To enter all you need to do is leave a coherent, somewhat-meaningful, and related comment under the original FiZ review here.  Any comment that fits the bill will qualify you for the giveaway.  To increase your odds of winning, your comment should explain in 100 words or less why you want/need/deserve the FiZ.

The contest will end at midnight eastern time on September 30th 2008.  Winning entries will be chosen in 3 different ways:

1. Completely random drawing - All comments that meet the requirements spelled out above (coherent, meaningful, and related) will be included in a random drawing with the winner receiving one canister of FiZ.
2. From the entries which include an explanation as to why you should be given a canister of FiZ, I will choose the most deserving (the one I like best).  The author gets the FiZ.
3. When the total comment count on Qwowi.com from all posts reaches a certain number (only I know that number), the FiZ will be awarded to the person who leaves the comment that hits my magic number.  
   • In the event that the so-called magic number is crossed by a non-FiZ related comment, the next FiZ comment will take the FiZ.
   • If by midnight on September 30th 2008, the comment threshold has not been crossed, the 3rd canister of FiZ will be awarded based on either of the other criteria used in this giveaway.

The Fine Print

Qwowi giveaways are open to residents of the United States of America only (it’s a shipping thing).  Contributors to Qwowi, as well as their friends and family are ineligible to participate.  For all matters related to this giveaway, I am the decider, and reserve the right to delete any comments/entries I deem as unacceptable.  Only one entry per person is allowed.  You must provide a valid email address in order to participate.

Enter Now

When our friends at Shoffee.com were prepariing our latest round of samples for the K-Cup Challenge, I asked Joe to include Twinings Earl Grey in the mix.  You may remember that I previously reviewed Timothy’s Canarino(hot lemon beverage), but this marks my first foray into the world of true teas for Keurig Brewers.

I’m, for the most part, not what you would call a “Tea Guy”.  I’m much more about the coffee, but as temperature drops and my congestion level rises, I will mix in more than the occasional cup to help loosen things up a bit.  Green tea is generally my first preference, but since this is the K-Cup Challenge, you can bet I’ll be drinking a little bit of everything.  So with that in mind, let’s drink some Earl Grey.

The Description

A light & aromatic blend of fine black tea, scented with bergamot, a citrus fruit

The Aroma

This citrus aroma is highly prevalent.  To me it’s lemon with a hint of orange, but whatever, it definitely smells like some variety of fruit grown in Florida.  I’ll also man up and admit that, for the moment at least, I have no idea what bergamot is, let alone smells like.

Drinking it Straight

I have a hard time referring to tea as black, even if it is a black tea.  So drinking it straight the citrus flavor is immediately noticeable.  It’s a little sweet, but not sugary.  It finishes with a bit of a soury tartness that definitely reminds me of the flavor of lemon peel.  While so far I wouldn’t say I’d drink it every day, it’s pretty good.

With Sugar

I may have mentioned it before, but I don’t like putting milk/cream etc. in my tea.  It just seems weird to me…a creamy tea?  Really?  So anyway, sugar, or in this case, Splenda, is how I’m rolling.

Whoops…one packet too many (I guess I should have considered the fact that I’d already downed half my cup).  On my 2nd crack at it I learned that one Splenda packet is just about the perfect amount of sweetening for me.  I’m enjoying the flavor, and my congestion is clearing up nicely.

Final Thoughts

It’s difficult to find fault with, or sing high praise for a tea mainstay such as Earl Grey.  I would anticipate that as I move into some of the more exotic blends I’ll find some I love, and some I despise.  All the same, Twinings Earl Grey is a good starting point.  It’s well-balanced and tasty-enough in a very low key, no frills kind of way.  Chances are, if you like Earl Grey, or even your average Lipton bag, I expect you’ll be more than a satisfied with this K-Cup option.

Shameless Plug

Enjoying the K-Cup Challenge?  How about you show your support by getting your virtual backside over to Shoffee.com.  Joe at Shoffee has been one of my biggest supporters and I’d like to thank him by sending as many of you as I can to Shoffee.com for all of your K-Cup needs. 

Whether you’re looking for a box of Twinings Earl Grey, or a Keurig B-Somethingto brew them in, Shoffee has you covered.

You should probably also check out the Shoffee blog, CupOfTheWeek, where you’ll find the best deals anywhere on Shoffee’s…wait for it… Cup of the Week.  See how that works?

While you’re here, check out the growing list of K-Cup coffee, and now tea reviews that are part of my K-Cup Challenge. 

From what I can tell the folks at Diedrich are committed to making some of the best tasting coffee you can find anywhere.  I base this assumption largely on the fact that I’ve yet to find a cup of Diedrich I don’t like.  I figure since they’re committed to providing me with great coffee it’s only reasonable that I commit to spelling the company name properly.  So with apologies for all previous occurrences of “Dietrich”, and with repairs having been made, let’s just get on with review.

The Description

With light acidity, deep rich body, and a fascinating complexity, this coffee is sweet, pungent, almost syrupy, with a rich and buttery aftertaste.

The Aroma

Hints of dark ripe berries…it’s hard to describe, but Sumatrans seem to have a velvety quality to the aroma.  Diedrich is no different, and that’s a good thing because I’ve come to learn that I’m a big fan of Sumatran beans.

Drinking it Black

Thick and syrupy, with little acidity (just like the said).  The natural sweetness is similar to Green Mountain’s Kenya AA (my reference point for naturally sweet coffee), which means (at least in my mind) it’s a really good black for those of us who normally don’t take our coffee that way.  There is also a complexity of flavor (another common Sumatran trait), it’s earthy, but as I said, also very sweet, and without a trace of bitterness.  Quite enjoyable.

With Cream and Sugar

Congratulations Diedrich you’ve done it again.  Coffee like this is why I’ve committed to spelling your name correctly.   As good as Diedrich Sumatran is black, it’s doubly-good with cream and sugar.  That buttery finish they talk about makes an appearance, but rest assured, it’s good buttery, not who put the margarine in my coffee, bad hazelnut buttery.  Sweet medium-roasted deliciocity; I am a fan.

Final Thoughts

To be fair I’d need to double back and compare the Sumatrans I’ve tried so far side by side, but working off recollection alone, the Diedrich is quite possibly my favorite Sumatran to date.  All of this means Diedrich remains perfect in terms of coffee I enjoy vs. coffee I’m more inclined to spit out and then write nasty things about, and that’s perhaps the most important thing.  While Diedrich Sumatra isn’t my absolute favorite K-Cup (that distinction still belongs to Tully’s Kona), it’s a top 10 so far blend, and a must try for Sumatran lovers (with a Keurig Brewer).

Shameless Plug

It wouldn’t be a K-Cup Challenge (read more here) post without a shamless plug for my sponsor OneGreatCup.Net.  The offer an outstanding selection at great prices.  I can’t recommend them enough for your K-Cup needs, like, for example, the delicious Diedrich’s Sumatra I just finished writing about.  Get yourself a box today, or try a bunch of Diedrich coffee in one handy Variety Pack. You’ll be fine either way because it’s pretty much impossible to go wrong with Diedrich and OneGreatCup.

For many, many years I’ve shied away from the track, but within the last year I’ve become a huge fan (actually more like an addict) of the ponies, so it should come as no surprise that I circled August 23rd on my calendar sometime ago.  Going in I knew it would be crowded, but with 4 straight stakes races featuring some of the biggest-name horses running right now, it sure sounded like an event not to be missed.  Boy was I wrong.

Setting Up Shop

I have a favorite spot on the track.  Most regular attendees do.  For some it’s a “lucky spot” for me, it’s a nice place where I can sit and watch the races, and have easy access to the automated betting terminals.  Most mornings it takes a little work for me to reserve my spot, but it can be done.  Travers morning, however, Saratoga turns into Pamplona as the bulls race to find the idea spot to set up shop for the day.

Fortunately (or at least it should have been), my buddy Ted volunteered to get in line at 4:30AM to get us a table exactly where we want to be.  He executed perfectly; in fact, he claims to have been the first one through the turnstiles, and the first one to our “target area”.  Unfortunately, owners and insiders (who pretty much have free run of the place) had already taken every last table in the area, leaving poor Ted to execute plan B, and well…we didn’t really have a plan B.  Long story short, instead of being trackside we ended up as one little canopy in a sea of hundreds in an area which probably isn’t too unlike life in a refugee camp somewhere.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed spending the time with friends, but as far as a true track experience goes, the Travers was sorely lacking.

I took this picture when I was at Saratoga a couple of weeks ago (the same is true of the other photos). With the massive crowd on hand for the Travers, there was no way I was getting this close.

Betting the Races

As I mentioned, I’m an automated betting machine guy.  I have a wagering account which allows me to swipe my card, enter my bet, and be done with it.  In most cases the terminals save time and make life a lot easier.  The downside is there’s no manual, no proficiency test, nothing…any idiot is capable of walking up to the machine and trying to use it.  While plenty of people seem to do pretty well, there are more than a few who don’t have a clue (I saw a guy try to swipe his credit card), and end up causing massive lines, and delays, which in some cases result in people like me not being able to get our bets in, even if we line up 10 minutes before the race.  When money is on the line, even small amounts, one shouldn’t be rushed.

The Facilities

This year’s Travers drew about 40 thousand people, which is actually 10K below normal, which got me thinking about how miserable things must be when attendance is up.  Getting around the grounds was difficult.  Actually getting to the track or close to the paddock was practically impossible.  Imagine spending an entire afternoon at the race track and barely seeing a horse…well, that was my day.

Lines for the men’s room ran about 10 minutes long, which would have been okay, but I spent one of my waits on line with a “gentleman” who was drinking a beer, smoking a cigarette, all while he a dip in mouth (one more simultaneous vice and I would have found an award to give him).  He spent most of the time ranting about how he was going to “piss on the sidewalk” and how he didn’t care whose shoes he got wet.  It’s a reasonable assumption that if you put 40 thousand people in one place, more than a few of them are going to be pretty close to classless.

Hey, to each his own I suppose, and so long as my shoes stayed dry I probably shouldn’t care, but well, I do, and if it makes me a snob, so be it, but this is not my kind of crowd.

The Races

I didn’t actually see them.  Well, I did get to watch them on the TVs scattered throughout the grounds, but I didn’t actually watch an live races (it wasn’t worth fighting the crowds).    I ended up losing about $40 on the day, which isn’t bad considering my buddy Jon paid $30 just to park.  I seldom mind losing a little on the ponies, after all there’s an ebb and flow to it; besides, losing only makes winning that much sweeter.

As much I probably would have preferred to watch the big races at home on my 60″ Sony, there were some great races, and even better stories.  In the 7th (the race immediately preceding a run of 4 graded stakes races), 88-1 underdog Slambino bested the field rewarding dart-throwers with a $179 payout.  Of course, the real story became the 3 longshots, and 1 favorite that finished behind him leading to a Superfecta that paid an astonishing 1,523,188.00.  Yes, you’re reading that right, 1.5 million, on a $2 bet.  10 cent players walked off with over 75K.

That was pretty much how the day went with not a single favorite winning until the Travers itself.  The closest thing to can’t miss (Indyanne), missed and finished 2nd.  Mostly off the radar Shakis won his 2nd straight Bernard Baruch paying almost $15 in the process.

Colonel John, who had never won a race on dirt, somehow managed to go off as the favorite, and more strangely still, actually won the Travers (I had him as the 2nd best in the race, but didn’t bet him based on the “can’t win on dirt” thing).  My horse, Mambo in Seattle, finished 2nd and didn’t pay nearly what my wife and spent betting against each other.

My favorite race of the day had to be the NetJets King’s Bishop.  Derby runner, Visionaire , a horse I had on my short list, but bumped in favor of Kodiak Kowboy came from well back of the pack to win ($15.60).   While it wasn’t the photo finish that the Travers was, I really enjoy watching closers make a run (even if it’s on a small screen in an overcrowded back yard area).

Final Thoughts

Despite good company and great races, my first Travers may very well be my last.  Barring getting my hands on some reserved seats in the clubhouse, or some other riffraff free arrangements, I don’t see myself going back for another one.  I love the Saratoga track as much as the next guy - I go early, I stay late, I enjoying bringing friends from out of town, but there are plenty of other big races during the Saratoga meet (Curlin is running next week), and in my estimation, the Travers experience doesn’t remotely offset the hassle.

Travers day gets a very generous C-.

ESPN now carries most of the card in HD, I have wagering accounts with both NYRA and TwinSpires, so I won’t lose out on the action.  I can bet from the comfort of my own couch, and with a 60″ TV I’ll feel closer to the action than I did at the track.  Best of all, there’s only two of us in this 2.5 bath house, which means no waiting to use the bathroom, and no having to worry about getting my feet wet.

Shelly Basta, CEO of Ball Brite was kind enough to send me one of their pouches for review, and while at the onset I wasn’t sure if it was the type of product I’d actually use (my buddy The Bean though, this is right up his alley), the policy here at Qwowi is to pretty much try anything we can get our hands on, I clipped it to my bag and headed out to the links.

Why should I care if my ball is a little dirty?

It doesn’t take a genius (or marketing collateral from the folks at Ball Brite) to know that a dirty ball can hurt your golf game.  Just like a damaged ball, a ball covered in dirt, grass, or god knows what else, can rob you of distance and accuracy.  On and around the greens, a gunk covered ball will cost you some of the precision your ball needs to find the bottom of the cup.  In short, clean ball good, dirty ball bad.

Using the Ball Brite

Prepping the Ball Brite for a day on the links is simple, and here at Qwowi, as we’ve said many times over, we like simple.  What could be simpler than pouring a little bit of water into a pouch and clipping it to your golf bag?  Better still, I suppose, there’s no hard and fast rule that you have to clip the Ball Brite to anything.  Clipped or not clipped - it works either way.

Cleaning a ball with the Ball Brite, well, that’s easy too.  The Ball Brite’s rugged yet flexible neoprene outer shell stretches just enough to allow a golf ball to enter the main cleaning chamber, while remaining taught enough to prevent the ball from accidentally popping out during cleaning.  You could probably even store a ball or two in there if you were so inclined.

Once you’ve popped your filthy Titleist (or Callaway, Nike, or whatever ball you happen to be playing - personally I love the TaylorMade TP series) into the Ball Brite, all you do is spend a few second using your thumbs and fingers to rub the ball around inside the proprietary Ball Brite dirt-removing liner (your fingers stay on the outside).  After all it’s the friction and abrasive action that cleans the ball.  Yes, we are talking about a little bit of manual effort (easy and efficient as it may be).  There’s no David Copperfield style trickery at work here.

After just a few seconds of jostling your ball around inside the Ball Brite, give it a little squeeze and out pops a very clean, and almost completely dry, golf ball.  Actually, maybe there is a little bit of magic happening here.

Now I’m well aware that many golf courses have golf ball cleaners on most, if not all holes, but the Ball Brite has some pretty significant advantages over the rusty swamp buckets found on your local links.  In my mind the biggest advantage of the Ball Brite is the fact that it’s machine washable, which means it won’t develop that festering pond water smell that one commonly encounters in those less than well maintained on course models.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a greenside ball washer.  It’s really a shame too since greens are, in addition to being where a clean ball can have the most benefit, pretty much the only place you’re actually allowed to lift and clean your ball.  Depending on how well the ball washer is anchored to the ground you might be able to yank it out and take it with you, but a better idea might be to get yourself a Ball Brite, which is designed to travel much more easily.  Whether you leave it clipped to your bag, or take it with you on to the green, it’s more sanitary, and more versatile than the on course cleaner, and much more effective than a towel.

I played several rounds with the Ball Brite and have found it to be extremely effective at removing the dirt and grass that collects on your ball during the average round, but to see what the Ball Brite is really capable off, I pulled a fairly nasty looking brown ball out a swamp and popped it into the pouch.

When it when in the ball was so completely caked with mud and nasty swamp stuff that I wasn’t able to determine what brand it was.  When it came out, however; it was almost completely clean (some really stubborn grime remained in a couple of the dimples), and to my delight, I had myself an perfectly playable Pro V1.

In truth, the Ball Brite probably isn’t designed to recondition found golf balls, but given how well it performed that task, your average cleaning job shouldn’t be an issue at all.

This is what my ball looked like before going into the Ball Brite. While not completely caked with mud, it's fairly representative of why my average dirty ball looks like.

The same ball after about 10 seconds in the Ball Brite. The good news is the ball is clean. The bad news is that I just discovered it's scuffed (not Ball Brite's fault - no doubt it happened on the preceeding wedge shot).

Minor Gripes

None.  How’s that.  I can’t find the slightest thing to complain about with the Ball Brite.  Assuming you follow the instructions, it won’t leak, it will clean the gunk of your golf ball, and oddly enough, the ball comes out dry.  What can I say; the Ball Brite works 100% as advertised.

Final Thoughts

For under $20 ($16.95 is the current price), unless you really like dirty balls (sorry…), I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to a Ball Brite.  I’ve carried mine with me over the last four rounds of golf I’ve played, and it’s become one of my favorite, must-carry, on course accessories, and a worthy addition to any golf bag.

As I said at the beginning of this article, I wasn’t overly excited about trying out a clip-on golf ball cleaning pouch, but damned if I don’t love the thing.  Apart from everything else I’ve said about the Ball Brite, the absolute bottom line is you won’t find me playing golf without it.

Inexpensive, simply to use, and extremely good at what it does; There simply is no better way to clean your golf ball on the course.

The Ball Brite is available in Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and for the ladies, Pink.

Buy your Ball Brite now

Having never been too much of coffee drinker before I discovered the joys of Keurig coffee makers, I was largely of the opinion that decaf coffee was pretty much pointless.  I mean, if it’s not going to wake you up in the morning, why bother?  Over the last few months, however, I’ve found myself craving coffee later and later into the day.  If I’m going to drink coffee at 9 PM, I’m left with 2 options; stay up half the night, or drink decaf.  With an alarm that goes off before 6AM, the latter seems like the way to go.

My sample of Caribou Decaf was provided by K-Cup Challenge sponsor, Shoffee.com.  For the most part, I’ve been very happy with varieties of tried from Shoffee, and as I guy solidly on board with the Caribou Blend (caffeinated), I would be plenty happy if the decaf variety amounted to more of the same.

The Description

Achieving balance in life is a challenge. Caribou Coffees signature blend meets that challenge, balancing a big-bodied, syrupy taste with a clean, snappy finish. The secret of this blends relaxed complexity is a rich hearty Indonesian bean, perfectly proportioned with Central American and South American varieties for lively fruit tones.

The Aroma

The aroma of Caribou Blend Decaf should be instantly recognizable for those who have already tried the regular variety. Most prevalent in the aroma are the velvety fruit notes.

Drinking it Black

Caribou Blend Decaf is smokey, and fairly acidic; although I didn’t notice until way after the finish. There is a slight bitterness that lingers a bit, but it’s not a deal-breaker or anything. As far as the flavor itself is concerned…it starts a bit nutty and finishes with the same touch of fruit that is present in the aroma.

While it’s certainly more than palatable black, I definitely prefer this blend with cream and sugar.

With Cream and Sugar

Just as with the caribou blend, the decaf plays very nicely with cream and sugar and makes for a very pleasant cup of coffee. It’s definitely a step above what you’ll find at your local big box coffee factory.

Final Thoughts

Fans of Caribou coffee, and more specifically the “Caribou Blend” will feel right at home with this decaf offering. I’m hard pressed to tell the difference between the two, which means there’s no need to trade a good cup of coffee for a good night’s sleep. Admittedly, this is the first decaf I’ve written a review for, but it’s among my favorites of the k-cup decaf varieties that have found their way into my B70.

Shameless Plug

I’ve running out ways to say this (which could be a problem because I’ve still got about 150 K-Cup varieties to try), but I’d really appreciate it if you’d support merchants like Shoffee.com who, through their generosity in providing samples, make the K-Cup Challenge possible.

Joe and the team at Shoffee have everything to meet your K-Cup needs, including Caribou Blend Decaf, and a complete selection of Keurig Brewers.  While browsing Shoffee.com make sure you check out their cupoftheweek blog for weekly deals on Keurig K-Cups.

While you here, check out the growing list of reviews in my K-Cup Challenge.

So anyway with life, for better or worse, mostly back to normal, I dug into one of the Coffee People variety packs that’s sitting in my kitchen, and pulled out a couple K-Cups worth of the curiously named Black Tiger.  Needless to say, I was feeling a wee bit fearful.

The Description

“Explore the dark side with this full bodied, earthy, and dark roasted Coffee People favorite. Totally unique and ferocious!” - Generally speaking, I don’t think I like ferocious beverages, especially not steaming hot ones.

The Aroma

Avoiding the “smells like coffee” cop out, I’ll go with mildly smokey with just a hint of spice. Actually it’s quite appealing, and not the least bit ferocious (not that I necessarily know what ferocious smells like).

Drinking It Black

Based on the description I was pretty must expecting it to shred my gums and eat my tongue, but as it turns out, Black Tiger isn’t nearly that ferocious.  While I won’t say my tongue tamed the tiger or anything ridiculous like that, it’s a pleasant drinking, medium-bodied cup that offers up good bean flavor, and as the aroma suggests, a pleasant peppery tickle for a finish.

Although it’s a rarity, there is the occasional cup that I’m perfectly content to drink black.  Black Tiger is one of them as it goes down very smooth with no trace of harness or bitterness, or anything else that would make drinking a cup of coffee unpleasant.

With Cream and Sugar

There’s really not much I can say about drinking Black Tiger with cream and sugar.  It gets lighter and sweeter (shocking, I know).  I can take it or leave it, which really more than anything is a testament to how good it is black.  Whether or not I’d add anything to it is purely a mood-based decision.

Final Thoughts

While Black Tiger isn’t nearly the ferocious brew the description would have one believe (it’s not going to wake you up with a morning mauling or anything), it was certainly a pleasant surprise and much more drinkable than I expected it to be.

Although it’s listed as a dark roast (I’m not buying that), its medium roasted, easy drinking flavor is more than enough to supplant Donut Shop Coffee (a good cup in its own right) as my thus-far-favorite from the Coffee People label.  While this kitty may not have the claws that dark roast lovers demand, medium roast lovers should definitely give it a try.

Shameless Plug

Please help keep the K-Cup Challenge going by supporting my most excellent sponsors like OneGreatCup.  The team over there can hook you up with a box or few of Coffee People Black Tiger, or any number of other great tasting K-Cups for Keurig Brewers.

If you’re up for an experiment of sorts, check out the Coffee People Variety pack which contains samples of 5 different Coffee People varieties.

For those that still need a Keurig Brewer, OneGreatCup offers the entire line of Keurig home brewers for you to choose from.

While you’re here at Qwowi.com, check out the growing list of K-Cup reviews in my personal K-Cup Challenge.

As much as anything, what attracted me to the idea of reviewing the SKLZ Gyro Swing is that it’s one of the few truly unique products the industry has to offer.  Sure, there’s a multitude of options out there, but how many feature a battery-powered gyroscopic motor built into the clubhead?  Don’t hold me to it, but I think the answer is 1 - The SKLZ Gyro Swing.

It’s been several months now since I first previewed the Gyro Swing as part of my “Best of the Rest” from the PGA Merchandise show.  The media team at SKLZ was kind enough to provide a sample for testing and review.  I’ve had the product in hand for well over a month now, and have made the most of my opportunity to find out what the most techie-friendly product SKLZ has to offer is all about.

Background

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this you already know what the Gyro Swing is all about, but for the sake of completeness, allow me to quickly rundown exactly what it is the Gyro Swing is supposed to do, and how it actually does it.

The centerpiece of the Gyro Swing’s marketing is the notion that it allows you to “feel the perfect swing”.  As a guy who’s been feeling a mostly imperfect swing for over 5 years now, that’s exactly the type of muscle memory building experience I need.

It sounds good, but what does “feel the perfect swing” really mean?  In the case of the Gyro Swing, it means that there’s a gyroscopic motor built into the clubhead that spins at an astonishing 20,000 RPM, which in-turn not only forces the club to move along the ideal swing plane, but also forces the golfer to properly rotate the clubhead through the impact zone (whew…that’s a bit of a mouthful).

What makes the Gyro Swing unique is, as the name suggests, the gyroscope built into the clubhead (that round brass thing on the right). Spinning at an amazing 20,00 RPM, the gyroscope allows the SKLZ Gyro Swing to practically swing itself.

Now I’m not physicist; in fact, I’m probably not smart enough to play one on TV, but I do know that muscle memory is one of the keys to building the consistent, reliable golf swing that so many of us lust after.  This of course brings us to another question of some importance; does the SKLZ Gyro Swing actually work?  The answer in a moment.

What’s in the Box

• Gyro Swing training club
• Head cover
• 6 Rechargeable AAA batteries & charger
• DVD with usage instructions and training drill videos

I’ll admit I was a bit peeved when I learned the Gyro Swing requires 6 AAA batteries to run, but any frustration dissipated when I found out a 6 pack of AAA rechargeable batteries is included (where was this kind of thing when I was a kid)?  It’s also worth noting that the included charger is able to get the batteries powered up in under 15 minutes.  Good stuff.

Getting Started with the Gyro Swing

I love it when it’s simple.  Insert all 6 batteries into the grip.  Screw the fastening knob into place.  Wait for the Gyro Swing to get up to speed.  Practice, practice practice.

While I would recommend you check out the quick drills detailed on the DVD, you should be able to figure out how to use the Gyro Swing without much in the way of guidance.  In fact, there’s actually almost nothing too figure out because, as you’ll soon learn, the Gyro Swing pretty much drives itself - I’m just along for the ride.

Practicing with the Gyro Swing

My Routine

In using the Gyro Swing for the past several weeks, I tried to limit my sessions to 10-15minutes.  I’d start with a waggle, and then half swings; eventually working my way up to full swings (although I wouldn’t recommend taking them at full speed).  I also mix in drills from the DVD to try and give myself the most complete Gyro Swing training experience possible.

When I test a training aid I’m a bit of a mischief-maker.  While I stop short of intentionally using the product other than how it’s intended, I will go well out of my way to see how it handles the worst swings I can put on it (intentional or otherwise).

Swinging the Gyro Swing

One the primary flaws the Gyro Swing is designed to correct is casting (or swinging from over the top).  I took several very deliberate ax-chop type swings, and the Gyro Swing fought me to exhaustion on each and every one of my hacks.  So while it is possible to swing the Gyro Swing from over the top, it’s nothing that’s going to happen through the course of a natural swing; the 20,000 RPM gyroscope simple won’t allow it.

Occasionally my game develops a severe variant of the over-the-top swing where I’ll start inside, but end up swinging completely around the ball.  On the course the result is usually a 45-60 yard pull hook that starts well left of my target and ends up even lefter (yes, I realize lefter is not actually a word).

Regardless of whether or not my around the world swing is intentionally summoned or naturally occurring, the Gyro Swing is very effective at correcting the issue.  I’m assuming it’s the gyroscope that forces the clubhead shut well before it enters the impact zone and causes me to nearly take out the kneecap on my back leg with the clubhead.  As bad as that may sounds it’s actually quite helpful as the Gyro Swing makes it abundantly clear that the swing I just took is not one to be repeated.

For those of us who compound their outside-in approach with a penchant for leaving the clubhead wide open at impact, the Gyro Swing is quite simply the best tool I’ve found to teach the feel of proper clubhead rotation and release.  Because the club, for all intents and purposes, rotates itself you’re practically forced to make a proper and complete rotation each and every time you move the club through the impact zone.  If nothing else, the Gyro Swing is idiot proof, which is exactly what I need.

Because when possible I like to get a sense of what others think about some of the toys I get in the mail, I let a couple of “friends” spend some time with the Gyro Swing.  My wife is not a golfer, has only been to the range a few times, and has one of the few remaining golf swings on the planet worse than mine.  Still, she was curious about the Gyro Swing, so I let her play with it for a few minutes.

While her posture and balance could use some work, it wasn’t long before she was making natural-looking, on plane swings, with full clubhead rotation and release.  In that respect, I believe the Gyro Swing probably is an excellent training tool for the beginning golfer.  That said, in the interest of full disclosure, my wife only used it for a few minutes, and hasn’t swung an actual golf club since, so I can’t say with 100% certainty that her experience would translate to real-world improvement.

My buddy Matt also spent a couple of minutes with the Gyro Swing.  He routinely shoots in the 70s, so I’m going to assume that he’s mostly got his swing path and clubhead rotation issues ironed out.  Still, after using it for a couple of minutes he told me that he could definitely feel the gyroscope turning the club over for him, and that he through that it was “pretty cool”.

Also of value are the see-through grip design with alignment aid.  Although I know how to grip a golf club, occasionally I let it get away from me.  The alignment aid offers a quick reminder to check my grip, and because the Gyro Swing is relatively light you can, if you’re so inclined, use it any time and any place to reinforce proper hand placement.

The see-through grip aid is a very simple, but effective means of helping the golfer verify his hands are positioned correctly. In my opinion the Gyro Swing way of doing things is far superior to the molded training grips on the market.

The two-tone shaft is designed to add further visual checks to verify rotation, although in practice, I haven’t found it all that useful.

It Ain’t Perfect

As with most everything in life, the Gyro Swing isn’t perfect.  As is briefly mentioned in the training videos, the Gyro Swing works pretty much the same way if you swing from the extreme inside out.  Since most path issues are of the outside-in variety, in most cases this won’t be a problem.  Unfortunately I occasionally do develop the nasty habit of bringing the club back too far to the inside.  Generally it happens if I’m playing too much and get tired.  Sadly, that’s exactly what happened (36 holes followed by 18 on foot about 14 hours later).

I wore myself out on the course, went home and practiced with the Gyro Swing for 15 minutes and pretty much ingrained an way-to-far-inside-out golf swing that has taken me a couple weeks to shake.

Again, the documentation acknowledges that the potential for trouble is there, so I’ll chalk up the fact that I used the Gyro Swing to reinforce a swing flaw up to my own carelessness.  Pay attention to your take away and you should be fine, but know that the potential to make your swing worse exists.

Other minor annoyances

While the Gyro Swing requires 6 batteries, the charger can only handle 4 at a time, which means you’re going to have to wait for 2 separate charge sessions before you can use your Gyro Swing.  Generally speaking I found battery life to be good, so it won’t be an everyday issue.

To turn the Gyro Swing on and off you simply screw and unscrew the battery cap.  It works well, but since the cap needs to be loosened to turn the Gyro Swing off, there is the potential that the cap could become dislodged and lost.

While the screw-in to turn-on system works, I am concerned that the threaded plug could fall out and either get lost, or in my house, chewed by a dog, rendering your Gyro Swing useless until you can find a replacement.

Call it a mixed blessing, but the Gyro Swing is slightly shorter than my lob wedge (about the length of a driver from one of those USA Kids sets).  The downside is that it doesn’t “feel” like a driver.  The upside is that you can use it indoors without any real risk of damage to ceilings and walls.

I was surprised by how short the Gyro Swing is. You can see that it's every-so-slightly shorter than my standard length lob wedge. While this length means the Gyro Swing won't feel like a driver (it's not really supposed to), the relatively small footprint means my wife doesn't yell when I use it inside the house.

The Good

• Rechargeable batteries & charger included
• Outstanding “feel-based” tool for correcting over-the-top and outside-in swing flaws
• Teaches proper clubhead rotation (and prevents “flippy” wrists) without feeling unnatural
• See-through grip alignment tool for reinforcing the proper grip position (who among us doesn’t let the proper grip get away from us from time to time?)
• Dual color shaft reinforces proper swing plane and calls attention to problems
• Seems to work for both beginning and more accomplished golfers

The Bad

• Charger only charges 4 of 6 batteries at a time
• Screw-in on/off system could potentially result in a lost cap
• Potential to reinforce undesirable swing path (too far inside-out)
• At $220, it’s one of the more expensive training aids on the market

Final Thoughts

As I’ve said in the past, I’m generally not a big fan of golf swing trainers that you can’t actually hit a golf ball with.  In a perfect world the Gyro Swing would be the length of a 5 or 6 iron and you’d be able to take it to the range with you.  I’m pretty sure there’s some serious engineering hurdles that prevent my dream from becoming a reality, but for an impact-free swing training club, the SKLZ Gyro Swing is very impressive.

Not only does it work as advertised, but it’s also worth mentioning that using the Gyro Swing is about as effortless to use as a swing trainer gets.  It does most of the work, you’re job is to do little more than hold on and feel the path it’s taking you on.  It’s like having a caddy for your training session.

Does it work?  Yes.  Is this gyroscope thingy cool?  Yes, very much so.  Is it worth $220?  I’m afraid that’s the one question I don’t have an answer for.  If however the question is “which is more likely to fix my swing problem a Gyro Swing, or a new club?” I’d be hard pressed to not to suggest you start with the Gyro Swing.

Buy the SKLZ Gyro Swing Now at Amazon.com

I’m back from Alaska and slowly working my way back into the reviewing business. It seems like nearly forever since I’ve reviewed anything, including the Qwowi standby, K-Cups. Luckily, I’ve still got a bit of a coffee stash in reserve so at least there’s variety to help me get back into the swing of things (which it’s turning out is no easy task).

Today’s sample comes to us from our friends at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  After working through the seasonal blends they sent me last month, I’m back to the extra bold lineup, which includes today’s variety; Sumatran Reserve.

The Aroma

Mildly smokey with just a hint of spice

Drinking it black

Green Mountain’s Sumatran Reserve has a rich earthy flavor.  A good bit of what I like to call good ol’ coffee bean flavor is preserved throughout the experience.  It finishes with a hint of spice that tickles the tip of the tongue and then disappears.  As with most (if not all) dark roasts, acidity is mild.

As I’ve come to expect from Green Mountain, Sumatran Reserve is very smooth, and while I’m not one to go drinking coffee black, the total lack of harshness means I could if I felt so inclined.

With Cream and Sugar

Drinking Sumatran Reserve poses a bit of conundrum for me.  As I said, I’m unlikely to drink it black, but I’m not exactly overwhelmed by the blend when cream and sugar are added.  I find that some of the earthiness (good earthiness, not dirtyness) gets lost in the sweetness.  Perhaps going very light on the cream and sugar is the best way to enjoy this blend.

While not an exact match, Sumatran Reserve reminds me a bit of the Tim Horton’s I drank in Toronto and for two days in Whitehorse.  I know Tim’s has many fans among Qwowi readers (and contributors for that matter), so perhaps the resemblance is a very good thing.

Final Thoughts

Sumatran Reserve, while not my favorite among Green Mountain’s Extra Bolds, is still a very good cup of coffee.  For those who prefer a lighter roast Sumatran, I’d recommend checking out Timothy’s Sumatran Gold.

What I’ve discovered over the course of the first 35 K-Cup reviews is that one can pretty much expect Green Mountain’s offerings to range somewhere between good and outstanding (let’s leave the flavored varieties out of the equation for now), and while Sumatran Reserve is closer to good than it is to outstanding, fans of Sumatran beans should definitely check out a box as part of your Café EXPRESS subscription.

Shameless Plug

You can help support the K-Cup Challenge (and yes, Qwowi too) by visiting my sponsors (like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) for all your K-Cup needs.  I’ve already mentioned Green Mountain’s Café EXPRESS program, which allows you to save $2 on every box of K-Cups you order (including Sumatran Reserve).

If you don’t have one already, or are looking to upgrade, Green Mountain can hook you up with your very own Keurig home brewer, including the very stylish B70 or the entry level B40.  Either way you’re pretty much guaranteed a great cup of coffee to help you start your day.

Feeling warm and fuzzy about Gloria Jean’s Coffee as a result of their Black Gold blend, I asked Qwowi sponsor, Shoffee.com to send me a box of GJ’s Cappuccino K-Cups to sample, and of course, review for the K-Cup Challenge.

After panning the GJ Special Blend, and Hazelnut varieties, Gloria Jean’s Black Gold was a very pleasant surprise.  With my interest in the brand reborn, I thought for sure a box of Cappuccino flavored coffee would keep the ball rolling, and no doubt grow my appreciation for the brand.

On paper it seemed like a good plan, but well…my bad.

What it says on the box

Rich, creamy flavor with a hint of cinnamon

The Aroma

The aroma is a not particularly potent blending of coffee and cinnamon

Drinking it black

Well, one out of 3 isn’t bad…actually it sucks.  The flavor is not rich, nor is it creamy.  But hey, there is a hint of cinnamon, so woo hoo.

Cappuccino is a light-bodied coffee with a dry finish.  It’s a lighter roast so the resonably high acidity should come as no real surprise.

For what it’s worth, the Gloria Jean’s Cappuccino isn’t bitter.  It is, however, weak.  In fact, it’s among the weakest, if not the weakest K-Cups I’ve sampled thus far.  What flavor there is can be described as cinnamony with a hint of smokey bean.

With Cream and Sugar

Adding cream actually thickens the coffee and gives a bit more classic cappuccino flavor.  It finishes dry with the flavor of cinnamon - and I swear, a hint of egg.

As K-cups go, it is, sadly, exceptionally boring.

Final Thoughts

While not a true cappuccino, the flavor, although watered down is ok, and overall it does a decent impersonation of cappuccino I suppose.  Without a doubt, the flavor needs to be bolder (perhaps an extra bold K-Cup is warranted here), and needs to pack a little more punch.

When I hear cappuccino I think Italian coffee house.  Unfortunately, Gloria Jean’s Cappuccino is less 10pm Italian coffee house and too much 8AM at 7-11.

Shameless Plug

As is the case most of the time, the sponsor of this review, Shoffee.com doesn’t make the coffee, they sell it, so don’t hold the fact that I didn’t like the K-Cups they sent against them.  Who knows, you may like Gloria Jean’s Cappuccino (to each his own), but if not, Shoffee still offers a great selection of K-Cups, and of course, the complete lineup of Keurig Home Brewers.

Help support the K-Cup Challenge by supporting my sponsors, who support me and make this whole K-Cup Challenge thing possible.  So yeah…support the supports, and thank you for your support.