Launch Monitor / Simulator

[inthecup]

In a thread a while back I mentioned I had an indoor launch monitor / simulator setup.  Someone asked for photos.  This is in an industrial building that houses my business.  The foundation of the system is a Foresight GC2 launch monitor with HMT.  For those unfamiliar that is a photo based launch monitor that takes many photos of the ball in its first foot or so of flight and analyses what the ball is doing.  The HMT head takes photos of the clubface to tell you what the club face is doing.  You apply reflective dots to the clubface so the camera can read it.  The benefit of this system is that it does what it does in a short distance.  It is great for an indoor system and it is very accurate.  I find the results it gives the same as what I get on the course.  I believe it is better than a Radar based system for my needs because of the clubface information it gives.  It is very helpful for learning.  It gives you club path (in to out and to what degree) it gives you angle of attack, it gives you delivered loft (flipping or handle forward) club head speed, face angle to path and to target.  It is really quite amazing.  Be warned that without some professional help you can get yourself sideways.  I have my local pro come in and help me so I don't get caught up in the numbers.

As far as a launch monitor I have learned some interesting things.

Where club head speed comes from.  A "hard swing" is not necessarily a fast swing.

Club path and club face control and the effects of both

Delivered loft (up on the driver or flipping...)

Launch angles and all the normal launch monitor stuff.

I had just the GC2 for years which just reads the ball.  That is great hitting into a net because you can see the ball flight, spins and distance.  When I added the HMT head last year that's when I really made progress.  My index dropped 2 points this summer and if the summer had gone on I believe it would have dropped 2 more.

The software is Foresights FSX.  I built a pretty powerful gaming computer to run it (to their specs).  There is very little delay in the reading and display.

I use this for practice, either at the range.  Parking on a hole and hitting balls or playing.  Putting has no value on this so I do not putt.  I either use manual putting, so less than 10 feet from the hole 1 putt > 10 2 putts.  It speeds the game along.  It also has automatic putting which uses an algorithm to add putts based on distance to the hole.  Alone I can play 18 holes in 40 minutes.

I also have people over to play in the winter.  The league from the summer continues, my team comes over on a weekday night and we play.  That is insanely fun, cigars, beer, pizza and heckling are encouraged!

I am happy with the net.  It is a return net.  It has 5 years of use and shows no sign of wear.  I bought the mat with the net.  It is very high quality but I no not like the hitting surface it is too firm.  I am looking to replace it but any matt I get must allow the ball to roll back to you which limits options.

Overall it is a great system.  I am considering adding an impact screen and projector but it is not really needed.  I can push this all into the corner and still use the room.  It is not inexpensive by any stretch.  I realize I am very lucky to be able to do this.  One of my friends wives pointed out that as much as I use it and as much fun as it is it is a better investment than some expensive vacation(s) because more pleasure is gained from it over a longer period of time.

[David in FL]

Nice setup!

Thanks for sharing.  

[Nutsmacker]

If you don't mind me asking, what did this cost to get it setup?  I am thinking about building one and would like to do something similar but with an impact screen and a projector.  

[inthecup]

Sorry for the slow reply.....Smacker.   

I don’t mind.  My setup is more launch monitor.  It’s a bit over the top for a home setup. Foresight GC2 Certified preowned.

The software is a couple grand.  The computer is a pretty hot gaming computer I built to their spec.  At least a grand.  Large TV.   

So pretty expensive.   You can setup a lessor monitor for a lot less and have a great simulator.   If you want an indoor monitor I think Foresight is the best.