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Swing Speed Radar™
is a small microwave Doppler (it is slightly
larger than an electronic metronome) that
can measure the swing speed of golfers
and baseball/softball players.
The unit was introduced
to the market in October 2003 and was
recently recognized in the June 2004 issue
of Golf Digest (page 118) as a device
which measures swing speed. Swing Speed
Radar™ was also recognized as one
of thirty products of the year at the
Super Show.
Sales have been brisk
for the unit. At the 2004 PGA Merchandise
Show, Sport Sensors Inc. sold out of all
the units that they had by the second
day of the show.
Swing Speed Radar™
may be purchased for $99.95 by either
calling (888) 542-9246 or by visiting
the manufacturer's website at www.swingspeedradar.com.
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Editor’s Note: Special
thanks to Al Dilz. Al is the President of Sport
Sensors, Inc. which is located in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Al took time out of his busy schedule
to answer questions on several different occasions.
Who is Al
Dilz?
Al Dilz is the President of Sport Sensors Inc.
Al attended Ohio State University and studied
Engineering. After Ohio State, Al spent a few
years in the United States Army and over 30
years designing defense applications, especially
devices that use radar technology.
Al retired from the defense industry in 1995.
In simple terms, Al is a man who knows what
he is doing when it comes to designing radar
devices such as the Swing Speed Radar™
.
Can Swing Speed
Radar™ be used for any other sports?
Yes. Swing Speed Radar™ can also be used
to measure the swing speed of baseball and softball
players.
Sport Sensors Inc. also have other radar devices
for baseball (Glove Radar) as well as radar
instruments for sports such as archery and paintball.
Who should buy
Swing Speed Radar™ ?
According to Dilz, instructors across the country
as well as club makers are using Swing Speed
Radar™ .
The device can be particularly useful for club
makers to help measure client swing speeds so
that proper shaft fittings can be done.
Another obvious audience for the Swing Speed
Radar™ is golfers of all skill levels,
but particularly recreational golfers.
However, I think a word of caution is needed.
Swing Speed Radar™ should be used, I believe,
as a tool to help gauge how well your practice
sessions are either improving or hindering your
swing speed. I would not, however, have it become
the focal point of your practice sessions. When
I tested, as well as many of our hybrid testers
used it, swing speeds in many cases actually
began to decrease. This was due to tester anxiety
in trying to max out their swing speed, rather
than swinging naturally.
As I suggest, as well as the owner’s
manual, speed is only one factor in increased
distance.These other factors include:
- Club Loft
- Coefficient of Restitution (COR)
- Launch Angle
- Ball spin
- Climate
The lesson is that the device is better used
as means for one to find out what speed can
you comfortably swing with maximum accuracy
and control, and then trying to improve from
this baseline, rather than swing for the fences.
What is the maximum speed
that the Swing Speed Radar™ can measure?
200 mph.Swing
Speed Radar Review
The device is very easy to use. The hardest
part for us in using the device was finding
three AA batteries in my home…you see,
we have an eleven-month-old son so batteries
are in high demand. Once we found three AA
batteries in my son’s Dancing Barney,
the best thing about the device was that my
son’s Dancing Barney didn’t work
anymore.
All joking aside, this is an inexpensive
device that delivers big results. The unit
powered on immediately, and it seemed to provide
results consistent with my swing measurements
recorded on state of the art launch monitors.
At some point we hope to take the device and
measure golfer’s swings while on a launch
monitor to compare results; however, this
may be unnecessary. When speaking with Al
Dilz of Sport Sensors Inc. he assured me the
device has already been tested in this manner.
I also applaud Al and his team for the nylon
bag that the unit comes packaged. It has two
snap hooks that allow players to hook to their
golf bag. Inside the bag, a plastic card is
provided which is about the size and thickness
of a credit card. The card correlates approximate
swing speed in miles per hour (mph) and approximate
distance measured in yards. Below is a breakdown
is approximate speed ranges for various skill
levels of golfers:
Average Golfer: 82 mph -95 mph
Tour Professionals: 110 mph – 127 mph
Long Drive Professionals (like Pinnacle’s
and RhodyGolf.com’s Dan Boever) 135
mph –145 mph
During a recent hybrid golf club test that
RhodyGolf.com conducted, we used Swing Speed
Radar™ to measure golf club tester swing
speeds. Most of those tested fell within a
range of 88 mph to 94 mph.
The owner’s manual is simple, complete
and easy to read. The unit will automatically
power-off if no swing event occurs within
a 5-minute period. Additionally, the unit
is smartly designed, specifically if a duplicate
swing speed occurs the unit will flash so
that the golfer knows that his or her swing
was actually read. Other units on the market
do not do this. One unit that I have tested
from other manufacturer specifically did not
‘flash’ or let me know if it measured
by most recent swing. Consequently, I never
was sure if the unit actually did measure
my swing. Due to this, whether valid or not,
I always questioned the validity and reliability
of the other manufacturer’s device.
Swing
Speed Radar™ is a wonderful departure
from other units on the market, and that I
have had the opportunity to use. Some of these
units seem to be overly complicated. For instance,
one unit has you adjust its settings based
on the clubs that you use. Swing Speed Radar™,
on the other hand, is ready to measure any
club in your bag by simply powering on the
unit.
We enthusiastically recommend Swing Speed
Radar™.You may order your Swing Speed
Radar™ by either calling Sport Sensors,
Inc. directly or (888) 542-9246 or by visiting
their website at www.swingspeedradar.com.
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