Serious toys

Cool stuff to make the game faster, easier and more fun

By Mike Stachura

Photos By Jim Herity

April 2007

1. DiXX Digital Instruction Putter

Didn't Rodney whip this out in "Caddyshack"? No, but this digital slide-in device measures swing path, impact position, face angle, swing tempo and stroke speed. By turning the club left or right, you control menus on the LCD screen. Includes a metronome tone, grip sensor and digital data storage. Distributed in the U.S. by Adams Golf.
$1,000 / dixxgolf.com

2. Nokia N93 Golf edition

Think your cell has the works? This one is a phone, video camera, computer and digital camera. You can video your swing and send it to your teacher, who can send back analysis using drawing tools or split-screen displays. You can even view a video lesson. Comes loaded with playing tips and tour-pro swings. Available in the U.S. this summer.
$1,100 (estimate) / nokia.com

3. Suunto G6

A stylish scorekeeping watch (four games to choose from) that logs performance stats, like fairways and greens hit and putting average. The G6 also collects swing data -- tempo, rhythm, backswing length and speed -- with every swing you take. Download the data onto a computer and use Suunto software to analyze stats and track progress.
$449 / suuntosports.com

4. Nintendo Wii

Send the kids to bed early. Nintendo's newest game system offers Wii Sports, where you swing a remote control like a golf club, and the motion is mimicked by a caricature on your TV screen. Swing too hard, or yank it left or right, and you're in virtual bogeyland. A new golf game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, is due out this month.
$250 / nintendo.com