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.

Windstorm Whistle Photographs        Technical Information        Test Results

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.

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.

Pricing Information

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