As the golf season quickly approaches and you start thinking about birdies and bogeys, you also start the task of working on your swing and getting it perfected for the new year.
A new device that debuted at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando this week will give you instant feedback on your swing and it's very easy to use.
Swingbyte is a sensor that you can attach to your golf club. Weighing in at less than one ounce, the Swingbyte fits on the shaft of a golf club and transmits a digitized version of a golf swing along with key swing statistics to your very own smartphone or tablet. The swing information and graphics can be viewed by golfers and instructors immediately or archived for future reference and analysis.
By using an advanced mathematical algorithm and Bluetooth connectivity, Swingbyte digitizes a golfer’s swing and communicates in real time, taking into account club head speed, swing path and impact angle.
"Swingbyte is personalized golf instruction for the digital age," said Brian Payne, a former PGA Professional who is vice president of business development for Chicago-based Swingbyte. "It’s the most objective, convenient and affordable way golfers can learn about their swing and improve their game."
Swingbyte complements the personal instruction teachers provide, according to Dr. Jim Suttie, who owns the Jim Suttie Golf Academies at Cog Hill G&CC in Lemont, Ill., and The Club at TwinEagles in Naples, Fla.
"You can make a swing look as pretty as you want, but if you don’t really know what’s happening at impact it doesn’t really matter how good that swing looks," said Dr. Suttie, a former PGA of America Teacher of the Year who is ranked 15th among America’s 50 Greatest Teachers by Golf Digest. "You need something to verify what you as the instructor believes needs to be corrected, and that’s what Swingbyte gives you."
A representative of Swingbyte told me the device can be used by beginning, advanced and tour level players.
Swingbyte will also offer a group of nationally respected instructors and club professionals who are part of the Swingbyte network. Participating PGA Professionals will share in the revenue created by golfers who choose Swingbyte’s premium content option. "It's all about working together," stated a rep at the Swingbyte exhibit in Orlando.
The Swingbyte and app are to be released April 1, and can be ordered online at www.swingbyte.com.
The cost will be $149 and it will be available on the iOS and Android platforms. Some premuim options will also be available for purchase. It appears to be a device you can use by yourself, with a friend or PGA teaching pro to improve your game.
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