Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Since everything is funner when it’s a competition, you can now get a Hacky Sack with a built-in counter to keep track of how many times it’s been kicked into the air. Except that since the term Hacky Sack appears to be a trademark currently owned by Wham-O, you’ll have to settle for referring to this as a ‘Football Keepy Uppy.’ Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?

And besides keeping track of the number of kicks, there’s also a timer to keep track of how long it’s been in motion I assume, and a high score function in case you ever forget who’s the king of the ‘Football Keepy Uppy.’ (I’ll never get used to saying/typing that.) ~$20 from The Random Shop.

[ Football Keepy Uppy Counter ] VIA [ I New Idea Homepage ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If dropping $200 on a Wii plus another $40 or so on a miniature golf game still doesn’t satisfy your virtual putt-putt needs, I’m afraid the next step up is a big one. This Video Arcade Miniature Golf Game available from Hammacher Schlemmer uses real golf putters and balls, but the actual courses and obstacles are virtual and only appear on the 32-inch vertically mounted LCD display.

You putt the ball with the club just like you’d do in real miniature golf, but after it passes below the screen its position and trajectory is calculated and transferred to the in-game ball, where it continues on its course. Sound effects and annoying music are provided by a set of three speakers, and there’s an automatic ball return for added convenience. It will set you back a whopping $6,900, but that includes “White Glove delivery” which sounds like it would make the investment totally worthwhile.

[ Video Arcade Miniature Golf Game ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’re looking to take your golf game beyond that tricky windmill hole, the X-Force Swing Trainer from Callaway Golf is designed to help you develop “the feel for the pendulum sensation of a proper golf swing” since the club is about twice as heavy as a standard driver. So not only do you develop muscle tone while swinging the club on a regular basis, but the extra weight also makes this club particularly effective for dealing with rats, snitches or anyone who owes you money. The X-Force trainer also has an ‘impact feature’ which simulates the feeling of a ball strike, and is available from Dick’s for $119.99.

[ Callaway Golf X-Force Swing Trainer ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

According to a recent article on the New York Times website, getting hit in the head with a baseball traveling at a ‘mere’ 32 MPH will result in a skull fracture every time. So you’d expect that major league ball players would want the utmost protection for their heads when they step up to bat, like the new S100 helmet from Rawlings which can protect an athlete’s head from a 100MPH pitch thrown from just 24 inches away. But surprisingly when the helmet was shown to some MLB players they scoffed at the new design citing concerns that the extra padding was too bulky and too geeky-looking… Seriously?

[ NYTimes.com - Safer Batting Helmet Draws Resistance From Some Players ] VIA [ Popular Science ]

By Andrew Liszewski

In the olden days, bicycle dynamos were really only used to power safety lighting on a bike. But in these modern times a cyclist can be using everything from a GPS device to a cellphone to an MP3 player while they’re out for a ride. So the PedalPower+ system safely harnesses the power generated by an AC dynamo and turns it into a safe DC source where the current is regulated and the voltage is consistent enough for electronic devices to be recharged.

The PedalPowerr+ system uses either a bottle dynamo (pictured above) which is relatively easy to install, or a hub dynamo which will probably require the assistance of a bike shop since it requires a re-spoking. But it’s flexible and modular enough that it can also be adapted to a pre-existing hub generator if your bike is already equipped for power. And during the times when you’re not riding, the battery charging unit can be easily removed and used to trickle charge your gear until your next ride, or until the battery is depleted.

[ PedalPower+ ] VIA [ Gizmag ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The BMX bike’s heyday may have ended back in the 80’s, but Rintendo has found a way to make me want one again. They’re currently selling this little contraption known as the Fire Trick Bob which appears to be an actual rocket-powered bicycle. According to their site (Google translation) the turbine engine spins at a rate of 120,000 RPM and produces the equivalent of 4.4 horsepower. The 1 liter fuel tank is good for about 7 minutes of continual thrust, and you’ll probably want to be careful about where you’re riding this thing since the exhaust can reach about 700 degrees. So is it dangerous? Yes. But is it worth 1,000,000 Yen or about $10,000? Double yes!

[ Fire Trick Bob ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Everything I know about golf I learned from the movie Caddy Shack, so while inclement weather can possibly lead to the best round of your life, there’s also the very real chance of something terrible happening while wandering around with what is essentially a bag full of lightning rods. So before you head out on the links, you’ll want to make sure the weather’s going to play nice for 18 holes, and that’s where the Bushnell Golf FXi enters the picture. It receives constant weather updates for over 16,000 golf courses in the U.S. via a wireless USB transmitter attached to an internet-equipped PC, and displays them on its monochrome LCD.

The weather data itself is provided by AccuWeather.com and includes everything from current, RealFeel and forecasted high and low temps, morning, afternoon and evening forecasts for up to 3 days, the UV index and even wind speed and direction. And as an added touch, the backlight on the display changes color to reflect the current temperature of your selected course so you can easily get an idea of the conditions at a quick glance. It’s a nice gift idea for a golf nut I suppose, but for $124.99 it’s kind of an expensive unitasker.

[ Bushnell Golf FXi Weather Forecaster ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Because there’s nothing more embarrassing than heading out on the slopes with a pair of headphones that don’t match your goggles, Dragon Alliance and Skullcandy have teamed up for the DX Skullcandy/Ionized snow goggles. They’re helmet compatible, feature an anti-fog lens, micro fleece lining and 100% UV protection, and from what I can tell may or may not come in 3 different designs. And even though it may not be snowing where you live, you can still order a pair from Zappos for $132 and be prepared for when the white stuff eventually starts to fall again.

[ DX Skullcandy/Ionized Snow Goggles ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Taking a cue from Homer Simpson’s ’speed holes’ Reebok has developed a new bat with something they call O-Technology, which is basically a set of 3 aerodynamic holes drilled into the shaft. The Vector O Bat was designed using computer models and simulations to reduce drag and increase swing speed, which in turn equals more distance on a ball or less force needed to encourage someone to pay back a loan. The Vector O Bat also features Reebok’s “Thread Locking System Connection Technology System” (that’s a direct quote, a system so nice they named it twice!) which results in an extremely stiff piece of lumber err… I mean VR950 Alloy/Composite Performance Matrix. But with a price tag of $279 it’s probably best suited to professional ball players and loan sharks.

[ Reebok Vector O Bat ] VIA [ Uncrate ]