Pocket Radar – Year In Review

From claiming speed records in the air, on the ground or in the water, to fastballs, auto racing, and downhill skiing, to playground cycling and running races, there is no doubt that the “need for speed” is deeply rooted in humankind.

In fact, speed is such a fascination that an entire television network is devoted to covering all things “fast,” aptly named The Speed Channel.
While this innate desire to “Go Fast” has led to many great innovations over the past few decades, the tools used to measure speed have not benefitted nearly as much from the same innovation.

This is precisely why a few years ago, we set out to usher in a new era in speed radar technology with the invention of the world’s only palm-sized speed radar device. We named it Pocket Radar, and its small size, light weight and extremely accurate speed measurements are transforming the way in which players, coaches, fans and everyday consumers experience the action.

Nearly 16 months since the launch at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Pocket Radar continues to capture the attention of industry, media and consumers alike for its groundbreaking combination of sleek, compact, ultraportable design and break-through speed radar technology that provides users with point-and-shoot functionality.

Interest in Pocket Radar has been widespread from both professionals and everyday consumers, including coaches clocking baseball pitch speeds, athletes seeking improved performance, hobbyists looking to measure the speed of RC cars, boats, or planes; racing fans looking to measure the speed of their favorite NASCAR driver while sitting in the stands; parents looking to measure the speed of the annual soap box derby race; concerned citizens needing to document reckless drivers in their neighborhood, and wildlife researchers needing to document the speed of wild animals on the African plains. The applications seem to be endless as we learn about new ways that consumers are using Pocket Radar every day.

We spent a lot of time traveling over the past year as we continue to meet with college and professional baseball and softball coaches, managers and players across the nation. We are proud to say that Pocket Radar is currently being used as a training aid by hundreds of NCAA softball and baseball programs including programs at The University of Arizona, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Purdue, Stanford, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and our local school at Sonoma State University; to name just a few.

The Pocket Radar gun was a big hit at the December 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) Winter Meetings. Many pro teams have already started using the Pocket Radar in their programs. Some of the early adopters include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

Pocket Radar also received numerous awards and accolades including the 2010 Innovations Design and Engineering Award Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association, the 2010 Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award for best new product and most recently, we were awarded the Best of Show Award at the 2011 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) convention.

But the greatest award is still the feedback that we get on a daily basis from Pocket Radar users letting us know the many different ways they are using the device in their everyday lives. So please keep it coming. Let us know how you use Pocket Radar. Send us videos or photos of Pocket Radar in action and we’ll share them with the Pocket Radar community.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,
Steve Goody, Chris Stewart and Grant Moulton
Co-Founders of Pocket Radar.