Golf Launchpad Simulator

[kfowler]

What kind of ceiling height do you need to swing the clubs full out?

This will greatly depend on your height. I'm 5'9". I can swing any club, driver included, in my living room with 9' ceilings. Up stairs they're 8' and I use my 7-iron. Probably could use a 6 if I wanted.

[kfowler]

So I received mine Saturday and here's my thoughts.

It's pretty fun but taking some time to get it set up right. Even with the velcro skid pads, the base still moves when you hit it. I even added some extra velcro and still have this issue. The base is weighted toward the back due to the net so the front does not catch the carpet easily. It's really not that big of issue though.

I've been using the LPDR and it's pretty cool. It seems to be able to tell when you leave the club face open. The distance was off by about 20 yards. You can adjust your mouse sensitivity in Windows Control Panel to get it more accurate. You kind of have to do it for every club. The swing speed for my driver says 105 mph which is dead on. However it has my drives going consistently longer than normal. Most are 260 yds. I can hit 260 but not frequently. I also do not like the rubber tee that comes with it. It's very short for a 460cc driver. I may modify this. I seem to be having trouble getting the LPDR to show a push/hook or a pull/slice.

As mentioned above, the unit sits almost an inch off the ground. That's a little annoying. I'm going to try and set up some kind of platform for this.

Ideally I want to take this out to the range and hit real ball off it. I'm going to try this next week some time.

The Tiger Woods 2005 is pretty fun. I usually don't change what the club defaults to for distance but I do use what I would normally hit for that distance. Seems hard to get height on your irons. I really haven't played with it too much.

Overall it's been fun for the price. I've been working on closing the face at impact so this will at least give me some feedback. I would like compare the accuracy of the tour version to the classic. The tour seems more refined.

[imtomtomim]

Well, the pad is good and bad. I was desperate to buy this since during the summer, I put up a hitting net in the basement where I was staying and I'd hit around 100 balls a day, on a slow day, just because I love swinging so much. I couldn't live without swinging every day. The Tiger Woods game does not base itself on swing speed at all. It just uses the pad as a mouse to track direction and registers the clubface orientation as a mouse movement. Your character will be trained and such during the game and eventually, you'll be consistantly hitting 350 yard drives. The LPDR software is pretty nice. The swing speed and carry stats are pretty accurate and I like how it tracks your clubface angles and spin rates. Pretty useful to help you prepare your distances for the golf course also. What I don't like is that the pad is so thick and it is up above your feet. I've ended up hitting that back side multiple times and screwing up the pad on top because I hit that back edge with my long irons. The long irons are the only clubs that require a more sweeping swing and they are the only ones that hit the side of the pad, not to mention, has the greatest ability to do maximum damage. Oh well. It's still fun, and I even use it as something to just whack once in a while without hooking it up.

[tonyy]

I bought a used mat from a local driving range so the ground is even with the pad. I agree that the higher pad as being somewhat a nuisance.

[kfowler]

tony - What did you end up paying for the used pad. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I have no idea what they're worth.

[Archie]

Does any one recommend the tour version versus the regular?

[glebert]

Does any one recommend the tour version versus the regular?

If I hadn't bought the classic I would probably look at the Tour to get the advanced swing analysis capabilities. It would be really good to try one before buying. I know that Golfsmith sells them on their website, I don't know if they would have them in the stores to try them out.

[Guest]

Hey, I just got one of these yesterday for my birthday. I thought it was more of a game than an actual golf swing analyzer and was going to return it, but judging from the sounds of it, Ill have to check it out. I actually registered for this forum because I was looking for reviews on it and found this thread.

Mine is the Tour edition and comes with Tiger Woods 08 for the PC and works with Tiger Woods 09 for PC and PS3. Im mostly interested in the swing analyzer and will let you guys know how accurate it is. It looks like they just released new firmware which claims to add new features.

[Archie]

If you dont like it I call dibs :)

[tonyy]

tony - What did you end up paying for the used pad. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I have no idea what they're worth.

I got mine for $100. Can't beat that price for something to keep our golf addiction up through the winter.

[glebert]

Tony, I think he meant the driving range mat. Maybe.

[tonyy]

Tony, I think he meant the driving range mat. Maybe.

I think you may be right. I got the mat for $15. I just went to the clubhouse and asked if they would sell some of their older driving range mats. I picked it up and it was in great condition.

[kfowler]

Yup I was referring to the mat. Thanks!

I set mine up in the garage tonight to hit some real balls off on into my net. It was fun. I question if it's accurately picking up my face angle though. I had too many drives that were dead straight. I'm not that good. I wish they had a better tee apparatus.

[tonyy]

Just played a round at TPC Sawgrass with my brother. I was -2 he and shot even. Man, this is great to play golf during the winter. :)

[Archie]

All of the ones on ebay are going for well over 100 now. Anybody find them anywhere else for around 100?

[tonyy]

All of the ones on ebay are going for well over 100 now. Anybody find them anywhere else for around 100?

Try the auctions that are Buy It Now OR Best Offer. I just offered the guy $100 and he took it. Maybe it'll work for you.

[SHADOWFOX]

Can't wait til they make this thing compatible with the Wii system.