Golf Ball Locator Gadget

[jimmyj2]

Believe I have come up with a viable idea for a golf gadget. Hoping to hear everyone’s two cents as some very initial market research and in turn, pursuing it further if there is a positive response.

 

Would you purchase a device that had an extremely good chance of helping you find your golf ball when you were within say 20/30/40 yards of it? Any golf ball could be used.  I’ve tried the blue glasses in the past with not much luck and have no interest in replacing expensive chipped balls in those products.

 

It’s strictly theory right now, and not sure if the technology will still be too expensive. I’m a 13 index who likes to spray the ball around sometimes and have little patience looking for errant golf balls these days!  Personally I think it’s a great idea and would purchase something that worked in a heartbeat (if it legitimately worked and worked well of course). Would you? What would be your max price?

[setter02]

Maybe take lessons to get better?  If you want to waste money, might as well be on something that could truly benefit you.

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

7 minutes ago, gwelfgulfer said:

Maybe take lessons to get better?  If you want to waste money, might as well be on something that could truly benefit you.

Why would you suggest this here? This is as unproductive as can get. He asked a specific question. 
 

I‘d be interested, but would never buy GPS chipped balls for 18 bucks per ball. If it’s in the water or somewhere I can’t retrieve it from, knowing where it is doesn’t help one bit. 
If your device worked with any ball, there’s a lot of scenarios that this would be helpful in.

150 would be my limit. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by LukeDonaldsTiger

[setter02]

32 minutes ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Why would you suggest this here? This is as unproductive as can get. He asked a specific question. 
 

I‘d be interested, but would never buy GPS chipped balls for 18 bucks per ball. If it’s in the water or somewhere I can’t retrieve it from, knowing where it is doesn’t help one bit. 
If your device worked with any ball, there’s a lot of scenarios that this would be helpful in.

150 would be my limit. 

 

Because the golf industry doesn't need more f'n gadgets that likely don't work as intended.  Likely don't last very long or likely increase the cost to the consumer as you would then have to purchase only equipment affiliated with said gadget (if a chip in ball is the idea).  

 

The idea is to get better at golf not, carry 15 crutches.

[longshanks]

Does it work when gwelfgulfer wonders into your fairway and hits your ball, thinking it’s his?

[jimmyj2]

Not at all helpful gwelfgulfer.  Did you even read the original post where I've addressed the invalid concerns you have brought up?

 

On another note, both as a nice guy to golf with and also an interest in quick play, find myself helping others find their balls often (and adding 1,000's of extra steps in the process), through all index ranges.... 

 

Edited January 23, 2021 by jimmyj2
grammar

[setter02]

1 hour ago, longshanks said:

Does it work when gwelfgulfer wanders into your fairway and hits your ball, thinking it’s his?

 

Fixed the spelling for ya.  One "wonders" how you made it this far 😅

[setter02]

5 minutes ago, jimmyj2 said:

Not at all helpful gwelfgulfer. 

 

 

Just don't 'sink' any of your own money into this!

[Jace_bkr]

3 hours ago, jimmyj2 said:

Would you purchase a device that had an extremely good chance of helping you find your golf ball when you were within say 20/30/40 yards of it?

Am I the only one who finds this comical?? Hell I’ve hit a ball in thick rough and been nearly standing on it before I found it I could get within 60feet of my ball without assistance 🤣

[Davidv]

Great idea and priced below $90.00 or so you would have a winner but I doubt the technology is there to find a golfball without utilizing a chipped ball or one with some special coating on the cover.

. 

[tannyhoban]

I'd be interested in hearing about it. Might keep all 4 looking for a ball to a minimum.  On hazy foggy, days and those with a full sun my eyes off the tee it's tough to find them even when you know it has to be in the fairway.

[5baytjd]

If it was the price of a dozen premium tour balls (~$50) and helped me retrieve most of those (within the newly implemented 3 minute limit), my payback would continue to increase the longer it lasted and the more balls it helped me locate.  If it had a 3 year warranty, then I'd probably go $75 - $90.

Edited January 23, 2021 by 5baytjd

[5baytjd]

3 hours ago, jimmyj2 said:

On another note, both as a nice guy to golf with and also an interest in quick play, find myself helping others find their balls often (and adding 1,000's of extra steps in the process), through all index ranges.... 

Yeah, it's not like the pro's never hit one OB.  Or even in the last couple of charity foursomes, you had Brady and Manning (a couple of "decent" athletes with both time and $ to practice and play) hitting a few off into the wilderness.  And on the last one Phil had one go out and hit a rock & come back into play.  Loved his quip when asked how he knew to hit that rock, "well I do own the place". 🤣

 

So even people with preternatural eye-hand coordination can hit it in the weeds / sagebrush / rocks. Therefor, even WITH all the lessons gwelfgulfer wants us to take, a ball not in the fairway is GONNA happen.

[Kid B]

7 hours ago, gwelfgulfer said:

 

Fixed the spelling for ya.  One "wonders" how you made it this far 😅

“Just get better at golf” ✔️

Complained about a product they would never buy ✔️

Corrected a typo ✔️

 

The rare trifecta

 

[setter02]

3 minutes ago, Kid B said:

“Just get better at golf” ✔️

Complained about a product they would never buy ✔️

Corrected a typo ✔️

 

The rare trifecta

 

 

Did you seriously just make an account to post this...   Wow...

[Gsea]

Call Mark Cuban

[cristphoto]

"Most" of the time I keep the ball in play (0 lost in three rounds so far this year). But it drives me nuts to hit one in the fairway and lose it in the leaves in the Fall. Problem with a device like this is I know my one buddy, who is a ball hawker and never walks down the fairway (always in the tree line) would buy one and take forever to finish a round.  

[L29]

19 hours ago, Jace_bkr said:

Am I the only one who finds this comical?? Hell I’ve hit a ball in thick rough and been nearly standing on it before I found it I could get within 60feet of my ball without assistance 🤣

I think that he means once you’re 20-40 yds from it, it will then kick in and find it for you from there, not that this device would only put you in a 20-40 yd diameter of your ball.

[nvr3putt]

22 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Why would you suggest this here? This is as unproductive as can get. He asked a specific question. 
 

I‘d be interested, but would never buy GPS chipped balls for 18 bucks per ball. If it’s in the water or somewhere I can’t retrieve it from, knowing where it is doesn’t help one bit. 
If your device worked with any ball, there’s a lot of scenarios that this would be helpful in.

150 would be my limit. 

But if someone picked up your GPS ball you could track them down...anywhere! 😆

[lefthack]

I made the mistake of buying too many balls, and now I really don't mind losing at least a few per round.

[2bGood]

19 hours ago, Davidv said:

Great idea and priced below $90.00 or so you would have a winner but I doubt the technology is there to find a golfball without utilizing a chipped ball or one with some special coating on the cover.

. 

Pretty simple really - expose your golf balls to radioactive isotopes and then use a Geiger Counter to locate your ball. If you carry your golf ball in your pocket it can double as an effective means of brith control.

 

[2bGood]

OP some food for thought about your target market.

 

The majority of golfers don't have a handicap and don't follow the rules of golf. This group also plays a limited number of rounds per year and are much more likely to buy a ball based on value and may care much less about finding $0.50 ball they bought at the side of the road. (this group is large but only plays a few times per year)

 

The majority of rounds played and balls purchased are by golfers that do have a handicap and attempt to follow the rules. (smaller group of golfer but they play way more rounds) This group is buying more expensive balls, but may care about finding their ball to help their score more than to save the cost of the ball. For this group your device will need to be approved under the rules of golf. I suspect this would actually not be an issue as the equipment rules already allow for microchip to be in the ball for identification purposes, but it is one more step to take before you come to market.

 

[Abh159]

My two cents and this is just one man's opinion... but something like this wouldn't really interest me. Maybe it's because my club doesn't have a ton of wooded areas or tall grass so if I do happen to lose a ball it's typically going to be in the water and I'm not getting that back regardless of whether I know the location or not. 

 

I would have to think something like this would be priced in the $200+ range. Even if I did happen to lose lets say 1 or 2 premium balls every now and then it would take some time to recoup that money in recovered balls.

 

Also, if you're bringing something like this to market you better be sure it works 99% of the time. Just like nobody wants a rangefinder that is +/-5 yards no one wants a "ball finder" that only works half the time. 

[krtgolfing]

On 1/23/2021 at 1:01 PM, gwelfgulfer said:

 

Because the golf industry doesn't need more f'n gadgets that likely don't work as intended.  Likely don't last very long or likely increase the cost to the consumer as you would then have to purchase only equipment affiliated with said gadget (if a chip in ball is the idea).  

 

The idea is to get better at golf not, carry 15 crutches.

 

Even PGA players spray the ball occasionally...

[setter02]

37 minutes ago, krtgolfing said:

 

Even PGA players spray the ball occasionally...

 

And?

[JDIL]

If it can be used on any golf ball, not special ones, it would be helpful. Playing Torrey Pines in the fall is such a PITA because you will lose your ball even if you exactly where it lands. So much so local rules  give you a free drop if you can't find it after a minute. We're talking 5 yards off their sometimes narrow fairways.

 

Would cut down those search and rescue parties.

[MattM97]

I'm just curious how it would pick out your specific ball vs say 25 others in the same area of tall grass. Does it mark the ball with something? Or do you have some other tech idea your working on?

 

Honest question, not trying to dump on ya. 

[hometeamdawg]

Two points:

 

1) Would it speed up play?  If yes, I’m in.

 

2) If I invented a car than ran clean and efficiently on saltwater, would the petroleum industry make sure I disappeared?  
Would the golf ball industry make you disappear?

Just kidding...I think.

[RSinSG]

10 hours ago, gwelfgulfer said:

 

And?

 

[setter02]

3 minutes ago, RSinSG said:

 

 

New here?