PeakVision Sunglasses: The Better to See Your Golf Ball

Sunglasses are an often-overlooked tool that can make a major difference in a golfer’s game. Oakley has largely cornered the market on sports eyewear, but PeakVision is looking to take the technology to a whole new level.

My recollection of the debut of sunglasses in golf was when Bolle introduced them in the late 1980s or early 1990s. They were worn by golfers off the course, not on it. No pro wanted to have anything interfere with his or her ability to see the ball.

A few seasons later, Oakley stepped up with the wrap-around styles that eventually became synonymous with David Duval. After that, sunglasses became something the occasional tour player would wear. Other companies jumped in, including Callaway and Nike. Soon, Maui Jim joined the fray, and they even have bifocal sunglasses.

For me, sunglasses became a part of my wardrobe when I started wearing contacts. It was essential on windy days because no matter where I was, the wind would pick up some kind of invisible stuff and throw it into my eyes delivering instant pain. However, when I took my shades to the golf course, I was often the only one wearing sunglasses. Now, it’s now totally acceptable.

Zach Johnson, an Oakley convert, says it’s easier for him to see the greens and read putts with the sunglasses he wears which are the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL. He’s not the only one. Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Michelle Wie and others routinely sport sunglasses of some kind.

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The latest brand of sunglasses to dip a toe into golf is PeakVision. And as a long-time wearer of sunglasses, I feel I am practically an expert when it comes to good ones and bad ones. Based on first-hand experience, I have to say that PeakVision’s sunglasses are as clear as eyes. They have taken clarity to a whole new level.

How good are they? PeakVision’s CEO David Feaser said in a phone interview that he had just had a conversation with someone who was wearing the PeakVision sunglasses, came home, sat down and started watching television, completely forgetting that the sunglasses were on. That’s how clear the lenses are.

How did they do it? I’d say it was magic, but in fact, it’s a sophisticated patented material that the founder of PeakVision developed with the company that makes Duralens lenses for glasses and other high-tech uses. The company is Ophir. They describe the Duralens products as “precision IR optics, laser measurement instrumentation and 3D non-contact measurement equipment.”

The patent means nobody else has this exact lens. It’s special. One of a kind, and no one else can use it.

"“This lens was created by the inventor to put an end to optical distortion in sunglasses,” said Feaser. “The lenses are made from a nylon polycarbonate-based material, and it has the same actual rating of -52, comparable to crown glass, so it gives you that extreme clarity when you look through it. No matter where you look out that lens, you’ll have zero distortion.””"

Strangely enough, it wasn’t until after the lens was created that the original founder of PeakVision started to think about markets.

“What we did at that point was to look into sports,” Feaser explained.

Eventually they settled on golf with dual zone lenses which are gold on the bottom half and gray on the top.

"“They make greens pop, fairways pop. You get a much better read of your green, and you have the neutral gray up top that gives you a great glare blocker as far as tracking your long shots and your drives,” he added."

Don’t let the all the technological mumbo jumbo behind the making of PeakVision sunglasses get in the way. You don’t need to make a laser. You just want to be able to see the greens with clarity.

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You can choose from nine styles, and two come with polarization. ( $150 and up at www.peakvision.com) The Orlando Sentinel liked them so much it called PeakVision sunglasses one of the best products at last winter’s PGA Merchandise Show.

Now are these sunglasses going to keep you from missing putts? Sorry. That’s on you. But at least you’ll be able to see your mistakes clearly.

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