Hitting into a screen

[mhenrickson]

Last night I went to Golf Galaxy for a PING demo. I hit their new G15 driver into the screen several times and each and every one was almost dead straight. My usual drives with my current driver (TaylorMade R580) are terribly inconsistent, and about 50% decent and 50% slice. Since I find it hard to believe that a club can make THAT big a difference, I was curious on the accuracy of those golf simulators.

The PING guy said that he'd be at one of the local courses next Friday. If I can make it out there it will be interesting to compare the results of range vs. simulator.

[CrazyXGolfer]

Usually quite accurate! Do you have the name of what Launch System they used?

[mhenrickson]

I have no idea, but it was the standard system they have at the store. I don't think he had anything special for the demo. I really can't say though.

[Uncle Peter]

I'd think they are sort've accurate. I think they've got the distance down-packed. But, you've got to think. Once the ball hit's the screen, it stops. Also, the simulator can't tell what the spin on the ball is; at least on the simulators that I've used.

[CrazyXGolfer]

I'd think they are sort've accurate. I think they've got the distance down-packed. But, you've got to think. Once the ball hit's the screen, it stops. Also, the simulator can't tell what the spin on the ball is; at least on the simulators that I've used.

Hmmm not saying your wrong but, I think you could be wrong. Usually the simulaters have sencers in the top left and right corners. Witch then judge the spin the same a a vector pro does.

But I do agree with you about the distance being wrong, I belive we only think this because when we are out on the course the core of the ball gets warmer witch resualts it the ball carrying a bit futher, also the wind will play a factor and also the course witch way the fairways slope. I think the simulaters make a perfect enviroment witch no wind, flat fairways ect.

[Shanks A Million]

Last night I went to Golf Galaxy for a PING demo. I hit their new G15 driver into the screen several times and each and every one was almost dead straight. My usual drives with my current driver (TaylorMade R580) are terribly inconsistent, and about 50% decent and 50% slice. Since I find it hard to believe that a club can make THAT big a difference, I was curious on the accuracy of those golf simulators.

It's not at all accurate. Those screens just judge where the ball impacts, and at what speed and angle. If you start the ball left, the simulator keeps it going left. If you start it right, it keeps going right. They are terribly inaccurate, but let you at least get an idea of the ballspeed, launch angle, and the feel of the club. I use them solely to measure my driver launch angle and ballspeed.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

Last night I went to Golf Galaxy for a PING demo. I hit their new G15 driver into the screen several times and each and every one was almost dead straight. My usual drives with my current driver (TaylorMade R580) are terribly inconsistent, and about 50% decent and 50% slice. Since I find it hard to believe that a club can make THAT big a difference, I was curious on the accuracy of those golf simulators.

The new G15 driver really is that easy to hit, and if I didn't reshaft a Titleist 909Dcomp, I would be using a G15 myself

[sean_miller]

I'd think they are sort've accurate. I think they've got the distance down-packed. But, you've got to think. Once the ball hit's the screen, it stops. Also, the simulator can't tell what the spin on the ball is; at least on the simulators that I've used.

Where is your simulator? Tell us, so we can all never ever go there. Is this thread in some new form of leet speak?

[enis750]

i dunno....typically i use the scree for measuring launch angle and spin and thats about it
my good buddy (who is currently taking lessons) has a wicked slice and shoot in the 100's

plays a tonn of indoor golf (cause he says it helps w his confidence...?....i think it just makes him feel good) and shoots in the 70's and BOMBS drives 300 +

dont read too much into the actual flight bro

[Texas solo]

i dunno....typically i use the scree for measuring launch angle and spin and thats about it

Here's what I'm wondering.... can the tech guy running the machine manipulate the figures to sell you the club that HE wants to sell you, not necessarily what you hit the best?

[enis750]

Here's what I'm wondering....

no idea man, sorry

[Shanks A Million]

Here's what I'm wondering....

Absolutely. They do it all the time. I've seen people go to those stores and claim they're hitting their new driver 310, or their new 7 iron 180. I was talking to a guy, an assistant pro, and he took his father to one. His father hit a 7 iron on one of those, and it went 170 yards. He went to another store, same club, 120 yards.

[tws1098]

Absolutely. They do it all the time. I've seen people go to those stores and claim they're hitting their new driver 310, or their new 7 iron 180. I was talking to a guy, an assistant pro, and he took his father to one. His father hit a 7 iron on one of those, and it went 170 yards. He went to another store, same club, 120 yards.

Haha, classic. That is why the simulators are good for letting you hit some balls and get a feel for the club. That is all I have ever used one for. If you want to know how far you hit a demo club, find a pro shop that allows you to take the clubs onto the course. This is how I knew I had to get the MP52s i have now.

[Gebus]

Most of the simulator programs that the stores use can be screwed with... There are two golftowns (like golf galaxy but Canadian) where I live, you could go to one hit a driver 250 then go to the other and hit 300. I am friends with some one who works there, watch them touch the screen while they setup the simulator, there is often a scale that they touch, the higher on the scale the straighter and farther the drives will be.

Quick funny story for those interested. I go to my local golf town (one that really likes to screw with the results, and the one my friend works at, and one I know how to put the simulator back to normal) to try out equipment, not to buy just to try (you know you do it too). I work at a local golf course's pro-shop so I do sell a bit of equipment, properly I might add, and I sold this guy a S91 driver last year, trust me it was the right driver for him 12.5* launch angle 3400 rpm (I record all the fittings on my computer) perfect ball flight and very acceptably consistent for his handicap. As I walk in the store I see the guy trying out a driver in the simulator, I wait for the sales rep to walk away to ask him what he was doing, and he says "look this rapture V2 goes 60 yds further than that S91 YOU sold me and it is so much straighter, you screwed me." My response was taking the driver out of his hands and hitting one into the simulator "Carry 343 356 total" (I hit 280 max on a really good drive), the guy had seen me hit balls at our range before and he knows I can't actually hit it that far... The guy very quickly walked out of the store, he know only buys equipment from me (which is good because he is an equipment nut, he changes sets more often than he plays).

[clearwaterms]

I was at the store last week playing around with some of the last years drivers (FTiQ, 09 Burner, HiBore Monter, etc) and while I didn't intend on buying anything, i was letting the sales person give me a story about which one to purchase. To warm up, I grabbed a demo 6 iron from the rack (Cobra S2) after about 5 swings to get my tempo sorted I was hitting a consistant 200 yard 6 iron (175~180 carry, 200~205 total distance) Than I took the drivers, and the MOST I could muster was 245~250 with the Taylormade.

Normally I hit a 6 iron around 165~170 (total distance) NEVER do I hit a six iron 200.
Normally I hit a driver 235~240 (the simulator was showing my normal swings around 210) and when I hit it pure and with the face closed about 260ish. (again total distance)

my suggestion is to take your current driver into the simulator at the same time and compare notes. Also, if you are not a consistant ball striker, (like me) what swing I bring to the course and to the simulator varies from day to day.

[kilbyman]

Don't use simulator results to buy a golf club! Ever! Especially when your slice just goes away with that new driver. Take that g15 to a range.

[sean_miller]

Most of the simulator programs that the stores use can be screwed with . . .

That's sure not consistent with my Golf Town experience. They can be adjusted for wind and slope, but those settings are displayed on the screen.

Iron and wood yardages at our Golf Town are pretty much right where other simulators are, and more importantly they're pretty close to my real yardages outside (confirmed by both a rangefinder and old school pacing). You have to bring your own clubs for a comparison of course - same as hitting outdoors. It's a no-brainer really.

[Gebus]

That's sure not consistent with my Golf Town experience. They can be adjusted for wind and slope, but those settings are displayed on the screen.

It depends on the one you go to, the one I am talking about is at a fairly new store and the simulator is much different from any of the other ones that I have seen...