Epson M-Tracer Golf Swing Analyzer Review
“Epson? I thought they were involved with printers?”
Those were the words of one of our colleagues, whose name we’ll mercifully spare at this time. Because even though he (or she!) technically isn’t wrong, Epson have pioneered their way to the very summit of the Swing Analyzer industry with their latest product – the Epson M-Tracer.
Certainly there has been plenty of hype about this reportedly high-end product, with leading instructors such as David Leadbetter offering glowing endorsements.
It was more than enough to raise our expectations as we set about putting it through its paces. So, could it live up to the billing?
Epson M-Tracer Golf Swing Analyzer
Our Assessment
Pros and Cons
- Accuracy to within ONE-TENTH of a degree! Need we say more?
- There is an absolute glut of metrics to choose from
- This thing really is simple to use, and the results are instant
- We loved the V-Zone view. And all the other view angles too!
- It’s subjective, but I suppose a possible con here is price. Value is in the eye of the beholder though
- The sea of data may initially be a bit complex to understand for the beginner
Key Facts
| Product Details | Epson M-Tracer Golf Swing Analyzer Review |
|---|---|
| Launch RRP | $199.00 |
| Platform Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Attachment Location | Club |
| Battery Life | 8 Hours |
| Size | 1.0in x 0.6in x 2.0in |
| Weight | 0.95 ounces |
| Manufacturers Website | Epson M-Tracer |
Epson M-Tracer Golf Swing Analyzer Detailed Review
Build Quality & Features
Sometimes swing analyzers can feel like a cheap piece of plastic when you pick them up. Not the M-Tracer though. It’s a solid little device, but still wonderfully lightweight and compact. You don’t need to treat it with kid gloves, and it’s waterproof too.
In terms of features, it’s the Core Sensing Technology which is responsible for the extreme accuracy and reliability of the data. We’re also massive fans of the 360-degree view, and the 3D swing-path features (similar to the Zepp Golf 3D Golf Swing Analyzer).
You can drill down on the critical checkpoints of your swing with the impressive V-Zone view and the HWB view, while we also thought the sketch it generates of your entire swing was a nice touch, and rather unique.
There is plenty in the way of data and metrics. So whether it’s tempo, clubhead speed, lag, grip speed, carry, swing speed, swing-path, clubface angle, attack angle or anything else you wish to analyze, this thing has you covered. And it’s all utterly instant too.
It also has ample storage space for your swings (200+), and it’s nice to be able to compare your swing with the pros – of which there is a huge stock to choose from in the library.
Ease of Use
You can’t really go wrong with the setup process here. It comes with different-sized clips so thus fits perfectly onto the grip, and after that it sits as tight as you could want it to. It has a small loop that goes around the club to save it from flying off, but honestly, a bucket of balls later, and it hadn’t budged an iota anyway. It’s just as easy to unclip too.
In terms of firing her up, you can just pair it up via Bluetooth to your iPad or smartphone. Then you tap the measure button, followed by ‘Setup’ to select the club. Then you hit ‘Start’, wait a couple of seconds for the status light to come on, and then swing!
One thing which may be a slight nuisance is that, when calibrating at address, it assumes you are using the club you used previously.
To save a few seconds, you’d have thought it would first ask you which club you want to measure, and then get underway with the calibration. You also have to calibrate before each shot.
However, we’re starting to knit-pick here, and it is the data which is so impressive, vast and yet user-friendly as well. Perhaps if you’re a newbie, all these facts, figures and imagery may seem intimidating at first, but you’ll pick it up quickly and it really is easy to flip between the various views and digest all the data.
We also liked the way the backswing and the downswing were separated in contrasting colours, which makes it even easier to discern between checkpoints.
All in all, this thing just oozes versatility and simplicity, which is really quite remarkable for something so informative. You’ll know exactly what we mean as soon as you give it a whirl.
Value for Money
Mmmm… we wouldn’t say this is at the very top end of the price spectrum. But it isn’t far off. So, what are you looking for? What exactly do you value most in a swing analyzer?
Because this device just about has it all. People may look at the price tag and think something like this is for someone who either has greenbacks to burn, or is a player of strong technical ability. We don’t necessarily see it that way though.
Anyone with a good understanding of both their own swing, and who is a real student of the game, could get a lot of value from this. Particularly if they’re willing to put the time in – both on the range and on the course.
There’s a reason you have to part with 200 big ones if you want this puppy – it has a profound competitive edge, which, in our opinion, means it could just be the one for you.
