Starting Time's Fix-Master® Receives GolfTest USA's Seal of Excellence

May 17, 2008
Fix-Master Pro VS. GreenFix Test and Summary Report

GolfTest USA was retained by Starting Time to conduct an independent test on the Fix-Master Pro Hand Held Ball Mark Repair Tool and compare it to the GreenFix ball mark tool. We went to the GreenFix website and ordered one from them

We were asked to determine how easy and effective the Fix-Master Pro Ball Mark Hand Held Repair Tool was to use vs. the GreenFix ball mark tool. While we were at it we told Starting Time that we would also do a retest of the Fix-Master ball mark tool that fits on the end of a putter. (GolfTest USA had conducted a test on it in 2007)

We chose three golf courses that have different grasses on their greens. San Ignacio Golf Club has Bermuda greens, Bent grass greens are at Canoa Hills Golf Club and Canoa Ranch has Hybrid Bermuda greens which doesn’t require over seeding. These courses are located in Green Valley, Arizona.

We took pictures of three ball marks on each green and then repaired each ball mark first with the GreenFix, then the Fix-Master Pro Hand Held ball mark repair tool and finally with the putter mounted Fix-Master. “After Repair” pictures were then taken. With each ball mark tool we went to the high side of the ball mark where the distortion of the grass is the most pronounced and carefully used each tool to move the grass back to the middle of the mark making sure to not cause any damage to the roots. We then moved around the rest of the ball mark to close up the mark towards the center. On each ball mark we repaired with the GreenFix it was difficult to completely fill in the hole left in the center. The hole was usually about half the size of a dime or about one centimeter. We had watched the video that came with the unit several times prior to conducting the test to be sure that we were using the correct technique and also practiced on several ball marks prior to the test to be sure we were using the GreenFix according to the instructions on the video. If we continued to work at closing up the hole in the center we felt we risked damaging the roots on the rim of the ball mark. We also had to physically reposition ourselves around the hole two times to get the “right” angle to use the GreenFix tool properly. We did feel that the GreenFix tool did a better job than a standard ball mark tool. When we used the Fix-Master Pro it was much easier to “poke” or “jab” around the edges of the ball mark to close it up. We also didn’t have to reposition ourselves to get a better angle as we had to with the GreenFix tool. Once the outer edges had been moved toward the center we used the Fix-Master Pro to poke into the center of the ball mark which tended to bring up some of the grass which had been pushed down by the impact of the ball. The four prongs on the Fix-Master Pro aerated the soil and did not appear to cause any damage to the roots of the grass. It was easier, quicker and more effective using the Fix-Master Pro vs. the GreenFix. We really liked using the Fix-Master putter tool because we didn’t have to bend over or crouch down to repair the ball mark and we had more leverage. We came back 5 days later and took pictures again to see how the ball marks had healed. We were able to visually determine a noticeable improvement in the repairs made with the Fix-Master Pro. The repaired ball marks made with the GreenFix tool still had a slight indentation in the center of the ball mark.

We timed how long it took us to repair ball marks with each tool. We averaged 4 seconds with the Fix-Master putter tool, 6 seconds with the Fix-Master Pro and 10 seconds with the GreenFix. While it is only a few seconds the GreenFix took 40% longer to repair a ball mark on average.

Our evaluation is that the aeration effect created by the prongs on the Fix-Master Pro was a positive factor in the initial repair and the long term healing of the ball mark as opposed to the repair method used by the GreenFix tool. The Fix-Master Pro caused less damage (if any) to the roots during the repair process than the GreenFix tool. This contributed to the improved healing rate after five days.

The actual improvement in healing of a ball mark when repaired by the Fix-Master Pro was judged to be significantly better than the GreenFix tool. It was, in fact, difficult to actually tell that there had been a ball mark at all.

GolfTest USA’s overall evaluation of the Fix-Master Pro is that it is a golf accessory that is superior to the GreenFix ball mark repair tool and should be considered by golfers who want to have a device that can quickly, easily and effectively repair ball marks on greens.
-The Testing Staff at GolfTest USA

4226 S Camino Del Tejon
Green Valley, AZ 85614
Phone: 520 393 8624
www.golftestusa.com