Review of the Final Episode of “Fore Inventors Only” on The Golf Channel – Good Show, Ridiculous Results

The final episode began with 5 finalists… the Club Glider travel bag, the Club Caddie club stand, the ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder and software, Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine, and the HillShot Golf uneven lie practice platform.

Last week I predicted that the winner would be either the ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder system or the Club Glider travel bag. So let’s see if I was right…

The grand finale was hosted by Rich Lerner and George Lopez, and featured The Golf Channel’s panel of experts including Bill Harmon, Stina Sternberg, and Fulton Allem.

The hosts quickly introduced the finalists by name and product. First, the oddest finalist David Jones and his Club Caddie club stand were introduced. Next, Marcus and Tim with their snappy outfits and ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder and analysis system were introduced. Then came the father-daughter team of Larry and Brandi Koch with their HillShot Golf uneven lie practice platform. Next came the GolfSmith president’s favorite pick… Gary Sherrell’s Club Glider travel bag. Lastly, the hosts introduced Dean Thompson and his Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine.

The hosts then reviewed a few of the more ridiculous inventions entered in the competition. George did make a few funny comments including one about “The Villages… Florida’s Friendliest Home Town.”

Then the audience got to review each invention’s 60 second commercial. It was pretty interesting to see the final polished commercials. I realized something odd as I watched the commercials… somehow commercials that incorporate voiceover speakers with accents sound much more authoritative (ie the HillShot Golf commercial). I think I might start speaking with a fake accent.

All of the commercials were good, but the Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine really stood out and left me thinking that it was a great product.

Next, the voting officially closed and the viewers were introduced to the inventors’ families. You know… those cheesy tug at the heartstrings type of moments. Priceless.

Back to the competition… the elimination process began.

The first invention eliminated was the ProPlay GPS portable swing video recorder and analysis system. What a surprise, I would have bet that they would have been one of the final two inventions.

The second invention eliminated was the Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine. Come on… now I am starting to think that the voting is fixed. Is America telling us that the HillShot Golf and the Club Caddie are better inventions than ProPlay GPS and Z-Factor? Please!

The third invention eliminated was the Club Glider travel bag. Now this is ridiculous… the best 3 inventions are the first 3 eliminated. Did the GolfSmith president’s exemption to the Club Glider mean nothing? What is America thinking? (maybe a joke)

 

At this point in the show I bet the GolfSmith president was praying that his stores were not going to have to carry that huge HillShot Golf platform device.

 

And the winner is… David Jones and his Club Caddie club stand. Absolutely amazing. Mindblowing. Obviously I have not been a huge fan of the Club Caddie, but congratulations to David Jones are in order nonetheless. Good job and best of luck to you.

 

At least the Club Caddie is an impulse purchase type of product that GolfSmith can sell… but as a patent lawyer I must ask… how difficult will it be for Austads, TGW, or any other GolfSmith competitor to have a virtually identical product on their shelves tomorrow? Unfortunately for GolfSmith, the answer is that it would not be difficult at all, in fact it would be a piece of cake (which is not the case for the ProPlay GPS device, the Z-Factor Perfect Putting Machine, and the Club Glider).

 

I never thought I would say this, but the show would have been better off with Bill, Stina, and Fulton selecting the winner.

 

Congratulations to The Golf Channel on a great show (with a bad result)! I can’t wait for season II.

 

David Dawsey – The Golf Invention Attorney

 

PS – check out my review of the first episode here, the second episode here, the third episode here, the fourth episode here, the fifth episode here, the sixth episode here, and the seventh episode here.

 

PPS – Don’t forget… The Golf Channel is currently accepting applications for the second season of Fore Inventors Only.

 

PPS – now the disclaimer… the opinions above are not legal opinions and are not supported by any research!