Drivers

MYGOLFSPY LABS! – Performance Enhancing Lube “MYTH”

BY MyGolfSpy
Dec 30th 2011
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EVER HEARD OF THIS “GOLF MYTH”?

Have you ever heard the “golf myth”…that if you squirt some Vasoline™ or spray some good ‘ol fashioned PAM™ cooking oil on your driver face that it will virtually eliminate your slice or hook? We’ve heard it for years…and so have all the big-stake money players across the world. Yeah…next time you are playing for some major coinage…make sure to check the other guys driver faces for the special sauce….you might be in for a surprise. You might also be surprised to know that allegedly it still goes on during events on the PGA Tour.

Problem is….as far as I know no one has ever put this myth to an “official” test to see if it actually works. And if so what other aspects if any does it effect.

Well…inside the “MyGolfSpy Labs” we are here to uncover the truth behind popular golf myths like this by combining pure curiosity with scientific method.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO BECOME 37% MORE ACCURATE OFF THE TEE?

How far would you go to become 37% more accurate off the tee? Would you spend $500 on a driver that gave you those type of results. How much would you spend on lessons if it guaranteed you would hit 5-6 more fairways a round? Most golfers would and have spent thousands of dollars since taking up the sport on products that they hoped would give them these type of results…unfortunately they rarely if ever do. Well…if you don’t mind the product being non-conforming we found something that can not only do it but can do it a LOT cheaper than you might think.

There are two types of golfers…those that are stickler for the rules and those that play just to have fun…and oh yeah those that play for money. And today’s edition of “MyGolfSpy Labs” is likely going to fit the guy that is playing to have more fun on the course and is not as concerned with Rule 4-2b.

PUTTING THE MYTH TO THE TEST!

A few weeks ago I ran across a product on the web called NoSlice. I had heard similar slogans and claims before…ones like, “Try our product and eliminate your slice & hook!” or “Our product is revolutionary!”. So why I decided to post anything about it in the MGS forum is just as much of a mystery to me today as it was a few weeks ago. But for some reason I did. And I’m glad I did…because the MGS readers gave me a great idea.

Why not put this product to a test against the products that were always being talked about by so many golfers in the popular myth. But before I could pick up the phone to contact the company…they had already contacted us. They had seen our post in the forum and wanted to know if we would like to review their product. I told them we would be interested but only if we could test it head-to-head against other similar products. And to my surprise they were confident enough to have us put it to the ultimate test. Not many companies in this industry are up for those type of challenges…so Kudos to the crew over at NoSlice.

WHICH PRODUCTS WERE TESTED:

When it came to choosing which substances we would select for our {MYGOLFSPY LABS! – Performance Enhancing Lube “MYTH”} testing we went with the ones that tended to be most popular regarding the myth. The ones most often spoke about when referring to using substances on the face of their drivers to correct a hook or a slice were:

PAM™ Cooking Spray
Butter (typical stick of butter)
NoSlice (new material that claims to give improved accuracy and distance)

* You might be thinking…as did we…that this product looks a lot like your standard petroleum jelly. We wanted to make sure that the company was not simply using a product you could get for a buck at your local dollar store and re-labeling it. So we got the secret ingredients from the company and while we can’t give them out we can say that there is more then just petroleum jelly used in the secret sauce for the NoSlice product.

TESTING PROCEDURE:

Our testing was done with 3 golfers. Each tester would select a driver that they used for each test. They were then asked to hit 40 shots with the driver they chose before starting the test.

10 shots with a clean (control) driver
10 shots with butter on the face
10 shots with PAM on the face
10 shots with NoSlice on the face.

After each non-control swing, the driver face was wiped clean and the substance was re-applied. All shots were measured on a launch monitor and the worst two shots from each group were dropped. The order of the substances was changed for each golfer.

Our testing group included: one slicer, one hooker, and one accurate driver.

TESTING NOTES:

While I know most people are interested in where the ball lands, I think it should be emphasized that the measure of these products’ effectiveness is really in the spin numbers.

Golfer 2 swung very consistently throughout, probably the best measure of the products’ effectiveness.
Golfer 1 swung his best with butter, Golfer 3 swung his best with No Slice.
NoSlice forgave two really big mistakes for Golfer 1. On two of his swings, he immediately said, “Delete that” and the results were actually good enough to be counted.
As far as applying the substance, NoSlice is a clear winner: it’s not messy and the applicator keeps the stuff off your fingers. Also, the case is easy to throw in your bag without worrying about spilling or leaking. No Slice also has designed a magnetic headcover that will avoid wiping the NoSlice off the driver face.

* Random side note when using NoSlice or Butter: it acts like impact tape if you reapply after every swing.

In some cases spin was reduced too much and actually hurt overall distance. But for the market that this product is for they are generally more concerned with not losing a dozen balls a round than losing a few yards in distance.
Although for the golfer that has a consistent hook or slice or a golfer that fights either one all three products worked well.

TESTING RESULTS:

Surprisingly…all of the products showed an ability to both reduce back spin and side spin and also improve accuracy, but NoSlice was the most effective….and most user-friendly. As you can see NoSlice won every category. NoSlice reduced backspin by 56%, sidespin by a whopping 78% and also improved accuracy by 37%! But butter (yes, butter) wasn’t so bad itself…its numbers were actually very similar…but when it comes down to on course use…butter might be a little messy…especially on those hot summer days.

Obviously not a product for the competitive player, but for players looking to have more fun on the course or stop losing balls by the dozen, this truly is a winner. And the majority of golfers are actually the ones looking to have fun and not play in competition…last time I checked the average golf score for a man on a 18-hole course was 97. So there are PLENTY of golfers who might want to think about adding one of these foreign substances to their bag now that we have put them to the test and confirmed that they DO indeed work.

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comments

Join The Discussion

Keva Silvia

9 years ago

Helpful piece ! I was enlightened by the details , Does someone know if my business might be able to get a fillable a form document to work with ?

grip&rip

10 years ago

There is no doubt in my mind that NoSlice works. I can say this because anything applied to the face of a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid that reduce friction between the golf ball and the face of the driver will alter the natural flight of the ball depending upon the type of spin that was applied. All golfers know, that if you strike the ball with the club face open you will impart a spin on the ball which produces a fade or slice depending upon the amount of side spin achieved. The same holds true for a draw or hook. Simply close the face of the club and change the direction of the spin opposite that for a fade or slice. Side spin relative to the way the club face strikes the ball will produce the desired affect. Simple physics. If you want to hit the ball straight, you have to eliminate side spine. This is what products like NoSlice, vasoline, pam, or chapstic achieve. They eliminate the affect of friction imparted on the ball when the club face strikes the ball in any other way than straight on. No side spine, no slice or hook. I know that it works because when I practice I sometimes use vasoline on my driver to give feedback on where the ball struck the club head. It always goes straight, regardless of my swing path. If I come over the top, I pull the ball straight to the left. If I come to far from the inside, I push the ball straight to the right. Regardless of whether I pushed the ball or pulled it, the ball still went straight when using vasoline. No side spin was transferred to the ball from the head of the driver, therefore no hook or slice.

NoSlice, vasoline, pam, or chapstick will not fix a bad swing, but it will reduce side spin leading to unwanted hooking and slicing when the club head strikes the golf ball anywhere less than straight on.

zoe glass

10 years ago

Has anyone heard of “Power Straight”? Does it also work to cure slices?

zoe

labillyboy

10 years ago

I could have saved you the effort… I’ve used Vaseline for years when goofing around for long drive bets… Never when actually playing a tournament round though. It definitely works.

BiteIt

10 years ago

Vaseline is superior. Works well with any club. If you ask if you should use it on your putter – please apply some to your butt 1st so that your brain can soften up.

KY – Jelly works too – not as greasy.

Lip Balm. yup – works.

For guys like Muggsy who think they are the bastion of Golf rules – it’s people like this that destroy the game. Of course, his response will about cheating and usual BS so if you are that stiff Muggsy you should be playing by the rules of the game as they were when the game was 1st invented.

Golf has modified the rules over and over to account for changes in the game.

Besides, people can play any version of the game they wish and if you believe it’s trashing the name of “Golf” then call it something different so Muggsy isn’t all over him/herself.

Jan Peulen

10 years ago

I am probably the most useless golf player on the southern hemisphere but I like the game and I use even golf balls with a chip built in to find them easier.

My question is, I play with Adams hybrids A70S , would NOSLICE also work on the irons/hybrids?
How long does a tube of NOSLICE stay fresh/usable?

Great articles you produce.

Jan Peulen

10 years ago

Which one is the real website of NOSLICE?

Marshall

11 years ago

In case anyone needs/wants this product (no, I am not affiliated in any way)
noslicestore.com is not valid
noslicegolf.com is the Web site
Hit ’em straight!
-Marshall

Walt

12 years ago

Most everyone is correct in some way. For the beginners, we old timers should always remember that the wonderful game of golf is filled with too many toos– too costly to learn, too costly to play, takes too much time to play a round– and mainly, too difficult to learn. If we don’t make it easier for new players (who are in a pre-tournament mode) to learn the game and receive positive reinforcement at an early stage in their playing career, then they quit. Fewer future players mean fewer golf courses, less maintenance, less everything. Solution?– let them make a choice to use any technique to make game more rewarding- tell them what is legal and not- make sure they know that they can’t use illegal materials when they want to compete– in short, lighten up, put matter in perspective. Thx for the Forum- Walt J

Michael Rees

12 years ago

I’ve just stumbled across this test having just joined mygolfspy. This is fascinating and simple and the results are amazing….

Great work!

Noslicestore

12 years ago

Dear Mygolfspy users,

Even after many months it is impressing to see this Mygolfspy Labs article still getting new comments !

We must say that when we created Noslice, we were 100% aware that the product would divide golfers in two groups but we decided to move forward with the project because as MGS wrote in their article (and explained in other words by some users like Doc recently), Noslice golf club coating as been designed for non-professional golfers looking to enjoy even more their golf game.

Noslice founders are golf players from generation to generation and we respect the game and it’s traditions. BUT looking at a golf player with a recurrent slice or hook and seeing a huge smile in is face after hitting a straight drive in the fairway; it makes our day !

Thanks and enjoy your golf !

tiger168

12 years ago

LOL…

Love the article, not for the serious golfer or not for those golfer without humor or humanity.

Love to get those duffers onto this web site once a while, no harm if they don’t play competitively. There is no “cheat” in “fun” !!!

Thanks for making golf FUN!

Doc

12 years ago

Lee Trevino was notorious for leaving his wedges out in the rain (just the club head) so it would rust in the grooves. Look it up. Isn’t that cheating by the technical terms???????????
Doc

DogBreath

12 years ago

Howsabout looking at the opposite side of this slippery question? How many of you have wedges made of high carbon steel on the assumption that that the inevitable rust will help you spin a shot back on the green? For that matter, how many of you ever clean your clubs at all?

Doc

13 years ago

Well Kurt46, it may work. I have no idea but you can really see what’d happen? Who wants to be called a club licker? Not me? LOL Just having fun on this one post so don’t everyone go nuts and. Just funning.
Doc

Kurt46

13 years ago

Not sure if any one else has asked this question as there was to many to read through, but i have been told wiping saliva on your driver on your club face has similar effects, maybe not as effective, anyway I was just wondering if this against the rules?

Doc

13 years ago

Hey, Shivas Irons,
You like the things that help your game even if the majority of the ‘pure golfers’ from decades ago do not believe in hot balls, adjustable drivers because you can’t hit it straight, and range finders. What the H? Don’t your courses have yardage markers on them at the 100 and 150?
Every one I have been on do. They even have a monument on the tee that gives you the total distance of the hole. Why do you need a range finder, you old as me?
Yep, you cheat, but you don’t call it cheating because you feel they are in the regs of the game.
In fact I have never seen a PRO use a range finder on a course, why do you? And if you have I’d bet it was once in a million. I’m talking about a REAL PRO. One of the 287 or so touring pros, not some golf shop pro that is not in the hunt. My hat is off to him for achieving his PGA card but he’d never make a cut on a major. Heck, Woods misses cuts, Rory misses cuts, any of you as good as they are?
Doc
Doc

Sean

8 years ago

Pros do use range finders. They go out and play practice rounds on the course they’re about to compete on. The caddies write down yardages and slopes from all sorts of angles and distances. Range finders without slope are perfectly tournament legal anyway. This stuff on the driver face really helps though. I’m a 7 handicap and before I discovered this stuff I was like a 30 handicap with a banana slice. I used it on my driver for about 6 months and it gave me confidence with it. Now I don’t use it anymore and I can hit controlled(ish) draws and fades with my driver. There’s no shame in using it. I got caught smearing it on my club face before and I didn’t give a s**t. It makes golf so much more enjoyable playing out of the fairway. Until someone starts paying me to play golf I’m not gonna follow the rules to the T. Happy golfing everyone!!!

Doc

13 years ago

Can’t argue with Muggsy. Golf is a game of rules. It’s a fact that all those handicap carrying wanna be’ are the biggest violators of the rules. It’s suggested that not more than 1 in 100 golfers with handicaps under 10 play a round entirely by USGA rules. Somewhere, on maybe only one hole, the ball moves, they sole their club and then take longer than allowed to hit the ball, they wander in the rough and forests trying to find a ball way longer than the rules allow, they don’t put out the 6 inch puts, they take mulligans, they don’t count whiffs or skull’s or shanks but put another ball down and give it another go.

Lee Trevino said it best.
Lots of people play golf but less than 1 percent do it by the USGA rules like the pros do.
Give me any weekend golfer that claims to shoot scratch golf and I’ll take him out on a PGA course, have him play by the rules, and if he shot mid to low 80’s, I’d be surprised.

Golf is supposed to be fun for Pete’s sake! You play the game by yourself and against yourself, it’s not a team sport and was never set up to be a team sport. It’s an individual sport like singles in tennis.

I am old. Can’t hit the ball like those youngsters that claim to knock it 300 yards. I hit it straight down the middle 200, may be 220 yards and take a mid iron to approach the green. If I have to also chip or pitch and then one or two put, heck, I’ve shot bogie golf or better for the round and that makes me happy. I did it. No one else did it for me. I also use 25 plus year old clubs, MacGregor CG 1800’s. Not these new super sized drivers or irons with tricks built into them. If today’s golfers had to shoot with the 70’s gear they’d be depressed walking up to the 18th hole. Golf has changed. The ‘cheating’ is in creating balls that fly too far for the courses; clubs that are almost entirely sweet spots; hybrids, etc etc. This is not golf in my opinion based on the history of golf and the great era of golf from the 40’s through the 80’s.
But that’s what they play today.
I just enjoy the game and that’s what I’m out on the course for at 61.
Ya’ll lighten up. It’s a game.
Doc

mike chirco

10 years ago

coppertone sports spray on driver,3wood or hybrids works well for a complete round and it’s cheaper

Muggsy

13 years ago

You can smear anything you like on the face of your club, just don’t try to tell me that you’re playing golf. Golf is a game of rules and should be played with integrity. So roll your ball in the fairway, employ your foot wedge and tell all your friends that you shot 85. You’re only kidding yourselves.

Dan Talboy

13 years ago

I heard of this trick before, what I use is simple lip balm, for chapped lips, also very handy to use.

neagle

13 years ago

OMG To all you pros out there please go away. For all of you that are hell bent on the rules of golf I bet that you have broken them at one point or another, and if you say no, you are no doubt lying. Most of us just want to go out, have fun, spend time with friends and maybe drink a beer. We don’t care if someone takes a drop or a second tee shot on the first tee. And none of us take more then double par.
So I guess all you PROS better not come play with us because we have all removed the sticks from our butts and try to have fun. And I don’t think this is promoting cheating, things like this have been around since the begining of golf.

John

13 years ago

Get off your high horses dudes=most golfers will lose substantial distance off the tee with such low spin rates-rather hit a wedge in from the side than a 3 wood from the middle of the fairway any day-odds are you will be behind far less trees than the number of greens you will miss thrashing a 3 wood off every fairway!!Not to mention the wedge will stop with no goo on the face but it sure as hell wont with butter or whatever smeared on the ball from your tee shot!! Give the MGS guys a break they do a great and entertaining job and they sure as hell don’t promote cheating in any form!!! My 2c worth!

Muggsy

13 years ago

Cheating can be rationalized in numerous ways, but it’s still cheating. I learned how to work a ball or hit it straight without resorting to products that violate the rules of golf. Golf Spy should be ashamed of promoting cheating on any level.

Bill

13 years ago

Great…just what the golf world needs…..a website that promotes cheating !
No thanks!

mygolfspy

13 years ago

You call it promoting cheating we call it testing a myth our readers ask us to do. Also you might not have seen this in the article but we did say:

“There are two types of golfers…those that are stickler for the rules and those that play just to have fun…and oh yeah those that play for money. And today’s edition of “MyGolfSpy Labs” is likely going to fit the guy that is playing to have more fun on the course and is not as concerned with Rule 4-2b.”

Doc

13 years ago

Look you Pro wanna be’s,
I’m 60, 3 herniated discs, right knee bone to bone, left knee 20 percent left. My injuries were from working hard all my life so I could retire. I did so in 2003. Now I can’t hit the ball without great pain and I’m not into drugs to relieve the pain. I still deserve the opportunity to play.
If I want to go out and play a round of golf, by myself, with a family member, with friends or whatever, FOR FUN, and don’t want to wander all over the golf course worsening my knees and hurting my back, then if something like this will keep me in the fairway on those stupid tee shots that YES WE ALL MAKE, then its okay with me, FOR ME TO USE IT. I’ve never heard of such a thing but will look into the product FOR MY OWN PLEASURE OF THE GAME and nothing else.
Wait till you are 60, see if you’ve been retired for 9 years or if you are still struggling to make a decent living. I was blessed. Now I’m banged up. But I deserve to play a PRIVATE ROUND OF GOLF and ENJOY IT MY WAY!
You wanna be Pros are never going to reach the heights you think you will or claim you already have so why not enjoy the game for a change and quit judging people for playing the game their way, FOR FUN!
Sheese! I think I’m writing to a bunch of kindergarteners.
Doc

Denny

13 years ago

Great Post Doc. Agree with every word you typed.
Some of these folks must be horrible people to play with on Saturday morning. Sheesh, it’s supposed to be FUN.

Ryan

13 years ago

Where was the vasoline and chapstick?

Sirslicealot

13 years ago

I had never heard of folks using butter, or Pam. Vaseline and chapstick are what I thought were the cheaters substance of choice. The substance I have pondered would be most effective, would be Teflon based,but getting Teflon to adhere to anything is always the challenge. A previous poster’s research seems to bear out that it is the most effective spin reducer. What I would like to see No Slice compared to is: Chapstick, Vaseline, and a Teflon product like DuPont Non-stick Dry-film lubricant . Also, as many drivers have milled faces (Cobra drivers spring to mind), and you can actually feel the ultra fine milling lines with your fingers, which has to have an abrasive quality on the ball (adding spin). I would like to see the affect of polishing the face withe jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel until it has a mirror like finish. This would also reduce spin, but would it be a rules violation? Methinks not. For those who can’t hit it out of thier shadows, backspin is your friend, so you should leave this stuff alone.

joro39

13 years ago

Back in the old days it was popular for the slicers to use Vaseline on the face to “prevent sidespin”. The joke was that all it did was make the ball sticky so grass and dirt would stick to it, and cause the old paper fiber insert to go soft.

Plus, IT DIDN”T WORK, a bad swing still produced bad results, but I knew guys who swore by it.

Darren Serra

13 years ago

wow – such polarizing opinions and thoughts about the intent of a ‘game’….

when i play, i try to follow the rules, but depending on time (how much sunlight is left, or how close the group the behind me is), i may not spend time looking for a lost ball, or going back to hit a shot again because of being OB.

i also tell my 7th grade nephew to keep an extra ball in his pocket ‘just in case’ and to speed things up.

golf is a game. let the pros be ultra-exact when it comes to the rules. the rest of us amateurs should be able to have fun.

plus, this article was meant just to be a scientific exercise anyways, right? if it is found that putting your golf balls in a microwave for 20 seconds makes them spin less or go further, i would hope that MGS would do an test immediately….

keep up the good work.

dk

13 years ago

It’s Saturday AM. You’re playing a great course. Ahead of you there’s a foursome of three beginners and one ‘average’ player. Will they hit out of bounds? Of course. Will they rigidly conform to the rules regarding how long they look for lost balls? Probably not. Will you be fuming until you can play through or the ranger comes by? If this product keeps a beginner on course more often, everybody benefits.

Would you refuse to let your kid use training wheels on his /her first bicycle because they are illegal in the Olympics?

Ricardo del Castillo

13 years ago

I think articles like this are necessary, just by knowing the effect of this product or maybe trying it out can help less avid golfers enjoy a lot more this beautiful game that is governed by a 200 year old set of rules. Did you guys know that OB originally just meant that this was the boundary were the land was no longer yours or part of the course, instead the word OB is the recreational golfers worst nightmare. Have you ever hit a good shot and have it spin off the green just to find your ball in a footprint some a…ole forgot to clean. I believe golf should have two set of rules, one for professionals who make a living out the game and all they do is practice and play, and a different set of rules for the occasional weekend warrior. I’m sure in this second set of rules there would be no problem with vaseline, chapstick or whatever, just pure fun. Keep up the good work, there are those of us who really enjoy your articles and really understand your intentions.

Ricardo del Castillo

13 years ago

By the way, i’ve never used anything like this, but i have a couples of buddies who need it very much, jajajaja. As long as we’re not betting anything i would not mind speeding up play.

Rob

13 years ago

Most like petroleum jelly, yet…not compared to petroleum jelly? Why not?

Jason

13 years ago

Great Article. Interesting product. I can’t see myself using it, even though I have a HORRIBLE slice, but I also count ever shot I take on the course. I play with people all the time who routinely ignore shots they don’t like, hit extra balls (mulligans anyone?) or simply never take more than one put on the green. I couldn’t care less what they do. We aren’t playing against each other. I’m certainly not wagering money with these folks. So who cares? My focus is on MY GAME and how I AM DOING. It doesn’t hurt me, or the game of golf, if some guy out goofing off wants to lube up his club face or play with one of those Polara go-straight golf balls, so long as they don’t do it while in competition.

Vic

13 years ago

Most people want to have fun when they play. Rolling the ball out of a divot in the fairway adds to the fun and cuts down on the frustration level. So does dropping and taking a stroke if you find your ball OB rather than going back to the tee box (which would get you murdered on most public courses). Many recreational golfers use the rules as a guideline, but don’t feel the need to conform to every persnickety arbitrary law that some ancient governing body has come up with. As long as everyone in the group agrees that what you are doing isn’t hurting anyone – go for it. Have FUN! That’s what games are for.

john

13 years ago

MGS,

Great article!!! Boys.
My friends and I have had this conversation many times on the course. I’m a +1 and play with all + handicaps… We tried our own testing and found similar results… Not because we want to cheat, but because we wanted to find out about the myth.
I’m surprise that people on the forum are so upset and then call out that you have an “ad” supported model… So what! Come really… how else would you make money… oh let me guess they wake up each day and have a money tree they shake for their cash…lol

Anyway great article and keep it up!

Reg

13 years ago

Gee some guys have a pole up the arse. It’s a mythbusters style post, lighten up.

I would think it’s fairly obvious if you are playing with someone and they are applying one of these substances before every drive. It’s a fun post, clearly some of you guys would be horrible dinner guests.

Would polishing the face of a driver have a similar effect? It wouldn’t be nearly as much but it’s all about the ball not gripping to the face, so if the driver face was a high polish would that reduce spin by providing a surface the ball wouldn’t be able to “grip”?

Golfer Burnz

13 years ago

Let me get this straight. By the rules of golf you can wear golf shoes to grip the turf better, wear a golf glove to grip the club better, have grooves that spin the ball better, but you are not to lubricate the face of your driver. Man… this IS a slippery slope.

Moz

13 years ago

I have read all the comments with great interest, I am not concerned with the legality issue, personally I would choose not to use a substance during competition but see no harm in using it during a fun round. I have not tried any of the substances yet but did add syliva to the club face on a couple of very tight driving holes and ended up in the fairway, there was no diffrence to the trajectory or overall distance, does anyone think the syliva reduced side spin or did I just play the shots well?
Moz.

Dave

10 years ago

Let’s get something straight – robbing a bank or killing someone is “illegal”. Not following the USGA rules is not a legal issue. Golf is a game with rules, not laws. I wonder where and when the use of “illegal” ever started in golf? If you knew the history of the rules of golf, you would be amazed at how they came about. You would also find out that whether something conforms to the rules of golf or not is more about money and power than about the traditions of golf. Grooves – the tradition of golf before the USGA got involved was for people to make their own clubs and they were constantly experimenting with what might work better. Steel shafts were not accepted until a member of the Royal family declared he liked them. The Polara golf ball was perfectly acceptable until the USGA made a rule specifically designed to ban them from golf, and then the USGA lost a lawsuit that alleged the USGA conspired with other golf manufacturers against Polara – so rather than risk loss again on appeal, they paid Polara a lot of money to go away. The adjustable driver rule was written by the golf manufacturers and submitted to the USGA for approval (fox-hen house?). All the “traditionalists” who play metal adjustable drivers with 5 piece balls and $500 shafts, have golf company logos all over their clothing…. how old is that “tradition”? The metal core golf ball was first deemed to be nonconforming by the USGA because it was a nontraditional design, but then when lawyers got involved, it became traditional….
All that said, don’t get me wrong, I am a card carrying member of the USGA and I respect what they do. Their job is to set the rules that are to be used in the US Open and other tournaments to determine who the best golfer is according to their rules. This is a good thing. But the mistake people make is to assume the USGA Rules apply outside of USGA sanctioned tournaments – they don’t. The USGA has zero jurisdiction over recreational golf. The highest authority in recreational golf is the foursome and they can determine whatever rules they want to play by (as long as they don’t damage the course, hurt people, or low up play).
Enjoy the GAME.

Golfzilla

10 years ago

illegal definition
2.
contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.:
The referee ruled that it was an illegal forward pass.

USRGA

10 years ago

The term “illegal” is technically correct. But that is not the issue with Golf.
The issue is the USRGA Rules do not apply to recreational golf, yet the USRGA, and many golfers and PGA professionals imply or say they do. The unintended consequence of trying to hold all golfers to the USGA standard is people drop out of golf or they decide take up golf. This is bad for Golf.

The anchoring ruling is a perfect example. Golfers who anchored belly putters for 30 yrs were told they could not do it after a certain date or they would be cheating. The USGA should have said in their final press release on the topic, “And by the way, this ruling does not apply to the 22 million golfers who only play recreational golf. We encourage them to continue to use their belly putters and anchor any club they want. Our rules only apply to USGA sanctioned events and those tournaments or matches where the contestants agree to, or are forced to, use the USGA rules. We will not bifurcate our Rules to accommodate the wishes of recreational golfers – the USGA rules are not for recreational golf”.

The USRGA approves of anchoring. At USRGA.org you will find a set of rules that are simple and reflect how most golfers play the game of golf. Clubs could easily adopt these rules for their next tournament and those who want to anchor a belly putter would be able to participate in the events. Isn’t this what we want – for golf to be more inclusive, not more exclusive?

Peter Ciambrone

13 years ago

Boo. Whoooo, my god what a bunch of babies, this was simply just a review of a million golf gadgets out there, plain and simple, if someone is going to cheat they will cheat with or without the butter, Pam or no slice, stop crying and appreciate the review for what it is.

Joe M

13 years ago

I have never used a substance to reduce spin but I have tried polishing the driver face to near mirror finish and it seemed to really help. I wonder what the numbers would look like with a before and after with this method. I think it is legal as long as you don’t sand and polish enough to change the C.O.R. of the face. Correct me if I am wrong.

Ping45

13 years ago

Shivis Irons…Perhaps I’m not correct, but don’t I recall you taking off on the “new” Mckennon Golf bag…the one who you implied “stole” the bag and design from Mackenzie Golf? You apparently intend to continue to fight each and every battle that concerns ” protecting the past” of golf as you believe it should continue to be . Your way only. You and the other purists on here should have been present when I watched a young Marine home on leave, going out for a fun day of golf after returning fron 2 tours in Iran a couple years back. He and his friends were not loud or obtrusive, they basically followed the rules, just occassionally laughing and “movin” the ball away from behind trees and bushes. I, of course, wanted to scream out at their ignorance,after all, they were abusing the rules of sacred golf! For some reason, I couldn’t complain. This was my son, and he was for the first time in several years trying out a game I had always wanted him to try. He had more fun that day, along with his buddies, than he had experienced in years, and he found out he actully enjoyed the game. Now, he plays often, within the rules as close as he can. I won’t elaborate any more…just for all you purist out there that can’t get over it…you are so wrong!

Phana24JG

13 years ago

Amen. Please thank your son for his service which ALLOWS all of us the rights and freedoms including having an irrelevant discussion about this silliness.

MM

13 years ago

Well said RC!!! I was LMFAO about the betting and the belly putter comment

Drew

13 years ago

Ok – the shipping cost is absolutely outrageous! Thinking I will just go with the butter…

Drew

13 years ago

Read this site for months and decided to post for the first time. Thank you for reviewing ALL products that are applicable to golf. We are not children and do not need to be censored or “protected” from items that do not conform to professional standards. The gall of some people to b__tch and moan about such mundane things! I for one will be ordering this product – I need all the help I can get until I can groove a proper swing. Thanks MGS and keep up the great work!

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

Drew – Thanks for the comment. I think some of the more passionate, but no doubt well-intentioned golfers here may sometimes forget that there are plenty of “Real Golfers” out there just looking to get as much enjoyment out of the game as they possibly can without “cheating” anyone.

RC

13 years ago

Well said. And I find it just a little bit funny that some of these guys who are complaining about “illegality” are actually worried about how this will affect someone they have a friendly wager with. Last I checked, betting is an illegal activity, so I guess nassau’s, skins, and the like should also be banned since we are in the “holier than thou” mind set…all of you guys should go un-bunch your panties (and I better not see any of you using a belly putter)…

Larry

13 years ago

What’s the difference from using the slice-no-more product and using adjustiable clubs or balls that preform to different strandards…it’s a game..if you use a club that designed to soften the slice, isn’t that about the same as using slice reducing stuff on the club face…how about grooves and all that jazz….do what you want to enjoy the game..we’re not doing it for a living…and it’s not a ethical issue either….just because we my not play exactly by the rules does not mean we cheat in life or have a ethical problem….

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

I’m actually really surprised that there are so many that seem to have their knickers in a twist over a labs article about foreign substances on the golf face. I’m trying to find where we suggested you use it to finish higher in tournaments or take more money from your friends. This was pretty straightforward does it actually work sort of thing.

My question to all of you who are outraged; do you draw any sort of distinctions between the various products that allow you to cheat? If instead of testing No Slice, Butter, and Pam, we had done a test of laser range finders with slope features (perhaps to determine their accuracy) would you be equally as outraged?

How about adjustable drivers? The rules say you can’t make adjustments to your equipment on the course, however; TaylorMade, Titleist, Nike, Cobra, and Callaway, have all provided us with the tools and means necessary to “cheat”. Just as with No Slice, whether or not these major OEM products are used against the rules of golf depends on the golfer (but we all know it happens). We have reviewed several of these potential “cheater’s” clubs, and yet nobody has been outraged.

Rangefinders with slope features are also just as illegal as foreign substances (the USGA doesn’t really distinguish between degrees of illegality…either something conforms to the rules or it doesn’t). Those sorts of “cheaters” rangefinder reviews are all over the place, and yet I don’t recall every seeing anyone question somebody’s integrity over their theoretical use.

While you may believe that No Slice, Butter, or KY Jelly is somehow more insidious, under the rules of golf, they’re no more illegal that a Rangefinder with Slope feature, or adjusting a golf club on the course…and yet recreational golfers use them every day (and don’t face any real outrage).

FYI…A “real golfer” is anyone who steps foot on a golf course, respects the course, and has a good time doing it. It doesn’t matter if he’s lubing his club head. That’s different from a professional golfer, and even a competitive golfer. Those are the guys who need to conform to every rule. These type of products aren’t for them.

While the high and mighty among us may not realize it, the overwhelming majority of golfers fall into the recreational category. They support the game same as the rest of us. They may keep score differently, and play by a different set of rules, but the game needs them as much as it need any of us, and clubface lube, slope range finders, and the occasional mid-round driver adjustment doesn’t change that one iota.

Seriously…take a deep breath and get over yourselves.

Shivas Irons

13 years ago

In short, it’s AGAINST THE RULES OF GOLF. That’s why there’s an outcry. It’s pretty simple for most of us to understand.

There are a MILLION golf related items for you to test, and you select an illegal one. And then wonder why you’re getting flak.

People can cheat all they want, that’s their problem…the issue isn’t people cheating, it’s this site PROMOTING a product that HELPS you cheat. Your stance in this column has been, “what’s the big deal”….THAT is the issue that are failing to grasp.

NoJo

13 years ago

I wouldn’t use any of the products (including No-Slick) mentioned in this post, nor any other lubricant on my clubs because I’m a prick – like you. But, that is how I’ve decided to play “at” golf. With nothing on the line, especially when one is not keeping score, there is no reason why a “real golfer” should not “cheat” a little (or a lot!) so long as it bothers no one else and adds to his own enjoyment of the outing. None of my business, in those circumstances. Grown-ups know what they want and/or what they’re trying to accomplish. It is a matter for the individual in a non-competitive context.
With the game facing the challenge of declining participation in these troubled economic times, one would think that the true lovers of the game, the “real golfers” would welcome anything that made the game more fun for the less accomplished player on the verge of quitting because he can not reconcile the expense in time,money, AND FRUSTRATION, against the (statistically unrealistic) hope of real improvement.
You could stand to ease up a bit, cut people a little slack, mind your own business, you know: live and let live – or you can stay a prick.

Dave

10 years ago

WELL PUT!
The real rules of golf (as defined by the rules played by 85% of golfers) are at USRGA.org

ANTHONY

13 years ago

I HAVE USED SEX WAX (SURF BOARD WAX) HAD PHENOMENAL RESULTS ESPECIALLY IN WINDY CONDITIONS.. BUT LIKE ALOT OF THE OTHER POSTER SAID ITS A CHEATE. AND JUST DID IT FOR FUN…..

Jim Lee

13 years ago

Love reading it. Now I know who’s cheating on me, and how I can prevent it from happening, because I know it works.
Keep it coming with the cheats and lies. If you don’t do the test, I would never know.
Thanks

The Load

13 years ago

Why not just get Driver or whatever with no grooves. I used to have one made of clear acrylic
that was one of the longest and straightest I’ve ever hit. No grooves=less spin

Justin

13 years ago

Drivers don’t have grooves. The ones that some models have are superficial… only for show.

macca

9 years ago

hi my friend , i think the guy talking bout groovy drivers must’ve been playing as long as i have lol they all had heavy grooves back in the olden days of the 70’s…tiny little heads bloody hard to hit…..glad it’s all changed , now everyones got a chance to play reasonable golf with the modern kit …bring on the future and enjoy :)

Mike

13 years ago

Anyone who would use this product to cheat at golf is not a real golfer. My opinion of mygolfspy just went down by 78% (the same amount that this crap reduces sidespin).

Peter Ciambrone

13 years ago

Would have never believed it till I read it here, great review, thanks!

dan

13 years ago

Guys, doesn’t anyone remember advertised silicone face coating on drivers to help reduce adverse spin? same as butter, NO SLICE, chapstick….why all the noise now? Played years ago with a friend that was the worst slicer I have ever seen, a buddy told him about chapstick, he tried it with everyone in our group agreeing and we finished 35 minutes ahead of our usual Sunday morning game time.
He was reloading but only 1/3 of the normal time. That same guy is a 15 handicap now and we laugh about those days over a beer and had forgotten about it until this posting.

RC

13 years ago

Clarification: Trevino used petroleum jelly, not “this product”.

RC

13 years ago

It’s comical to read the “purists” comments on this excellent “mythbusters” type of article. Get over yourselves. I don’t think anyone using gunk on their clubs would brag about hitting the ball straighter. Some people are just out there having fun with this game we take so seriously, and as long as they play quickly, I don’t begrudge them altering the rules for their entertainment. I’m a purist, but I also know some rules are ridiculous and archaic. If a weekend golfer wants to take a practice swing in a bunker, go ahead. The only caveat is that you shouldn’t post your score unless you have adhered to every rule. If you’re not posting, get your fun in as long as you keep it moving. I would never use this product, but I was always curious about it ever since I heard Trevino say he used to use it before he turned pro. I would be interested in the results if hit with an “Iron Byron” where the human aspect is removed…

TL

13 years ago

regardless of your claims of 0% dollars etc, I think allowing ads on your website which sell or promote products which make clubs nonconforming, illegal, or break the rules of golf are not in the general spirit of the game. It’s one thing to test something to see if claims about it are true for the sake of interest, but it’s totally another to allow promotion or adverisement of a product of this nature (or maybe you are paid an advertising fee??). I’ve lost all respect. Shame on you. I’m unsubscribing.

Phana24JG

13 years ago

Actually, I conducted a similar test myself a few years ago, albeit with a Zelocity monitor. Just to prevent Garry from having an aneurysm, I was assisting a younger cousin in a physics experiment. We found that Teflon (or any PFTE) worked the best. I took a sheet of sintered Teflon and rubbed it onto the driver surface until a film had formed over the entire face. We were able to get a 60% reduction in backspin and 80% reduction in sidespin. Expanded PTFE such as Goretex or equivalent material was easier to apply, but was less effective. The softer material seemed to get agglomerated into the grooves and was less consistent than the harder material. Teflon tape was in between.

With respect to “cheating,” it is hardly one that would be used. Even the hard material left an impression of the ball on the clubface, like that you would see with impact tape. The results of the test are expected. Sidespin and backspin are both the results of friction. Any material that would reduce the friction will provide for a loss of both side- and backspin. We did observe about a 3% increase in distance, but that number was not considered statistically significant due to the relatively small sample size and the inherent error in the launch monitor. However, since we KNOW the friction is reduced, and it is unlikely that the energy is dissipated into additional heat, sound or light, it seems to me one would expect SOME increase in distance.

While obviously not an option for golfers, I wonder if an OEM is looking at placing a ultra-thin (nano-sized) coating of Teflon or a similar reduced-friction surface? I know that previous attempts have failed because the thickness required to achieve a longevity needed was so thick as to add weight and reduced the energy transfer between the face and ball (reduced COR). However, now that we can begin to “build” surfaces at the molecular level, I suspect sooner or later we will see such a development.

Pat Polzin

13 years ago

Nice work.That actually made sense to me. Well said.

Tony

13 years ago

I’ve only just joined this site [living in Aust.] and I have to say what brilliant articles. I personally won’t be trying the stuff mentioned but interesting to see what others ‘might’ be up to. Keep up the good work.

Bob Marcus

13 years ago

It’s illegal. I got disgusted just reading about it. You should add strokes to your game for just suggesting it’s use.

Jeff

13 years ago

A friend and I used petroleum jelly back in the 70’s for play at our home course just to see how it would work. It was amazing how it took away the slice from my Wilson Staff laminates. Had to throw my bag away when the lid popped off and everything in there was slicker’n snot on a pump handle!

Anthony

13 years ago

Coupon code comes up “not valid”.

Noslicestore - David

13 years ago

Hi Anthony,
Sorry for this. The problem with the voucher code is now resolved.
Any people who experienced this problem will be refunded 30% of the amount charged to reflect the MyGolfSpy Special Offer.

Sorry for the inconvenience and don’t hesitate to contact us for any further questions.

David from Noslice

Matt

13 years ago

What bothers me (seeing as results show this seems to help-Im sure not as much as results suggest due to small sample size, but still!) how do you spot someone cheating? Do they have to reapply every shot? I mean how do you know top amateurs, pros or whatever don’t “spread the butter”! without checking every club head.

Justin

13 years ago

If their drives and short iron/wedge shots are the only ones they hit halfway decent, they’re likely cheating. At the very least, it should raise a red flag. Swing issues tend to invade every part of the set, not just one club, especially for those who’ve never had their set fitted. The shorter length and higher loft of the short clubs can mask such difficiencies, but not in the long irons, hybrids, fairway woods and mid irons.

Tim

13 years ago

one of my biggest problems in striking the balls is that I do not create enough backspin, I’d be scared to lose backspin… maybe just carry a more lofted driver to make up for it?

Dan

13 years ago

Very interesting my dear Watson ! very interesting indeed.

GreenWasabe

13 years ago

Just wondering: Is this stuff (or other similar applications) legal?

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

Most definitely not (but it doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun):

Foreign Material (Rule 4-2b)
Rule 4-2b provides that:
Foreign material must not be applied to the club face for the purpose of influencing the movement of the ball.

The Equipment Standards Committee employs this Rule when materials of a temporary nature have been applied to the face — such as saliva, grass juice, chalk, aerosol spray or similar substances. Permanent attachments or coatings such as plasma spray, “balata”-type rubber or even paint are dealt with under the club face Rules in Appendix II (see Section 5).
The most important question to ask when ruling on a club which has had something temporarily applied to the face by a player is “why has it been put there?” If a material or substance has been applied to the face in order to protect it or to clean it, then it would probably be permitted provided all other Rules are satisfied. However, if the purpose of the application is to influence the movement of the ball or to assist the player in making a stroke, it would be prohibited. Any type of tape or similar material added to the face is not permitted for any purpose.

CapeGolfer

13 years ago

It does make sense that a lubricant would reduce the spin… back or side.
Wouldn’t one of the newer style polymer waxes work just as well… and possibly last longer?
I take it from your impact tape comment it left a visible mark on the club face?
I believe there are ‘straight’ golf balls marketed with reduced friction surface on the ball rather than the face of the club???
Regardless it gives us Northerners something to read about while we wait for Spring!
Thank you.

Brookswilliams

13 years ago

Maybe someone is just starting the game, and doesn’t want to be embarrassed, so they need straighter drives.

Bill

13 years ago

I keep getting a message that says the discount code is invalid. I had/have the Duo in my cart.

mygolfspy

13 years ago

I sent an email to the company to see if there is an issue. Thank you for letting us know.

Brian Pudney

13 years ago

Wow… I’ve always heard that this works, but never believed it… I think it was in “The Downhill Lie” by Carl Hiaasan, where some dude tries this to win a bet…

Garry

13 years ago

It is sad when we have to test products that help CHEATERS in the game of golf. I thought golf was about honesty? Guess this blows that therory out of the water.

Why don’t the cheaters in the world spend as much time practicing to get better rather than look for ways to cheat and beat the system. Nothing worse in my opinion than a LIAR & CHEATER playing the game of golf!

Being a business man and conducting a fair amount of business on the course with potenial clients… I learn a lot about a persons inner self. When I see a guy bumping the ball or other aspects of cheating. I think to myself.. What a lowlife.. how can I trust this guy doing a million dollar deal? Think about this, cheaters of the world.. do you want to work with a cheater? play with a cheater?

It would be interesting to see how many take the hi road and not cheat vs the ones who read this and then go out and cheat. This is the stat I would like to see. Who cheats and who plays by the rules of golf! I personally have no desire to try grease and see what cheating is like. I play to a 2 handicap. I practiced… I didn’t cheat to get down to a 2

What some added distance? Put a couple match heads on the back of the ball and smoke it. It will be loud. and the ball will fly.. the noise gives the cheater away doing this one though!

Adam

13 years ago

What a pompous and self righteous post. Dude, this is not about cheating, it’s finding out if this stuff is real or a myth. It’s about taking science to popular claims made in the golf industry we’ve all wondered about. Plus, this product is not aimed at good golfers (you obviously include yourself as one according to your 2 handicap which you so gratuitously dropped in for some reason) or even decent golfers. It’s aimed at recreational golfers who are not competing in tournaments. If some jackass spreads this on him club face in a tournament or a $ game, I can guarantee this is the tip of the iceberg, cheating wise. Get over yourself.

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

Garry,

I don’t think anybody is condoning the use of No Slice, butter, or anything else for use in competition. But quite frankly, if I’m out on the golf course with somebody, and I’m not playing for money (or in a tournament), I don’t give a damn if he uses a non-conforming driver, lubes the club-face, and improves every lie on the golf course. How does any of that impact my life? My point is, it’s not cheating unless it’s being used for some sort of competition.

I’d be willing to be that the majority of recreational golfers don’t keep handicaps, don’t play in tournaments, and probably don’t play for money. These are guys just out on a Saturday morning looking to spend some good times with friends. Chances are they’re not strictly adhering to the rules of golf anyway. They’re taking mulligans, dropping from the white stakes, and taking gimmies at their own discretion. If playing by their own sets of rules (including using something that helps them keep the ball in play) helps them get more pleasure out of the game (and at no one else’s expense), I’m all for it. Blanketing everyone uses no slice as a liar and a cheater with no integrity, without regard for individual circumstance is a bit harsh I think.

That said. I’m with you. It’s a curiosity for me, but I won’t be placing an order, and I know the guys I play with would never try to use it to an advantage. And if you and I ever met on the course to conduct business, I certainly wouldn’t be using it, but if I guy with nothing on the line wants to spend less time in the woods, I’ve got no problem with it.

It’s comical that the USGA has its tidy white panties all in a knot over the very mention of bifurcation, but the reality is the average amateur golfer is playing by his own set of rules anyway.

Pat Polzin

13 years ago

You can learn more about a guy playing one round of golf than you can working with him for 10 years. It would be fun to try in a scramble. This is also a good article to alert competitive players like myself to keep an eye out for it. Thank you MGS!

Justin

13 years ago

Spot on, Pat.

Shivas Irons

13 years ago

Great post Garry…..I’m not sure what is more unbelievable, someone making this product or someone that ACTUALLY buys this product or those that don’t think there’s anything wrong with this product….and it seems that a few on this site fall into the last two categories.
Pretty disgusting, when people support a product that helps you cheat.

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

See my post below, but to summarize a list of products that have the potential to “help you cheat” would also include certain laser rangefinders, and adjustable drivers. The rules of golf make no distinction between degrees of illegality. If we’re going to get outraged about No Slice, we need to be equally outraged at Bushnell, Leupold, TaylorMade, Nike, and Callaway.

Shivas Irons

13 years ago

Really?

You’re going to compare a substance that you apply to the face that(according to your testing)CLEARLY effects the direction of the ball…..to a range finder and adjustable drivers, even though the range finder just gives you a number, and the adjustable drivers can’t be changed DURING a stipulated round. Which BTW, both have been approved by the USGA….and the substance has not.

Look, I get you’re just testing products for the members of this site. That’s one of the reasons we are here, but you are defending a product that CLEARLY is against the Rules of Golf. There are a million products out there for you to test, and you picked one that is illegal…and then wonder why people hammer you for it.

I suggest in the future, you take a little more time in selecting the products that you test. This one was OB from the start…..Literally and Figuratively.

GolfSpy T

13 years ago

Shivas – Let me start by saying that I genuinely appreciate your willingness to take time out of your life to weigh-in and contribute to our discussion. That said, I believe you’re wrong.

I think we both agree that anyone who would use No Slice or anything else to gain a competitive edge has no place in the game. But a product that helps the casual golfer keep the ball in play isn’t exactly helping anyone cheat. If I’m out by myself on a Saturday afternoon knocking some balls around, not keeping, score, not playing for money, just getting in some swings, am I cheating? Point is many…in fact the MAJORITY of golfers are noncompetitive, and are just looking to have fun.

What about the guy that puts this on the driver of his kid who is just starting out? Is he a despicable cheat as well. Point is, there are legitimate uses for a product like this…particularly when the primary purpose is simply to make the game more enjoyable for the non-competitive golfer.

Regarding the rules of golf…as I said the USGA makes no distinction between degrees of illegality. Either you’ve broken a rule or you haven’t. No violation is technically less illegal than another. With that in mind:

If I put no slice in my bag and don’t use it, I have broken no rule. If I use it to reduce friction between my fingers, I’ve broken no rule. If I use it to polish the crown of my club, I’ve broken no rule, and if we’re splitting hairs, if I use it on the face of my club and claim that I do so in order to clean and protect, but not with the intent to alter ballflight; under the rules of golf, I’ve done nothing wrong. As with nearly anything in this game, it boils down to the integrity of the individual.

If I have an adjustable driver in my bag, contrary to how you worded it, I CAN in fact make all the adjustments I want; however, doing so clearly violates the rules, but just as with the No Slice, the manufacturer has provided me with all the tools necessary to violate the rules. Whether or not I do so is an issue of personal integrity when used in a competition or for the purposes of posting a score. But again, if I’m out on a Saturday tinkering with my club, am I a dirty cheat?

The same is true of rangefinders with slope features. Like adjustable drivers and No Slice, when used to their full capabilities, they also violate the rules of golf.

I do understand why purists are all knotted up here, but my point is that No Slice in an of itself is no more illegal that half a dozen other things. I think it’s great that a number of readers (myself included) would never use the stuff, by to suggest that we shouldn’t cover something that actually could help a beginner, or a weekend duffer get more enjoyment out of the game borders on arrogance. It’s just another example of the white collar, highbrow mindset that turns so many off from the game.

Dave

10 years ago

Gary – I was reading these replies enjoying the comments and was thinking to my self “When are one of the ‘Church-Ladies’ of golf going to chime in?”, and there was your post.
Your “golf is a test of one’s character” argument is flawed on many levels so i won’t even argue that point. I suspect that technically you cheat because of your lack of knowledge of the rules – >95% of golfers do not know the rules well enough to complete a round without incurring a rules infraction, so don’t feel that I am calling you out for cheating, you probably can’t help it.
It goes without saying that in a serious tournament or in a USGA sanctioned event, of course you can’t use a lubricant on the face of the club.
The facts are (2012 and 2013 Google Consumer Survey Results) – 85% of golfers do not have a handicap, 75% have never read the rules, 73% admit that they break the USGA Rules of Golf on a regular basis and 63% of golfers are willing to play with equipment that exceeds the USGA regulations provided the equipment provides an actual performance advantage. And the reason why these fact are as they are, is because the USGA Rules are not intended for recreational golf. Recreational Golf is outside of the jurisdiction of the USGA.
Good for you that you have a 2 index. I am sure you worked very hard to get there and I honestly respect you for that accomplishment. The other fact is, the average US male golfer shoots 106. So I don’t know how many business deals you have done, but I have been golfing for 51 years and in 33 of those years in business I have played with a lot of customers, associates and vendors and I bet less than 20% even came close to playing by the USGA rules, because they were business men enjoying golf and they did not have time to become great at golf. The average US male golfer sucks at golf, but loves the game (that should tell you something about why they play).
The person I worry about doing business with is the guy who keeps his mouth shut when I am leaning over a 6 inch putt or the guy who doesn’t offer me a Mulligan when I whiff a drive. I hope you are not one of these guys; they totally miss the point of golfing with a prospective client or vendor.
Enjoy the GAME.

Joe

13 years ago

This is a commercial.

mygolfspy

13 years ago

Actually Joe…not a commercial at all. The company paid us a total of $0 to write this. We don’t do commercials…but maybe you are not familiar with our site. This review was done for the exact reasons I posted in the article. I ran across the product…the readers in the forum said they would like to see us test it against other products that are similar and that is exactly what we did.

If you would like to get a launch monitor and repeat the test with the same products you are more than welcome. You can also contact the company directly or the testers that took part…all will tell you the same thing…test is legit…just like all the other stuff we do here. One of these days you will see the light ;)

scott white

12 years ago

have you ever heard of polymax?it is a clear plasic like sheet that can be put on every club.but i only use it on the driver.my golf buddy has it on every wood and hybrid.it seems to work great.but in my opion it works just like masking tape that is put on when you demo a club.We have all hit clubs and a golf shop with masking tape on the face and hit them great.we then buy the club and the masking tape comes off and the first time out you are hitting 90 degree slices and have no ideal why. my personal theory is that the tape or poly max gives the ball just enough cushion to take some spin off it so it goes sort of straight.i know that me and my buddy gained serious yardage.but that is most likely because we were hitting the fairway(or at least the rough)instead of the cow field on the right that always eems to have a seriously pisses off bull in it daring you to climb over and look for your ball.and i know that it makes my driver none conforming but 90% of the time it is just the 2 of us playing and i like being able to get through 18 holes without going through a box of PRO V1’s and/or getting molested by a horny bull that thinks i got a cute ass.

Steve P.

13 years ago

For what, Butter?
They tested 2 other “products” and No Slice barely edged out butter in terms of performance.
Butter is a lot cheaper too.
Quite the “commercial”

GolfDawgg

13 years ago

“Also, the case is easy to throw in your bag without worrying about spilling or leaking. ”

Had an immediate picture of trying to carry a stick of butter around in my bag. Might not work so well here in the Arizona summers.

Interesting article. Thanks!

Golfer Burnz

13 years ago

And I thought a “Butterball” was a turkey ;)

Craig

13 years ago

Chapstick works well too. Just don’t over apply it.

Tony

13 years ago

Players have been spreading chapstick on the face of their drivers for as long as I have been playing… (1958) . Also plain old blue seal Vaseline works even better , but much like butter, it proved to messy . Swing path was the only direction your ball would go… did not mater if club face was open or closed. Back in the sixty’s you could gain 15 to 25 yards with a little light smear of vaseline.

mygolfspy

13 years ago

Actually there were a couple golfers who gained distance but when you average everything out…none of the 3 products tested made a significant difference when it came to distance.

Robert

13 years ago

Agreed. I tried putting chapstick on the driver once just to see what would happen and hit the fugliest knuckle ball you’ve ever seen. It never got higher than about 30 feet in the air and wobbled all over the place for the short distance it flew.

Justin

13 years ago

Spray-on sunscreen helps, also. It isn’t a distance thing, though. What this does is eliminate face angle as a variable in your swing issues. It’s also illegal as h3ll, per the USGA. If put sunscreen/lube/butter on your face and didn’t get any more distance, it’s because of YOU- not the driver, butter or whatever.

Robert

13 years ago

I’d be interested to see how this compares to the “Power Straight” spray as well. I’ve never used either but saw some mentions of that product in the forum a while back.

mygolfspy

13 years ago

We would have to…unfortunately we found out about them after we had just wrapped up the testing for this MyGolfSpy Labs article.

Adam

13 years ago

You know, it’s because of features precisely like this that I love this website. Well done guys!

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