THE GOODS : Get Into the Swing

Golfers can thank a non-golfing Canadian inventor for another device that promises to help improve their swing. It’s the clever Accu-Master, a liquid crystal pad that attaches to the club face and lights up instantly when it hits the ball, showing whether one is hitting the ball in the right spot.

The indicator lights for 15 to 20 seconds, giving the practicing golfer enough time to check where the club is impacting the ball. It then fades away for the next hit.

Alignment lines on the pad show the natural lie of the golf club, and reusable adhesive allows the Accu-Master to be moved from club to club or saved for later use. Each Accu-Master will last up to 150 swings. Because it is liquid crystal and sensitive to temperature, Accu-Master comes in two temperature ranges, 40 to 70 degrees and 70 to 100 degrees.

“Accu-Master clearly defines the contact point between club and ball after the swing is made, and how close you are to the ‘sweet spot,’ ” says Bob Toski, a teaching pro from Boca Raton, Fla., who endorses the device. “In a short time, you can clearly see and identify the improvement made in your golf swing.”

Distributed by ProActive Sports in Canby, Ore., Accu-Master is available at Roger Dunn golf shops and Golf Marts. Or order it for $4.95, including shipping and handling, by calling (800) 925-6535.

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A Look Back: This month Magnavox is introducing a new line of 27-, 32- and 35-inch televisions with built-in instant replay capability.

The Instant Relay TVs have a window in the upper right corner that will hold the last eight seconds of what you just watched. Users simply push one button on the remote to store the images, which then can be replayed in either normal speed or slow motion. No VCR is required.

The Instant Replay models, which have solid-state memory devices, will range in price from $650 to $1,100 depending on the size of the TV screen.

Get Your Kicks: Travelers may want to check out the new Route 66 personal travel guide software for Windows 95, Windows 3.1 and Apple Power Macintosh computers.

This guide, developed in the Netherlands, automatically calculates the shortest, quickest or least expensive route between U.S. cities, and can offer a comprehensive view of a trip. Users will find it easy to determine the exact distance to travel, which roads to use and how long the trip will take. They can specify interstate highways or secondary roads, or use another feature that calculates bike routes.

Route 66 ($59.95) features the U.S. map, but users may get maps of additional countries for $35 each. For more information call, (800) 569-0878.