How much has a launch monitor helped your golf game?

[Chris83d]

I'm ready to get a launch monitor, namely a GC2, for indoor garage use. Just wondering what impact a launch monitor has had on people's real life golf games? Has your game improved much since buying a launch monitor? If so, what areas have seen improvement? Interested to hear people's experiences...

[fortysixandtwo]

I can tell you that with my junior golfer and even myself, just hitting balls helps your timing, eye hand coordination, figuring out different shots, knowing your true carry distance, etc helps out a lot for the long game.
Will your scores drop, probably and just depends if that's your weak area. It helped my son with driver and just getting stronger and faster. I'm around a 5-7 handicap so it helped maybe just a little..really practicing outside putting, chipping and pitching 30 yds and in is what gets me down to shooting par occasionally. We bought a 12 ft putting green inside the house, (dream green), it has adjustable break, etc.
Having that in the basement really impacted my game the most.
Its still nice to hit a bucket of balls at the house though too, or playing a sim round when it's snowing outside.
:-)

[Brandon]

For me it has helped immensely. My situation is likely different from yours however. I was a 3 handicap. I played a couple times a week, hit balls a couple times a week, then got married, had a kid, took almost 3 years away from the game entirely. I run my own business as well.
Last year bought a Skytrak and TGC and I'm able to practice a few times a week again so when I go out for real golf I can play a respectable rounds.
i don't think you'll regret it at all. The more you can practice the better off you are.

[LEO MODE]

It definitely does help. Mainly because launch monitors shows you distance, break, and other information that evaluates you quantitatively. So understanding your distance for each club will definitely help you.

[simmb]

I went the other way, before I bought a skytrak I was playing well and shooting my handicap (was 7.6) or better each weekend. Everyone is now saying my swing has changed for the worse and it's showing on the course. In the 5 months since I have had Skytrak, 11 competitions and 11 0.1 increases with some real low points, think last time I played I had 4 points on the back 9 .
I know it's all down to me and not the technology, it's probably a mental thing at finding out how far I don't hit it or due to the indoor swing phenomenon or both. Also we all know form is temporary so I could have been due a slump anyway and that coincided with my purchase. I do still love being able to play golf at home though even if it is badly.

[sb944]

simmb, that's not great, where is it falling apart for you? Are you hitting it well on skytrak but not on course, or has it got worse on skytrak and course alike? I'd like to see a video of your swing.

[CW35]

I've had my GC2 since the spring and would say that it has helped me be much more consistent throughout this golf season (live in MN). The last few years my handi has been between 7-9 and w/in each season it would seem to go anywhere w/in that range. It just depended on if I was playing well or really bad. This season my hand has stayed basically at 7.2 - 7.5 which I attribute to the additional practice in-between IRL rounds. I would also say that I've seen a very good improvement in my short game area (chipping/pitching) IRL as well.

Outside of the LM, I really think the online tournaments (TGC) have helped w/ my IRL game as you can simulate some of the "pressure" shots you see/feel on the course.

Over the winter, I plan on really dialing in my wedges from 120 yards and in to get a jump on next year!

[Joko]

As someone that is relatively new to golf and never had much formal instruction it has been invaluable to be able to practice at my own convenience instead of having to drive to a range. If I had to drive to a range to practice or just hit into a net, I would probably be a year behind where I am now as far as improvement and understanding of my golf swing. I have a lot further to go, but couple that with taking video of your swing and you can really help yourself out. Along with all of this it depends on where you are at with golf, as mentioned above.

[simmb]

simmb, that's not great, where is it falling apart for you? Are you hitting it well on skytrak but not on course, or has it got worse on skytrak and course alike? I'd like to see a video of your swing.

It has got worse on both to be honest. I think I am just trying to smash every shot as far as I can now instead of just a smooth controlled swing, we think we know our distances and then something clever comes along and proves you wrong . Also I don't think I am fully comfortable with swinging indoors yet, not sure if I am subconsciously tensing up at impact becasue I am worried about hitting something or something hitting me but whatever habit I have picked up it's translating into real life golf.

[coz]

I picked up the skytrak and use skypro with it to work on my swing. I went from 78 avg score to 75. My wedge play was greatly improved along with knowing my clubs carry yardages better. My score then seemed to be limited by short game and putting. I was hitting around 11 Gir. Hitting that many shots= tendinitis in my right elbow and now some pain in my left foot. That limited my practice and my scores returned to 79/80 avg. In order for me to score, I need to practice a fair amount keeps the big numbers at bay. Tiger woods is absolutely history if he can't practice like the young guns. IMO.

[Snaphook]

It has got worse on both to be honest. I think I am just trying to smash every shot as far as I can now instead of just a smooth controlled swing, we think we know our distances and then something clever comes along and proves you wrong . Also I don't think I am fully comfortable with swinging indoors yet, not sure if I am subconsciously tensing up at impact becasue I am worried about hitting something or something hitting me but whatever habit I have picked up it's translating into real life golf.

This is a problem with launch monitors. People trying to hit it longer and longer, ruins your swing) You need to set a realistic carry number in your head and then practice hitting that number. Think that a long shot is as bad as a short one,

[PercyDalton]

Other than driver I'm not sure trying to add distance is a worthwhile pursuit. Much better to spend time trying to hit 5 iron well than hit a 6 iron your 5 iron distance!

[mthunt]

My first run in with a LM was years ago at my club. I was a 0 and hitting an FT5 dead straight with a great long flight. They were doing fittings at the range and I said "what's that?" Next I'm hitting drivers and the pro says "dude, your spin is way too high". Needless to say within 24 hours I was only using 3 wood off the tee and had ordered the new FT9 with a Blueboard for $800. Problem was it was on back order everywhere in Canada. I almost quit golf. I wish I wasn't so curious that day. I've been obsessed with spin ever since. Lol

[penrose]

Last year I finished the golf season - let say October with a 19 handicap. this year I should finish the season about 14 or 15. I lose a lot less golf balls as well. I really think I can be a 11 or 12 next year - I get a lot more pars now and even a birdie or two a round - however I still have streaks of doubles and sometimes a triple.

This is all because of the skytrak - I play at least 9 holes a day -either real or sim golf. A putting green is also very helpful.

[Ronsc1985]

The only thing it helped initially was the driver. With the launch monitor I could optimize my angle of attack which translated into a higher launch angle with less spin. The sim and launch monitor is useful in the winter months for keeping you golfing muscles in shape. In the summer I'd rather just play real golf.

It is also useful to occasionally check your ball speed and carry distance for the various clubs. You can obviously do this on the range or course but indoors the launch monitor doesn't have all the variables as outside like wind, temperature, air density etc.

With a sim you can practice indoors and not get carried away with killing the ball as the sim will tell you the ball isn't going straight. Years ago I used to hit into a net with no sim or launch monitor during the winter. What usually happened was by the end of the winter, although my golfing muscles were in shape I had grooved the mother of all hook swings. It usually took a few rounds to calm down and get back to straight again.