If you go to the gym often, perhaps there’s a particular machine you dislike, but you do it anyway because you know that it’ll make you stronger. Do you enjoy going to the dentist? Of course not, but you still go. Why? It’s because it’ll be good for you over the long term. Both situations describe my feelings about working with the EyeLine Speed Trap 2.0 over the past couple of weeks. I’ve never left a session with it feeling “good,” but it’s still been constructive for my golf swing.

EyeLine Golf has been one of the golf training aid space leaders for years, so I was excited to try perhaps their most recognizable product. This review will share my experience, best practices, and who I think the Speed Trap 2.0 might be appropriate for.

Unboxing the Speed Trap 2.0

The training aid comes in a nice carry bag, making it easy to take it out to the range and keep everything together.

Here is what's included:

• Baseplate: Described by EyeLine as “unbreakable” and has colorful graphics
• Four rods: The rods are soft but still seem tough and durable
• Five tethers: These tethers keep the rods close to the base on mishits

All parts and pieces seemed high quality and have stood up well to use. Also, the full-color instruction poster was informative and easy to follow.

What is the EyeLine Speed Trap 2.0 Supposed to Do?

The Speed Trap 2.0 is a swing path trainer, providing instant feedback if your swing is too far out-to-in or in-to-out. Additionally, it helps with your low-point control by letting you know if you are hitting behind the ball.

The training starts with the baseplate, which has a channel cut out from the front-center. If your swing would be behind the ball at impact or too far to the heel or toe side, the club will strike the baseplate.

Next, the slanted rods are attached to the baseplate with velcro. Depending on what the golfer is working on, they can use two or four rods and have the slant pointed in different directions. If the swing path is too far offline, the club will strike one of the rods.

You can see more details about the Speed Trap’s set up and function in this video from EyeLine Golf:

My Experience

Like many golfers who get the Speed Trap 2.0, I immediately attached all the rods and tried to swing away. I stepped up to a practice ball with my backyard net, took an easy swing, and WHAM! I nearly jumped out of my socks with the noise of my eight iron smacking the baseplate. I checked the club, the training aid, and myself for any damage and was happy to find everything still in one piece.

I decided that the first swing was just a fluke and tried another with the same result. While this was showcasing the baseplate's durability, it wasn’t doing anything positive for my mood. So I decided to check the guide like I should have done in the first place!

My advice in using the Speed Trap 2.0 is to start slow and work your way up. I followed the instructions beginning with no rods or ball back out on the practice mat, just making chips and half swings to get used to it. The intro videos from EyeLine were also very useful in giving guidance on how to use the device best. Comparing a video of my swing when I first used it to successful swings, I noticed that I had started standing too close to the ball, causing me to get stuck on the downswing and hit the baseplate.

This example brings up an important point about the Speed Trap 2.0. The training aid will provide feedback that something went wrong with your swing, but it’s not going to tell you what that is. I think pairing the device with recording your swing (or even better, feedback from an instructor) will be essential to getting the most out of it. Once you discover those faults, the Speed Trap can be used in tandem to correct the issues and gauge progress.

By the end of my first session with the device, I had progressed to using two rods spaced widely apart. I wasn’t hitting the baseplate anymore, but the rods certainly weren’t safe. Still, I could begin to feel the path I wanted the clubhead to take and was rewarded with a solid strike when I accomplished it.

I’ve worked with the Speed Trap 2.0 for several practice sessions. Overall the challenge is still there, and losing focus means I’m sending one of the rods flying. There have been a couple of times where I needed to step away from it as it was getting too frustrating, but I can still understand how it helps me improve.

Another note I’ll make is that unlike many “swing path” training aids out there - the Speed Trap 2.0 isn’t trying to force you into a single “correct” path. The rods can be placed into different positions or widths to allow for various swings, so you can experiment with what works best. Additionally, you can practice hitting draws and fades by positioning two rods to encourage that path. That adds a lot of versatility (and value).

Final Verdict

Here is a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the EyeLine Speed Trap 2.0:

Pros:

• Instant feedback on errant swings
• Easily transportable and can be used in the back yard as well as the range
• Versatility to train different shot types and shapes
• Durable construction
• Online resources to help improvement

Cons:

• No feedback for hitting shots thin
• Can be frustrating to use with a steep learning curve
• You might not have fun

To expand on that last con, I don’t have fun using the EyeLine Speed Trap 2.0, but that’s not the purpose. The purpose is to give feedback, improve my practice, and help me get better. In that sense, it is an excellent training aid and one that I will continue to use.

Like all the other useful training aids out there, you can’t cheat this one. Put a good swing on the ball, and it’ll reward you with a good ball flight. Put a bad swing on the ball, and the Speed Trap is going to let you know about it in a way you can’t ignore. One fault of many products on the market is that they are too easy and don't provide much feedback. I can assure you this won't be the case with the Speed Trap.

Combine that function into a versatile, durable product that you’ll be able to use for years, and you have something worth your investment. You can check the latest price on Amazon here or the EyeLine website.