Help: Need sim advice

[Gamecock82]

Greetings y’all,

I’m new to the forum but not to the simulator market. I’ve been searching for an in-home sim for about a year now, but have been back and forth on all of the options.

I’m on a fixed budget, of around $2K max, so many of the options are limited.

My interest has gone from optishot, to skytrak, now to this:

I’m off skytrak because my budget wouldn’t allow for the device, the add ons, projector, etc.

So now I’m thinking about using a swing analyzer paired with a launch monitor, and just hitting into a net (vs projector/impact screen combo).

I’ve heard good things about the zepp and 3 bays gsa zone and would pair either of those with likely the sc200 or Mevo. My thinking here is that I would get the needed swing practice with the benefit of added data one would typically get from a more expensive launch monitor.

or....I came across the R-motion, which I would be able to get the benefit of a ball flight, still with the club data and QC it with the launch monitor.

has anyone done this/heard of this? Was it helpful or should I just wait and look for a cheaper skytrak?

[SkeetShooter]

why do you need a projector? Are you looking to play full games on the sim off the bat, or just looking for ball data? I see no reason to have a projector right off the bat. This is what I did. I had a spare PC and a tv, put it in my garage and i'm up and hitting into a archery net. Its worked wonderful for me. All in under $2K

[Hooli]

SkeetShooter is giving sound advice. You don't need to do it all at once. Build up over time, not everyone has the budget to get the entire things all at once.

I started with my SkyTrak, a 4'x3' piece of turf from HomeDepot, and a canvas painters dropsheet. I didn't have the spare TV like them, I just used my laptop. Over time I got a proper hitting mat, a projector, a proper hitting screen, changed the lighting, a gaming PC and TGC (a very expensive month!), filled in the rest of the garage floor with turf, added blackout curtains on the sides and roof, etc, etc. I did this over the course of nearly 3 years.

This is an expensive hobby, but can be done piecemeal. Plus, it's been quite a lot of fun. Especially when I'd add something new and friends would come over and I'd added a new piece to the sim - gave us something extra to talk about and also meant I'd get additional input on what to do next and what could be improved.

[Gamecock82]

SkeetShooterHooli , thanks for the insight. I guess I don’t need the projector, but if I were investing in an expensive in-home sim like that, I would eventually want the full realistic golf experience.

However, I’m just wondering if the drop off from a skytrak to r-motion is worth the extra $2K or so (when factoring in plan and sim package).

I want a tool that gives me fairly accurate numbers...I’m pretty new to the game (only been serious about golf for about 2 years now), but I’ve played enough to know my average distances for clubs and my typical tendencies in mishits. I want something that will accurately replicate my game (ballpark) while allowing me to practice and improve areas that need work.

Ive heard the numbers with the skytrak are nearly spot on to what you will find with a flightscope or trackman, but you aren’t getting any swing/club inputs - which I feel you need as a beginner golfer to get better.

That’s what led me to r-motion, which I’ve heard can do this to an extent, but doesn’t always replicate the ballflight on mishits (toe or heal strikes) accurately - the reason why I would use a launch monitor along with it.

You may have walked me off the ledge though and back on team skytrak. And maybe add a swing analyzer to the equation down the line. Time to try convincing the wife....

If buying pre-owned, would you only go through skytrak?

[SkeetShooter]

I wonder if adding an opti-shot in tandem would work for you... It only monitors club data. That plus the Skytrak should give you some pretty good data. Not sure if anyone has done that though

[Hooli]

The SkyTrak will do that for you. Plus, it will give you the ability to expand the sim experience with time.

One thing I have heard on these forums time and again, is that the money for lessons is a good investment. Lessons, while not cheap, changed my game. As much as I have a ton of fun in my Golf Sim, it's not the same learning and practicing environment as lessons are. There's really no substitute for having someone coach you.