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Hi all. Been lurking the forum for a few months, but this is my first post. What kind of index drops have you all noticed before and after owning a simulator? Thanks!
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How much was the GCQuad mate?Originally posted by FCMTX75 View Post -
US price is $11k for the unit, and another $3k for fsx2020. Club data is another $4k. So all in $18k for the unit, software and club data add on.Originally posted by David Williams 'Chips' View Post
Putting data is another $3k I think.Comment
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Would it be fair to say that SIM golf would/should show the greatest improvement for higher handicap golfers? Those of you with single-digit indexes are already striking the ball very well for the most part, especially those of you sub 5. I would imagine, and hope for my sake, that someone with a 15 plus handicap should see a nice improvement just from the improved ball striking, shot feedback, and ability to practice more?Comment
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I would tend to agree, but that is true of golf practice as a whole and not just sim practice. Going from a 15 handicap to a 10 is nothing like going from a 5 to a scratch. The better you get, the less room for improvement and the harder it becomes to shave off strokes. And that's true whether you're spending most of your time on a sim or outdoors on the course.Originally posted by agent0024 View Post
My own personal experience with my sim has been this =
I was about a 7 handicap when I got my setup completed and started playing and practicing regularly in there while not playing much outdoor golf at all.
As a result, I began hitting the ball better than ever (even better than I did when I was a 5 handicap a few years earlier). However, I developed some bad chipping habits playing TGC2019 all the time and it really got exposed last week when I went on a mini golf excursion with a buddy. We played 4 rounds and every round was the same theme. Hit it awesome (longer off the tee than I've ever been in my life) but was just a wreck around the greens. Even the most routine up-and-downs were anything but routine. Something about chipping on the mat all the time for the last year (and only chipping on grass maybe 6 times) ingrained some weird scoopy chipping action that does not transfer well to grass (especially tight lies). So while I hit it probably better than ever for 4 rounds, my scores were roughly the same because my short game was such a chaotic mess.
So to summarize, my sim has been amazing for my full swing game but I've definitely taken a step backwards in my short game. Chipping and pitching and bunker shots are just harder to simulate indoors. That being said, you aren't really going to practice chipping on a sim. I just play a ton of TGC so I'm chipping a lot in there. And of course, this isn't necessarily true of everyone. Just my experience about 14 months into it.Comment
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Sim play/practice has led to big improvements with the driver on the course. Definately finding more fairways. Also seen some modest gains with pitching and chipping. Haven't seen it translate into crisp iron play yet.Comment
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Well my best personal round has been a 79 (+7 1x and +8 2xs). Prior to owning a sim I might get close to beating it a few times per year (maybe). I have had my SIM since April and I have now shot a 73 (+2). I chalk it up to practice. Practice = Confidence. Been striking the ball really well. The feedback that SkyTrak provides is so much better than just blasting away on the range IRL.
Followed the 73 with an 82 and I lost 4 balls. I must be getting better.Comment
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Just recently started to use the Skytrak, but I definitely can see it being an advantage. Being able to see your numbers and try to optimize them is nice as well as being able to practice 100 yards and in should be a benefit. I just started to learn how to hit draws and fades on command where as before it was all by accident when I wouldn't want them, so being able to try them on the sim and seeing it and then take it to the course was great.Comment
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Interesting thread... I am just in the process of building a sim room in my new house build. Going a Uneekor EyeXO build.
I live in Australia so not sure the same indexes / handicaps apply but about 20 years ago I was playing off 7 (shooting high 70's) on one of Melbourne's famous sandbelt courses. Then family happened and like everyone, priorities changed.
I am now at a point where my kids are fully independent, so getting back into the game... I reckon I would go around in the mid 90's now, as until recently I am only playing social golf once every 3 months or so. My reason for the sim was to get the ability to practice, and have a bit of a social hit with some friends over good food, good drinks and plenty of laughs.
I am hoping that the sim will improve my game tee to green, but am I right in saying that because the mechanics of chipping and putting are so different on a sim, that the short game improvement will only come with time on the real life course itself? That has been my assumption.
I will install a putting green in the sim room just to get the putting stroke nailed... but I was thinking with the sim to just bypass putting as it would add negligible value. Can you tell any of the more popular sim softwares (TGC, E6 etc) to just add on a certain number of putts for a certain distance (like 1 putt anything inside 6', 2 putt anything inside 40' etc?Comment
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You can select auto putt and set it up for number of putts per distance or whatever like you said. Putting on the sim isn't done for the purpose of trying to improve your putting. It's just done for the fun of playing the game. If you have a good setup for putting (a good putting surface that extends from the hitting mat to the screen) and a launch monitor that reads putts well (some are better than others with putting) then putting on the sim is actually quite fun. And if you want to play in online tournaments, putting is required.Originally posted by JNewman1909 View PostComment
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I have a 10 handicap. I'm very analytical and play with too many swing thoughts. The simulator and GC2 really feed my need for data. I built my sim over this past winter. Played for 3 months inside about 5 days a week. I've logged about 20 rounds outside already. Handicap is the same.
Data after each shot is really helpful. I also film my swing from time to time. I discovered I have a distance gap in my wedges between 8, 7 & 6 irons. I got the local pro to bend my 7 iron to even it out. I would have never figured that out without a launch monitor.
I agree generally with others. Driver improved dramatically in distance as I straightened the flight, launch angle and spin rate. Same for 3W off tee or fairway. I still occasionally launch the ball with a pull or push that gets me into trouble. I struggle with my iron swing. I feel like I'm getting smarter. I can get in a nice groove on the sim where I can easily play 18 holes well. IRL, I can often start a round with a good iron swing but it tapers off during the round. I'm changing my sim play to purposely interrupt the flow. Also working on IRL pre-shot routine to better rehearse what I'm working on. I'm struggling with uneven lies IRL.
Short game - no change. Agree hard to work on chips, although I chip like a pro on the sim. Much harder IRL with different lie conditions. I could do more to figure out interim distances on wedges, but haven't.
Putting - Never been great. Sim has taught me to be more analytical about seeing a distance (I quickly pace it off IRL) and translating it to a backswing length, but struggle IRL to adapt to changing course conditions, slope, grain, etc.
The fact my handicap is the same is pretty frustrating. Somewhat embarrassed to say how many hours and rounds I've played trying to get better. Almost the definition of insanity (feels like I'm changing a lot, but the results stay the same). I get compliments my swing looks better.
With all that said, I love the sim. Practicing and playing (TGC 2019) is almost more fun than IRL. TGC 2019 course selection and ability to design makes me giddy. Especially of course during winter and inclement weather outdoors. Best toy I ever bought.Comment
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Have you considered getting a coach to analyze your swing, there might be some elements that you aren't picking up that a trained eye can find, and you can then work on -
Fair comment. I took a few lessons last year when I was a 12. Similar situation that I could stripe it on range when I got in a rhythm, but couldn't sustain it for 18 holes. Pro went with me on the course and observed (1) need to work on alignment and (2) my words and body language were not confident. Been working on both. I'll try to get another session soon and check for new feedback.
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I think that would be the case for most sports, games or activities. It is easy to take the first few steps with a little practiceOriginally posted by agent0024 View PostComment
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I think the sim has more potential to help higher handicappers. I was a 15 and now I am an 11. For me just being able to hit a ball more frequently and continuing to groove a swing makes me better. The only downside to sim golf is that there is no variation to your hitting surface. You always have a nice flat lie on a sim.Comment
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I've had my simulator for about 2 years now, use to shoot 15-18 over all the time,.. now I'm around 6-8 over. I've increased my swing speed and a lot more accurate. My simulator has giving me the opportunity to try things I would not try on a real course.Comment
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Depends how you use sim and what you use it for. Just playing courses and range practice is unlikely to yield big results. In my opinion lessons, lots of short game practice and real course play is the key to lowering handicap. It's possible if you have bad habits, swing faults you can just practice this more in a sim!Comment
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Range work in sim especially when i had skytrak range and the smallest green set up for wedge work led to my biggest gains outdoors. The golf sim course playing is fun but hasn't equated to reduced hdcp like the range work.Comment
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