Technology is definitely making the sport of golf easier to understand, from score keeping apps to laser finders, there is a gadget for every golfer these days. And for those we like to know exactly what they’re doing with their golf swing there is Swingbyte 2. It is a lightweight swing analyzer that provides a robust amount of data to help golfers perfect their swings. With the Swingbyte 2 device, we had a guest tester spend the last month testing and comparing the device with the original Swingbyte. Take a look at our guest write up below on the Swingbyte 2!
Yes to the hardware re-design!
We were excited to try out the Swingbyte 2 and compare it to the original that was released back in 2012. The changes to the design of the hardware may not be too noticeable with a quick glance, but boy were they needed. If you used the original Swingbyte, you knew fairly quickly what some of the design flaws were. The original Swingbyte was poorly secured to the side of the shaft of the club with a rubber strap that almost never kept the device in place. The Swingbyte 2 got rid of the strap and replaced it with a new wrap around redesign that locks the device to the golf club and is much more effective with keeping the device in place. Another great addition to the Swingbyte 2 is an alignment line on the hardware to help the user line up the device on the shaft. A big thumb’s up for the designers for addressing these issues, keeping it simple for the users, and keeping the weight of the device low.
Let’s swing away!
The Swingbyte 2 remains a small and portable device that is simple to operate and with the improved design and better features than when the original was first released, fans of the original Swingbyte should definitely consider upgrading to the Swingbyte 2. The Swingbyte 2 remains easy to pair with both Android and iOS devices and is easy to navigate through the app. The Swingbyte 2 continues to provide an abundance of data for the users and the website does it’s best to try to explain how to decipher the data. The option of viewing the swing analysis graphics by either down the target line, face-on, or from above is also very beneficial and informative. However, the biggest change from the original launch is the option to record video of the swing and comparing that in a side-by-side comparison. From my personal experience, seeing my swing was the quickest way for me to understand what was happening and identifying flaws, so the addition of the video option to go with the data really made the Swingbyte 2 a more useful device to improve my swing mechanics.
What I feel are some of the challenges with the original remained with the second version. I think for many users, the amount of data that the Swingbyte 2 provides can be overwhelming and too much to actually fully comprehend. Like anything else that requires data analysis, without the proper context and understanding of what the numbers mean, the data probably isn’t very useful. For many amateurs, understanding the data may not be enough to help improve their golf swing. If my data is indicating that my swing is too shallow or steep, what do I need to do to correct that? What is the ideal shaft lean, and what do I need to do to improve that number? The answer is to see my local teaching professional. We also had the occasional inconsistent recording with the video option, which was only somewhat annoying when we had hit a good shot.
Swingbyte 2 (left) VS. Swingbyte (right)
Final Thoughts
For those that are beginners in the sport or less knowledgeable about proper swing mechanics, I would suggest that there are better options to spend your time at the driving range with than using a swing analyzer. There are great books available to understand the fundamentals of the golf swing that would be a better starting point, and of course, lessons with your local teaching professional would be more useful to start.
But for those that are enjoying the use of the original Swingbyte, the Swingbyte 2 is an improved device with a better design and definitely worth looking into. The Swingbyte 2 is also useful for the knowledgeable mid-handicapper or lower that is taking some lessons at the local driving range to hone their game and can have their teaching professional look at the data with them. It won’t be as accurate as a Trackman, but it’s super portable, a fraction of the cost of a Trackman, and can provide useful information for discussion during the lesson. With Christmas shopping just a couple of months away, this device will be on more than a few wish lists from the avid golfer that already has everything.
Source: Swingbyte
