Each year, just about every golf-product manufacturer worth its salt tries to make a splash at the massive PGA Merchandise Show that fills the entire Orange County Convention Center in Orlando each January. At the 2005 event, one new product managed to pique the interest of not only the golf-interested public in general, but also golf-shop managers and meeting/event planners in particular.
Made by a Scottsdale, AZ-based firm called Zelocity, the Pure Flight Performance Monitor sits on the ground alongside a golfer as he makes a swing at the ball. Based on that impact, the monitor measures ball velocity, clubhead speed, distance the ball travels in the air, and the "power transfer ratio," which tells the golfer how squarely the clubface struck the ball.
Yes, it sounds very technical. But because of what it does, the monitor's possibilities at golf events are many. For instance: Place it on the practice range at a group outing, and players can see how far they hit each of their clubs. With the property's golf pro standing alongside, players can learn which clubs they hit well, which they hit poorly, and perhaps which additional club they could purchase to fill in a 'distance gap' they might have. What's more, the included software lets you print out each player's club-distance data in the form of a bag tag, so that players always know which club to use for each shot on the course.
To further spice up attendees' practice time on the range before they move to the course, you can use the monitor to run contests such as longest drive and "guess-your-distance." And at charity events, each of these contests can be run—for a per-shot fee—to raise additional funds.
On rainy days, the monitor can even be used inside a property's ballroom to entertain and instruct attendees, as it's able to judge how far a ball would have traveled even though folks are hitting into nets. This feature, combined with the ability to run on electric or battery power, also makes the monitor ideal for drawing traffic into a trade-show booth.
For single purchases, the Pure Flight monitor sells for $895; bulk purchases bring the price to $795. Each unit comes with a padded carry bag, so that the three-pound unit can be carried on planes. For more info, contact
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