I really like my DigiCue Blue but noticed some mixed reviews on Amazon. Mine is 6 years old and recently has become inconsistent about recording every shot, but really remains very useful. So what if it does not register each one: Just close the app and restart and it might get better. Or if it reports improved Follow Through (skill I'm working on improving) on many shots, isn't that good enough?
Installation of the device into its rubber cup is tricky. It needs to be positioned to line up with a certain spot. But once on you are good to go. And battery will last a long time...weeks or more...depending on how much you use it. BUT getting it out of the rubber cup is also difficult. Yesterday it was acting inconsistent and I wondered if Battery was weak. It wasn't the battery but getting out and putting it back was a pain. TIP: I cut a tiny slash into side of the cup to release the vacuum when removing the cup from butt and that helped (Obviously don't do that until you know you are keeping it!)
Somehow this device knows a lot about your stroke. It reports Finish Time...did you stay down and not move after contact). Finesse (not sure but only turn on when practicing soft shots...think some people stroke badly at slow soft hits). You can turn any of these on or off and set up Beginner Intermediate or Advanced. STRAIGHTNESS! Did cue move straight forward. This is critical! Tip Steering...did tip slide off to left or right as you contacted the cue ball? I discovered that I was pulling my grip hand closer to my ribs as I shot. That meant as butt moved left, tip was moving to the right. FOLLOW THROUGH...Did cue accelerate through cueball and then come to a natural stop without you using muscles to stop it. I've recently been working on this and getting better at it. JAB. The opposite of Follow through, pulling back on the cue after contact. I had a bad habit of pulling back nearly to starting position on draw shots.
Anyway, considering what lessons cost, spending $159 for this tool seems quite reasonable. And Amazon has a 30 day return policy (we get Amazon Prime so I don't know if that applies to everyone) so you could try it out for a few weeks and see how you like it. The original app reports with green bars and scores of zero to 10. Ten is good meaning a 10 on jab means that you didn't jab. If set for beginners or intermediate or advanced these will be a minimum score you must achieve to get a green bar. Red bar means you did not get there
I'm not as familiar with the new app but it has some amazing graphics in addition to the above. I have questions about some reported results. Fortunately, the creator is a member here and very cooperative about responding to my questions. And he posts about issues with the device regularly. Easier for him to tell all of us something than deal with us one at a time. But as I said, when I've messaged him, I've heard back shortly.
Overall, I'd say a steal of a deal.
p.s. one Amazon review said it distracted him from focusing on the mental game. He didn't want to worry about the details of his stroke. Well I love the mental game (recommend Doctor Robert Rotella Golf Books) but a sound mental game won't compensate for the tip sliding off the cue ball to one side or failure to follow through or pulling back or getting up too quickly......
Installation of the device into its rubber cup is tricky. It needs to be positioned to line up with a certain spot. But once on you are good to go. And battery will last a long time...weeks or more...depending on how much you use it. BUT getting it out of the rubber cup is also difficult. Yesterday it was acting inconsistent and I wondered if Battery was weak. It wasn't the battery but getting out and putting it back was a pain. TIP: I cut a tiny slash into side of the cup to release the vacuum when removing the cup from butt and that helped (Obviously don't do that until you know you are keeping it!)
Somehow this device knows a lot about your stroke. It reports Finish Time...did you stay down and not move after contact). Finesse (not sure but only turn on when practicing soft shots...think some people stroke badly at slow soft hits). You can turn any of these on or off and set up Beginner Intermediate or Advanced. STRAIGHTNESS! Did cue move straight forward. This is critical! Tip Steering...did tip slide off to left or right as you contacted the cue ball? I discovered that I was pulling my grip hand closer to my ribs as I shot. That meant as butt moved left, tip was moving to the right. FOLLOW THROUGH...Did cue accelerate through cueball and then come to a natural stop without you using muscles to stop it. I've recently been working on this and getting better at it. JAB. The opposite of Follow through, pulling back on the cue after contact. I had a bad habit of pulling back nearly to starting position on draw shots.
Anyway, considering what lessons cost, spending $159 for this tool seems quite reasonable. And Amazon has a 30 day return policy (we get Amazon Prime so I don't know if that applies to everyone) so you could try it out for a few weeks and see how you like it. The original app reports with green bars and scores of zero to 10. Ten is good meaning a 10 on jab means that you didn't jab. If set for beginners or intermediate or advanced these will be a minimum score you must achieve to get a green bar. Red bar means you did not get there
I'm not as familiar with the new app but it has some amazing graphics in addition to the above. I have questions about some reported results. Fortunately, the creator is a member here and very cooperative about responding to my questions. And he posts about issues with the device regularly. Easier for him to tell all of us something than deal with us one at a time. But as I said, when I've messaged him, I've heard back shortly.
Overall, I'd say a steal of a deal.
p.s. one Amazon review said it distracted him from focusing on the mental game. He didn't want to worry about the details of his stroke. Well I love the mental game (recommend Doctor Robert Rotella Golf Books) but a sound mental game won't compensate for the tip sliding off the cue ball to one side or failure to follow through or pulling back or getting up too quickly......
. Congratulations on the new arrival! Andy