Best Timing Systems for Athletes and Coaches
Discover the fastest, most accurate timing systems helping athletes and coaches break records and unlock peak performance.
The best track timing systems for athletes and coaches are laser-gate systems like the Dashr lineup, which eliminates hand-timing error of three to five hundredths of a second per timer. Gate count drives the decision: three gates suit most programs at $990, four gates add split data and vertical jump testing at $1,300, and five gates deliver combine-level sprint phase analysis at $1,600.
- Hand Timing Error: 3 to 5 Hundredths: Hand timing can vary by three to five hundredths of a second between timers, which is enough to completely obscure the gains athletes spend weeks working toward.
- Two gates give you a start and finish, but three or more let you break a sprint into phases, and that is where the data actually becomes useful for coaching decisions.
- Outdoor Sun Needs Heat Shields: Direct sunlight can interfere with beam detection, so Dashr explicitly recommends adding heat shields for any outdoor sessions on sunny days.
- A system that takes forty minutes to configure will not get pulled out for a Tuesday practice, so ease of setup matters more than the spec sheet suggests.
- The add-on gate design lets programs make a lower initial purchase and expand one gate at a time as budgets allow, without replacing existing hardware.
Where to start
Dashr 5-Gate Wireless Timing System for Athletic Performance Testing & Progress Tracking
Dashr 1-Gate Add-On Timing System Upgrade for Precision Training and Performance Tracking
Why Timing Precision Actually Matters in Athletic Training
Hand timing is fine for casual practice. For serious athletic development, it introduces enough error to make the data nearly useless. Research on sprint timing consistently finds that hand-timed results can vary by three to five hundredths of a second from one timer to the next, and that kind of variability swamps the performance gains athletes spend weeks training to achieve.
A laser-based electronic timing system removes the human reaction element entirely. The gate opens the clock the instant the athlete breaks the beam, and closes it the same way. That consistency is what makes the number meaningful, not just as a one-day benchmark but as something you can compare to last month's result and actually trust the difference you see.
For coaches running combine-style evaluations, college scouts reviewing recorded data, or strength and conditioning staff designing sprint programs, the quality of the timing tool determines the quality of every decision downstream. You can browse the full range of timing systems PPW carries to see how the options line up before going deeper into the specs.
How Laser Gate Timing Systems Work
Every electronic timing gate operates on the same basic principle: a laser or infrared beam runs from a transmitter on one tripod to a reflector on a second tripod directly across from it. When the athlete's body breaks that beam, the timer starts or stops. The beam itself is continuous and invisible to the athlete, so there is no anticipation effect and no start-gun lag.
The Dashr systems use Bluetooth to relay that data to a smartphone or tablet running the Dashr app in real time. There are no cables to run across a track, no laptop required at the side of the lane, and no manual data entry afterward. The split times appear on screen the moment the athlete clears each gate.
Gate height matters more than many coaches expect. Tall gates capture the torso crossing the beam, which is the body part most relevant for sprint finish timing. Short gates set at ankle or shin height suit different drills, particularly agility tests where you want to detect foot placement rather than full-body passage. Most Dashr systems include both tripod sizes, giving you the flexibility to configure gates for whatever the session demands.
Choosing the Right Number of Gates for Your Program
Gate count is the most consequential decision you make when buying a timing system, and it is worth thinking through carefully before settling on a number. A single gate can time a flying sprint if you have a separate start trigger, but it cannot give you acceleration splits. Two gates give you a full sprint time. Three or more gates let you break the run into phases, which is where the genuinely useful coaching data starts to emerge.
The Dashr 3-Gate System at $990 is a practical starting point for most coaching environments. With three laser modules, three reflectors, six regular tripods, and two mini tripods all included, it can be configured for sprinting, pro-agility, T-tests, and more without buying anything extra. The included online athlete management system comes with ten free roster spots, expandable as the program grows.
Step up to the Dashr 4-Gate System at $1,300 and you get an additional split point, plus an optional vertical jump testing feature that many strength coaches find genuinely useful during the same testing session. The 4-Gate System also allows an unlimited athlete roster through the app, which makes it better suited for large teams or facilities running multiple groups through the same testing day.
The Dashr 5-Gate System at $1,600 is the flagship configuration. Five gates allow the most granular breakdown of a sprint, covering multiple acceleration splits, a maximum velocity zone, and a finish, all in a single run. For programs that regularly test NFL combine-style metrics or run sport science protocols, the extra split data justifies the additional cost. The system supports up to five tall gates or two short ones, and the modular design means you can reconfigure between drills without dismantling everything from scratch.
Dashr Timing System Comparison: Gates, Features and Price
The table below covers the full Dashr lineup available here. All systems use laser timing technology and connect via Bluetooth to the Dashr app on iOS or Android. Vertical jump testing is listed as an optional software unlock rather than a default feature across most configurations.
| Model | Gates | Vertical Jump | Roster Spots | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dashr 1-Gate Add-On Timing System Upgrade for Precision Training and Performance Tracking |
1 (add-on) | Not published | Inherits existing | $375 |
 Dashr 1-Gate Timing System for Athletic Performance Testing with Wireless Control & Vertical Jump Feature |
1 | Optional | Not published | $375 |
 Dashr 2-Gate Timing System for Athletic Testing, Bluetooth Integration, Real-Time Data & Portable Design |
2 | Optional | Not published | $690 |
 Dashr 3-Gate Wireless Timing System for Speed & Agility Performance Testing |
3 | Optional | 10 free, expandable | $990 |
 Dashr 4-Gate Wireless Timing System for Speed and Agility Testing with Real-Time Data |
4 | Optional | Unlimited | $1,300 |
| Dashr 5-Gate Wireless Timing System for Athletic Performance Testing & Progress Tracking |
5 | Not published | 10 free, expandable | $1,600 |
The pricing steps are reasonably even across the lineup: roughly $300 to $375 per additional gate as you move up the range. That makes the upgrade math fairly straightforward. If your current program runs primarily two-drill sessions, a 3-Gate system covers most scenarios well. If you are running combine-style testing days with multiple drill types and large athlete groups, the 4 or 5-Gate configurations return more data per session and reduce the need to reset between drills.
Which Drills Each Configuration Supports
One of the practical advantages of the Dashr lineup is that gate count directly determines which drill types you can run without workarounds. Understanding that mapping before you buy saves frustration later.
- 1-Gate: Flying sprints with a manual or separate electronic start trigger, finish-line timing, and basic vertical jump with the optional software unlock.
- 2-Gate: Straight-line sprints with a clean start and finish, lap events, and short-distance speed tests. The 2-Gate system from Dashr includes Bluetooth integration and the optional vertical jump feature, making it a compact all-around tool for individual athlete testing.
- 3-Gate: Pro-agility (5-10-5) drills, T-tests, lane agility, and full sprint timing with one intermediate split. The 3-Gate System is the minimum configuration for most team sport combine protocols.
- 4-Gate: Everything the 3-Gate handles, plus an additional split that lets you separate acceleration phase from top-speed phase in a longer sprint. Also supports pro-agility and T-test setups with more measurement points.
- 5-Gate: Dash, flying drills, pro-agility, T-test, and lane agility all supported. This configuration is best suited to programs that run full combine-style testing days where multiple drill types are needed in a single session without reconfiguring the layout between athletes.
For coaches specifically interested in how each of these drills is administered and what the splits actually measure, the setup and positioning of gates relative to start lines varies by drill, and getting that right matters as much as the hardware itself.
Using a Timing System Indoors vs. Outdoors
Every Dashr system is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, but outdoor conditions introduce one variable that requires attention: sunlight. Direct sun on the laser receiver can interfere with beam detection, and Dashr addresses this with optional heat shields that block ambient light without obstructing the beam path. If you are running outdoor sessions on sunny days, those shields are worth adding, and Dashr explicitly recommends them for outdoor conditions across the lineup.
Indoor use is simpler. Controlled lighting means the lasers operate at full sensitivity without additional shielding, and the Bluetooth range is more predictable without interference from wind or temperature swings affecting the hardware. For school programs or training facilities that run primarily indoors, the base configuration without heat shields is all you need.
Portability is genuinely good across the range. Each system comes in an aluminum carrying case that holds all the laser modules, tripods, and reflectors, so moving from a track to a gym to an outdoor field is a matter of lifting one case rather than managing a tangle of loose hardware. The wireless design means there are no cables to manage between stations, which makes single-coach setup realistic even for a 5-Gate configuration.
The Dashr App and What You Can Do with the Data
The timing hardware is only half the system. The Dashr app is where the data becomes useful, and it is worth understanding what it actually does before making a purchase decision. The app runs on both Android and iOS, receives split data in real time via Bluetooth, and organizes results by athlete and drill automatically.
The online athlete management system stores historical results, so you can track an athlete's 40-yard dash progression over a full season rather than relying on a notebook or spreadsheet. The 3-Gate and 5-Gate systems each include ten free roster spots to get started immediately, with paid expansion available for larger programs. The 4-Gate System offers unlimited roster capacity out of the box, which is a meaningful advantage for high school programs or college programs testing large groups regularly.
Beyond raw time storage, the app's automated record-keeping and customizable dashboard let coaches filter results by athlete, date, or drill type. That kind of organization becomes genuinely valuable over a full competitive season, when you might have hundreds of data points across a roster and need to identify who is improving, who has plateaued, and who might be dealing with a fatigue issue based on performance trends rather than feel.
Expanding an Existing System as Your Program Grows
One of the genuinely useful aspects of the Dashr lineup is that you are not locked into your initial purchase. The 1-Gate Add-On is designed specifically for programs that started with a smaller configuration and need to step up without starting over. At $375, it includes one laser module, one reflector, and two regular tripods, and it integrates directly with the existing Dashr app and hardware setup. A 2-Gate system becomes a 3-Gate system; a 3-Gate system becomes a 4-Gate system.
That modular approach is practical for school and club programs where budgets are approved annually. You can make a defensible initial purchase at a lower price point, demonstrate the value of the system over one season, and then request the expansion hardware in the next budget cycle without losing any of the data or setup work you have already done.
If you are coaching youth athletes and starting a performance testing program from scratch, the scalability also matters because the roster will grow. The expandable roster feature across the Dashr lineup means you are not buying a new system when your program doubles in size. Running structured speed and agility testing with younger athletes also requires thinking about gate height and drill selection differently than you would with adults, and the Dashr 3-Gate's included mini tripods for short gate configurations address that directly.
What to Look for Beyond the Spec Sheet
Timing system reviews tend to focus on millisecond accuracy, which all competent laser systems achieve. What separates a system that gets used consistently from one that collects dust is how easy it is to set up and break down in a real coaching environment, not a test lab. A complex system that takes forty minutes to configure will not get pulled out for a Tuesday practice, no matter how accurate it is.
The Dashr systems are genuinely fast to deploy. The tripods are stable on standard gym flooring and on grass, the reflectors clip into position without tools, and the Bluetooth pairing happens automatically once the gates are powered on. A single coach can have a 3-Gate layout running in under ten minutes with a little practice. That low friction is a real advantage over wired systems or those that require a dedicated laptop operator.
Durability is the other factor that is hard to evaluate from a listing. The aluminum carrying cases across the Dashr range protect the hardware during transport, and the laser modules are built for outdoor conditions including heat and dust. For programs that travel to meets or test at multiple facilities in a week, that rugged build matters in a way it might not for a permanent indoor installation.
If you are comparing Dashr against other wireless timing options before committing, how the system holds up against alternative wireless approaches covers the practical differences in real training conditions, including what each system handles well and where the tradeoffs land.
Setting Up the 40-Yard Dash and Pro-Agility Correctly
Gate placement for a 40-yard dash is more nuanced than lining up a gate at zero and another at forty yards. The start gate needs to be positioned so it detects the first movement of the athlete, not their body after they have already accelerated. The standard approach is to place the first gate at the start line at waist height, with the athlete's hand or front foot set just behind the beam before the go signal. The clock starts the instant they break it.
With a 4 or 5-Gate configuration, you can add gates at the 10-yard and 20-yard marks to capture the acceleration curve in addition to the full 40-yard time. Those intermediate splits are often more useful for training purposes than the final number, because they tell you specifically where an athlete is losing ground: off the line, in the drive phase, or transitioning to top speed.
The pro-agility setup places gates at the start center cone and at the five-yard marks on each side. The athlete starts at center, sprints five yards to one side, returns ten yards to the far side, then comes back through the center start gate. The timing gate at center catches both the start and the finish automatically. Getting that setup and technique right for timed sprint testing makes a meaningful difference in whether the numbers you record reflect actual performance rather than testing error.
Both drills are supported across the 3, 4, and 5-Gate Dashr systems without any additional hardware. The 5-Gate System adds enough gates to run both a 40-yard dash with full splits and a pro-agility on the same testing day without reconfiguring the field layout, which is a real time-saver during a full combine-style evaluation.
Matching the Right System to Your Situation
The 1-Gate System at $375 suits individual athletes who train with a personal coach and primarily need finish-line times for flying sprints or a clean start-to-finish measurement on short distances. The optional vertical jump feature makes it a useful testing tool for individual combine prep without much overhead.
The 2-Gate System at $690 is a good fit for small coaching operations, personal trainers working with athletes one at a time, or programs that do not yet run multi-point agility drills. The Bluetooth integration and real-time data are fully present at this level; you are just limited to start and finish rather than intermediate splits.
The 3-Gate System at $990 is probably the most practical entry point for team sport coaches, covering the most common drills without significant compromise. If you are coaching a high school football, soccer, or basketball program and want reliable testing data across a roster, this is where the cost-to-capability ratio is strongest. You can also browse reaction training tools that pair well with a timing system when building a complete performance testing setup for your athletes.
The 4-Gate System at $1,300 is the right call for college programs, semi-professional training facilities, or any situation where the roster size is large and the drill variety is high. Unlimited athlete roster capacity alone separates it from the 3-Gate in a meaningful way for bigger programs.
The 5-Gate System at $1,600 is for programs that run full combine-style testing days, track programs that need multi-split sprint analysis, or sports performance facilities that use the data commercially. The additional gate and the scalable design make it the long-term choice for serious operations, and the per-athlete cost of the testing data drops quickly once you are running large groups through it regularly.
More timing systems worth a look
Dashr 4-Gate Wireless Timing System for Speed and Agility Testing with Real-Time Data
Dashr 3-Gate Wireless Timing System for Speed & Agility Performance Testing
Frequently asked questions
Are Dashr timing systems suitable for both indoor and outdoor use?▾
Yes, all Dashr systems are built for both environments. The laser modules handle indoor conditions without any modification, and heat shields are recommended for outdoor use to keep readings accurate in direct sunlight. The wireless Bluetooth design means you are not dealing with cables across a track surface regardless of where you set up.
How accurate are laser gate timing systems compared to hand timing?▾
Research on sprint timing finds that hand-timed results can vary by three to five hundredths of a second between timers. That margin is larger than the performance gains athletes spend weeks training to produce, which makes hand timing unreliable for tracking real progress. Laser gates remove human reaction entirely, starting and stopping the clock the instant the beam breaks.
What does a Dashr timing system cost, and how do the models compare in price?▾
The Dashr lineup runs from $375 for the 1-Gate Add-On up to $1,600 for the 5-Gate System, with the 3-Gate at $990 and the 4-Gate at $1,300 sitting in the middle. The steps between models work out to roughly $300 to $375 per additional gate, which makes the upgrade decision fairly straightforward once you know how many split points your program actually needs. The 3-Gate is a practical starting point for most coaching setups.
How difficult is it to set up a Dashr timing system before a session?▾
Setup is straightforward. Each gate consists of a laser module on one tripod and a reflector on a second tripod placed directly across from it, and the whole system connects to the Dashr app on an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth. There are no cables to run, no laptop required at the side of the lane, and split times appear on screen the moment an athlete clears each gate.
Are there ongoing costs after buying a Dashr timing system?▾
The Dashr app connects to an online athlete management system, and both the 3-Gate and 5-Gate systems include 10 free roster spots with the option to add more as the program grows. The 4-Gate System offers an unlimited athlete roster through the app. Vertical jump testing is listed as an optional software unlock rather than a default feature, so that would be an additional cost if your program needs it.
What maintenance does a laser timing system require?▾
The Dashr hardware is described as rugged and designed for repeated indoor and outdoor use. Practically speaking, the main upkeep involves keeping reflectors clean and aligned, storing components in the included aluminum carrying case between sessions, and using heat shields in direct sunlight to protect accuracy. There are no moving parts in the laser modules themselves, which keeps long-term maintenance minimal.
How do I know how many gates my program actually needs?▾
Two gates give you a full sprint time from start to finish. Three gates let you start breaking the run into phases, which is where genuinely useful coaching data begins, covering things like acceleration versus top-end speed. If you regularly run combine-style testing or sport science protocols with multiple drill types, the 5-Gate System gives you up to five split points in a single run, including acceleration splits, a maximum velocity zone, and a finish.
What is the most common mistake coaches make when buying a timing system?▾
Buying fewer gates than the program will eventually need is the most common issue. A 2-gate setup times a sprint but tells you nothing about where in the run an athlete is losing or gaining ground. The good news is the Dashr lineup is modular, so you can start with a 3-Gate or 4-Gate system and add the Dashr 1-Gate Add-On at $375 later rather than replacing everything when the program grows.
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