FlightScope Story: Tracing the history of flight in golf

A company that started by tracking bullets has now set the standard for tracking golf balls. FlightScope’s journey spans continents and decades, building on a commitment to precision that began at the Defense Research Institute in South Africa and evolved into technology used by golfers around the world. From measuring initial velocity to calculating launch angle and spin, radar technology has changed the way we understand and play golf. Here’s how it works:

From defense to drive: An unlikely beginning

In 1989, Henri Johnson founded EDH (Electronic Development House) in Stellenbosch, South Africa. His vision had nothing to do with golf. Johnson wanted to develop Doppler radar technology to measure the velocity of a projectile exiting a gun barrel. Defense contractors and forensic teams needed this kind of precision to understand ballistics with pinpoint accuracy.

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EDH delivered its first defense radar to a South African customer in 1991. The technology eventually spread to more than 40 countries and is still in use today. But Johnson recognized something beyond immediate application. Radar waves bounced back by precise measurements could do even more.

FlightScope entered the sports industry in 1995 with the Speedball system for cricket bowling. Tracking cricket balls was a natural extension of technology. If you can track a bullet, you can also track a cricket ball. The real transformation came two years later.

In 1997, FlightScope began developing the first golf tracking technology. Until then, golfers could see where the ball would land, but understanding the flight itself relied mostly on guesswork and feel. FlightScope changed that.

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Tournament system: the beginning of a new era

By 1999, FlightScope produced the world’s first golf launch monitor. They called it the tournament system. Today’s standards only provided three data parameters, but golfers can finally see objective data about their shots. Club head speed and ball velocity are no longer up for debate. The numbers were there.

In 2002, the company filed a patent for an innovative phased array technology developed specifically to track golf balls. Because FlightScope did not aggressively pursue patent approval, competitors entered the market within a year. The company still had the technology and expertise to stay ahead of the curve.

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In 2003, FlightScope launched “The Game” at driving ranges across Japan. This driving range solution provided users with real-time ball flight data and resources to improve their game. This technology was decades ahead of its time. What we take for granted now was revolutionary in 2003.

Live streaming: FlightScope takes to the airwaves

In 2004, FlightScope became the first 3D Doppler radar technology system used on live television during the Battle of the Bridge and the Nedbank Challenge. Viewers at home can now watch more than just golf. They were able to understand the physics and precision that separates a good shot from a great one.

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The International Tennis Federation certified FlightScope’s tennis serve speed accuracy in 2005, demonstrating the technology’s versatility and accuracy across sports. Golf remained the main focus, and the company made moves to put golf at the center of the industry.

In 2008, FlightScope moved its headquarters from Stellenbosch to Orlando, Florida. While South Africa remained the home of research, development and most manufacturing, Orlando put FlightScope at the center of the golf world. The company eventually expanded to offices in the United Kingdom, Poland, Japan, and South Korea, establishing a presence on four continents.

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portable revolution

FlightScope Prime was introduced in 2009 as the first truly portable tracking unit with Bluetooth technology and battery operation. Until then, launch monitors were fixed devices. Coaches can now take accurate measurements anywhere. The fitting session moved to the range. The players practiced using the data in real-life situations.

The X-Series launched in 2011 with Wi-Fi capabilities and the debut of a mobile app. Although technology has shrunk and become more accessible, FlightScope has maintained its accuracy standards. The company has always refused to compromise accuracy for convenience.

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In 2014, FlightScope introduced its smallest unit to date for golf consumers, the Xi, and the FlightScope Skills app, which features a variety of practice challenges and benchmarks against tour players. That same year, FlightScope won the Stevie Award for New Consumer Product of the Year. The industry recognized what the company had accomplished.

Tracer and the big stage

Anyone who has watched golf on television over the past decade has seen FlightScope’s efforts, whether they knew it or not. FlightScope Tracer was launched in 2015 and made its television debut at the U.S. Open in Chambers Bay. The trajectory of your shot arcing across the screen shows you exactly where the ball will go. FlightScope technology has made games more appealing to millions of viewers.

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In 2016, the company expanded beyond golf with FlightScope Strike, the first multi-frequency radar that provides comprehensive data for baseball and softball, including pitching, hitting and ball flight parameters. Technology that started with bullets and moved to golf balls now tracks fastballs and home runs.

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