Accessory Review:
Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Consistency. It’s the most sought-after tool by every golfer. A repeatable swing able to product winning results is more elusive than Charles Howell III covered in grease.

Whether you hit it thin or fat, fact is, you need to put in time at the practice facility in order to trust your shot on the course. Now, there’s an affordable, reliable tool available to help every golfer of any level improve their game: the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer, from Sports Sensors, Inc.

Used at all top-rated Jim McLean Golf Schools, the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer is endorsed by McLean as “the most affordable, portable swing training aid to help golfers optimize their clubhead speed and swing tempo time.”

And that’s the key: speed and tempo. When golfers of the calibre of Davis Love III – currently reworking his game – estimate that swinging at about 85 per cent rather than full power is the key to swinging well, then you know tempo is the key ingredient to the golf swing. Part of tempo is swing speed, which separates us mere mortals from the giants of the links.

But if you want to slay the demons in your golf game, the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer might just be the solution. Measuring about the size of a BlackBerry, this great little tool packs a lot of technology. It displays clubhead speed within an accuracy rate of 1 %, and it measures actual tempo to 1/100th of a second. 

The Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer is really a small, inexpensive microwave Doppler radar velocity sensor. It assists you in developing and optimizing your swing and in maintaining consistency by measuring tempo time from club takeaway to ball impact at the climax of the forward swing. And, it measures swing speed of the clubhead as it approaches the ball.

The Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer is very easy to operate. It features one-button activation, and the ability to measure speed in mph or km/hr. Simply rest the unit on its metal stand 8-10 in. away from the ball, directly in line with you and the ball at about a 45-degree angle from the clubhead swing path. Different clubs call for different setups – there are full, easy-to-understand directions in the product literature.

Three “AA” batteries operate the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer. Firmly press the function button, then select your mode. Swing Speed is the default mode in mph. By pressing function, you can switch to Tempo Timer mode. Dual mode activates both functions.

I tested this swing tool at the range, and it worked like a charm. You can even practice at home in your backyard without a ball – simply use a target to obtain swing speeds which correspond directly to those of hitting an actual golf ball.

Practicing with the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer, I never once hit the unit with a ball. But you can purchase a Ball Shield for $19.95. The Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer sells for $149.95 – a wise investment if you’re serious about your swing.

For more information on the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer and other products from Sports Sensors, Inc. visit www.swingspeedradar.com.