Our first electronic device was Sportek Swing Analyzer. Utilizing overhead lighting, a mat with sensors captured data from the shadow line. Club speed, face angle at setup and impact, and path information was gleaned. It was impressive at the time.
A weight shift platform was available at a latter date, first hydraulic, then a solid-state version. WAVI (Weight Analysis Video Interface) was ahead of its time and it gave us dynamic weight values which were conveniently displayed in a user-friendly formant.
Next for us was Swing Dynamics, which featured high speed cameras (1/19,000 sec ), a ball that required a line around the perimeter—aligned carefully—giving us real ball data, such as launch angle, speed, and spin as well as improved club data.
The “3D” version followed. This added angular spin values, and brought good data, but could be a challenge to capture correctly. Many of our customers remember the black velcro legging frequently required to provide the correct contrast with the ball. This brought more science into fitting than ever before. Shops like ours, that were willing to invest, found that good launch monitors were available.
EDH Flightscope, with phase array radar, followed. We were one of their first customers in the US. When new units became available we upgraded. Radar reveals info that no camera system can ever provide.
The Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor (LM) provided a tremendous amount of club and ball data. It featured self leveling feet, built in target video, WIFI, and outstanding software. It became a popular choice throughout the world.
The Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor featured a user friendly interface with good club description and selection. It was invaluable for teaching and fitting because there were screens full of detailed data, displayed in an intuitive format.
The speed profile screen provided insight on tempo and could show any inefficiencies in the swing. The acceleration profile assists in identifying optimal shaft flex as well.
The visual aspect it had clearly showed horizontal and vertical path, which helped the client understand one of the contributing factors to excessive backspin: a too steep of a vertical angle of attack. Its horizontal path view clearly shows club influence on spin axis/sidespin, and how it effects ball flight. The angles page opened up three revealing 3D views of “Club Delivery”.
This software allowed us to see an effective club comparison, from a downline view, or ranked by your choice of numerous other values.
Many of our customers have been coming for decades, and we have seen performance changes together. One of the most frequent issues is a loss of distance. Flightscope has allowed us to maintain an extensive history of the customer’s sessions, which can be reviewed to compare changes in all data, including club speed and rotation… two big factors in achieving distance. The data can also be emailed to the customer.
The X2 was supplemented by a stereoscopic camera launch monitor made by Foresight called the CG2. It featured their Head Measurement Technology (HMT), and offered the latest steroscopic camera system in golf.
The CG@ provided comprehensive data, and its ability to capture the precise impact location is really cool, and without impact tape too!
The end-result is an ability to capture real spin and launch value, and accumulates a pattern to reveal the consistency of center hits for each club.
As you enter the new golf season, and are reevaluating your equipment, feel confident in knowing DeMane Golf has just replaced both the Flightscope G2 with its latest successor: the G3, and the same holds true for Foresight’s G2: we now have their newest GCGuad. Both raise the bar for the most-precise custom fitting studios anywhere.
We’ve also doubled down on our investment in the newest Flightscope X3, and Foresight GCQuad, with the addition of two Mevo Portable Personal Launch Monitors. The Mevos have a 3D Doppler radar based launch monitor that can be used in other situations where we want critical data—club and ball speed, launch, carry, spin, and smash data—in either tandem with our X3/G2 HMT, or during over activities.
