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Invisible
Club Guard Test and Review June / 2002
While
the GolfTest USA staff was perusing the never-ending aisles
of golf products at the PGA Golf Show in January of this
year we came across a product that was of strong interest
to us. We test several hundred drivers a year. During the
testing process each club invariably takes quite a beating
and shows the signs of over 1000 shots on the driving range.
The majority of the equipment we test is subsequently donated
to youth golf programs so we want the equipment to be in
good condition when we are through testing. We have tried
putting tape on the heads of the drivers but this has not
been very effective and is disconcerting to the golfers
during testing.
We contacted
Invisible Club Guard (ICG) and asked them to provide us
with a supply of their product. They agreed and sent us
everything that we needed to install the product on our
test drivers. ICG is designed to prevent scuffmarks and
damage to the top surface of woods. ICG is a clear, protective
coating that stretches over the top surface of a club, protecting
it from dings, scratches and scuffs. We watched a videotape
that explains the installation steps needed to insure that
ICG is properly installed. There is a technique that needs
to be developed to become proficient at installing it so
that it is smooth and bubble free. It took us about ten
drivers before we could feel that we were competent at installing
the ICG to get the desired final appearance. We found that
the product performs exactly as stated in their promotional
brochure.
After
testing several hundred clubs with the ICG installed we
had no clubs that showed any signs of scratches, scuffs
or wear where the ICG covered the top of the club. We found
that we could remove the ICG if we wanted to after testing
was complete (though this is not necessary) and the top
of the driver looked as good as new.
This
is a product that we believe should be offered at all golf
stores and pro shops whenever a new driver or fairway wood
is purchased as an option to the golfer who wants to maintain
their clubs in a like new condition. Golf courses would
also be wise to use this product on all their rental clubs
to protect their appearance and pro shops could protect
the investment they have in their demo clubs that they loan
out to golfers. This in not a product that the average golfer
should consider installing themselves as we found out it
takes 10 or 15 installations before one feels comfortable
at insuring that it is installed properly. We are told by
the manufacturer that the cost per club is typically in
the $10 to $15 range retail when installed by an experienced
individual (the wholesale cost for material is considerably
less) and we feel that most golfers, pro shops and golf
courses will find this to be an excellent investment considering
the current cost of golf clubs.
GolfTest
USA rates the Invisible Club Guard an EAGLE.
For
more information contact Invisible Club Guard at 208 667
6611 or go online to www.invisibleclubguard.com.
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