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Swingbyte 2 Golf Swing Analyzer: Editor Review

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When Swingbyte, a lightweight swing analyzer that provides robust data and 360-degree views of your swings, burst onto the scene at the 2012 PGA Show, I wrote that it would be the best new golf instruction product of 2012. While many products were released, including a plethora of swing analyzers, the original Swingbyte stood out from the crowd and exceeded my expectations.

This year they did it again by releasing Swingbyte 2, a combination of beautifully redesigned hardware and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Swingbyte 2 is available now for $149 and you can learn more by visiting their website at www.swingbyte.com. The companion smartphone and tablet apps can be downloaded free on the iOS and Android app stores. Swingbyte is the complete package. New swing analyzers seem to be popping up on the market every month, but I’ve yet to test one that even comes close to providing the same level of detail, accuracy and user experience that Swingbyte provides.

Quick Highlights for Swingbyte 1 Users

For those of you currently using the original Swingbyte and wondering if you should consider upgrading, I would seriously recommend it. To say the new hardware has been redesigned would be an understatement. The primary issue with the original design was that it required frequent adjustment to keep it aligned on the shaft and providing accurate data. The new wrap-around design virtually eliminates rotation, even if you’re a digger and hitting off mats. Additionally, Swingbyte will still honor the discount code offering existing Swingbyte users a $50 discount on the new hardware.

Pros

  • Beautifully designed hardware and intuitive mobile applications.
  • Accurate and robust swing data.
  • 360-degree views of your swing path.
  • Video capture for side-by-side analysis.
  • Attentive customer support.

Cons

  • Lack of tips or suggestions for improvement based on the data.
  • Data can be overwhelming for some beginners (but can we really consider too much data a con?).

New hardware

Swingbyte DeviceThe new hardware is stunning. We know, just like golf swings, swing analyzers don’t need to be cool looking to be effective, but Swingbyte has designed a visually stunning piece of hardware that stands out from the crowd. More importantly, the wrap-around design serves a very important purpose: It helps keep the Swingbyte from rotating after each shot with a new twist-resistant design.

Instead of utilizing a rubber strap like in the original design, the new hardware has a high-strength rubber and spring-loaded latch. This design makes it easy to attach to any shaft from graphite to steel and holds the Swingbyte tightly in place. I take a healthy divot with my shots, especially my wedges, and tested the new latch system in multiple conditions from bermuda grass fairways to indoor mats, and found that the device only slightly shifted after numerous swings. Even though the latch works in most cases, Swingbyte is focused on continually improving the product and is developing an additional latch option that works better for certain shafts. The latch will be available for free in the next few weeks and will come standard in future shipments.

Swingbyte mobile apps

Swingbyte Mobile AppsThe Swingbyte mobile apps went through a redesign along with the hardware and are available for both smartphones and tablets running Android or iOS. You do not need a Swingbyte 2 to take advantage of the new apps. Pairing the Swingbyte to your devices is quick, easy and follows the typical bluetooth pairing procedure. The device quickly connects whenever the Swingbyte is turned on and I have not experienced any disconnect issues with the new hardware. Before you can hit a shot, you need to enter some basic club information such as length, lie, loft and flex. Having access to this information is another reason Swingbyte provides such accurate data.

To say the Swingbyte application is robust would also be an understatement. The new design has created, in my opinion, the best user experience of any of the swing analyzers on the market today. It should come as no surprise that the experience on tablets exceeds the experience on smartphones, but the Swingbyte team has done an excellent job of understanding the differences between the two form factors and presents an optimal experience for both types of devices. For this review, I’m going to focus on the tablet experience, but I often use the smartphone app on the driving range and golf course.

Within the app, you can clearly and easily access a previous swing in the history, compare two swings together, edit your golf bag, and of course, view your current swing in 3D with all the corresponding data. You have control over the way you view your swing data and can simply view the 3D swing path, just the data alone, or you can view the data and the 3D side-by-side. I’ve always displayed the data side-by-side with the swing path so I can begin to correlate the numbers to what I’m seeing in my swing. With the new application, you can even customize the order the data appears on the screen, allowing you to bring the numbers you most care about to the top of the list. All of these features combine together to create an application that is intuitive and easy to use.

All the data you can handle

Swingbyte Swing DataThe speed of Swingbyte is impressive. It takes very little time for the app to analyze your swing and provide a very comprehensive set of data. You get access to club head speed, club loft, lie angle, face-to-path at impact, attack angle, shaft lean, tempo and all your initial angles around loft, lie and face angle. In addition to providing the raw data, Swingbyte also presents written explanations such as “in-out” for club path or “down” for attack angle, making it easier to understand each data point. You can also see some of the data, such as club head speed and plane angle, in real-time as you review your swings. This has been a powerful feature for friends of mine who have struggled with an early release of the club head resulting in a deceleration of the club through impact. They were able to see their speed reach its maximum point before impact and watch the speed drop through impact. It has been a powerful visual tool to help them understand limitations in their swings.

I’ve compared the Swingbyte data to launch monitors such as Trackman and Foresight, and while we know the Swingbyte (or any swing analyzer) won’t be as accurate as Trackman or similar systems, or provide a direct correlation between all the data points, the numbers it provides are very close. In my testing I’ve found the club head speed to be generally within 2 mph and other data points are similar. Even if they are not 1:1, after you take some swings, you will have data to use as a baseline while you are trying to improve. While Swingbyte does provide a shot shape representation, I haven’t found that to quite as accurate. Most GolfWRX readers would assume that is the case and Swingbyte also acknowledges that without access to actual ball flight information, the shot shape representation is merely a simple estimation. For most of us, we won’t rely on that data point anyway as the 3D path and other numbers are much more valuable.

360-degree swing path views

Swingbyte OverheadI know many of us work on our swings with the help of video (see below for more on this). It is a very powerful tool, but unless we have super slow motion cameras, typical video is only showing us 30 or 60 frames per second. With Swingbyte, you can view the swing from numerous angles including front on, down the line, overhead and also in 3D allowing you to view your swing frame-by-frame from virtually any direction. You can also compare two swings side-by-side.

Having access to a 3D view of the swing is extremely powerful and all the swing analyzers have some version of this feature. In my testing, Swingbyte still comes out ahead in this area. The presentation of the 3D swing path is uncluttered and clear. I’ve been making a major change to my swing plane this past year and the overhead view specifically has been my go-to view. In addition to showing the actual path of the club head, Swingbyte also displays the plane lines. One of the best homemade teaching tools I’ve found for checking your plane is attaching a laser to each end of a dowel rod or club so you can see if your path is tracking down the line. Swingbyte does this automatically, which drastically decreased the amount of time it took me to ingrain the new swing thoughts and technique. I could connect what I was feeling to what was actually happening in my swing, which is a very powerful way to learn.

Game changer: video + 3D swing path

Swingbyte with VideoThis is the new feature of the app that makes me the most excited. With the new version of the Swingbyte application, you can now record and watch video of your recorded swing and 3D swing path side-by-side. This is a true game-changer for golfers learning on their own or even with an instructor. All you have to do is set your mobile device behind you, center the golf ball up inside the circle, and hit your shots. Swingbyte will automatically record your swing and sync the video. The video is saved in the app and you can view it at any time. Out of all the balls I’ve hit during testing, only once did the video not sync up correctly and this was likely do to my own error.

Work on your swing anywhere

Swingbyte works with a real ball or even simply swinging a club and making contact with the ground, although the data is more accurate with a real ball. This gives you the freedom to work on your swing at home or outside on the range. When you’re hitting real shots, you will have detailed data allowing you to really understand the effect your swing has on the ball flight you’re seeing. You have a blend of the rich data of the simulator with the visual feedback of actually seeing your ball fly.

I think a real benefit of Swingbyte is that you can also use it inside and still have the same feedback-driven practice as on the range. If you have a mat and net to hit at home, you now have data to rely on instead of just feel. This also means you can take swings at home without a ball and still have the confidence that you are making good swings.

Online dashboard

Swingbyte DashboardIn addition to having access to your swing history within the mobile application, you also have access to an online dashboard. Every swing you take is saved in the cloud (automatically if you have a data connection or once you are connected to wi-fi) and available on every device and on the website. You can see at-a-glance statistics such as swing speed, daily sessions, total swings, and more. You can slice and dice your data to see how a particular club performed over a set period of time and you can even export your data. You can earn fun badges, such as the “Don’t Hit the Pin” badge for performing a set of three swings in a row all within 3 degree of each other, which provides an element of gameplay.

Just like the applications, you can also view the data and 3D of professional swings. While the total number of pro swings is somewhat limited, and you don’t know anything about the physical makeup of the professional or resulting ball flight, having access to their data does help provide a visual picture for what an optimal swing might look like and also what their data might look like in comparison to yours.

Support @Swingbyte

If the product looks solid, the next important factor for me when buying or recommending a product is its support. Again, this is an area that Swingbyte shines. Its support representatives are quick to answer questions, they have a dedicated support website with lots of answers to frequently asked questions, and even the founders are eager to answer questions, provide support and make sure you are getting the most out of your device.

The Bottom Line

Swingbyte is the most complete swing analyzer I’ve tested and has positively impacted my own game. The new hardware is solid and stable, and the mobile applications provide a rich set of data and 3D animations that will help you understand your swing and improve faster. Avid golfers, beginners just starting out and instructors should all consider adding the Swingbyte to their bags.

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When he is not obsessing about his golf game, Kane heads up an innovation lab responsible for driving innovative digital product development for Fortune 500 companies. He is also the co-founder of RoundShout and creator of Ranger GPS, the free iOS GPS app for the driving range. On a quest to become a scratch golfer, Kane writes about his progress (for better or worse) at kanecochran.com and contributes golf technology-focused articles on GolfWRX.com.

86 Comments

86 Comments

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  13. AG

    Mar 10, 2014 at 9:02 am

    Honestly, save your money before buying this. Or at least try before buying. The numbers produced by Swingbyte are NOTHING like those on Flightscope or Trackman. Trackman had my swings as 0.3 in to out and Swingbyte (used with the same shot) said it was 16 degrees in to out. Swingbyte cant measure the club at impact because of the shock to the shaft. Instead it measures before impact. I bought Swingbyte with very high hopes but really, it is absolutely useless.

  14. Hudson

    Feb 24, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    I was very enthusiast when I bought the Swingbyte 2 but was really disapointed to see the numbers/shots shape provided by the device.

    I hit a lot of shots and literraly noted the result of each one (strainght, draw, fade, hook or slice) and got crazy resultats such as a hook when I was hitting a draw, a hook when I was actually hitting a fade, etc…

    The numbers provided where even crazier with excellent straight shots hit while the system was indicating very closed “path” and “face to path” numbers that would have resulted in strong hooks…I documented every shot and honestly, nothing is consistent, I am very concerned.

    I understand that you can not get a perfect golf simulator for $150 but this device is to me completely inaccuarte and I am a pretty good golfer (12). I would say that only the measure of the tempo and golf head speed are usable which is a bit sad…

  15. chris

    Jan 16, 2014 at 4:06 am

    Kane great review. I looked at the android app for my Microsoft surface2 but I can add it to my ‘wish list’ ! but there is no install button. Does that mean its not compatible with it ?

    • rgb

      May 29, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      Surface Pro 2 runs Windows and Windows correctly does not support Android or iOS apps. So no, it won’t work and you’d have to use an android or apple tablet.

  16. Geo

    Dec 21, 2013 at 10:23 am

    How long, once my Bluetooth pairs ( if it even pairs) does it take after hitting a shot and putting your club down, to analyze your swing and have it reset and ready for your next shot ? On average ?

    Thank you,
    Geo

  17. Ken

    Dec 2, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    does swingbyte2 provide a chart of numbers that are acceptable or in line with a good swing data that we can compare our data against..

    • mike

      Dec 4, 2013 at 5:36 pm

      This is what i want to know also. I’ve bought it but read a few things saying although it gives you a lot of data you don’t really know if what you are doing is correct unless you take it to a pro to get them to look at it. To me this seems pointless. I thought the whole point of a swing analyser was to be able to correct yourself. If i go to a pro i don’t need the swingbyte.

      • Rusty

        Mar 6, 2014 at 8:46 am

        Hoping that a $150 swing analyzer to replace lessons from a golf pro… Realistic expectations? Maybe stop being lazy and try to understand the golf swing (lots of great reading material out there) so that you can use this device as it was originally intended for.

  18. Ppal

    Oct 14, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    Intriguing! Maybe a dumb question, but how do you set up the iPad? Do you use a tripod or something? Is it set up behind/beside you? etc.

    Thanks.

  19. Jim F

    Oct 13, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    I have a tablet with wifi, of course, but not with cellular capabilities. Will this still work? And, how does it measure club head speed by placement on the shaft, as obviously the end of the club travels much faster than the shaft? And does it have to be placed in the exact same place on the shaft each time to get an accurate reading? I know you mention putting club specs in like shaft length and lie, but how does the device know how far up the shaft it is? Thanks!

  20. cretin homes

    Oct 5, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I to find It really helpful & it
    helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to give something back and aid others such as you
    helped me.

  21. Sanjay Pal

    Oct 2, 2013 at 10:23 am

    I received my swingbyte 2 .

    My comments :

    Buy a swing speed device instead of this swingbyte 2 Out of 50 swings I make 2 get recorded. Worst part is have to check after every swing if the swing was recorded and to find out that nothing was recorded.

    Bluetooth gets disconnected half the way with phone and then switch off the phone and on … This set up is highly frustrating . Does any one want this new device half the price ? Sanjay

    • ckbckb

      Nov 11, 2013 at 11:44 am

      Yes Sanjay, I’ll buy it for half price. If you want to, post a reply saying you will. I’ll then post one more reply with an email address that you can contact me on. Cheers.

  22. Pertti Suominen

    Sep 30, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    Kane Cochran / June 25, 2013 at 4:57 pm
    The Android 2.0 app for tablets with in-app video is next up.
    WHEN ???

  23. Jerome

    Sep 27, 2013 at 11:39 am

    As of yesterday, in-app swing video was STILL not available. Any word on this? I’m seriously thinking of returning my swingbyte2

  24. Lou

    Sep 1, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Do any of these devices tie into a simulated course or video game (iOS tiger woods for example)? Would be loads of fun and add some variety to practice. …should be easy enough, right?

  25. TurkishheadPro

    Sep 1, 2013 at 1:53 am

    Was looking forward to the wife bringing my Swingbyte out from the States to Turkey. Currently on back order, says a lot if they are waiting for a shipment. Is it possible to send the data and swing video to a lesson through an email or web platform?

  26. Newton

    Aug 16, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    Need something like “groovemode” for beginning and intermediate players. Add this and…take all my money.

  27. Chris Moreau

    Jul 20, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    Good Review ! Thanks !

    Quick question, is it normal to have to do Stop after one swing and Add for recording the next one ?

    Cheers !

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 25, 2013 at 8:30 am

      Thanks, Chris. That shouldn’t be the case. SB2 is designed to continuously analyze your swings. If you’re having issues definitely reach out to [email protected] and they should be able to get you squared away.

  28. cw

    Jul 16, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Mine doesent work very well,it turns itself off so i have to turn it on almost every time to record a swing.
    Also very slow to connect.Must be something wrong with mine.

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 17, 2013 at 10:07 am

      Swingbyte has an excellent support staff that can talk you through your issue and try to help you get it resolved. Shoot them a note at [email protected]. Hopefully they can get you squared away.

  29. Tom Allinder

    Jul 16, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Kane, thanks for this comprehensive review. This is about the only gizmo-gadget that I DO NOT have yet.

    I really like the Ranger app you created as well!

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 17, 2013 at 10:07 am

      Thanks, Tom, I’m happy you liked the review. You sound like me, you’ve got all the gadgets you can fit in your bag!

      And thanks for your comment about Ranger, I’m excited that you like the app and I appreciate the support!

  30. John

    Jul 11, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Great review. Could people use this as a fitting tool? Or does the lack of carry and roll distance rule this out?

    Also, I am fighting a pull right now with all my clubs. It sounds like this tool will tell me exactly whats happening right?

    Finally, will SB help me with swing sequencing issues? I have a tendency to be too quick with my hands. Will SB tell me when I fail to transition my lower body? I’m guessing no

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 17, 2013 at 10:11 am

      Thanks, John. Swingbyte’s strengths are in the data and path information they deliver about your swing. They don’t have carry and roll numbers because that information cannot be accurately determined without the ball flight. But, they can help you identify if and how the pulls are happening as it relates to the club path and face angle. From there, that info can help you (or you and your Pro) work out how to fix it.

      Sequencing issues are a bit more challenging. There are apps out there that can help in conjunction with SB, but SB’s primary focus is on accurately showing you what the club is doing throughout your swing. Hope that helps.

  31. Sean

    Jul 4, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    While I liked your review, the device seems complicated. By that I mean I’m not sure I would understand what all the data means. Don’t you think that we can sometimes get lost in the numbers?

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 4, 2013 at 11:24 pm

      Thanks, Sean, I’m glad you liked the review. I agree that we can definitely get lost in the numbers sometimes, and SB provides a ton of valuable data. Others here have recommended taking the numbers to a Pro (or using this with the Pro) and focusing on just a few important numbers. Thats an excellent idea. SB does provide high level explanations of each data point as well, which at least provides a base.

      But one cool thing I like about SB, is that I can turn the data off. You have the option to show the 3D Swing Path, the Data, or show both on the screen. If you’re a visual learning, the path might be all you need to improve. If you’re a data junkie (and I’m guilty of that), you can see both. But the choice is yours. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

  32. toehit

    Jul 3, 2013 at 12:33 am

    Hi, Kane. I find your review quite helpful. I have read the thread on the sky caddie product as well. The distinct feature about that was the groove. I wonder if you have had any experience with that? I am in market for a swing analyzer product as I like to tinker with my swing a lot on my own late at night :)Thank you once again for a detailed review.

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 3, 2013 at 11:04 am

      Thanks, toehit, I’m glad you found the review helpful. Sounds like we’re very similar, I’m definitely a tinkerer too! I have not had a lot of hands-on experience with the sky caddie product, although I’d love to give it a thorough test. I’ve heard good things about Groove and if I get a chance to check it out, I’d be happy to share any thoughts.

  33. Mike

    Jul 1, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Quick question, this product excites me but…

    Angle of Attack is an important figure in my game. If I read this correctly this can be 6 degrees out?

    So I could be hitting -1 and recieving a figure of +5 or -7?

    Am i wrong in this?

    Cheers,

    Mike

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 1, 2013 at 11:28 am

      Hi Mike – Angle of Attack is important to my game as well and something I’ve been working on (to shallow it out a bit). I’m not sure where the 6º number came from exactly. But, while I haven’t spent a ton of time comparing directly to Trackman (or similar) numbers, when I have, the data has been pretty accurate. There are other excellent sources online that have done similar (and more scientific) tests and they have found the numbers to be pretty accurate as well. Also, even if the number presented isn’t 100% accurate to the degree, as I’ve hit more swings and collected baseline data, I’ve been able to see how swing changes have affected that specific number and I know if I’m heading in the right direction. I’m happy they report that specific piece of data. Hope that helps.

  34. Kirby

    Jul 1, 2013 at 12:00 am

    This thing is exactly what i have been looking for, it shows me all the flaws in my swing path,plane and clubface position.If you have any education in the mechanics of e golfswing, this is truly invaluable.One problem though,it stopped recording my swings after 2 days. I sent a e- mail to support on saturday. Hoping to hear something back monday because this has improved my swing already. My pro is going to pick one up this week if it is reliable.

    • Kane Cochran

      Jul 1, 2013 at 11:29 am

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Kirby! SB2 has come a long way from SB1 and its a much more stable product. The Swingbyte support team is very attentive, which is another plus.

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    Jun 28, 2013 at 11:55 am

    We’re several grouped volunteers plus opening up a new structure in your community. Your website presented us all with worthwhile details to operate on. You might have done an impressive job and also our full set will probably be thankful for your requirements.

  36. Grant

    Jun 28, 2013 at 5:16 am

    Thanks for the review Kane. Any chance we might see a digital swing analyzer shoot out with all these little gadgets available on the market to be done on WRX?

  37. Paul

    Jun 27, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Is it available in the uk yet ?

    • Jon

      Jun 28, 2013 at 2:20 am

      Hi Paul, received mine from UK supplier yesterday. Only used in my living room to hit a couple of chips into my sofa, and love it!

  38. John

    Jun 26, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    When you say “Swingbyte is the most complete swing analyzer I’ve tested” can you tell us what other ones you have tested so we can know what’s included in tha group? Hate to buy this and then have you review one of the others in a month and says that’s the best you’ve tested…

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 26, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      Hi John. I’d love to test all of them, but I haven’t had the chance yet. I have tested a few of the others such as 3Bays GSA Putt and Pro (both really good, too). I’m actually working on a review of PUTT now that might make it online. There are great aspects to each of the swing analyzers I’ve tested. But what I can say is that this particular review is based on over a year of actual experience with the product and reflects how I feel about Swingbyte. I hope it serves as a good overview of the key features.

  39. G

    Jun 26, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    How does this measure swing speed given that it’s at the base of the grip, how does it factor in additional length (say +1/2″ on an iron)

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 26, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      There is a Golf Bag section of the app (tied to your account so you can edit it online as well) that allows you to enter all the details of your specific clubs including length, loft and lie. The club-specific data is used in their final calculations.

  40. Steve

    Jun 26, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    is it also useful for putting, or just full swing analysis?

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 26, 2013 at 4:50 pm

      Yes, you can also use it for putting. The same data points are available as well as the 3D path.

      • Duane Engdahl

        Jul 4, 2013 at 10:15 am

        I am the putter physicist/designer at Quantum Golf Putters and we were very excited about your product. Our putting scientist ordered one because we were led to believe that it would work on putters.
        .
        It does work on putters that have high impact vibration (light weight heal shafted putters), but it does not work on our putters because we have made minimizing shaft vibration a priority.

        So Quantum Putters do not trigger your device on putts less than 30 feet. That is a disappointment for us, but you still have a great product.

        • Kane Cochran

          Jul 4, 2013 at 11:22 am

          Hi Duane – Thanks for your comment! I’ve tested SB on many putters and they all have registered enough vibration to trigger a hit, so it is very interesting to hear from you and your specific putter. I haven’t had the opportunity to roll putts with a Quantum Putter, but I can say they have one of the most unique, yet simple designs I’ve seen. I’m sure rolling putts with one is a very unique experience and I hope to try one out some time. Thanks for your comment.

        • Alex (Swingbyte)

          Jul 5, 2013 at 3:15 pm

          Duane – our support team has been working with your scientist, and we think it’s a one-off issue, not something to do with the putter itself. It should work fine, but we’ll keep working with Rick to get to the bottom of this!

          Thanks,
          Alex.

  41. steve

    Jun 25, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Is the Andriod version the same and is the Video avaible on all devices

    Download it for my Acer 101 and can see video

    Need to know before I commit

    Steve
    UK

    • steve

      Jun 25, 2013 at 4:20 pm

      Should have said can NOT see video

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 25, 2013 at 4:57 pm

      Hey Steve. The Android 2.0 app for tablets with in-app video is next up. The company said it should be available within weeks. App updates for iPhones and Android smartphones will follow, although the smaller screen size of phones won’t allow for side-by-side comparison, you will be able to toggle between the video and the data. I hope that helps.

  42. Eric H

    Jun 25, 2013 at 11:58 am

    No tips on what is wrong and how to improve…epic fail in my opinion.
    Especially when most of the competition is providing this feedback.
    It seems like if you can interpret the data that you are likely a very experienced player with a decent swing to begin with.

    The high capper like myself can have all in the info in the world but without help on how to interpret it, it might as well be in another language.

    • Michael

      Jun 25, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      this is a device to help monitor the in mesearuables…not a golf coach.
      take the data to your golf instructor and he/she should be able to help u

  43. Nick

    Jun 25, 2013 at 10:24 am

    I pre-ordered SB2 and have been very happy with it. Unlike the previous version I do not find that it swivels around the club (fatal for data accuracy) except on rare occasions, perhaps two or three times per large bucket.

    The only thing I would say about the data accuracy is that I feel the driver can get a little off due to rotational torgue in the shaft making a reading by the grip(where the device is placed) differ from a true club head reading.

    I don’t believe the design of any of the competition devices would not also suffer from this same defect. For 150 dollars, your getting data that is more than accurate enough to be commensurate with the price. Demanding trackman accuracy from a device that is literally less than 1 percent of the cost of a trackman is just not fair or reasonable. You just need the device to be internally accurate so that you can tell what numbers are producing your best shots, and see how bad shots are deviating from those numbers and whether the fixes you’re attempting are actually getting you any closer to your target numbers. That’s what I purchased the device for and I have found it very helpful.

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 25, 2013 at 11:29 am

      I completely agree with you, Nick. Spot on comment.

      • Michael

        Jun 25, 2013 at 2:04 pm

        curious if this has any options to help with tempo

        • Kane Cochran

          Jun 25, 2013 at 3:00 pm

          Yep. It measures time to top and top to impact and gives you a tempo number. You’ll be able to take a look and adjust (if necessary).

  44. James Waletzky

    Jun 24, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    Nice review. Thanks.

    I have a SB2 and have been pretty happy. It does have one flaw in that the cover over top of the USB port comes off and/or breaks. The support staff at SwingByte was fantastic about it though, sending me a couple of replacements. I secured it in place with an elastic, which works okay. If this is the “latch” that you are talking about for the future, I look forward to receiving it.

    All in all, very satisfied with the purchase. The software is well done, but I would agree with the sentiment that there is not enough advice for what to do based on the numbers. I would appreciate at least trying any tips it could provide. The numbers are a little overwhelming.

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 25, 2013 at 9:23 am

      Thanks for your comment and insight into your experience with the product, James. I’ve noticed the USB port cover a couple times, too, especially when the device is lower on the handle than it should be. When I have it up by the grip, the grip seems to actually keep it in place. I totally dig the alignment line, but agree that if the cover could stay slightly more connected it would be good.

      The new latch is actually the rubber/latch combo that tightens and secures SB to the shaft. It works well for the majority of shafts, but for some shafts out there, the latch still doesn’t provide a secure enough fit, so they are creating another version.

    • Nick

      Jun 25, 2013 at 10:27 am

      I also agree the USB cover opens way too much, it’s a slight nuisance but doesn’t affect the performance of the device vis a vis the data like a rotation of the device around the shaft would, so frankly, I just ignore it most of the time.

  45. Sean

    Jun 24, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    SwingByte

  46. M.S.

    Jun 24, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    Will the device attempt to calculate a carry distance for the swing?

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 24, 2013 at 6:17 pm

      Swingbyte does not estimate carry distance at this time. Other swing analyzers on the market do attempt to estimate carry distance, but SB has decided to focus only on numbers related to the actual swing.

  47. John

    Jun 24, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    Great review, when you say “The latch will be available for free in the next few weeks and will come standard in future shipments.”

    Does that mean people who buy the device now will get the upgraded latch later for free, its user replaceable?

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 24, 2013 at 4:55 pm

      Thanks, John.

      Yes, SB will be emailing current owners with instructions when the new latch is ready to go. They will ship it out to you free and the old latch just pops out and the new one pops in.

  48. Deepy

    Jun 24, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Haha, this device looks like a lot of fun for the number guys out there.

    Is the tool able to measure/display the closure rate of the clubface or face angle around impact, not only at adress and impact?

    • Kane Cochran

      Jun 24, 2013 at 2:41 pm

      SB2 will definitely make the numbers guys happy! You can also simply view the 3D swing path if you’re not as interested in the numbers.

      There are a few data points that you can watch in “real time” including clubhead speed, plane angle and face-to-plane. Unfortunately, face angle to path or address is only available at address and impact.

      • Deepy

        Jun 24, 2013 at 3:15 pm

        Thx for the quick reply, I think face-to-plane in “real time” should give you a good idea of the closure rate, shouldn’t it?
        Especially if you’re not looking for absolute numbers but for date to compare…

      • Michael

        Jun 25, 2013 at 2:11 pm

        i checked out your app and it looks awesome
        anything available for android?

        • Kane Cochran

          Jun 25, 2013 at 2:59 pm

          @Michael Yep, Swingbyte is available on Android devices as well. Gingerbread and Honeycomb or later.

          • Stephen Bright

            Oct 4, 2013 at 12:32 am

            Hi Kane, what you have neglected to mention or perhaps realize is it the new app is not fully compatiable with android. The main reason I chose this product over others was the ability to use video but this does apply for android hardware as I found out very disappointing and misleading is not mention anywhere and a worry that you missed it too.

      • Chris

        Jun 27, 2013 at 1:06 pm

        On the dashboard there is the face angle to path viewable in every clubheadposition… Not only at address and impact.
        So it is possible to see the closing rate…

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Accessory Reviews

Insider photos from Tiger Woods’ launch event for his new “Sun Day Red” apparel line

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On Monday evening, inside the swanky, second-story “Coach House” event center in the Palisades Village, just minutes down the road from the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods and TaylorMade officially announced their new apparel/footwear/accessory line, called “Sun Day Red.”

The Sun Day Red website officially launched on Monday night during the event, and the products are set to go on sale starting May 1.

The “Sun Day Red,” or “SDR” name will be self-explanatory for most golf fans, since he’s been wearing a victory-red shirt on Sunday’s for his entire professional career, but Woods explained the meaning of Sun Day Red at the launch event:

“It started with mom. Mom thought – being a Capricorn – that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red; Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

The Sunday Red outfit has worked to perfection for his 82 PGA Tour victories, including 15 majors, so why not make an entire apparel line based on the career-long superstition?

As I learned at Monday’s launch event, the new Sun Day Red line includes much more than just clothing. To go along with a slew of different golf shirt designs and colorways, there were also windbreakers, hoodies, shoes, hats, headcovers, ball markers and gloves on display.

The upscale event was hosted by sports media personality Erin Andrews, with special guests David Abeles (CEO of TaylorMade) and Tiger Woods himself.

As explained by Abeles, the Sun Day Red brand is an independently-run business under the TaylorMade umbrella, and is based in San Clemente, California (rather than Carlsbad, where TaylorMade headquarters is located), and it’s run by a newly-formed, independent group. Brad Blackinship, formerly of Quiksilver and RVCA, is the appointed president of the new brand.

As for the logo itself, obviously, it’s made to look like a Tiger (the animal), and is comprised of 15 tiger stripes, which correspond with Woods’ 15 major championships. While the logo may need a 16th stripe if Woods adds a major trophy to his collection, it makes perfect sense for the time being.

The golf/lifestyle line is meant to combine premium precision and athletic comfort, while still having plenty of wearability and style off the course. Like Woods said on stage at the event, he wants to be able to go right from the course to dinner wearing Sun Day Red, and that was exactly the aesthetic on display at the event on Monday.

Following the official announcement from Woods and Abeles, they revealed multiple pieces of clothing, accessories and footwear for the event-goers to ogle (and photograph). Check out a selection of product/event photos below, or head over to our @GolfWRX Instagram page for video coverage…OR, head into our GolfWRX Forums for even more photos and member discussion.

Enjoy this exclusive look at Tiger Woods’ new Sun Day Red apparel lineup below.

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

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Accessory Reviews

GolfWRX Spotlight: Motocaddy M7 Remote and M5 GPS DHC electric cart review

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I have been thinking about electric golf push carts, or trollies, ever since I started playing in my league seven years ago.

Motocaddy has been making high-quality electric, and non-electric, carts since 2004 and has a couple of great options for the golfer who loves to walk. Motocaddy was nice enough to get their M7 Remote and M5 GPS DHC in my hands to try out on the course for a few weeks.

I have had a lot of people stop me to ask about the carts, and the one thing I keep telling them is that these carts are just flat out fun to use on the course.

Motocaddy M7 Remote

The M7 Remote was very easy to get set up right out of the box. All you have to do is charge the battery, install the wheels, and you are pretty much ready to go. The M7 folds up pretty small, just a little larger than the 3-wheel pushcart that I had been using for years. Getting it to the course should be no problem with just about any trunk space. Now, the one downside to an electric cart is the weight when moving it around, and both carts come in at around 35 pounds each. Even with that extra weight, I didn’t have much trouble lifting them in and out of the back of a pickup.

The M7 unfolds quickly with the flick of two levers and extends the front wheels automatically. Once unfolded, you drop in the battery, plug it in, and secure your bag. If you own a Motocaddy bag, they have developed a really nice system called EasiLock that involves two metal studs that fit into the bottom of the cart. This system also includes a molded base that prevents the bag from rotating at all, even on the roughest terrain. You can still use the M7 with almost any other golf bag as it includes elastic straps that wrap around the top and bottom of the bag.

As soon as you plug in the battery the LCD screen comes to life and you are ready to go. You can use the M7 without the remote by using the dial on the handle to control the starting, stopping, and speed. But the M7 has a remote that is activated by a simple press of the power button to get going. The remote is very simple with just five buttons to control where the M7 goes.

Getting a feel for the M7 takes no time at all and by the time you drive it from your car to the 1st tee you will be in complete, and confident, control of the cart. You simply press the “+” button to start moving forward and the cart takes off gently without any rattling of your clubs, and you can press that same button again to increase the speed. The cart will go from a slow crawl, for bumpy or tight areas, too, as fast as I could run with just a few presses of the button. The big red “stop” button in the center stops the cart immediately, and when stopped it is locked in place, even on steep hills. You don’t have to worry about remembering to set the brakes or anything because it is done automatically.

Steering is just as easy: simply press the right or left button to turn the cart. Small, quick presses will just slightly adjust the cart as it moves down the fairway while a long hold of the button can make it turn on a dime to the right or left.

Almost everyone asked me how stable the cart was and if it would tip over. I can proudly say that it has stayed upright even on some unseen bumps at maximum speed. Side hills, ruts, and even curbs are handled with ease with the help of the small rear wheel.

I really enjoy strolling down the fairway with nothing but the M7’s remote in my hand — it just makes golfing more fun!

Motocaddy M5 GPS DHC

After using the M7 and its fancy remote, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like not having it. But to be honest the M5 was just as fun to use, but for a different reason.

As the name suggests, the M5 has a built-in GPS with 40,000 courses preloaded into it. The screen is a good size, pretty responsive to the touch, and easy to read in direct sunlight. Having the GPS directly on the cart is great, you drive up to your ball and immediately have yardage to the front, back, and center of the green as well as bunkers and hazards. You can easily toggle between screens on the GPS and it offers a couple of different views to help navigate the hole. The M5 can also keep score and let you know shot distances right on the screen. Motocaddy even includes nice little touches like a screen protecter kit to ensure durability.

Driving the M5 is just as easy as the M7 with using the dial on the handle. And speaking of the handle, the grips have a great tacky rubber that grips well even in hot and humid conditions. To start the M5 you just press the dial down and the cart will gently start down the fairway. You can turn the dial to increase or decrease the speed — I found between 5-6 to be the most comfortable for me. But the speed can go up to a very fast pace if you are looking to set a record for fastest round of the day.

As you walk down the fairway, or rough, stopping the cart is as simple as pressing he dial again. When stopped the M5 engages a parking brake automatically so you don’t have to worry about it running down a hill without your approval. The M5 has tons of power to go up just about any hill and the Down Hill Control (DHC) keeps the speed consistent even when going down a steep decent.

Since the M5 has so much power, and it is a little heavy, I thought steering would be a little bit of a challenge. It wasn’t, at all. Guiding the M5 took very little effort and slight adjustments going down the fairway were very easy. Really tight turns took a slight bit more effort as the torque can want to go forward a little more than turn. Again, once you get the M5 from the car to the first tee, you will be a master at driving it.

Overall, Motocaddy has created two great carts that provide additional enjoyment to walking your favorite 9 or 18. Having the ability to walk without carrying or pushing your bag, clubs, and whatever else goes with you. I like them so much that it is going to be hard to get the M7’s remote out of my hands when I go play!

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Accessory Reviews

GolfWRX Spotlight: Crossrope weighted jump rope & app

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An 18-hole round of golf averages out to just under five miles of walking, which on its own is a good workout. Once you throw in some potential uphill trekking you get some serious cardio too, but if you all looking for a quick workout between rounds of golf look no further than Crossrope.

Crossrope – The details

Crossrope is a system of the weighted jump rope that allows you to quickly switch the weight of the ropes you are using to boost your workout—they range from 1/4 lbs all the way up to 2 lbs depending on the kit you start out with. There is an accompanying app that helps you go through multiple workout routines and is available free, or you can upgrade to the entire library of workout routines along with more workout tracking options.

This is NOT your middle school jump rope

The handles are heavy duty and feature precision bearings to allow the rope to move smoothly around as you go through a routine. They are also ergonomic and fit into your hand naturally, which making gripping easy, something that is really nice when you’re swinging a 2 lbs coated steel cable around. The handles also come with a fast clip system to make changing cables depending on your selected workout easier too.

The ropes themselves are made from braided steel and are almost impossible to tangle, allowing them to be easily transported and stored when not in use. All in you are getting a premium piece of workout equipment that is effective and easy to store—hard to same the same thing about a treadmill.

When it comes to a workout, skipping rope is one of the most effective cardio workouts you can do, and with Crossrope, you can get both cardio and low impact weight training when using the heaviest ropes, and follow along with the guided workouts.

As someone that hadn’t used a jump rope in over a decade, starting out lighter was a nice way to ease in before moving up, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy and fun some of the workouts in the app were. If you are looking for a fun way to add something to your workouts, or you just want to try something new to get you into golf course walking shape, this could be right up your alley. To learn more check out crossrope.com

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