There’s a lot of cool gear in the world of golf equipment that doesn’t always fit rightMost searched textsoBuyer’s guide. You also want to know how it works. In our We Tried It series, we put the tools to the test and let you know if they work as advertised.
What we tried
The Infraway L1. A heating/recovery tool that uses topical and infrared heat.
Who is tested
Tyler, Manager of Testing Goods.
I’ve dealt with chronic back pain for years, so it’s worth sharing my injury story firsthand. At 17, I herniated multiple discs in my lower back and currently manage that pain on a daily basis.
First things first: As you can tell from the picture above, the L1 is discreet.
I’ve tried too many recovery gadgets from companies like Hyperice, random Amazon brands and even homemade concoctions and this is by far the thinnest. When looking for a recovery device, being thin shouldn’t be part of the criteria, but it should be if you’re looking to multitask. The L1 is designed to be used while playing golf or doing other activities.
Also, the L1 is silent. I use tools like a massage gun that are loud in the office and my colleagues don’t appreciate the distraction. If you need a tool like this, but have been held back by the noise they make, the L1 solves this problem completely.
As for setup, it took 30 seconds to have the L1 fully ready to go. Strap the L1 around your lower back and then download the app that you can get on both iOS and Android that connects the L1 to your phone via Bluetooth. Once connected, control the session timing and temperature. The app works perfectly and the connection to the L1 was almost instantaneous.
The L1 offers heat from 100-140°F (38-60 C). I was informed by Infraway to start at about 120 degrees and try different temperatures after getting used to a lower setting. At 120 degrees, I feel a soft and gentle heat. When I moved to 130, it was noticeably hotter. When I finally hit 140, it was on the border of too hot and perfect.
When the L1 pressed against my skin at 140, it was too hot. When I wore it with my back straight in a normal posture, it felt good. If you’re anything like me, that “too hot” feeling is useful and enjoyable in small bursts. Just be careful and pay attention to your tolerance level.
Now for the biggest win (drum roll, please).
When I put the L1 on my back and hit a few dozen shots, I noticed a much faster payoff from ice to full heat. I would say it normally takes me five to 10 minutes to warm up and the L1 had me warm in three or four. The L1 won’t fix your golf swing, but it will help you warm up faster. It is clear that you are a better golfer when you are fully warmed up.
I was skeptical about whether the L1 would get in the way of my golf swing, but I was able to swing my clubs normally without any interference from the L1. In theory, you could play a full round of golf with the L1 and use intermittent heat. From my experience, the battery will drop 10-12 percent during a 20 minute session.
The other game changer is the ability to use the L1 when it’s cold outside. Cold weather makes your body stiff and the L1 gives you a chance to warm it back up. I took the L1 outside on a stormy day and felt immediate relief similar to holding a pair of HotHands.
When testing golf products, I have found many that are good but not great. The L1 easily earned a place in my top five products tested in 2026. My back felt noticeably better and I noticed an increase in mobility during and after use. That “stiff” feeling that those with chronic back pain get used to was minimized and that alone is a major win. The goal is not to fix your back, but to manage those symptoms while continuing the activities you enjoy.
The L1 is $199. Some might argue that $199 is too steep, but it really just depends on where you are in your golf journey.
If you don’t have chronic pain and have a robust warm-up routine, you may not need the L1 (but who wouldn’t want to see their warm-up routine sped up?). If you are like me and always need something to manage your symptoms, the L1 should be on your radar.
The place This Golf Gadget aims to cut your warm-up time in half appeared first MyGolfSpy.
