 Independent
testing
proves the Windstorm®
whistle is loud!
Tests show that the Windstorm®
whistle from Markwort Sporting Goods Company produces a sound which is more easily heard
when compared to other popular whistles. With modern insulated football helmets, deafening
crowds, and the crash of impacting pads, particularly for high school, college and
professional contact sports, the sound of a whistle can be vital in providing safety and
protection. Tested by an independent research team under the most demanding scientific
methods, the Windstorm® competed head-to-head for loudness against the most popular
whistles in the world. Data derived by powering 4 test whistles at a constant pressure and
strong effort prove its loudness. In another test, as the sound is received through a
padded football helmet, the Windstorm® once again outperforms the other whistles.
The Windstorm® whistle is perfect
for high school, college and pro sports referees, coaches and game officials, and is used
by the military, police officers, lifeguards and for personal protection. It is an
all-weather whistle, purging moisture while at the same time delivering a loud sound. This
whistle performs in all conditions, in any weather or safety situation: blown and heard on
land, up to 1/2 mile, and even underwater, up to 50 feet. A high-impact, non-corroding
thermoplastic protective housing is easy to grasp, and the patented double chamber design
allows it to be blown when held right side up or upside down, forcing all water to be
purged when the whistle is blown.
Technical
Information
The Windstorm® is a natural solution when safety is a
consideration. Whistles help keep contact sports safe. Particularly for high school,
college and professional football, with modern helmets and deafening crowds, the sound of
a whistle can be vital in preventing injury. But recently, players have been accused of
illegal and potentially dangerous late hits. Current research is prepared to show that the
referee’s whistle may be the real guilty party.
The ability for a whistle to be
heard over the drone of screaming fans, the crash of impacting pads and the insulation of
the football helmet depends essentially on two factors: the loudness and the frequency.
Whistles producing predominately low frequency sounds are more easily heard when compared
to whistles generating high frequency tones. Low frequency sounds carry more effectively
over long distances or through structures such as glass, foam, or plastic when compared to
higher frequency tones. |
Test
Results
The Windstorm and various other popular whistles were tested to
evaluate what effect wearing a football helmet had on the ability of the player to hear a
referee whistle. The studies were conducted in a sound proof chamber under the direction
of research scientists at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri. Data
shows how the helmet acts as a strong filter, allowing some sounds to be heard clearly by
the player while blocking out others. The following graph represents how whistle sounds
are received through a football helmet, and clearly shows how the Windstorm® whistle is
louder than other popular whistles. |
Click here to enlarge
graph. |
Conclusion
While some football players may feel that a late hit is better
than no hit at all, this research indicates the real problem may lie in the combination of
insulated helmets and high frequency whistles that are ineffective in penetrating them.
Further testing is critical to determine what needs to be done to enable a player to
consistently hear a referees whistle. Meanwhile, utilizing a low frequency whistle like
the Windstorm will offer both the official and the player the consistency and safety the
game demands. |
|
