We sit down with Big Swing Golf chief executive officer, Rob Oppedisano, to find out how you can track your every move just like Tiger Woods
Every golfer dreams of hitting shots with the ease and execution of Tiger Woods.
Most, in truth, would settle for using the same shiny new equipment as the golf megastar, albeit poorly. Yet even that won’t ever be a reality as Tiger’s clubs of choice are tailor-made to his personal liking, not yours.
But what if we said you could practise with the same set-up as the 15-time Major champion? What if, by some chance, you could literally see your game like Tiger does via the most connected app experience in golf?
Well, now you can.
Full Swing KIT – the same launch monitor tested and trusted by Tiger himself – is now being made for everyone. Marketed as “the most powerful launch monitor experience in golf”, this compact and durable device allows you to completely transform your range session. Select what data points matter to you and arrange them across all your devices – smartphone, iPad, smartwatch included. Look at dispersion charts, averages, trends and see improvement over time. You can even send video to your instructor for remote lessons or share your best swing on social media to really rub it in to your friends.
Available via Drummond Golf for $7,999 – a fraction of the cost of similar launch-monitor products in the market – Big Swing Golf chief executive Rob Oppedisano believes the Full Swing KIT will change the game for golfers across the country. He sat down with us to reveal why
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Australian Golf Digest: The launch-monitor market is packed with options. Why Full Swing KIT?
Rob Oppedisano: The market certainly has options now. It was only a handful of years ago where you had two options and needed tens of thousands of dollars to get a good launch monitor. Of course, those two options gave great results and pioneered the category, but suppliers took notice and are now offering alternatives. The difference with the Full Swing KIT is that you get all the top-of-the-range tech, but for less than a third of the cost. I won’t rattle off all the features, but some include the dual Doppler radar, 4K swing video replay, 16 data points measured on each shot, five-hour battery life and indoor/outdoor capability. Its party piece is being the best all-rounder without costing the earth.
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What are some of the key features golfers should be looking for when purchasing a mobile launch monitor?
Make sure suits your needs. If you want it to measure a particular piece of data, make sure it captures it. If you want it to record swing video for coaching purposes then make sure it’s got that. If you plan on using it for extended periods outdoors then make sure it has a decent battery life.
If you want to impress your mates in your garage at home, make sure it has indoor-course-play capability. Also make sure it’s user friendly – if you plan on using it a lot then it needs to have a good user interface to ensure it’s fun to use every time. Be mindful that typical launch monitors used by tour pros come at a hefty price point for everyday golfers.
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How has Full Swing KIT been able to pour so much technology into its offering at that price point?
It all started when Tiger Woods tasked Full Swing with building him a launch monitor he truly trusted. Full Swing headhunted a guy who worked on NASA’s radar technology and together they pulled apart the industry’s best launch monitors to take a look inside. After that they knew they could disrupt the category and build something better for a fraction of the cost. Full Swing has worked with technology for decades so it’s worked out how to cost-effectively build and package a product, it’s just that this is the first time Full Swing has done it with a launch monitor.
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As far as ambassadors go, they don’t get any bigger than Tiger Woods. What’s his feedback been like on the new Full Swing KIT?
First, let me take this back a step. Back in 2018, I went to the United States to visit Full Swing headquarters. I was shown a launch monitor which would hit the market in early 2020. Remembering that Tiger Woods tasked Full Swing with building him a launch monitor, Tiger tested and gave feedback, repetitively, until he was happy with the product which came almost two years after the expected launch date. For those out there that know Tiger’s philosophy on product innovation, they’ll know how meticulous he is with getting it right before he’s happy using something. Readers of this magazine have probably seen the images of Tiger addressing a ball on the range with the Full Swing KIT – it’s part of his practice routine now and it’s hard to see him without it. You know what they say, if it’s good enough for Tiger, then it’s…
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Good enough for us?
Exactly.
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With that said, what potential do you see in this product and what can Aussies expect to see?
I’d expect every touring pro and elite amateur to consider investing in a Full Swing KIT. And if they’re not, they’ll be clicking through Google to find the nearest coach who uses it. Previously it was the domain of big tour pros or elite coaches that had access to technology like this. But now it’s at a level where it’s a tool of the trade. On the other hand, given how user-friendly the KIT is, I’m also expecting data-driven amateur golfers to utilise these to take their golf to the next level. If you think about how many people now use rangefinders to find shot distances – imagine if you knew precisely how far you hit each club in your bag, and what difference that would make to matching the right club with right shot distance.
Much noise has been made in recent years about hitting the ball farther and how it’s making the game easier for those gifted with length. If you’re working on your swing and trying to increase clubhead speed, launch angle or reduce spin, then you’ll want the instant feedback from the Full Swing KIT to build that change into your muscle memory.
• The KIT can be purchased through your local Drummond Golf store, or online at drummondgolf.com.au. For more information, visit bigswinggolf.com.au
