Best golf swing analyzer: swing science for instant feedback
Golf swing analyzers and trainers have come a long way in the last few years. A golf swing analyzer can capture a wide array of data points that give you an accurate breakdown of what’s going right and, well, not so right with your golf swing. In fact, swing analyzers make in-depth golfing metrics once only available to the pros — or those willing to shell out serious cash — accessible to even the most casual of golfers.
And while swing trainers may not pack the data-collecting capabilities that swing analyzers do, many of them have been refined through constant iteration and customer input to better help golfers of all skill levels ditch their bad form and adopt good habits that translate into farther, more precise hits. Get your rangefinders back out, you might gain some yardage after using these tools.
Top 7 golf swing analyzers and trainers of 2023
Staff favorite: Lag Shot 7 Iron Golf Swing Trainer
Best overall analyzer: deWiz Golf Swing Modifier
Best budget trainer: Swing Arc
Best swing analyzer grips: Arccos Smart Grips
Best putting analyzer: ExPutt Putting Simulator
Best adjustable trainer: Sure-Set Golf Swing Trainer Aid
Best speed trainer: SuperSpeed Golf Swing Speed Training System
How we chose the best analyzers and trainers
So, which analyzer or trainer is best suited to improve your swing? We researched the most popular and under-the-radar swing analyzers and trainers on the market today. Not only did we read up on the features and specs of these golf tools, but we also compared and ranked them according to customer feedback and product tester reviews.
Staff favorite: Lag Shot 7 Iron Golf Swing Trainer
Staff favorite: Lag Shot 7 Iron Golf Swing Trainer
Benefits
— Provides excellent feedback
— Encourages correct positioning for solid contact
— Helps you to “feel” a correct swing versus going through technical motions
Drawbacks
— Takes patience to develop consistency
The Lag Shot 7 Iron Golf Swing Trainer is designed to help you achieve a more consistent swing. It received praise from customers for encouraging them to swing easily and turn their hips in a single motion. Reviewers noted that it improves tempo, corrects swing plane, increases lag (the technique that increases power and speed), and encourages a more direct point of impact.
According to Lag Shot, these improvements are possible because the company engineered the trainer to help you naturally develop lag in your swing over time. The trainer is also designed to ensure smooth takeaways and fluid transitions that give plenty of power without having to overswing.
Type: Club | Trains: Swing consistency and lag
Best overall analyzer: deWiz Golf Swing Modifier
Best overall analyzer: deWiz Golf Swing Modifier
Benefits
— Provides instant bio-feedback in real time
— Offers real-time access to coaches
— Promotes faster learning
Drawbacks
— Expensive
Equal parts analyzer and modifier, the deWiz is a wearable watch device that first collects data points on various aspects of your swing. It then provides you with real-time bio-feedback and access to coaches to help modify the mechanics that need improvements.
The bio-feedback consists of a minor electric pulse you receive from the watch whenever your swing goes outside your designated parameters. This method of real-time physical feedback is backed by neuroscience and proven to commit the motions of a healthy, powerful swing to your muscle memory.
While the device comes with a hefty price tag, customers and reviewers overwhelmingly claimed that consistent use of the deWiz results in more distance from the tee box, making straighter shots in the fairway, and hitting balls closer to the hole with their wedges. Plus, it has a substantial battery life of seven hours.
Type: Wristband | Analyzes: Swing data
Best budget trainer: Swing Arc
Best budget trainer: Swing Arc
Benefits
— Affordably priced
— Teaches you the proper path for draws and fades
— Improves a variety of shot types
Drawbacks
— Requires patience to learn the proper paths for your shots
Not all effective trainers should cost a fortune. The Swing Arc golf trainer is designed to give you feedback on your full, chipping, pitching, and bunker swings with ease — making it one of the most well-rounded swing trainers available. At a price point relatively more affordable than the other entries on this list, you’re likely to get a good return on your investment. Plus, it’s suited for right- or left-handed golfers. There’s also a small-sized Swing Arc you can use to visualize the path of your putts.
Type: Swing arc | Trains: Full swing
Best swing analyzer grips: Arccos Smart Grips
Best swing analyzer grips: Arccos Smart Grips
Benefits
— Makes it easy to chart your progress
— Non-intrusive to your game
— Highly accurate
Drawbacks
— Annual subscription required for key features
— Must manually enter recovery shots
— Shots can sometimes go undetected
The Arccos Smart Grips are sensors built into a set of 13 Lamkin Crossline grips. (The set comes with a twist-in sensor for your putter.) With every swing, these sensors collect metrics on your shot and send them to the Arccos app on your smartphone. The app uses GPS data and other inputs, such as motion and noise detection, to measure the distance of your shot.
Within the app are several tabs detailing the various elements of your game, including the types of shots taken and how well you played with each club. The app also has GPS data on more than 40,000 courses worldwide and gives you a 2D layout of each hole to show where your shots landed. An AI caddie that uses GPS, environmental, and course data can also recommend clubs and strategies depending on your location and other variables.
Type: Grip | Analyzes: Shot tracking
Best putting trainer: ExPutt Putting Simulator
Best putting trainer: ExPutt Putting Simulator
Benefits
— Highly accurate
— Offers fun for the family and serious skill development for golfers
— Affordable compared to professional putting simulation systems
Drawbacks
— Doesn’t necessarily improve your ability to read the green
The ExPutt Putting Simulator is not only an accurate and effective putting trainer — it’s fun, too! The home putting simulator comes preloaded with games you can use to work on your putting mechanics while enjoying time with the family.
While the putting mat measures only 5 feet in length, the ExPutt’s high-speed camera is adept at tracking your putt, so the simulation can pinpoint exactly where your ball is supposed to go based on speed and other factors.
Reviewers are impressed by the ExPutt’s accuracy and appreciate how the simulation forces them to focus on key putting elements such as ball speed, arc, and clubface rotation.
Type: Simulator | Trains: Putt shots
Best adjustable trainer: Sure-Set Golf Swing Trainer Aid
Best adjustable trainer: Sure-Set Golf Swing Trainer Aid
Benefits
— Simple to assemble and use
— Effective for muscle memory development
— Very compact
Drawbacks
— Left- or right-handed grips rule out sharing with someone who uses the opposite hand
— Not very comfortable when in use
The Sure-Set Golf Swing Trainer Aid features a stroke-adjustable angle designed to improve your backswing and swing plane. Configurable to your size and specific swing style, the Sure-Set has been recognized by customers for its ability to help them develop a stronger backswing through the improved wrist, forearm, and shoulder mechanics.
The makers of the Sure-Set claim the trainer can add up to 25 yards to your drives. While we haven’t come across any reviews that tout that kind of improvement per se, customers and product testers are pleased with the trainer’s ability to assist them in achieving a great backswing position, swing width, and alignments that result in powerful, accurate shots.
Type: Swing aid | Trains: Hinge, forearm, and shoulder rotation
Best speed trainer: SuperSpeed Golf Swing Speed Training System
Best speed trainer: SuperSpeed Golf Swing Speed Training System
Benefits
— Access to online training videos
— Proven to improve swing speed and shot distance
— Suitable for golfers of all skill levels
Drawbacks
— Requires patience and regular use
— May be too large for indoor use
The SuperSpeed Golf Swing Training System is designed to help you improve your clubhead speed for longer drives. It includes three weighted clubs and comes with full access to a series of online training videos. The clubs are designed for the over-speed training technique — meaning they have different weights compared to traditional clubs — to reduce swing resistance and accelerate your body movements.
Type: Swing trainer | Trains: Swing speed
A little extra training won’t do any harm
There you have it! These are the best golf swing analyzers and modifiers on the market today, as reviewed by actual customers and product testers. As you’ve probably noticed, the items on this list vary dramatically in price, and each one brings something different to the table in terms of what aspect of your game it analyzes or helps to improve.
How to pick the right golf swing analyzer or trainer for you
When it comes to investing in a golf swing analyzer or trainer, there are a few variables you can use to weigh the pros and cons of each option:
Price
As always, budget is a huge driver in deciding which options are realistic. Analyzers like sensors and simulators pack a lot of technology to collect data and accurately simulate your shots. Some of these devices double as modifiers that deliver real-time feedback so that you can make adjustments on the spot. The price tag for the right analyzer or simulator is justifiable if the product delivers (which all the ones on this list certainly do). But your game won’t necessarily suffer if you can’t shell out for high-end gear.
Most trainers may be “low tech,” but the best ones use real-world physics and simple mechanics to improve your swing. If you’re trying to nail down how much to spend, take a minute to decide which element(s) of your swing needs the most work. If all you need is a faster, more controlled swing, then the SuperSpeed Golf Swing Speed Training System is a more affordable option than an analyzer. On the flip side, if you have the money and are an advanced golfer looking to fine-tune every aspect of your swing, an analyzer and/or modifier might be worth the investment.
Comfort
There are two key aspects of comfort when it comes to an analyzer or trainer: how it feels when in use and how intrusive it is when you’re playing. For example, we noted that the Sure-Set Swing Trainer Aid isn’t very comfortable when in use. While this discomfort can be attributed to the aid’s design to enforce proper form, some golfers — and athletes in general — prefer to steer clear of training aids that reinforce good habits using this method.
As far as intruding on your actual play, some analyzers can be bulky or add weight to your playing equipment. Others might require you to handle multiple devices on the course, which can get frustrating when you’re trying to focus on your game. Consider how an analyzer might interfere with your golf game and what your tolerance level is. Some analyzers, like the Arccos Smart Grips, are designed to stay out of sight and out of mind.
Durability
Virtually all golf gear is an investment. Golf equipment designed to improve your swing and track your performance is no exception. When researching an analyzer or training aid, read reviews and watch videos to determine how well it holds up under pressure. (Out of all the reviews and product tests we researched, none of the items on this list were dinged for lack of durability.)
FAQ
Is there an app that analyzes your golf swing?
Definitely, many sensors on the market today communicate with an app on your phone. That’s exactly how the Arccos Smart grips work. The sensors collect and send data to the app, which then analyzes the elements of your shot to track and measure your performance.
How do I analyze my golf swing?
Analyzing your golf swing is all about data collection. That’s why sensors that live on your wrist or your club grips are so effective at helping you better understand your swing’s strongest and weakest points. Some analyzers collect more data than others, but the more data on your swing you have, the more aware you are of what changes to make.
Launch monitors are also a great option for analyzing your swing. Unlike sensors, a launch monitor records and analyzes your swing based on visual data. Still, it’s doing the same thing: collecting data.
What’s the best golf swing analyzer?
For us, the deWiz Golf Swing Analyzer and Modifier are hard to beat. That’s because it acts as both a data collection device and a real-time coach. It not only analyzes your swing and shares a summary of your swing’s mechanics but also uses bio-feedback (in the form of a small electric pulse) to reinforce good swing motions through feeling.
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