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Swingbyte Review: A Game Changing Update

For the past couple of months I’ve been testing a few different swing analyzers. The more I use them, the more I believe that they have a place in golfers’ practice routines if they are used properly.

The next company up in my review series is Swingbyte. They have been one of the pioneers in this category, and have been around since 2012. That is an eternity in tech years these days.

When I started testing the Swingbyte about 2 months ago, my first impression was that this is a product for golfers who crave a ton of information. Every time you make a swing you are presented with almost 10 different data points that range from your swing plane, angle of attack, tempo, and the club path. You are also given a very accurate 3D rendering of your swing path in addition to a simulation of where the ball initially travels.

 

One of the biggest differentiating factors between swing analyzers is how they present the data to the user. For example, the Zepp unit takes a much more basic approach to aggregating the numbers, which is why I felt it was suited for more of a novice user.

My initial reaction to the Swingbyte was that this was a product for a golfer with a more advanced understanding of the swing, or one that was working with a professional teacher who could make sense of all the data.

While I thought that the product did an excellent job of collecting a ton of information that could be valuable, I felt that it lacked a little bit of intuition in how it presented it to the end user.

swingbyte

The folks over at Swingbyte knew this, and recently they completed a major update to their app that I think is a real game changer for them. They have added a feature called the Virtual Coach. I’m happy I waited to check out the newest version of their app because now I believe this product caters to a wider audience of golfers.

Here is a more in depth look of some of the products features.

Raw Data

As I stated, the Swingbyte is loaded with information. Depending on what type of golfer you are, this can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Every time you make a swing you are presented with the following images:

Untitled design (14)

 

You’ll get an excellent 3D rendering of your swing that you can view from multiple angles. If you choose to do so, you can also pair it up with a video of your swing, which will make it even more effective.

iPad4

Personally I was a little overwhelmed with all of the information at first. Mostly I was concerned with my tempo, but seeing the image of my swing did offer some interesting insights.

However, for a golfer like me who mostly relies on feel and simple thoughts, I felt that I didn’t need to know my shaft lean, angle of attack, or my face-to-path ratio. For someone else this could be data that would produce some meaningful results.

Two main features that I loved were that you could see a simulation of where your ball was traveling after impact, and under your swing history you can see whether or not your shots would be classified as a fade, draw, or even a hook. Most of my testing was done into a practice net so I was unable to actually see my ball flight.

iPad6My one major criticism was what do I do with all of this information?

The Virtual Coach

Last week Swingbyte released a major update to their platform, which completely transforms their product in my opinion. It goes from a device that I would recommend only for people with a more advanced understanding of the golf swing to one that can be used by all golfers.

At the heart of this technology is artificial intelligence that can detect over 100 swing flaws. Lets hope it doesn’t become self-aware one day! (sorry had to throw a Terminator joke in there).

Swingbyte collaborated with Plane Truth Golf to make this project possible. After analyzing thousands of swings they identified common faults that plague all golfers. The virtual coach diagnoses these issues, suggests drills that can help you fix them, and then allows you to focus your practice on fixing them while receiving feedback after every swing.

Your first step is to take 5 swings. The app will then do some work, and come up with 1-3 faults that you need to work on. You’ll then be presented with a library of videos that have drills to help you understand what you are doing improperly, and ways to correct the issue.

Screen Shot 2015-10-30 at 12.10.26 PM

The next step is the most valuable in my opinion.

When you choose to work on the fault, the app will ask you to take 10 swings. Each swing receives a score so you are getting real feedback on whether or not you are solving the issue. Your results are tracked over time to see if you are making progress.

That’s the kind of practice that I think is extremely valuable. If you read my article on swing tempo, you know that I am a strong proponent of being able to measure your results during your range sessions, and the Virtual Coach can be a part of that.

Right now Virtual Coach is in beta mode, and is only available for iPhone users, but I am excited to see what other features will come along down the road.

How I would Use It

There are a few ways I think golfers can go about using the Swingbyte, based on their goals and their knowledge of the golf swing.

At the minimum I would use this device to track your tempo. Personally that is my main use for any swing analyzer, and my ball striking is improving because of it.

If you’re someone who doesn’t have the budget for a series of lessons, I think the advent of the Virtual Coach can help you figure out what faults you have in your swing, and help you work on fixing them. Will it be as effective as if you were working with a trained professional? That all depends on how well you can incorporate the feedback the Swingbyte gives you into your swing.

If you are someone who has a very advanced understanding of the golf swing, and will know what to do with all of this raw data, then I don’t think you can get much better than this product. Additionally, if you are working with a teacher, then I think this will enhance the work you are able to do because you can track your progress and share your swing stats online with your pro.

The Swingbyte has traditionally been a product that has appealed to more advanced golfers, but I think that has changed now with the Virtual Coach. Swing analyzers in general can be an extremely effective tool to fix your golf swing if you’re willing to put the work in. I’d certainly recommend the Swingbyte to a golfer that was looking to better understand their swing, and find out ways to improve it. You can purchase a Swingbyte on Amazon here.

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About the Author

Jon Sherman is the owner of Practical Golf, a website dedicated to being an honest resource for the everyday golfer who is looking to enjoy the game more, as well as improve. He is the author of the bestselling book 101 Mistakes All Golfers Make (and how to fix them). You can find him on Twitter here - @practicalgolf, where he is happy to chat about golf with anyone.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stu says

    August 2, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    How does the Swingbyte know where youre aimed? And is it fairly easy to align the swingbyte with the club head? Im interested in buying one to help correct the swing plane of my swing and would love something that could give me instant feedback after every shot

    Reply
    • Jon says

      August 3, 2016 at 11:29 am

      There is a brief alignment that you have to do on your club that is quite easy when you attach it. Once you have that set it will understand where it is in relation to your club head and the direction your swing is aimed.

      Reply
  2. Blake says

    December 27, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    I just received the Swingbyte2 swing analyzer for Christmas and I am excited to see what this device says about my golf game. I am a 15-handicapper and struggle with striking consistency. After my first 10 swings with my 7iron the Swingbyte2 identified a couple of swing faults and offered up a couple of recommended drills to reduce the wrist action through the impact zone. This could be a total game changer for me and should get me away from binge-watching youtube videos and over-hauling my swing every other week during the season.

    Reply
  3. Chip Enlow says

    January 20, 2020 at 1:21 am

    I am confused about the availability of the product. The website indicates “out-of-stock”. Customer feedback indicates this has been true for quite a length of time. The Swingbyte 2 is available on Ebay. Would it be advisable to buy the Version 2? Is it compatible with IOS 13+? Appreciate any info that you can give.

    Reply
    • Jon says

      January 20, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      From what it looks like Swingybte has ceased operations. You can buy it second hand, but not sure about compatibility etc with newer iOS versions.

      Reply

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