New GC2 - Owner Question (GC2 Level & Distances)

[belacyrf]

Hello All,
I have what I hope is fairly easy question. I just purchased a refurb GC2 and so far everything looks great. I went outside to test it out with my 8 iron and my bad swings, everything went ok. But my decent swings the ball seems to be going 10% to 20% further than I actually hit my 8 iron.

I have an outdoor 10x10x10 hitting cage and the mat has probably a slight (no more than a couple degrees) downward slant. So I'm wondering if maybe the downward slant is causing the additional distance? I can take it to the range sometime and see what I get on a level surface but I figured I'd ask.

Launch angle on the ones that were hit well was like 21 - 24 degrees. I'm using the Apex Irons (8 iron has a loft of 35*). Ball speed was measured around 110 - 115ish on the well struck balls.

Just need to find out.. do I need to find something to place under the mat & gc2 to level things out?

Oh and last dumb question. Is the GC2 (with it's own little stand) built to be on the ground next to a golf mat or should it be on a surface that places it to be on the same height as the golf mat?

Thanks for your thoughts...

[wbond]

What were the spin readings? If your mat is reducing spin could be part of the problem. The GC2 i believe should be at the same level as the mat you are hitting from.

[mthunt]

The GC2 at minimum should be sitting on a surface level to your stance and a max 1.5" above that. It also self levels so no need to have it level. The GC2 only tracks for a short distance so things like wind, elevation and barometric pressure aren't taken into account. Could that explain the distance issue?

[tkvaughn999]

I think spin is key here. I the garage grooves are clean and nothing between ball and clubface. At range might be getting material in grooves. Plus range balls tend to spin less? Regardless spin rate differences seem to change calculated yardages more than anything else (ie flier lie)

[Snaphook]

Most likely the mat. It's a well known problem that mats tend to take of around 1000 rpm:s and that will of course give you longer carries. Heres a link to a short test on the subject http://blog.trackmangolf.com/mats-vs...ts-difference/
I am sure the downward slant adds something aswell.

[codehead]

Re... Downward slant. Causes a slight delofting of the club which could lead to longer distances as well. This is true IRL

[Ronsc1985]

Did you run the tilt calibration software? If you have an older unit this is a must to get correct launch angle, distance etc.

[TorchRedRob]

If it's a foresight refurbished one, I wouldn't touch the calibration.

[mthunt]

Why is that?

[TorchRedRob]

Only because they would have just run it through its paces and calibrated if necessary before they shipped it (allegedly). Just like I wouldn't calibrate a brand new one that I just received.

[belacyrf]

Thank you all, that is very helpful. Yes this is a refurbished unit. My guess is the "spin rate" is the issue as many of you have suggested. I have the Callaway Apex irons (which have a pretty hot face) and they have strong lofts. My 8 iron is launching around 20* and spin is around 4500 - 5000 which is really low. It's flying 175 - 180 yds which is really about 10 yds longer than my normal. But the spin being so low might be the ticket. Thanks all!

[p3eps]

Try teeing your ball up and hitting say 10 shots with your 8 iron like that. Then try 10 off the mat.
see how different the spin and carry are between the 2 tests.
You should then be able to determine if your mat is having a big impact on the distance.
You might be better doing that test with something more like a 5 iron that'd be easier to hit off a higher tee though!

[belacyrf]

Good idea.. thanks! I'll give it a try. I have the country club elite match which I "thought' was pretty darn good, but I guess there is not sub for real turf.

[belacyrf]

Ok so I learned something new. I put the ball on a tee and got a little more spin but not a ton around 5500. Then I decided to clean my club face and grooves, (my club had a bunch of left over ball cover on the face). My very first shot with a clean face and clean grooves spun at 8000+ revs with a carry of 165. Just about perfect.

I knew clean grooves was important, but who would have thought 15 yards and 3000 revs important?