Do I need FSX for GC2 - Want to move up from Optishot

[Tonyd9366]

If you dont mind answering what kind of player are you?? Whats your handicap? I mentioned this before. In my opinion, good players less than 10 handicaps to +4 benefit more from ball data which is what gc2 provides regardless of software. When i over hook a ball and i see it on the screen, that tells me a lot right there plus i can feel it in my swing because good players know their swings and can generally tell right away. I dont really need club data for that. My video camera and v1 golf app can correct many flaws in my swing at a fraction of the cost. Now, someone whos a high handicapper 10 or above. Would benefit more from club data and ball data because its more difficult for the lower level golfer to pick out flaws so knowing club path face angle is very useful infromation. That info alone would help someone a lot. Combine that with some viable instruction you would see drastic improvement in your game. Id love to have fsx in addition to tgc. But like i said im a pretty good player so what i have works well for me. My sim just keeps me in shape and keep the club in my hands so when i play for real i dont lose too much. Nothing beats real practice, hey but with a needy wife, and a 3 year old running around.... who has time for that.. .

[eezetee]

Sure, don't mind answering as I have only improvement to aim for. I'm a beginner, maybe played 10-15 times. I do however have access to some nice courses in Asia, including 5-6 within about 20-30 minute drive. Big plans to improve.

I'm assuming if I wanted club data i'll need the HMT which is another big cost. This is definately starting to add up quickly. I was hoping originally that the Optishot 2 that I bought would help but as the construction of my office area completes and I read more on the forum, I should have went directly to a GC2. I looked at videos of the Skytrack system and would likely smack myself if I had to wait 4-5 seconds for the video so all of this has me planning to go to GC2.

I'll give the GC2 a go, figure out if Protee 2.0 will suffice alongside TGC for playing and if that doesn't work, I'll ask my wife for a surprise for Birthday/Christmas/Aniverysary HMT or FSX.

Thanks TonyD!

[Tonyd9366]

Well do it right the first time. Dont take the route i took because it will cost you thousands more. I had two previous systems before landing on the gc2. I had a p3 proswing which was a joke much like the optishot. Lucky for you the optishot was cheap in price. So you not too bad off yet. The p3 cost me 800 bucks with their software. But i had to tape the clubs with reflective strips to get reads from the sensor pad which sucked. After about a year i got fed up with it and sold it. Then i bought the protee system. Which didnt require taping, rather lights above their sensor pad to create a shadow to read the clubs. It also came with a launch camera which read the launch of the ball which worked good when it read the ball. But the lighting conditions had to be perfect if not you get a lot of misreads. I got fed up with it after a while and sold that but kept the software which was the tgc and protee 2.0. All this switching cost me about 2k of loss which if i knew about gc2 and the fsx software from the beginning i would have opted for that and have everything i wanted.

So if i were you id get the the gc2 refurbished and get the fsx for the range and data since your a beginner. Like p3peps said you can negotiate some more courses with your purchase. The standard fsx comes with just the range and 1 course. You can always add the hmt later even a used one if the price is right. But you'll be plenty satisfied with just gc2 and fsx. Tgc once you get to be a better player you can always add if you want to incorporate on line play. Something that foresight has not developed as of yet.

One other thing to consider is with the hmt, is that you have to put stickers on the face of the clubs for the hmt to read the club. That im not fond of hence the p3 i had before. As far as skytrak... couldnt agree more with you about the delay. 3 to 5 sec is ridiculous. Good luck keep me posted.. Regards, TonyD

[eezetee]

Thanks TonyD. Much appreciated the feedback! Last night while having a glass of wine I was thinking that I can get the Skytrak for $1600 or a GC2 for $5500-$6000 and a little more for FSX (local guy selling used) -- I was internalizing that I can handle the Skytrak delay and save myself $4000. But today after reading your post, I'm thinking I shouldn't bother and just go direct.

The biggest fear that I have with refurb or 2nd hand is that something will break, not by mishit or similar but a component failure which will set me back some. That's what is making me hesitant to jump in.

However, as my golf game remains stagnant, I'm thinking i'll just dive in and go with it. Gotta get a bit more skilled before I can play in some of the tournaments with everyone else.

Thank you again!

[mthunt]

I lot of SkyTrak users upgrade to GC2. Skip the step and the pains of the extra money will go away quickly.

[mthunt]

Skip ProTee 2.0 and just buy TGC. It's unlimited courses and everything you need. To can practice all you want and record your shot data. It lacks some cool tools that FSX has but at a far lower price point.

[eezetee]

Ohh really. I thought one of TGC's major drawbacks was that it didn't feel like a proper practice tool and played like a game. I didn't realize you can see all the shot data, record all the player's data and such.

I've looked at a couple of youtube videos but haven't found a clear in depth review. I know for sure (based on above comments from everyone) that i'll want TGC so maybe start there. Thanks again!

[mthunt]

FSX will allow you to have shot tracers for every shot on the screen. TGC does not. FSX will allow you to have a group of shots to get averages. TGC records that data for download. FSX shows full club details when HMT is present. TGC does not. TGC will allow you to hit any shot over and over to allow practice on a variety of shot. FSX does as well.

[Tonyd9366]

The delay with skytrak will drive you insane and you will regret it. Trust me. Ive been thru 3 systems. I feel you are analytical like me. Get the gc2 if you can get the gc2 with fsx for 6k. I say do it thats a good deal. Gc2s are like a timex watch. They are built rock solid. Just make sure if you buy it from this person, ask questions.... how old is it? Make sure not more than 2 years old. Make sure the flash module is working and that he has an extra one to replace. The flash modules typically last a couple of years depending on usage. Make sure the battery is working properly. Make sure the lcd display works as well as the backlight for the lcd. If all of this works as should then i would go for it.

When i bought mine used. The only thing that didn't work was was my backlight for the lcd. Im gonna send it in the foresight for repair soon. Other than that it works great

repairs range 200 min to 500, 600 bucks depending on the repair. Unfortunately sending it to foresight is really the only place to go if you want the repairs done right.

there is a battery maintenance schedule that has to be maintained in order to keep from burning it out. When you get it, i can tell you about that in more detail. But make sure you ask all these questions before you buy the gc2 used. TonyD..

[eezetee]

Thanks for the great questions TonyD. Yep, I tend to over analyze things to make sure I haven't missed an angle.

What happens if it's more than 2 years old? The "Old" model?
I will likely only use it indoors, do you unplug the battery when not in use or let it drain?

[Tonyd9366]

Agreed with what mthunt says on all accounts. We both have the same set up. You do get some shot data on the tgc, but more with fsx and hmt but thats a lot of cost.. Like i said ealier, i get all the practice and play that i need with tgc. If cost is an issue for you which is most of us as well, tgc and gc2 set up is the most bang for the buck.

[TorchRedRob]

Regarding repairs, also note that Foresight will not sell you any parts except batteries and flashes, to my knowledge. My unit showed up to me with the bluetooth DOA, as pictured below, but I absolutely could not convince them to just send me a new bluetooth board, even after explaining to them that I work with custom electronics at work. I mean, I get it, but it stinks that I had to send it in to them, and I have been without my GC2 for 4 weeks all because of a 10 minute board replacement that I could have done myself. So, if you are in Asia (I think?) keep that in mind. I would figure out where your nearest service center is (it might be San Diego). All of that said- I came from SkyTrak, too. It's a great unit, but the GC2 is just better, especially for shot delay, reading short shots and putts, and better horizontal azimuth readings.

[eezetee]

Awesome guys. Thank you all so much for the information. I'm going to get on my GC2 buying path. I'm about 12 hours different from US East Coast time and 15 hours from CA time but I'll hopefully be able to catch you guys online for a game.

This forum was definitely a great find. Thanks Admin/Mods!

[Tonyd9366]

Im sure nothing happens if its more than two years old, however im a firm believer in not getting things used past two years just because how fast technology advances. The battery maintenence is basically this.... plug it in and leave it plugged in while you use it. It will not over charge. At the end of each month, unplug the unit and turn it on. Leave it on over night until the battery drains its self to 0. Then just simply plug it in again for another 30 days. And repeat the process. The battery should last a long time. 3+ years or more. Good luck keep me posted no l

[Ironstrokes]

Awesome guys. Thank you all so much for the information. I'm going to get on my GC2 buying path. I'm about 12 hours different from US East Coast time and 15 hours from CA time but I'll hopefully be able to catch you guys online for a game.

This forum was definitely a great find. Thanks Admin/Mods!

Im one of those that moved from the skytrak to the gc2 recently as well. I honestly dont regret getting the skytrak at all though. The shot delay really didnt bother me at all. It gives you a second to gather your own feedback on you swing. And for someone who has played on a crap load of commercial simulators and loved it. Still wasnt sure how well a sim was going to work at home. And the skytrak sold me on it. It was very accurate and made me realize how obsessed I was with my sim set up. Then at that point spending the money on the gc2 was 100% worth it to me. Not sure if it would have been at first until I actually realized how awesome sim golf is and how much id end up using it.

My main reason for going to the gc2 was just for better, more accurate short game readings. Everything else was just a bonus. The reliability of it is pretty incredible too. If the light is green, its gonna read, every time without fail.

So if you have the money and know you are gonna go all in of sim golf then definitely go the GC2.

But aint no shame in getting the skytrak as well to start off or as a permanent set up. Its very accurate and seems to hold its value pretty well too........then again so does the GC2. Its all a matter of how much you are willing to spend in the end for everything all combined

[Tonyd9366]

Iron, very good points of view. The price difference is a factor however i believe this guy is like me analylitcal and he would not like the delay and want to part with it anyways. Better to pass that step and go straight to the gc2.

[eezetee]

I'm in boys. Thanks Iron and TonyD.

Now I just need the construction guys to finish my "office", find a local seller here in Thailand or order from the US (upcoming trip)

Can't wait!

[Rob Wathen]

Some additional points to what aeroburner stated earlier, if you order a refurb unit directly from Foresight:

- Cost is $5250 without any software. however....
- Comes with a 6 month warranty from Foresight (avoids having to buy a used unit from someone else and then send in for a $500 repair from the beginning = time and money)
- Completely refurbished by Foresight and will be just as a new unit
- Will be an "A" version (compatible with Apple iPad)
- Requires a $1000 deposit to get on the waiting list (currently will ship to deposits first and be 4 weeks out before it ships)

After lots of research on this forum and elsewhere (Golftec highly recommended the GC2 and FSX; that's what I use with my instructor every week for practice, and I love it), I ordered my refurbed GC2 from Foresight last week. NetReturn Pro coming tomorrow, ordering FSX as well.

Good luck!

[eezetee]

Rob,

Do let us know how your refurb GC2 goes.

[Cinderellaboy]

I was able to get an "open box" gc2 that they used at the PGA show for 5750. I was getting FSX anyway,so was able to get the 1-year warranty and get it now. I heard they had a few left.