Why do people move aim left and right?

[ks-man]

I've been watching some videos on YouTube of people playing TGC with both ProTee and a GC2. I've also watched some videos of people using other software. A lot of times I see people moving the cursor either left or right to essentially change where they are aiming. Why do people do this when playing using an actual hitting simulator? Can't you just aim slightly left or right of center when hitting your shot? Do people view changing the aim as being similar to adjusting their stance when on a real course? Do the sensors not work as well if you intentionally aim a little off of center (such as interpreting that as the club face being open or closed? It seems a little strange and time consuming to have to move the aim left or right on a computer for many of your shots. My thought was playing on a simulator is to try and remove you from the idea that you are controlling the game with a gamepad (or mouse).

Thanks.

[ProTee United]

You do not have to move the cursor left or right (changing camera position) to hit left or right. You can do that, like you said by just lining up a bit more left or right and/or closing or opening your club face. Most hardware (including ProTee) can handle this just fine BUT....THERE IS A BUT.... the computer will in most cases always point the camera straight towards the flag. It will not guide you around bunkers, water hazards, dog legs, trees, obstacles, etc.

If you know perfectly how to hit straight, hit a draw, fade and hit stable yardages you will be OK, otherwise you will need to do some course management by changing the camera position (like most of us) . Hope this makes sense.

[rdh]

For me it's an alignment thing more than it is a software limitation. If i'm chipping or putting, i'll just hit to the appropriate side of the screen. On full swings, the simulator pad provides a good visual alignment aid...I just don't like swinging across it at an angle. In the "real world" the ground doesn't have those straight lines to worry about, so it's not an issue. This is really just a personal preference though...to each their own.

[ks-man]

That makes sense about using it for longer shots but not putting and chipping. I'll be using a GC2 on a 6' wide hitting mat so I don't think alignment will be an issue but time will tell. Guessing I'll try it both ways and see what I like better. I just feel like it would be annoying walking over to the keyboard (or picking up a wireless one) before each shot but maybe I'd get used to that.

I'm still about six weeks away from getting my simulator installed and am having a hard time containing my excitement. Spending way too much time on YouTube watching every sim video I can find.

[aja]

One thing that you can do by using the keyboard is getting a view of the landing area. I got used to the keyboard in no time.

[SFR]

When you use a GC2 and putt, you will want to move the aim line for short putts with a break for sure. The reason is that due to the fact that the Azimuth (push or pull) is + or - 1 deg. So this can push straight putts off line even when you were dead straight. The GSX has a setting for putting to set to "2" and this makes any putt within 1.4 deg of being straight or close to that, go straight as if you were dead on line. Any more than that and your putt will go off line. Now if you do not aim your putt to your spot where you want your putt to travel and try to aim 1.4 deg right but the GC2 picks that up as being 1 deg out and thus will go straight, you will miss your line.

[rdh]

As much as I would love to have a GC2, that is one benefit of a separate putting sensor...true path reads with the two rows of light sensors.

[mthunt]

It's easier to hit it straight into a screen in a square room.