I hate when golf shops mess with their simulator before releasing a new driver...

[youngskip40]

As the title says... I hate that. I hit the new R9 SuperTri this past weekend and it was just so obvious that the settings had been doctored to increase distance by an unrealistic margin.

I understand they want to sell clubs, but first I watched people with average technique at best hitting the ball "270-280" which was completely unrealistic. When I stepped up and proceed to mishit my first shot and yet carry it over 330, my doubts were confirmed. When I finished, my last 3 drives carried 345, 350 and 340.

The T-made rep and the Golf Galaxy staff were going on and on about how much further they were hitting that driver than their current ones. Well... of course I had to be empirical about it, so I grabbed my driver from my car and hit shots with that too. When they carried 330-340, I think that put the debate to rest. That said, I was impressed that the SuperTri was 10-15 yards further, even if it was rigged.


Most frustrating part? While I was hitting, the store representatives told me that it's not really an exact science (overstatement??) and that the simulator will make the ball go about 20-30 yards further than in real life, so you have to subtract that distance... 20 minutes later, I walked by someone hitting it 240 and heard the same guy tell him that it's not an exact science, and the ball with actually go 20-30 yards further in real life, so you have to add that to your total.

[FHopper]

That is just sad.
I supposed if we are realistic about how far down the food chain someone traveling for a club maker is, then we should not be surprised if scruples are an issue. I am glad you have the presence of mind to use your old driver too, now if comes to my town I will do the same.

[Cussin hacker]

Sales rep's do what sale's rep's do. SELL!! As long as we understand that it's all good.

[ET-Taylor]

at least you can brag in the launch monitor that you were averaging more than 330 yards

[andef]

we have no simulators in my area so i can only get accurate distances when we have the titleist demo day and they bring their trackman along. the rest of the time it's just about guessing the distance you're hitting on the range.
i never liked simulators and you're not the only one to mention these miraculous distance gains.

[i-Guy]

I hate in-door simulators...maybe becuase I am 6'4 and they make my swing feel confined or because the target is only 10 feet in front of me...I don't know??? But I have to test clubs at the driving range off the grass to truly know if a club will work for me...just my 2 cents...

[lhshurdl3r]

I hate in-door simulators...maybe becuase I am 6'4 and they make my swing feel confined or because the target is only 10 feet in front of me...I don't know??? But I have to test clubs at the driving range off the grass to truly know if a club will work for me...just my 2 cents...

Yeah I can't get a true feel for how the club works unless I'm at the range. The guy at the golf shop today even said I was best to do that with a couple demos before buying. Good honesty, it's appreciated. He also let me take a few swings on the monitor to give me some feedback before I left. Good stuff.

[Dub]

Sounds more like a stimulator than a simulator.

Maybe the had the settings for high altitude desert????

[mc0388]

I know the EW shop near my house has the sim at a 10mph tail wind. Im there so much, they usually set it where it should be for me...

[Dub]

The sims are handy at times.

In the rare event my wife traps me at the local mall, I'll scurry over to Dick's and play around with some new sticks in their simulator. I've never felt it was "rigged" but I've always wondered how accurately it depicted side spin.

[jsherm45]

As the title says... I hate that. I hit the new R9 SuperTri this past weekend and it was just so obvious that the settings had been doctored to increase distance by an unrealistic margin.

That story pisses me off honestly. IMHO a consumer watchdog group should be contacted and this story aired through mainstream news.

(Is serious)

[Bullitt5339]

When I go into a place that has a simulator, and I'm really serious about buying a new club, I will always go out and get my club out of the car so that I can gauge the difference in reality.

The one at Pro Golf here is fairly accurate as far as distance, but it seems to accentuate any side spin. I typically hit a small fade, but it turns into a slice on their simulator quite often.

[youngskip40]

at least you can brag in the launch monitor that you were averaging more than 330 yards

Haha, true... I did feel a little like Happy Gilmore for a minute...

[youngskip40]

Sales rep's do what sale's rep's do. SELL!! As long as we understand that it's all good.

I sell insurance... if I exagerrated the benefits of a product or sold someone a policy on the premise that it provides more coverage than their current one, and it actually didn't, I could/would lose my job, my insurance license, and probably have legal action brought against me. Like I said in the original post, I understand they are trying to move merchandise, but doing it by fabricating false results is sketchy. Point is, I feel like salesmen should at least be honest, regardless of what they're selling.

By the way, I'm not trying to be defensive or be a jerk, just playing devil's advocate to your comment. Just my opinion.

[jpalermo]

Selling insurance is a lot different than selling golf clubs. I used to sell for a personal training facility and would promise the women to be in a 2 piece within a few months. There are 2 buying emotions:

Pain: My current driver sucks, I can't hit my current driver, etc

Pleasure: I hit this driver 30 yards farther than my current driver (albeit w/ a rigged simulator)

Most of us are smart enough to not faall for it but as a salesman I SORTA applaud the effort, these are tough times and salesman gotta eat too.

[spitz20]

not surprising...i dont think the r9 is all its hyped up to be personally.

[PhilsRHman]

I just had the same experience as the OP, but at Golf Galaxy. After a few warm ups (carry of about 270) I picked up the 9032LS and the first one carried 309. Then 314, then 311. It was insane. My SS was only around 107, which I think makes it impossible to carry it that far. Since it was dead in there, the rep had me hop over to the version you pay to use, and said on five swings I was anywhere from 105-114. That seems like an insane range, right?

[ET-Taylor]

not surprising...i dont think the r9 is all its hyped up to be personally.

Have you hit one my dad had a shot of mine he hit it around 300 yards consistently normally with a PING G2 he drives it 260 That is on the course not in a simulator