Not long ago, I shared a list of eight golf technologies that failed.
Today, I’m adding six more.
Unlike my original list, not everything here should be considered a total failure. A few of the things I’ve included are almost universally remembered fondly while the last item on this list was the industry-standard for nearly 60 years.
Nevertheless, you won’t find anything here sitting on a pro shop wall or shelf near you. If you do, it’s definitely not wrapped in the original factory plastic.
TaylorMade Bubble Shaft
Inarguably the most glaring omission for the original list was the TaylorMade Bubble shaft. Remembered fondly by many, TaylorMade’s unique shaft design featured a butt section that was so wide, Sir Mix-A-Lot blushes at the thought of it.
The Bubble Shaft design sought to increase launch and improve stability. Maybe it worked but changing grips was a nightmare. As shaft technologies advanced, the Bubble shaft was rendered rightfully obsolete.
Callaway Gravity Core
To the best of my recollection, the Gravity Core was a mass adjustability feature baked into just a couple of Callaway models including the Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond Driver.
(Side note: There is absolutely no way that somebody on Callaway’s marketing team isn’t getting paid by the letter.)
Anyway, while the Gravity Core worked insomuch as tweaking launch and spin were concerned, the center placement of mass was pooh-poohed by the industry as a whole for fundamentally bad design.
Frankly, raising the center of gravity without getting a measurable MOI bump for your trouble is kind of silly.
Callaway quickly moved on, although you can still find them on CallawayGolfPreowned.
OnCore Metal Core Golf Balls
We’ve been impressed by several OnCore golf balls but their original metal core golf ball wasn’t one of them.
The spin on hollow metal core technology was that it pushed weighted to the perimeter, increasing the inertia of the ball – ultimately reducing what’s often called side spin. The result was purportedly straighter shots but also an unpleasant feeling at impact unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
For what it’s worth, I was told that when OnCore tested the ball side by side against the Pro V1, golfers couldn’t tell the difference.
I should mention the testers were wearing earmuffs.
True story.
Air Force One Nitrogen Drivers
Powerbilt golf is one of those brands that’s perpetually under new management but in the early 2010s, the company had a run of cult success with its nitrogen-charged AirForce One Drivers.
While we can’t say it was the nitrogen, the drivers were strong performers for several years running. In 2016, Air Force One and PowerBilt split up and I haven’t heard a word about nitrogen since.
I’d be up for a comeback.
Odyssey Red Ball Putter
I swear I’m not trying to pick on Callaway today. In fact, I had forgotten that Red Ball putters existed.
Hmm, I guess that doesn’t make it any better.
Anyway, the Red Ball putter was a mallet that featured a Red Ball Alignment Scope. We’re talking about a viewfinder of sorts meant to help the golfer properly align their eyes over the golf ball.
Frankly, I kinda liked it.
Even if Red Ball wasn’t the worst idea, there probably isn’t one approach to alignment that works for every golfer. That said, we’re talking about a 2018 release so the book may not be entirely closed on this one.
We’ll see.
Atti Dimple Pattern
Even if you don’t know you know the Atti golf ball dimple pattern, you probably know the Atti dimple pattern. Covering 66 percent of the available surface area, it was used on basically every golf ball made from the early 1900s until 1970.
As golf ball manufacturers started to better understand aerodynamic optimization, the Atti pattern faded away, although I still find them in the woods every now and again.
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