Revealed on The Bag Room: The Story Behind FlightScope's i4 Rangefinder and Badger AI

In a recent conversation with Ryan Ballengee on The Bag Room, FlightScope founder and CEO Henri Johnson discussed the inspiration and innovation behind the groundbreaking FlightScope i4 Laser Rangefinder and Badger AI. 

Johnson revealed how a pivotal moment with Bryson DeChambeau, coupled with FlightScope's deep understanding of ballistics and data, led to the creation of tools designed to bring unprecedented clarity and confidence to golfers of all skill levels.

An "Aha!" Moment on the Course

The idea for the i4 Rangefinder was born out of a real-world scenario on the golf course, during a practice round for the Genesis Invitational at Riviera with Bryson DeChambeau and Tiger Woods. Johnson recounted how DeChambeau, known for his meticulous approach to the game, found himself significantly short on a 200-yard par-three, despite using his "200-yard club." 

"I said – 'Bryson, I think I understand what's going on here, but I need to do some calculations,'" Johnson recalled. This incident sparked an intense period of research and calculation for Johnson, who, as an engineer, delved into the complex ballistics of golf ball flight, including drag, lift, and the impact of atmospheric conditions.

The core of the problem, Johnson discovered, lay in DeChambeau's unique single-length irons and high spin rates. When combined with increased air density (due to a temperature drop late in the afternoon), DeChambeau's ball went "higher but much shorter" due to a significantly higher rate of slowing down compared to a player like Tiger Woods, even when both selected their "200-yard club."

"If they couldn't figure it out on the spot, how can a normal amateur golfer that wants to enjoy their game?" Johnson questioned. This realization became the driving force behind the FlightScope i4 Rangefinder.

More Than Just a Rangefinder

The FlightScope i4 Rangefinder is designed to eliminate the guesswork that often plagues golfers. When you shoot a target with the i4, you receive three critical pieces of information:

1. Direct distance to the flag: The traditional line-of-sight distance.

2. Effective playing distance: This is where the i4 truly stands out. It calculates how far the shot plays for your personal club gapping, taking into account complex atmospheric variables like air temperature, absolute air pressure, and relative humidity.

3. Recommended club to hit: Based on your personalized data and the effective distance, the i4 confidently suggests the optimal club.

To achieve this personalized recommendation, the i4 integrates seamlessly with the FS Golf app. Users can easily input their club gapping data using one of three options:

• Smart Gapping: A revolutionary feature that requires only one mid-iron's carry distance, your home location, and the clubs in your bag to accurately calculate the gapping for your entire bag, leveraging FlightScope's extensive ballistics databases and AI. As Johnson noted, "It's scary how accurate that is."

• CSV Import: For those with data from the FS Golf PC Software or other launch monitors.

• FlightScope Session Import: For FlightScope users, a quick and precise way to import a previously done gapping session.

Johnson emphasized the profound impact of this personalized data. "You're going to increase your odds of scoring, of getting closer to the hole," he stated. "And the beauty is, confidence grows confidence. So you're going to be more confident. You can have more enjoyment because we know that if you doubt, you're most likely going to mess it up."

The i4 is designed for golfers of all handicaps, promising lower scores and greater enjoyment. "Even if you are a higher handicap, you can still find value because you're going to have improved confidence,” said Johnson.

Badger AI: Your Personal Golf Assistant

Beyond the i4, FlightScope has introduced Badger AI, an intelligent chatbot assistant designed to provide deeper insights into your golf data. Johnson explained that while generic AI models like ChatGPT are available, Badger AI's unique value lies in its connection to your personal FlightScope data.

"Badger AI knows what you've done. It's connected to your data sessions, so it can speak to your data," Johnson explained. This allows Badger AI to offer personalized insights, such as how your angle of attack compares to PGA or LPGA averages.

Utilizing Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and multiple large language models, Badger AI can also:

• Offer insightful advice: Helping users understand their data, identify areas for improvement, and suggest specific practice routines.

• Search for relevant resources: Like YouTube videos for a particular swing aspect.

• Provide web connectivity: Answering general questions beyond golf.

Looking to the future, Johnson envisions Badger AI evolving into an even more powerful tool, capable of controlling the entire FlightScope app. "You'll be able to say, 'Hey, Badger, give me a practice routine and set up some data margins around my club head speed, my smash factor, and my carry distance for my 7-iron,' and it's going to set it up and it's going to be able to converse with you during that as well."

The introduction of Badger AI underscores FlightScope's commitment to making complex data digestible and actionable for every golfer, further enhancing the learning and enjoyment aspects of the game.

Unlocking a Smarter Golf Experience

The FlightScope i4 Rangefinder and Badger AI represent a significant leap forward in golf technology. Born from a real-world challenge and backed by FlightScope's engineering prowess, these tools aim to empower golfers with unparalleled clarity, confidence, and personalized insights.