what's been set up on it so far.

For example, over in Vancouver, the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club has markings for for center of the fairway markers (150 yards, etc.) end of fairways, hazards, the distance to carry the hazard, and what you'll have remaining left. Also, there's a "pro" setting that shows a graphic of the green where you can move the cursor to a specific spot to get its exact yardage, as well as its front/center/back yardages

The best Golf Channel infomercial was the one for The Hammer endorsed by jack Hamm. The Hammer was said to make "Callaway and TaylorMade drivers look like a baby". The clubs Hamm hit were an old Big Bertha and TaylorMade firesole (It was burnt orange).
The Hammer was made of Zolex, a spage-age material that would "make titanium obsolete". That is the very reason everyone on the PGA Tour uses The Hammer.

has anybody ever actually tried this driver? If so, how did it perform? One infomercial I saw advertised The Hammer video along with 2 Hammer drivers for $99.99. Why would anyone want 2? Wouldn't a more effective promotion been The Hammer and video
for $50?

I just love the way they always give out an instructional video for the retards who can't find the clubhead

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[QUOTE=hayesjimmy06]medicus don't lie. this is true swing training aid.
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