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Golftec (a bit of a plug) and feel ain't real

nevets88

Entry posted by nevets88

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Golftec (disclaimer - don't know anyone working there) was something I never looked into, probably confirmation bias or the social media out there about the hard sell to buy lesson packages. After trying out its video setup, the benefits of having both face on and down the line views simultaneously was intriguing, and a screen where you can see yourself live although you still have to manipulate your head to see the screen, VR goggles not available yet but you can bet that will be a thing in the near future, could be useful for some I thought.

Winter was a time where practice wound down, don't know anyone with a large relatively warm space (Hey buddy, you have so much photography/music studio loft space you could easily fit in a net there and we could practice during winter! Whadday think? :-D) where I could plop a net, and paying for a simulator when I wasn't using the simulator, just videoing myself, plus groups using simulators tend to be noisy, just didn't work - too limiting and expensive. Places w/simulators can be cramped spaces too, so you may not get a face on or down the line camera view. Practicing during the winter outdoors was getting more and more to be a drudge - it's one thing to swing, futzing with a camera when it's cold is the dealbreaker, even with touchscreen gloves.

So finally the plunge into a 1/2 year practice plan was made. If you go 2-3 times a week, the cost per visit goes down considerably compared to simulators. What I didn't anticipate is that dual video cameras has been more beneficial than I imagined, the connect between what I'm doing and what really happens is much more immediate, even though I've been using video, "only" one camera - and I think I'm making better progress because of it and now that plunge is looking like a great deal. So if you're looking for a place to practice in the cold winter, take a gander into any company/facility with dual cameras and multiple locations. You might get in some considerable swing work done during the offseason. 

Better at shallowing from A4 and better at knowing the whys because cameras because instructor with a big assist from cameras:

 

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CarlSpackler

I would love to build that system at home. The dual camera angle with instantaneous feedback is GENIOUS! I'm wondering where GolfTEC is going to shack up now that the local GolfSmith stores are closing.

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billchao
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4 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

I would love to build that system at home. The dual camera angle with instantaneous feedback is GENIOUS! I'm wondering where GolfTEC is going to shack up now that the local GolfSmith stores are closing.

The one @nevets88 goes to is a stand-alone store.

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Marty2019

I've been going to Golftec, and my experience has been pretty good.   I didn't buy the practice package, so I don't have any idea how much that would cost.   I got a set of Ping irons fitted, and they charge the same price for the irons that you would pay in a golf store.  Plus they throw in the fitting for free.  

I also signed up for 10 lessons.  So far, I've taken 5, and my instructor is, in my opinion, very good.  That would probably vary by instructor, though. 

The cost of the lessons seems kind of high, but I figure for the same price I can hit 100 buckets of balls instead and not make any significant progress.   Plus, the quality of the instruction seems so much more important than the cost of the lessons.  No one should shop for lessons based on price.  Really, if anyone is concerned about the cost of lessons, I would say, figure up how many buckets of balls you have hit on the range, and how much that cost, and whether that really helped you, and then figure up how much you spent on clubs, and did that really help you as much as lessons from a good instructor would help you.  Just figure the cost-benefit of those lessons vs all the other ways you waste money on your golf game.   Sorry, I've gone off course here with my little rant.  People need to get lessons. 

Yes, they are good salesmen.   They have a nice formula for hooking you in, and they're good at up-selling, but I'm glad they did. 

Edited by Marty2019
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CarlSpackler
6 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

So how much is GolfTec?

When I checked it out last spring (maybe the year before) it was going to cost over $200/mo. I loved their technology, but that was way to steep for me. 

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dennyjones

A while back they had a deal where you donate $20 to a worthy cause and get a swing evaluation free.   I jumped on the offer to see what Golftec was all about.  I was impressed, the dual video was enlightening.   The high pressure sales pitch, not so much.  I could see improving with their system but for the cost, I purchased a yearly membership at a local club.  

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nevets88
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21 hours ago, billchao said:

The one @nevets88 goes to is a stand-alone store.

Yep. I've only been to a couple of others, they are usually part of a shopping mall, one was in an office building with your lawyers and insurance agents, which actually was the nicest one w/a ~55 inch flatscreen right in front of you so you can just look straight on to check out feel ain't real for both angles.

12 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

So how much is GolfTec?

I was lucky and got a deal, $500 for 6 months. It's 3 visits a week, each a 1/2 hour, but if it's not busy, you can stay longer, which I've done but I don't overstay my welcome. If you do 3x a week, let's say 3.5 months of winter, that's ~50 sessions, ~ $10 session. Simulators can cost around $50/hour, so if you go frequently, that's a good chunk of change you save. I suspect I will be going even when it's warm, so will be paying less for the outdoor range. A big bonus is when you travel, odds are there's one nearby if you're going to metropolitan areas and they have clubs so you even might be able to leave your clubs at home. It's going to be a "step down" when I video myself with just one camera next year.

 

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gregsandiego
6 hours ago, nevets88 said:

Simulators can cost around $50/hour, so if you go frequently, that's a good chunk of change you save. I suspect I will be going even when it's warm, so will be paying less for the outdoor range. A big bonus is when you travel, odds are there's one nearby if you're going to metropolitan areas and they have clubs so you even might be able to leave your clubs at home. It's going to be a "step down" when I video myself with just one camera next year.

 

I have a deal at my local PGA store. $99 for the year and I think I get 30 mins per day minimum. Pretty happy with this deal.

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nevets88
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13 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

I have a deal at my local PGA store. $99 for the year and I think I get 30 mins per day minimum. Pretty happy with this deal.

That's a great deal. The facilities there have a lot of space and you can use your own camera. 

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Hardspoon

Hmmm...there is a GolfTec about 15 minutes from my house. I may call and see what their rates are like just to use the simulator/camera setup, without instruction. The simulator right near my house is nice for some winter practice, but the bays are too small for proper filming (with my iPhone at least).

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nevets88
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6 months is almost up, estimate around 80-90 practice sessions over the winter, got in a lot of work over the off season, definitely cheaper than the range during the summer, so in retrospect, that was worth it, w/the 2 angle immediate video, learned a little more about how the body moves although now videoing outside seems more of a pain in the butt, nice not having to do setup and packing, just go. Probably won't get this deal again, will have to figure out something next winter, maybe PGA Superstore. Thinking if someone opened a no frills indoor practice space in the immediate area, it could do decently, something like this, 300 CAD for 6 months, take my money.

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