This is a follow up article on The Stack System. In a previous article I addressed the putting portion of the app. This is a more detailed opinion on the whole system and software. Let’s take a look.
This was one of the purchases that I thought long and hard about. My gut feeling said “don’t buy” a bunch of times.
Keep in mind I’m retried and pushing 72 years old.
Questions I had.
- Does someone 72 years old need to do speed training?
- Are radar units radar units accurate at short and long distance?
- What are the short game and putting portions of the app about?
- Is it worth the price with subscriptions added on?
Well, I’ve waited to write because I had limited use of The Stack System.
I have used the putting app and like it which is good and you can purchase it separately.
I would recommend the putting part of this and it doesn’t require the radar unit.
I’ve sent multiple emails back and forth to their customer service about the short game portion of the app. I was not a happy camper.
I’m still not sure about it.
What I like and don’t like
Let me tell you what I like.
The Stack System reading distance using the radar and app seems to be accurate.
The radar syncs with the app and calculates distance.
That means your data is on the radar or app. Your data is then stored.
That is handy and I tested it at the same time I had soccer cones set up.
I set the soccer cones up using a tape measure.
I had cones setup at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards.
Customer service for The Stack is telling me they have proven accuracy from 30 to 140 yards.
I can verify it was accurate. I didn’t try 10 yards, but it was close at 20 yards.
The bottom line for me is that the radar has limited use at the range and is not useful on the golf course as some YouTubers have claimed.
On the course, I have a ShotScope watch that measures shots using GPS at pretty much any distance.
I have another radar and camera launch monitor that is accurate with all my clubs and I paid a lot more for it. That’s just part of the deal.
The part of the short game app I was cracked about was not having the ability to bypass the required setup by hitting a bunch of clubs until I reached 140 yards.
I don’t hit any of my wedges 140 yards…at 72 years old I hit my 6 iron 140 yards.
I told customer service. Look, I know the app is made to give me recommendations. I don’t need that as I just want set up my own drills and measure distance.
Speed training is not for me.
I like the putting part of the app.
Going to the range
Finally, I went to the range and hit some balls to get it over with.
Just as a note: I tried to accomplish this in the house with no ball and the radar doesn’t pick up the swing without hitting ball.
So, then I got my first recommendation. It was to attempt hitting my Lob Wedge farther than I would ever try to hit it.
I was not happy.
Fortunately, you can make up you own drills that make sense for you.
The recommended wedge drills may be perfect for others. They are not for me.
I really like the warm up drill for speed training found online. I use it now preround warmup or at the range.
At the range after warming up, I grabbed the weighted club that is part of The Stack System package for speed training.
I swung the stick 5 times starting slow and on the 5th swing I could feel it in my back and stopped.
I’ve tried other products that are similar. I’ve tweaked my back every time.
You need to be in good shape to do the speed training.
Truthfully, you are going to find a lot of people online that say using your own driver for speed training is affective.
Overall feeling on the product
I bought the bundle deal for $499. You get the stick, weights, radar and app.
From The Stack: A membership to the Stack App provides Stack Speed Training, Stack Putting, and access to the Learning Library, and 1-year access in included with your purchase of The Stack hardware. After that, yearly membership access is $99/year and can be managed in the App Store. Stack Putting is purchased through the App store for $59/year.
It also works with my FlightScope Mevo Plus launch monitor for speed training.
The system was developed by Dr. Sasho Mackenzie. I’ve watched lots of videos trying to evaluate the system.
I became interested when they added putting and again with the short game component.
It’s not cheap to purchase. My gut feeling was I was going paying way to much for something I was not going use.
I’ve been down this road before with HackMotion. I mean that I hesitated.
I saw David Orr who is one of most respected putting coaches in the world using HackMotion and watched his seminars.
Then I saw the price. WOW!!! I bought it anyway.
Just like HackMotion, I bought The Stack System.
Here is the difference. HackMotion can be used for your entire golf practice and you wear it similar to watch.
I use for putting, short game, and full swing.
The Stack System is a different tool. It’s really for speed training.
As I’ve said before, I do like the putting portion of the app.
Did I mention I hate subscription products.
The product might be great for someone else.
I’m not in great shape and for the part of the system I use it’s not worth the price.
Hopefully, I can reshape my opinion over time.