Equipment
Swingbyte for Google Glass offers hands-free swing data
Swingbyte, an innovative, lightweight swing analyzer we have covered here and here on GolfWRX, today becomes the second golf-related app to release Glassware for Google Glass. With the Swingbyte and Google Glass, a pair of internet-connected glasses with an optical display, golfers now have instant, hands-free access to their Swingbyte data such as swing speed, club face angle, swing path and more.
Wearable technology, especially when it comes to sports, has been on fire lately, and demand and innovation is only expected to keep getting hotter. Google Glass specifically has been spotted in videos from the PGA Tour as early as last year, but momentum has picked up recently with many players putting on Glass to give fans a player’s eye view while they play a practice round. While it isn’t legal to use Glass during official tournament play, Glass is almost perfectly suited for golf, especially during practice.
One of the complaints about technology on the golf course is that it can get in the way or take you out of the moment, especially when you’re grinding on the range. But Glass is a powerful, hands-free display that eliminates the need to fumble around for your smartphone because it presents the information, such as swing data or even the distance to the pin, directly on the screen in front of your eyes.
Swingbyte weighs less than 1 ounce and connects to the shaft of your club to track thousands of data points during your swing and present accurate information such as your clubhead speed, face angle and even 3D animation of your swing. While the golf swing is complex and golfers can easily get data overload, Swingbyte has always tried to be as easy to use and understand as possible, presenting only the information a golfer needs and wants. Creating Glassware was the next logical step in continuing to fulfill that vision.
“We’re continuing to work to bring the ultimate training experience to golfers,” said Alex Pedenko, Swingbyte co-founder and CEO. “We want to not only provide them with useful and accurate data they can use to improve their game, but we want to deliver it in a fun and convenient manner. Teaming up with Google Glass to offer our Glassware is one example of doing just that. Glassware brings a fun and engaging experience to golfers training on the driving range.”
All a golfer has to do is fire up Swingbyte, download the Swingbyte Glassware from the Google Glass App Store and start swinging. Each swing is tracked, analyzed and sent to the Swingbyte cloud to be available for viewing on any device as well as instantly on Glass. Key swing data, including clubhead speed, club path and face to path are presented in a clean, uncluttered view right on Glass. This allows golfers to stay focused on their routine, focused on what they are working on, and not take the time to reach for a smartphone or tablet to view data after every swing.
Swingbyte’s new app for Google Glass gives golfers hands-free viewing of data points such as club path, face-to-path and swing speed.
There is so much technical innovation in golf right now and the real opportunity lies in making sure the technology doesn’t take over and command too much attention to use it. With Glass, Swingbyte has created a powerful blend of golf and technology and opened up a new way for golfers to visualize their swing data that doesn’t require adding any additional steps to a golfer’s routine once they start taking swings.
Just like the iOS and Android apps, the Swingbyte Glassware is free and available through the Google Glass App Store. You will need to purchase the hardware which is available for $169 at www.Swingbyte.com and more than 1,800 AT&T stores and select Golf Galaxy, GolfSmith and Golf Town stores. And oh yeah… you’ll need a Google Glass unit, which is currently only available in limited release for $1500. You can sign up on the Glass website to stay informed of future releases.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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LorenRobertsFan
Apr 23, 2014 at 11:15 am
Extremely small market of people with Google Glass