If you’ve ever had a club fitting before, you’ll probably remember all the cool technology used to see how good (or bad) your swing was. If you’re like me, you probably wished you could take some of that real time swing evaluation technology home or even to the range with you. Well now you can do just that, courtesy of the GolfSense device. Golf instructors are now using portable devices such as iPads and iPhones to teach their students and the GolfSense device utilizes this portable technology to bring swing evaluation to the golfer instead of the golfer going to the swing evaluation. Did it work in this latest round of THP testing? Check it out.
From the Company
3D Motion Capture GolfSense is the world’s first portable three dimensional sensor system designed to deliver real-time feedback and analysis of your golf swing. The patented high velocity motion engine uses data from 4 discrete MEMS sensors inside the device to accurately calculate club speed, club position, swing tempo, and swing path. The revolutionary and free mobile app allows you to analyze each segment of your swing from any angle. The application can be set to automatically capture and save every swing in rapid succession or just the ones you select with a simple press of the yellow button. Turn on “impact detection” and GolfSense will ignore your practice swings and only log those that pertain to actual ball contact.
Did You Know?
When it comes to calculating club head speed, GolfSense is within 3 mph of Doppler radar systems such as TrackMan and laser systems such as GolfAchiever.
Key Features
- 3D view of swing plane
- 4 precision sensors transmit data to the GolfSense App
- Provides accurate measurements over 1,000x/second of swing phases, club head speed, tempo, etc.
- ‘Phone in Pocket’ feature measures hip rotation and lateral translation during your swing
- Attaches to your glove and not your club
- Weighs .6 ounces
- Works with iPod, iPhone, iPad
- Connects via Bluetooth
Initial Thoughts
When I first received the GolfSense device for review I was immediately intrigued by it. I was impressed with the size and weight of it right out of the box. Weighing less than an ounce and not being much bigger than a dinner cracker I could tell this was going to be an easy device to test. Nothing bulky or cumbersome to worry about that’s for sure and add extreme portability to the equation and you have a potential hit on your hands. Literally!
Testing/Usage
After charging up the device and downloading the free Golfsense app from iTunes I set it up to begin my testing. That didn’t take long at all and all I had left to do was calibrate the device so I could start swinging. After slipping the GolfSense through the back flap of my glove I double clicked the button, waited 3 seconds, and bingo I was calibrated. I did notice a few times that I had to repeat this process as the Bluetooth sync would fail every now and then but this was more of an annoyance than an issue.
Before you start swinging a club, you get to individually pick what club you’re going to be using. This is real handy to further customize your training and see which clubs you swing well and which ones you don’t. This could help you focus on certain clubs and not waste your time working on ones that you already swing well. Effective time management! Your choices are driver, 3w, 5w, hybrid, 3-PW, AW, SW so there’s just about every possible club for you to work on.
Once you start swinging the GolfSense your swing is captured immediately on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad for your review. Not only do you get a ‘head on’ view of your swing, you also get a side view, down swing view, back swing view, and a swing plane view so you’re able to look at and dissect your swing from all sorts of angles. Just like an instructor. Not only can your swing and swing path be analyzed but your swing speed can be measured as well. This thing can do just about everything for you except make the swing for you.
Two of the coolest features I found with the GolfSense were the ‘phone in pocket’ feature and the ‘impact detection’ feature. The ‘phone in pocket’ feature measures hip rotation and lateral translation of weight through your swing. These are two areas of my game that need improvement and since I’m a visual learner, the GolfSense helps me see my progress by showing me the data immediately in real time. The second feature that I find incredibly useful is the ‘impact detection’ feature. When this feature is activated, GolfSense doesn’t record your practice swings and only tracks a swing when you hit a ball. This is done by taking advantage of the sensors in the device that picks up on the small but instant amount of resistance from hitting the ball. No need to determine which swings were practice ones and need to be removed from the equation when determining final results. GolfSense will do that for you.
Overall
Available in white or black, GolfSense retails for $129.99. If you’re looking for a cool way to track your progress from a lesson or to see why you keep slicing the ball off the planet, GolfSense offers you the chance to instantly see what you are doing with the golf club in a way that is easily understandable and fun. The ability to integrate with an iPod, iPhone, or iPad adds to the versatility of this device as well as the fun factor. For the cost of a little more than a lesson, the GolfSense certainly delivers lesson-like material in the palm of your hand. Or at least on the back of it.
T. Hanks
Nice review here Todd!! Seems like a fairly simple device in nature but packs quite a punch with how much data is quickly available to the golfer. Also, like how you pointed out that it is barely more than the cost of a lesson so this would seem really handy if you are someone in tune with your golf swing and can identify exactly what is going on.
This is extremely cool, except for the ‘Droidlessness of it. I’m not a fan of i-products, but maybe a cheapo iPod is in order if only for this app.
Excellent review! This should really help to see over-the-top and reverse pivot among with SS and all the rest!
Great review Hanks! Seems to do exactly as advertised, definitely a cool little gadget!
Great review! Color me intrigued!
Cool device and great review Hanks! Don’t like the fact that I can’t pair up my Android stuff to it, but maybe I can come across a cheap ipad to pick this up. I really like the idea of this product and could see some good benefits to it.
seems like a great device. Great review buddy. The only problem I see is that not everyone has an i- whatever. so they are limiting their customer base.
Love all these electronic gadgets that are now coming out to help us further our games just that much more. Thanks for the feedback Hanks and look forward to seeing how this does in the market.
Thanks for the review Hanks…looks like a very interesting product.
Thanks Todd, this sounds awesome. For everything you get out of it I think it is a great price.
As One-T said, not everyone has an i-device, and I am one of the, But with the influx of all these products coming out that require one, the closer I get to breaking down and getting one! Looks like a device that does just what it says it does.
“Two of the coolest features I found with the GolfSense were the ‘phone in pocket’ feature and the ‘impact detection’ feature.”
I agree, these two features sound very intriguing. Great write up, thank you.
Nice review Todd! This device has my attention for sure. Seems like pretty good value for the info it provides.
Nice job Hanks!
I really like the fact that this device is worn and not attached to the club, way less issues can happen that way IMO. As someone with an “i” device this could be very could and very handy to have.
It’s a shame they only stuck with compatibility with i.trash. I suppose that does give my own i.crap touch a little longer life, but I’m very much done buying apple products. So for what it is, this is a nice device. The fact that it’s not android friendly is a huge disapointment.
Wow, that sounds like a sweet product. I am visual as well and would love to be able to have data for swing plane and swing speed whenever. Thanks Hanks!
Nice review. Very interesting product. My question though since you didn’t mention it, does it give you any data like if your club head is open or closed at impact, or if you are hitting down on the ball, etc?
Great review Todd, at that price and with those features this is something I will have to look into.
Seriously cool product right there, and I really enjoyed your thoughts on it Hanks! Love that swing speed is measured as well.
Great review Todd! This is a very cool product that I think I need to get a hold off.
Another great review hanks. These types of training aids really intrigue me as a techy!!!
May have to give this a go, looks like a great training aid.
Interesting review. I would be curious to see some video or pictures of how your swing looks on it, as opposed to the stock marketing photos. I look forward to Android support one day as well.
Nice review Hanks! This is a really cool product. I am trying to cure my over the top sometimes move and this may be just the device to do it with. Thanks for the write up!
That was a good review Hanks. This little
Device intrigues me.
Color me interested. I might have to grab an i-gadget just for this device.
Dumb question, but will this support comparisons against proper swing angles and planes to help show what you are doing wrong? Will it compare against other golfers?
This is a very interesting device, particularly for those who like to teach things to themselves or who have practice time that would never line up with an instructor.
Nice job Todd…this is more than likely going in my bag soon.
Dang it! I have to buy this now. Great review.
Good review Todd.Man it looks like I’m going to have to get an ipad sooner than expected.
Excellent review. How does this device compare to the 3baysgsa which which just plugs into the butt end of the club?
It would be interesting to get a review of that product also.
Thanks
Does this product now work with an android phone?….An HTC? Gutted if it doesn’t. Can someone please let me know.
Is this an ad or a review? Certainly
Looks like an ad (did you know? Etc…)
But from their website it seems to support android now.
It DOES support Android, and it works well !
I tried it one time, and the problem I foud is that you have to check after every swing if you really want to take benefit of the use of Golfsense.
If you’re not a pro, it’s better if there is not too much people on the practice area !
you can buy the Golfsense in the UK from wapp-cessories.co.uk –
http://www.app-cessories.co.uk/product/35/golfsense-golf-swing-analyser
I have been using Golfsense for over 3 months – motivated me to go the snowbound practice ranges over the last 10-12 weekends. Its a great device – and I love the pro comparison where I can check my swing against a pro to check what I could improve on. The data makes me believe in my game as I know exactly what i do and thats huge – cant wait to see how much improvement has happened over the winter once I get back to the courses (this weekend perhaps )