Help welcome on sim choices for indoor facility

[Ykaar]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I will apologize for my english and all mistake that will come. I will try that everything will be understable but dont hesitate to ask if something is not clear. When the word is between "xx" thats mean I know this is not the good word but dont have better ;-)

So, I am reading this forum for fews months, and thank you all for the gold mine of information about simulators. But the more I read, the more I am under the impression thats a jungle ! ^^
I change my mind over hundred times each time I read new information from one of you guys.
So I am here to explain what I plan and get your advices.

Objectives :

- Running a small indoor facility (2 (start)- 4(if succeed) simulators)
- "Hard" context/market because of country and weather (France)
- 50% Course 50% training/teaching

My requirements about simulator :

- Very high quality
- Very user-friendly (thats means I dont want to select the club I picked before each shot)
- No lefty/righty matter (but we will see down in the post that I can make a exception for this one)
- putting included
- Software with "share" possibility for stats and teaching lessons (video, analysis, stats etc for customer on web)
- Price lower as possible of course ... but with this requirements I would say less than 25k per simulator.


With all of that and after reading a lot, I selected two products :
Foresight and Trackman

To simulate price with both solution, I will start with basic and share components :

Videoprojector : 1500€
Impact screen : 800€
Box "floor" : 200€
Impact floor : 100€
Light : 100€
Computer : 1200€
Wire : 150€
Sound : 100€
"Make up" "roof" and wall : 500€

Total basic components about 4500€

Then,
Solution 1
ForeSight GC2 : 7500€
ForeSight FSX : 3000€
I read a lot about TGC instead of FSX but the teaching part in FSX seems relevant. Plus, for a commercial use I dont want to take the risk of an update that could break the use of TGC with GC2. But still open to your advise.
Total solution 1 with basics : 15000€
Then if the facility is running well, I have the possibility to add HMT on my simulator to get all I want as requirements.
Last total on this with HMT : 22000€
Advantages :
- "Two times" investissment that let me time to confirm the health of facility
- Sales market if the facility doesnt work with private people that can afford GC2 or HMT
Cons :
- Lefty/Righty issue
- Less popular than Trackman (important for customer here)
- Same price at the end than trackman

Solution 2
Trackman : 15200€
Truegolf E6 : 1500€
Total solution 2 : 21200€
Advantage :
- Popular product know as the "best"
- lefty/righty capable
Cons :
- Full price to start
- Harder for sale this to private people if facility doesnt work.

Well I say everything I have in mind at this point, at least everything relevant for asking your help about technical choices.

So please fell free to ask more information if needed. What I would know is : Are theses choices good ? Can we do better ? Or same with less price ?

Thank you for your help.

[Dax]

Is your plan to add TM4? And based on your pricing I suspect you are just going with the indoor setup?

Just an FYI that PerfectGolf may be TM compatible when it is released.

From a teaching perspective I note that the TPS software is fantastic and if you use video there is so much that you can do.

Don't forget about TM yearly subscription fee $1k for software and $1k fore hardware.

How do you plan on fixing lefty righty issue with GC2?

Are you sure there is not a good after market with TM?

I agree with your comment on the upfront cost of the TM, but if you need to buy two GC2s, then the cost is likely identical.

While I suspect not an issue, TM will require more length and I would highly recommend adding something in your budget for the TM to sit in so that it is your guests don't play around with the unit etc.

[Ykaar]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. My answers to your questions :

Is your plan to add TM4? And based on your pricing I suspect you are just going with the indoor setup?

Yes thats right. Based on TM4 for indoor use only.

Just an FYI that PerfectGolf may be TM compatible when it is released.

Thanks for the info, I have at least 6-8 month before openning so that could be an alternative choice. Any release date & price on this product ? I visited their website and software seems beautiful.

From a teaching perspective I note that the TPS software is fantastic and if you use video there is so much that you can do.

Thats why I choose this solution at the moment. Until I get other advices on this forum.

Don't forget about TM yearly subscription fee $1k for software and $1k fore hardware.

According to the sale manager I had on phone, its "only" 500€ per year for software, nothing on hardware. And this is not mandatory, only if we want have the last upgrade/optimization. Am I wrong so ?

How do you plan on fixing lefty righty issue with GC2?

I didnt plan to fix it. If i go with it, I will apologize on lefty customers :-( Or at least ask them to call warn me about this, and manage with enough wire to place GC2 correctly for their reservation. But population is really small so I dont want to put this in main requirement. Not ideal but no really choice (except go on TM4 which is my first choice atm)

Are you sure there is not a good after market with TM?

Seems I was wrong on this. No TM available on ebay on other website. So I guess I could have success by posting on one proposal on this if my facility doesnt work. Difference with GC2 is that trackman will seduce only company, not for home people.

I agree with your comment on the upfront cost of the TM, but if you need to buy two GC2s, then the cost is likely identical.

The point is I will have 2 sim to start. So 2 GC2 still lower price than 2 TM4 ... But 2 GC2+HMT = 2 TM4 (which will be setup if the facility work ... so I will regret to not have bought TM4 in first place).

While I suspect not an issue, TM will require more length and I would highly recommend adding something in your budget for the TM to sit in so that it is your guests don't play around with the unit etc.

Not mentionned but you are right and I already plan de make "safe" arrangements (TM4, clubs, computer etc ... in the facility).

Thanks again and dont hesitate if you have more question or advices !

[mthunt]

You're on the right path. You're looking at the two best monitors to run your set up. Your wallet will take a beating but the aftermarket is strong. GSF is right though. Too many questions.

[Ykaar]

Hi all,

Not much answers about this. Did I something wrong ? No advices about one solution instead an other one ? Thank again for help.

[GSF_Admin]

You are probably asking too much in a single post. Ask short questions. Also search the forum for answers.