simulators

[spc lewis]

Does anyone else use full swing simulators during the winter?I joined a winter league here in Pa. Im wondering for those that do play on sims, how do your scores stack up to your normal scoring outside in real golf

[plugged]

I use two different simulators at two local golf shops - one is a Dancin Dogg the other a Full Golf Swing. Both are pretty good on accuracy of an actual golf shot.

[spitz20]

My home course has a PGA golf simulator setup, its amazing....great accuracy and super fun playing courses from all over the world...shot a 76 on a course in hong kong :)

I also enjoy the driving range on it, shows swing speed / ball spin etc....cant wait to play it again!!

[spitz20]

  spc lewis said:

how do your scores stack up to your normal scoring outside in real golf

The chipping/putting is something to get used too, i shot a 130 my first time playing on the simulator....now that ive played it a few times ive been mid/high 70's....seems accurate

[jamo]

I've never played on a simulator, how do you putt and chip?

[James_Black]

How does a simulator work?

Does it check the amount of spin your ball is making too?
Or if you hit a draw and the ball starts right and comes in left in Real Life will it go right on the simulator?

[spitz20]

  jamo said:

I've never played on a simulator, how do you putt and chip?

Chipping, same as a regular shot...chip it was you would in real life...there is camera's that measure ball spin/swing speed and all that...the shots are extremely accurate..

Putting - theres a dot you place your ball on..in my case the projector screen is 7ft from the dot where you place your ball...so you read the green and putt it as you would in real life..eg 7ft putt....putt it just to touch the screen and so forth.

  jamo said:

Does it check the amount of spin your ball is making too?

Yes it reads spin, and yes if you slice or hit a draw it will be the same on the simulator...it is very realistic and FUN!

Visit http://www.aboutgolf.com/ to see the simulator i have played...watch the video on the main page...very cool

[Zeph]

There are problably different technologies, but on the Full Swing simulator I play, spin is measured by the angle out return from the screen.

You hit the ball, two different sensors around the cage measure the entry angles. The sensor closest to the screen measures the return angle of the ball, calculating the spin. If you hit the screen sideways, it won't work as well, so it's important to hit straight at the screen all the time by adjusting your aim at the program. It gives spin, I can slice it, hook it, draw it and fade it. It is probably not as accurate as a real ball flight, but it's pretty close, I think it works pretty well. I don't know how they measure backspin, possibly in the same way.

The hardest part is putting, it takes some time getting used to, but once you get it, it is very possible.

My handicap on the simulator is a 4, suffice to say, it's easier than real golf, obviously. I have dropped a lot during the winter, so I'm kinda hoping that will transfer somewhat to my outside game. The simulator doesn't use GHIN, so a 4 handicap is 4 shots more. I don't know the rating of the courses, but a lot of them are hard, courses where a 4 hcp would recieve a couple of shots.

All in all it is very good practice during the winter.

[peter draggin]

There is a sports bar right down the road from my house that has about 12 full swing simulators in it......very good prices on playing but I dont go as much as I would like just because it is in a bar and there is always the drunk/obnoxious guys there that think they are better than everyone and always want to analyze every shot that someone takes, while none of these guys can break 120 on their best days

[juanrjackson]

How much do those simulators charge? There is one hear where I live that charges $13 per 30 mins for one person. Reduced prices for more people...for example...$8 per 30 mins for 2 people.

I also found out you can use the simulators within Dick's Sporting Goods. I think they charge $12-13 an hour. I think the guy in there told me they have 30-40 courses too.

[plugged]

  None said:

I think they charge $12-13 an hour.

That is a good price. I pay between $15-25/hr.

[Goonsidious]

I was able to go to Dick's Sporting Goods today for their simulator.. was fairly decent.

Still unsure whether I'm a stiff flex or reg flex for my driver.. as I was able to control both well and each had the same distance and the ball speed was only +10 with the stiff flex. He mentioned how I'm truly right inbetween the two.. and to just pick which feels best. I plan on sticking with the reg flex driver for now.. don't want to get too carried away.

What truly was a let down there, was the fact that the simulator didn't register distance that well.. I was constantly only hitting 200-220yd drives [15 shots].. yet I know for a fact I hit it much farther.

Was using R. Fowlers Cobra driver.. but oh well, not too worried about that.

I also don't believe their simulator registers the ball direction well enough.. as I was hitting beautiful drives over and over, straight or to the right by just 10yds each time.. I don't believe I'm that accurate just yet.

But it was a decent experience.