The Story of FlightScope's 1989 Origins with Schalk Brits and Henri Johnson

When former Springbok and rugby World Cup winner Schalk Brits traded the pitch for the fairways, he quickly learned that passion only gets you so far – golf is ultimately a game of precision. Seeking to break through his plateau and reach a scratch handicap, Brits turned to FlightScope tracking technology.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the Pearl Valley Golf Estate in South Africa’s Western Cape, Brits met up with FlightScope Founder and CEO Henri Johnson for an unscripted, wide-ranging discussion. Their conversation offers an inside look at FlightScope’s journey from defense radar systems to global sports technology, alongside practical advice for golfers looking to lower their scores.

Here are the biggest takeaways from their interview at Pearl Valley:

1. The Surprising Origin Story: Defense Radar and Ballistics

FlightScope did not begin on a driving range – it started in high-precision defense tracking. During the interview, Johnson details growing up in the small town of Warrenton, South Africa, with a self-described "hunger" for knowledge, building radio transmitters by Grade 6 before pursuing electronic engineering at Stellenbosch University.

"I was always very curious, so I went to the local library and studied every single physics, mathematics, and electronics book I could lay my hands on because I had a total hunger for it. My mother always said, 'My child, your eyes are bigger than your stomach.' That hasn't changed, by the way" – Henri Johnson

His early career involved tracking artillery projectiles fired from South Africa's G5 and G6 howitzers, which required precision tracking over 40 kilometers (almost 25 miles).

"As for missiles – no, we didn't measure missiles. We actually measured projectiles fired from big artillery guns, like South Africa's 155 mm G5 and G6 guns when they were being developed... The systems had to be calibrated to within 0.01% accuracy. That's a very small margin, right? So we learned how to do that." – Henri Johnson

When military funding shifted in the 1990s, Johnson adapted his 3D radar expertise to sports. A single phone call asking if he could measure cricket bowling speeds led to the creation of the "Speed Stick" tracking system at Newlands Cricket Ground within three months. Shortly after, Johnson tackled tennis serve speeds by pioneering 3D angular radar measurement, solving the directional inaccuracies common in basic single-axis Doppler units.

By the late 1990s, golf became the natural next frontier. 

FlightScope pioneered the development of the first-ever golf tracking technology in 1997, laying the groundwork for future advancements in golf performance analysis.

Testing early tracking units with Dirk Els – brother of four-time Major champion Ernie Els – FlightScope transitioned from basic velocity tracking to full-flight carry distance. 

"Ernie Els's brother, Dirk Els, started hitting test balls for us. He’s even taller than Ernie! I remember him carrying shots about 320 meters through the air. From there, we started measuring golf balls, initially using our military technology." – Henri Johnson

In 1999, FlightScope produced the world's first-ever launch monitor for golf, known as the Tournament System, which provided three data parameters. This set a new standard for comprehensive performance data analysis in golf.

2. Cutting Through the Noise: What Data Actually Matters?

For many amateur golfers, launch monitor data can feel overwhelming. Brits admits to struggling with information overload on his journey to a scratch handicap.

"When I first started getting passionate about golf and trying to get down to a scratch handicap, I struggled with data. I struggled with understanding my swing... Dumb it down for me – not as a pro golfer, but as an amateur who wants to maximize their capability." – Schalk Brits

Johnson offers a grounded, practical perspective on how players should approach the vast amount of data available today relating to the golf swing:

"The first assumption must be that you can't just watch a YouTube video and expect to instantly play better golf. That doesn't work. Information only helps if you take it and actually go to work on the range. As an athlete, you know where success comes from – you have to put in the time." – Henri Johnson

Rather than obsessing over complex metrics like spin axis or angle of attack right away, Johnson advises everyday golfers to focus on two fundamental mechanics:

• Learning to "Crack the Whip": Most amateurs initiate the downswing early with the upper body (the classic over-the-top move), losing speed and lag. Using speed-training tools alongside FlightScope’s swing training modules teaches players where and how to generate maximum speed late in the downswing.

• Mastering Club Face Control: Club face angle at impact overwhelmingly dictates initial ball direction. Developing a physical feel for face orientation at contact builds predictable starting lines before trying to manipulate shot shape.

"Developing the skill to crack the whip and gaining control over the club face at impact are the two fundamental keys. In my mind as a scientist and engineer, those two elements set you up for success if you put in the work. Everything else can be built on top of that." – Henri Johnson

"You say it's simple, but from my perspective, golf is the hardest sport I've ever played!" – Schalk Brits

3. Technology Evolution: Accessibility Without Hidden Fees

A major theme of the interview is how modern technology has democratized access to tour-level data. Brits highlights how much the landscape has shifted since he began playing:

"From my perspective as an amateur golfer, data used to be very expensive to access – and golf is all about data, right? You have a feeling, but does that feeling match the data? In the past, launch monitors were too expensive to buy." – Schalk Brits

Units like the Mevo Gen2 deliver advanced parameters and extended battery life in a compact form factor. Beyond hardware accuracy, Johnson emphasizes FlightScope's commitment to customer transparency and long-term ownership value.

"It's not just about what you buy on paper or initial accuracy; it's also about the total cost of ownership. We don't penalize you for owning the product. We don't lock software updates behind expensive annual subscriptions... We want our products to remain accessible and affordable." – Henri Johnson

4. The AI-Powered Ecosystem and Smart Caddie Tech

The conversation shifts to FlightScope’s connected product ecosystem, including integration between the i4 Rangefinder and the FS Golf app.

With the i4’s Smart Gapping Tool, which leverages advanced AI, golfers can input their 7-iron carry distance, select the clubs in their bag, and the system will then create a distance table across every club in the bag. This data is then used to give you personalized club recommendations on the course. And with FlightScope’s patented Environmental Optimizer, the i4 connects directly to local weather stations to give you live weather adjusted yardages on the course.

"When you target a flag, it calculates not only the physical yardage, but also your personalized effective playing distance based on your home profile and current weather conditions. It accounts for atmospheric variables like air density and kinematic viscosity, which directly impact ball flight." – Henri Johnson

By calculating environmental factors alongside your yardages in real time, the rangefinder removes guesswork during shot preparation.

"So what you're saying is that I won't have any excuses left when I play with that rangefinder!" – Schalk Brits

"It’s like having your best caddie in your pocket. It bases everything on your personal averages over time. Over a large sample size, your overall scores will drop. Confidence breeds confidence – there's no question about it." – Henri Johnson

5. The Golden Metric: Proximity to the Pin and Playing the Odds

The interview concludes with a lesson on course strategy and statistical probability. Johnson challenges the widespread amateur obsession with maximizing driver distance at the expense of accuracy.

"There is one key metric that most amateur golfers ignore, yet it almost entirely dictates your scoring probability... Your proximity to the pin on approach shots – whether you're coming out of the fairway, the rough, or a bunker. Your distance to the hole dictates your probability of making the putt." – Henri Johnson

Drawing on long-term PGA Tour data and insights from golf analytics pioneer Dr. Mark Broadie (Every Shot Counts), Johnson highlights proximity to the pin on approach shots as the single greatest predictor of scoring performance:

PGA Tour Putting Make Percentages

• 3 Feet: 99% Tour make probability

• 4 Feet: 87% Tour make probability

• 8 Feet: ~48% Tour make probability (Worse odds than a coin toss)

"If your approach shots consistently leave you outside 8 feet, you're playing against the odds. With a large enough sample size, you will lose that battle. It's like a gambler who wins a jackpot and believes that by keeping on gambling, they will keep on winning... You've got to look at probabilities: Are the odds working for me or against me?" – Henri Johnson

Johnson points out that while most amateurs love to "bomb the driver," taking excessive risk off the tee often ruins scoring probabilities. Brits admits to carrying his driver 264 meters (288 yards), but acknowledges that a miss at that distance usually means big trouble, especially to the left.

Reflecting on how the modern game has evolved, Johnson recalls meeting Bryson DeChambeau back in 2016 at Chambers Bay just after Bryson won the US Amateur:

"When I met Bryson DeChambeau in 2015 at Chambers Bay, he was swinging his driver at 108 miles per hour. But then on the range, he started pounding them at 129, 130 miles per hour. And I said, 'Whoa, you don't have to do that.'... And of course, during COVID, he started bombing the ball and he can hit it far, and all of them can hit it far, but that's not the point. Your risk goes up and your odds change. And you must, as a golfer, always think about odds." – Henri Johnson

Johnson believes understanding and managing those odds is the key to shooting lower scores. 

Watch the Full Interview

From breakthroughs in tracking technology to practical tips on beating the odds on the course, this wide-ranging interview with Schalk Brits and Henri Johnson is full of insights for anyone who loves the game.

Whether you're looking to dive into the history of golf tracking, understand what happens to your ball flight in different weather conditions, or just want to listen to two passionate sports minds talk about golf, there’s plenty to unpack.

Here’s what you’ll learn by watching the full video:

• The Military Origins: The complete story of how defense tracking technology evolved into modern golf launch monitors.

• The Practice Framework: Henri Johnson’s straightforward, two-step approach to building lag speed and mastering clubface control.

• Atmospheric Impact: How real-time environmental variables like air density dynamically alter your actual carry distances.

• Course Strategy and Odds: Practical advice on leveraging Tour proximity data to make smarter decisions off the tee and lower your scores.

Watch the full interview between Schalk Brits and Henri Johnson above to learn how accurate data can transform your game.