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Posted

I just got my opti shot. It seems to me that the lighting in the room where it is located is critical. I have noticed that my swing speed on the driver varies quite a bit. I have had a high of 109 MPH and a low of 75MPH. I have in the past had my club head speed clocked from 85 to 92 mph. I am wondering if it is the lighting effecting the sensors. Does anyone have any tips or contacts that can help me with this?


  • 6 months later...
Posted

So... I finally broke down and bought an OptiShot tonight.  I was thinking about holding out a couple more years and getting a really nice simulator ($10K+)... but I'm a little impatient and decided to use the range for my serious practice, and a simulator to just fill in when the timing doesn't cooperate and to have a little fun.  I already had an 8 ft net (Callaway), 10 foot ceilings in the basement, computer.

I don't have a ton to say about it at this point, but here is some initial feedback:

1 - Very easy to set up.  The only issue initially was with lighting, but I tried turning different lights on and off and found the conditions that gave the best "face feedback" (open face vs. closed face).

2 - I will definitely get an appropriate mat to go with it (found a company that make a mat specifically for OptiShot for $125 or $150).  It's awkward to stand on the carpet and the have the ball sitting 3/4" higher.

3 - I will definitely buy a projector or good sized TV, veiwing it on a laptop monitor sucks.

4 - When I pull (my typical miss), the feedback shows the ball going left.  I also tested leaving the face open a little at impact and the feedback showed the appropriate result.

5 - The distance doesn't seem to be too accurate (shows me hitting my 9i 115... I hit it 145 in real life).  However, I haven't "set up my bag" yet.  I believe you're supposed to calibrate you clubs to what you hit them.

6 - If you wind up in a deep (pot) bunker, it's almost impossible to get out haha.  Maybe I just need to learn the intricisies of the game a little better or something, but playing sand shots couldn't be any further from realistic (not that I would expect any simulator to be though).

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it so far and the potentail (granted I've only had it for 5 hours).  I can see the potential of this being pretty fun to play with through the winter months, and to swing the club either super early before work or late at night after the kids go to bed.  I think it'll be fun for the family to play with too.

I'll post again after I've had it for a few weeks and can provide some more experienced feedback.


Posted

I wound up returning the OptiShot.  I decided it was fun as a toy, but also too expensive for something that's just a toy (and not very accurate).  I think I'll just hold out a few years until it makes sense to put in a better set up.


  • 4 months later...
Posted
Hi all, Not sure if anyone is interested but I spoke with optishot today about online play and here is their response. Well the whole email chain.... Jonathan B Cole (OptiShot Help & Support) Jan 30 09:40 AM You're very welcome and yes, available even in Europe. Jonathan B Cole Technical Support Lead | Dancin' Dogg Golf +1 (866) 867-6771 +1 (231) 225-9773 Jason Jan 30 09:33 AM Hi, Thanks very much for the reply! Really Looking forward to this release!!! Will It available to people in Europe? Thanks, Jason Sent from my iPhone Jonathan B Cole (OptiShot Help & Support) Jan 30 09:21 AM Hi Jason, We are in the final stages of testing and hope to release it in the next few weeks. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind regards, Jonathan B Cole Technical Support Lead | Dancin' Dogg Golf +1 (866) 867-6771 +1 (231) 225-9773 Jason Jan 30 07:42 AM Just wondering when you will be able to play online with optishot, or will this ever come about? Hope this helps some folks out there who were looking to play online.

Posted
Any final consensus on the accuracy of these? We have long winters up north and I wonder if I could gain anything using this.

-Matt-

"does it still count as a hit fairway if it is the next one over"

DRIVER-Callaway FTiz__3 WOOD-Nike SQ Dymo 15__HYBRIDS-3,4,5 Adams__IRONS-6-PW Adams__WEDGES-50,55,60 Wilson Harmonized__PUTTER-Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

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Posted

My Optishot works fine, even my driver works well after reading a post earlier in this thread years ago. I don't let any sunlight into the room and use incandescent lights. Judging by my swing speed, yardage is off by 4 yards compared to the launch monitor at Golfsmith (IF I trust that I had the same swing at Golfsmith as I did at home on the Optishot). You guys are saying it's an expensive toy at $299. Have fun buying the much more the expensive models to get the data and accuracy you are desiring. I doubt more than 3 of you will buy a P3Pro or better. The Optishot shows me the same ball flight I see in real life and is close enough distance-wise that I use the feedback in real life. Check my MUCH earlier post on how to use the Swing Groover with Optishot to eliminate the need for a net. I also got a 4x7 golf mat, and cut 3/4 inch plywood to the same dimensions and stand on that when I use the Optishot to make it level. Just like at the driving range.  You guys have fun.


Posted
I've had my opti for 3 years and love it ! I can play golf all winter with my buddies or practise on any course from any area I place the ball. The only downside is it doesnt register thin or topped shots but for 399 its great bang for the buck. Ive tried 10000 to 50 000 dollar simulators and although its not as accurate , its close enough to have fun .The only thing missing is online play that Dancin dogg has promised soon. To get the most accurate results you have to put two cfl florecent spot lights about 2 feet directly over each row of sensors, tape the bottom of your woods and driver with black electrical tape except the leading egde .You must tape about an inch and a half white electricall tape from the leading edge. I strongly reccomend that you buy a thick after market turf to replace the horrible one it comes with. Also, you must tweak your clubsets to the closest you can to your real ones. Good luck
  • Upvote 1

  • 11 months later...
Posted

Just posting to say that they came out with optishot 2 so the the original is only 200 now.

With 4 year old twin boys and another on the way in June, I know my golf time will be dwindling so I picked it up with a net and mat all for under 500 bucks.

Hopefully it's worth it, I'll post after its all set-up.


  • 1 month later...
Posted

Id be interested in what you are talking about making with these components.

You can make one for maybe $15 with a couple of LEDs, a resistor, a battery and holder, and a piece of plexiglass to mount them on.


  • 1 year later...
Posted

I thought I might revive an old thread. As it's getting colder here in Michigan and my bow is out, I am wondering if anyone here that uses the Optishot has a routine for improvement over the winter. I used it to fairly good results tuning in my irons. My hybrids and woods aren't too accurate, but it's a wonderful way to practice all winter. Does anyone have any routines they suggest or use? I'll post a pic of my mancave/optishot in a future post. 

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  • Posts

    • Day 41, June 14.  I spent 10 minutes, half hitting W half hitting 6-iron, practice shots (indoors, off a mat, into a net)
    • Day 620 - 2026-06-14 Got some work in before and after lessons. Definitely didn't adduct my arms 130° in doing so.
    • Day 79: played 18. Shot a +5 76. Iron play was much better - 11 GIR. Hit a drive 380. Normal day. 
    • Day 14 (14 Jun 26) - Continued work with irons (8i-Pw), hard foam balls and getting consistent impact - same as previous drills - using gates for 1/2 and “simulated” course conditions on the second half.  
    • I like discussing the golf swing. Whether you call it "swing theory" or what, I like to talk about things that can expand the potential for what I know and understand. As a scientist, I like being shown that I'm wrong, too, because as I've said a bunch of times… "you're wrong and here's why" is an instant opportunity to upgrade my knowledge. I also like to help golfers, and one of the things I'm most glad to have moved away from from 15 years ago was the "Hands In" idea from S&T. Jim Waldron is often credited (probably rightly so) with explaining why so many Tour players and good players talk about "keeping their hands in front of themselves" while it appears that they're moving their arms around their bodies. From over 30 years ago: I've also got videos like… this (Instagram link here😞 I'm happy to say that I've become friends with Shaun and Mike at Athletic Motion Golf (AMG), too. I tend to get along with other smart folks who measure things, who look critically at information, who don't assume that what they thought 20 years ago holds true today. I get along with folks who look for chances to instantly upgrade their knowledge. Andy Plummer remains one of the people who does not look for these opportunities. He didn't care in early 2013 when we had evidence that the information in their S&T 2.0 DVDs was bogus, and they seemingly don't care now. They've been attacking (it's their favorite pastime) AMG in particular for the better part of a year now. There have been a few shots back at them from AMG (like… this), no doubt. But as is typical of the AMG fellas, it's with measured data. Well, recently, Andy took yet another shot at AMG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZfHe0DuPXC/. Andy demonstrates that true power in the golf swing comes from doing stuff like this: Andy claims that the idea that the arms mostly lift and lower, while the body turns, is bogus. What golfers should be doing is using "angular velocity" to abduct and adduct their shoulders to move the club fast like this (above). Then he makes a ridiculous example of what AMG supposedly teaches, but misses by a mile. Now, it doesn't take a biomechanist to know that you can't possibly swing as Andy demonstrates. His right arm is so far around and behind him that his left arm would have to grow several feet to reach the grip of the club (or alignment stick), and a follow-through with the right arm position like that would be absolutely silly. But, it's a demonstration, so let's not read too much into it. However, I find ideas like this dangerous. Again, I like to help golfers, and in my opinion, the idea that you should abduct and adduct your arms a lot is a dangerous one. There's some adduction and abduction going on, but… it's not much. Anyway, this statement was posted: 130 degrees of dynamic range of horizontal abduction and adduction is quite the claim! I posted some comments to Andy and others, and was issued a challenge: Well, okay then. Here's Bryson's lead shoulder adduction: This measures the angle between the "virtual spine," the left shoulder, and the elbow. Bryson has a 97.34° "adduction angle" at P1, a 62.53° angle at P4, and returns to an 89.21° angle at impact. Rounding, that's a change of 34° from address to the top, and then a change (back toward the angle at address) of about 26° from the top to impact. If we want to worry about only horizontal abduction and adduction (where D = adduction and B = abduction): Left shoulder: 8.33° D, 38.74° D, 14.67° D Right shoulder: 1.03° D, 55.75° B, 14.04° B If we call moving the arms farther around you as negative, those are changes of -30.41° from P1 to P4 for the left shoulder and +24.07° from P4 to P7 for the left shoulder and -56.78° and +41.71° for the right shoulder. I have no idea on earth where he gets 130°. From the last frame of Bryson's swing where he's at 126.98°? But the lowest that number gets is 62.53°, for a range of 64.45, or less than half of the 130° claimed (plus it includes part of the swing, post-impact, that has no bearing on what the ball does). For good measure, another pretty good player: Left: 22.55° D ➡️ 33.35° D (∆ 10.8°) ➡️ 17.36° D (∆ 15.99° from P4, 5.19° from P1) Right: 15.03° D ➡️ 24.29° B (∆ 39.32°) ➡️ 1.93° D (∆ 26.22° from P4, 13.1° from P1) Of the biomechanists and experienced 3D users (on any platform), none of them have seen anything like 130° of dynamic adduction/abduction from a good player P1 to P7. And, like my little joke above, even if you go to the end of the swing, you rarely get much more than a little over halfway there. Maybe Andy is adding them? He does say in the video "and then add it to that with the lead arm." (I think that's what he says, but this isn't an additive type system.) I regularly coach golfers out of positions with a lot of adduction and abduction. I regularly work golfers away from moving their arms around their bodies. Even my juniors (the ones who have paid attention anyway! 🤣) can recite "arms = up/down, body = around." Like this: So, I don't know where this leaves us. Andy claims to have seen something on GEARS that shows 130° of dynamic adduction/abduction. I'm open to being wrong, but… I don't think I am here on this one. And, until that comes to be, I will continue to stand up for what I think is the best information, and do my best to work with golfers toward simpler, easier moves that don't get them stuck. Simpler, easier moves like the moves Tour players and great players tend to make, not complicated, difficult moves. Shaun and Mike said it in a video once where they demonstrated that the average Tour player adducts their lead arm 20° across their chest from the top to impact (P4 to P7), while the amateur often tries to go 40°. They said something like "the amateur is trying to move their arm TWICE the distance in the same amount of time as the professional athlete." Yep. The swings of great players are often easier and simpler. They are not abducting and adducting their arms much in comparison to average golfers. As a smart man once said: "Why would you teach something (abduction in this case) that bad golfers already do?" On a related note… the S&T crowd continues to be… well, who they've been as long as I've known them. Take this comment for example: I mean… I would think that this is pretty self-explanatory, but then again… I didn't think it needed explaining to begin with. P.S. As I was finishing up this article, another biomechanist replied with something so simple I hadn't even thought of it as I had immediately jumped into looking at the actual measurements: "90 doesn’t even seem physically possible.“ No, sir. It doesn't.
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