iPosture Pro

Grade: A
Given a family history of backs problems and my own nascent pains, I visit a chiropractor on a regular basis. I’m hoping that I can avoid the back surgeries that plagued my mom and dad by taking a proactive stance. One of the things that my chiropractor has impressed upon me is the need to maintain good posture, particularly by maintaining an arch in the lower back, and keeping my head over my shoulders and my chin level. I think that I’ve done a pretty good job, for my back pains have all but disappeared, and a recent checkup showed improvement in spinal curvature.

But I’m a pretty disciplined kind of guy. For others,a Memphis based neurologist named Moacir Schnapp has created a device called the iPosture Golf Pro that’s designed to help you maintain a proper back position.

The iPosture is a small round plastic device that you either wear around their neck, or stick to your body using a removable tape. Inside the iPosture is a microchip that measures your body angle and sends out a slight vibration whenever you come off plane. The creators recommend that you wear it several hours each day for a couple of weeks, and then a couple of times a week thereafter.

In the name of science, I wore the iPosture for several days and discovered that it does work as advertised. Whenever I went into a slouch, the iPosture would start vibrating a few seconds later, telling me to straighten up.

The good news for me was that the only time that the iPosture activated was when I deliberately decided to set it off. My normal posture apparently is near enough to correct to satisfy the microchip.

Dr. Schnapp contends that using the iPosture will improve your golf game.

“Bad posture has been proven to reduce the reliability of a golfer’s swing, limit clubhead speed, compromise power and cause unnecessary strain. The iPosture is designed to help golfers enhance their game off the course so they’ll play their best on the course.”

Now I need to stick it to my teenage son, who has developed the trademark teenage slouch.

For those with more money than sense (Mr. Woods?), the Garia Luxury Golf Car just might be the Christmas present you’ve been looking for.

From the press release:

The Garia features an in-built refrigerator, hand-stitched seats, and an exclusive personalization program where you can choose to have The Garia painted in your favorite color or matched to your other cars. There is no doubt that you will get the most desirable golf car ever created.

Built to the highest standards of the automotive industry The Garia features a double wishbone front suspension similar to those found in sports cars and inspired by Formula 1 cars. The drive train is built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes. The aluminum profiles in the frame are made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo. Hydraulic brakes on all four wheels with discs in the front and drums at the rear. The Garia is manufactured at the Valmet Automotive factory in Finland, manufacturer of the Porsche Cayman and Porsche Boxster.

Designed by Danish designer Anders Lynge, The Garia follows the renowned Scandinavian tradition of clear-cut and classic lines combined with functionality. The Garia Golf Car is a complete reinvention of the traditional golf car. Unsurpassed in terms of luxury, design and quality, The Garia sets new standards for the golf car industry.

Wow. A golf cart with the pedigree of a Porsche.

Its “only” $17,000.

Of course, with the proponents of global warming running the government, this just might be what we all are reduced to driving in a few years time.

Polaroid CZA-05300B PoGo Instant Digital Camera

I was cruising Amazon for camera equipment and came across this little wonder. It’s a new millennium version of the old Polaroid Land Cameras that were a big part of the lives of anyone of a certain age. Remember holding those things by the edges and flapping them in the air to dry off the film?

This one is a digital camera with a built-in printer that prints 2x3 inch borderless photos. Even better: the photo paper is smudgeproof. You also can peel the photo away from the backing and stick them to things.

Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black)

This may be just a little outside the box, but I think that one of these little, and relatively inexpensive video cameras would make a great Christmas gift for the golfer in your life. Mounted on a Gorillapod, it can be easily attached to a bag and taken to the range (or to the course) for a videotaping of the swing.

That’s LOTS less expensive than one of those private videotape lessons. And every real golfer will be able to analyze their own swing faults, once they’ve seen them in slow motion.

CALLAWAY uPro GO GPS

The new Callaway UPro Go GPS looks to me like the old UPro without the flyover views. The full color device does, however, allow you to measure distances not only to the center of green, but to any point on or around the green complex in GoMode. All of the course downloads in the Basic Mode, with distances to center, front and back of the green are free. GoMode requires a one-time activation fee.

Like all GPS units, however, your utility will vary with the number of courses that you play that are available in the manufacturer’s database, and with how dedicated the manufacturer is to adding new ones.

The Mantys is a one-man cart that’s sort of like a four wheeled Segway. It looks very cool. I want one.

Garmin Approach G5 Golf GPS

The Garmin Approach Golf GPS is a gorgeous looking touchscreen golf GPS that allows you to touch the screen to see the distance to any point on the hole. You can also reposition the flag on the screen to get a better range to the hole. A digital scorecard, with the ability to upload to your computer lets you review scores later.

The best part of the unit is that it comes with thousands of preloaded courses—no subscriptions or individual downloads.

The downside is that—in spite of boasting more than 10,000 courses, quite a few of my favorites weren’t listed.