|
|
Golf Lab 4.0
New Location, New Technology, New Era
|
|
"If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger"
|
|
Greetings!
That was wisdom from my grandfather.
I had a lot of time during the recession to wonder if he would be right. Thanks grandpa.
I loved writing the Golf Equipment Chronicles for Golf Today Magazine. I lived the revolution of custom club fitting from inception to maturity. The "power of the press" provided great access to dreamers who were anxious to get their story out. I got behind the ropes. Pretty cool.
I made the cover of the September 2009 Golf Today - inside the Chronicles, a couple of feature articles and four pages of advertising. I expected to be busy until Christmas.
The phone rang four times.
That's why Google is rich and newspapers are bankrupt.
The era ended in September, 2009. The original Golf Lab had a good run. Nine years is longer than most. We had days in the limelight. We did a lot of business. It was "change or quit".
One great thing about golf is that age earns respect. You're never too old. That goes double for old club makers. It's lots of fun to hang around a well-worn shop and spit on the pot-belly stove. We just needed a metaphorical stove in a shared overhead environment.
I've been watching the "next generation" of golf inventions develop for years. I never doubted that the next generation would be just as exciting as the last. The only question was whether the work would be done in time - and how long the recession would last. When would the new era start?
It was a long year and we're almost done. Here's your preview of Golf Lab 4.0. As usual, it's the "whole" story. Have a good read and then plan to get in touch.
|
|
Ten Years of History - First Modern Era of Clubfitting
| |
|
I like to think we were too successful.
In 2001, Bob Huff and I brought latest in club-fitting technology to the Bay Area. We were the first to license SST PURE ™ shaft alignment system in California.
The Golf Lab was first to field multiple launch monitors and quick to fit and build a driver to optimize a player's "launch ballistics". Today, launch monitors are ubiquitous and inexpensive and most good players know their numbers by heart.
Today, fitting systems are ubiquitous. Four years ago the first of the interchangeable shaft and head systems hit the market. We loved them. Today, you can't find a significant manufacturer that hasn't adopted some form of interchangeability.
On the business side it's interesting to watch what Big Money is doing. In the custom golf industry, Big Money is Cool Clubs ($10 million initial investment) and Hot Stix ($Millions, "reorganized", $New Millions). That's a lot of investment for a tiny industry where most of the shops are boot strapped.
The result of all that attention was the leading edge got dull. That took a toll on the Golf Lab. Combined with the recession, declining sales lead to serious doubts about the viability of the Custom Golf Shop as a business.
|
|
Focus on Putting
| |
A prerequisite for accurate putting requires reading the green. That's why we have been so enthusiastic about AimPoint technology for green reading. We have now brought the elements together to create a complete Putting Laboratory and Training environment. The AimPoint green reading system, the Edel Custom Putter fitting system and the Science and Motion Putt Lab each lead their categories. Together, they provide the foundation for the AimPoint Putting Lab 2010. It is the only one in the world.
We all know that putting is 40% of the game. If you've been thinking of shaving a few strokes from your handicap, improved putting is the easiest way. Now, you can combine technique, training and technology in an engineered environment designed for players who are serious about improving their putting - including effective practice.
|
|
Next Era Club Fitting
| |
Beyond putting, recently perfected diagnostic tools are indoor radars, shaft analysis by deflection and high speed photography. The new tools are destined to be just as revolutionary in the next generation of club fitting as the invention of the original launch monitor ten years ago.
The next era in club fitting starts right now. Older launch monitor systems try to find the Magic Club by looking at the ball. The next generation of electronic gizmos utilizes radar technology that tracks and measures the movement of the shaft and the club head at the moment of impact. For the first time, we can detect and measure the "kick" of a shaft at impact. We can "see" the shaft "working".
The new invention for shaft measurement and analysis helps us understand "why" the shaft performs the way it does. Also for the first time, we profile the flex of a shaft every inch of its length. Knowing the exact "flex signature" of the shaft, combined with radar measurement at impact takes club fitting to a level we have only been able to imagine - until now.
Finally, integration with high speed video allows us to synchronize all of the club performance data to precise instants in the player's swing. Miniscule movements in a player's swing are detected with radar and confirmed with video analysis. This is the most precise method for isolating swing faults that is available outside of the Ivory Tower.
If you have been fitted before and are still asking "why" - you can book your fitting with 2011 technology today. |
|
|
Golf Equipment Chronicles Returns
|
I'm restarting the Golf Equipment Chronicles. Now that the storm has passed we'll have fun again. The first issue is all about the Association of Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP) Round Table in Columbus, Georgia. Out next Monday. The projects I tracked have been in development for a long time. It took over five years to perfect radar systems for indoor use. Integration of high speed video with radar took a year. Russ Ryden produced three versions of his EI machines before he built the one that he was happy with. That took two years. I worried that the dreamers would never finish. No worries. The integrated systems were functioning at the Roundtable. If you're a shaft geek you'll be hearing a lot about "flex signatures". Shaft manufacturers are successfully changing the performance characteristics of shafts with radical new designs that move the "flex point" to the optimum location. For the first time, it is now possible for us to pinpoint the precise flex profile of a golf shaft. The new Nunchuk design is the most extreme example of adventurous design and engineering. It's always cool to know about new ideas, no matter how crazy on the surface. The Nunchek qualifies. Stay tuned to the Chronicles for detailed new equipment updates. Players can look forward to a new understanding of shaft performance. The next time you find a shaft that really works you'll know why. |
|
|
What's for Sale at the Golf Lab 4.0?
|
David Balbi carries on his golf instruction practice. The Golf Lab carries on with clubfitting, clubmaking and repair. The combined business is working under the name "AimPoint West". That's for everything putting. We're keeping the flavor of the original Golf Lab workshop. It's smaller, cleaner and unbelievably well organized. In style for the 21st century. Clint Smith will be behind the bench. Care and feeding of your golf clubs is our mission. The Golf Lab offers the best irons in the world - Miura, Mizuno, Japanese Boutique lines and Playable Classics. Our close relationship with Adams gives us access to their Tour models. To make fitting more precise, every high performance shaft is tested for "flex signature". Drivers, hybrids and wedges are "best of breed" from all manufacturers, past and present. Putters are only Edel. The Golf Lab 4.0 is a unique custom golf shop. No finished clubs anywhere. Nothing to "waggle". But there's no shortage of options. The Golf Lab inventory includes over 300 sets of iron heads. From the newest models to the Playable Classics trace the modern history of iron head design. "Any head, any shaft". The ultimate demo is the exact club recommended in the fitting. Built to order. On the "super custom" side, our close relationship with Miura and Scratch gives us access to their "raw" models. Total custom grinding of wedges is a new offering at the Golf Lab 4.0. Alas, we're not open to the public all hours. If you want to be sure that someone is available when you arrive, it's better to work by appointment. Please do not ask us to interrupt a fitting or teaching session. |
|
|
Personnel and Businesss Systems Update
|
We now have a half time customer relationship manager. Dian Terova is in the office weekdays from 8:30 until noon. Her primary responsibility is to make sure that communications are as smooth as possible. She can handle any question and has direct access to David and Leith. For immediate attention, call 650-654-1770. We have installed an Internet based scheduling program. You can check both David and Leith's schedules from your I-Phone. You can also make appointments from your I Phone. We think that this convenience will be very popular. Efficiency is important for all of us. Call Dian for your password. Direct contact with Leith and David is best by email. Leithander@gmail.com and David@balbigolf.com. Clint Smith will be moving from Palo Alto to San Carlos within a few weeks. We will continue to offer clubmaking services "by chance or appointment" for drop-in convenience. Clients are encouraged to schedule time with Clint in advance. We're in the process of moving our client lists to Salesforce.com. You may receive a telephone call from Dian in the next few days to make sure that your personal information is correct. In the future you will be able to subscribe to just the information you want. | |
|
Your Reward for Reading this Far
"Donate your stroke to Science" |
| |
Next Wednesday, John Johnson is coming to the Golf Lab. John is the inventor of the Tour Lock line of counter weights and the Opti-Vibe line of internal shaft weights. He is a former mini-Tour player who has been a missionary for balancing golf clubs. He has spent days on the Regular and Senior Tours. He has a long list of converts and the exact specifications that they chose in their putters.
John has a great eye for a putting stroke.
His Tour Lock line of counterweights is the industry standard - including the Edel Custom Putter fitting system.
We are measuring the change in a player's putting stroke, before counterweights and then after. We're looking for immediate and measureable improvement - a simple job for the SAM Putt Lab. The consistent putting surface eliminates environmental interference.
The advanced test is for weight down the shaft, both location and amount. To John's knowledge, this level of testing has never been done. He will take his findings to the Tour.
We're going to spend the first half day setting up the tests and calibrating the equipment. We'll run all of the tests on ourselves. Then, we'll open up for a few lucky players who are willing to "Donate their Swings to Science" - "priceless". If you would like to have 15 to 30 minutes to have John analyze your stroke and go through the fitting and testing sequence - call Dian. (Restrictions apply.) |
|
Plan to stop by.
|
| |
Best Regards,
Leith Anderson and David Balbi
|
| For More Information . . . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
