Trackman Build

[Minnelli]

Ordered a Trackman 4 on March 8th. The lead time is about 3-4 weeks right now. So it's prep time. Short back story. Built a sim when living up in Maryland, had a a GC2 and used EMT piping. Moved to Florida, sold the GC2 and bought a FlightScope Xi+ for the my clubs practice facility 500 yards away. I can drive my cart over anytime and practice but I really can't get the practice numbers I want. I know my yardages or at least think I do. I can get out on the course at night and play several holes and hit 4 balls in from 80, 100, 120 whatever, so again I think I know my distances but it's hard because of wind, etc. I needed something that could improve my game not just through hitting plays but playing a few holes quicker than I can in real life. Basically, smarter practice...we will see.

Here is what I'm working with. I have an extra 2 car garage built with cars in mind but in the back of my head maybe one day a sim room/golf studio. Garage is good size so first order of business was to raise the garage door but getting a jackshaft (Liftmaster 8500w) and high lifting the tracks. This moves the middle belt/chain drive system out of the middle of the garage. Nothing new, you have probably seen this before. It also moves the tracks tight to the ceiling.

More to come. Projector ordered, Turf ordered, foam padding ordered, net ordered, bungees, etc. I will post the progress. Oh and I will be posting my Xi+ with tour data for sale later, the build is my first priority. Should be done by end of March early April.

[jerry3]

good luck with your build! I've heard that garage doors can mess with the readings on trackman and flight-scope, so might want to make sure you hit the other direction.

[Minnelli]

I am hitting toward the wall. Will be installing angle irons along the wall and ceiling 1 foot of the back wall. So that will give me 18 feet with the garage door down. Enough for Trackman to pick up the one revolution. The new minimums with the latest firmware are, I believe, 7 feet from the TM and 10 to the screen. I will be hitting from around 10-11' from the screen. With the door open I could even move it back further if needed. Oh ceiling height is 10'.

Impact screen will be a Carl's Premium 18x10
Turf FedEX Truck should be here today.
Trackman FedEx may be early next week. I think Trackman under promised and over delivered. Shocking in this day and age.

[jerry3]

I think the new minimum distance requirements might actually be even less, like 7' from radar to ball and 7' ball to screen. But I think that might be ball speed dependent... Sounds like you'll have a great setup

[Dax]

I don’t think the latest firmware has the new min specs yet for one revolution, but have heard it is soon. Also, I think the min will be 6 feet front of TM to ball and then 7 feet of ball flight. They mentioned 185 mph (can’t recall and maybe it was 165) was able to be read. All depends on spin of course, but I am sure these mins will be fine for most amateur golfers. 10 feet should be plenty and as you said, orienting your room as you are will give you the option to open up the doors to get you a few more feet.

[jerry3]

Dax just curious do trackman's always have to be floor mounted? I know on tour they have them mounted in all sorts of ways to get the ball data

[Dax]

I know for TM range and also on tour they do set them up differently, but for home use, teaching etc. I believe the only way to mount them is on the floor.

[Minnelli]

Projector mount mounted and small test strip of carpet for ceiling impact has been screwed to the studs. It's meant to have a little give to it so ball impacts absorb more. The attic entry I will cover with the same carpet. By the way, it is $4.25 a linear foot ($0.71 sq. ft.) at Home Depot for a 6 foot wide piece (Dayside - Color Ebony Texture 6 ft. Carpet). So I have the little 4x6 strip for $17. I will be filling in the ceiling with more carpet on each side. I am also planning on the the carpet for the sides. Thinking an 11x6 screwed into a 2x2 and mounted to the ceiling. More to come. Turf and Trackman both show up on Monday. FedEx freight messed up my delivery on Thursday.

[Minnelli]

Arriving yesterday: Trackman and the Turf among various Amazon deliveries. HDMI 50' installed in the ceiling, just need to pull it down. Turf is from SimTurf which is STI, who does all the Trackman installs, 4x8 hitting mat and 15x9 putting surface. The putting surface is 3/8' so you use 5/8' foam tile to make it flush with the hitting surface for putting.

Took the Trackman for a test drive yesterday at the range. Not fuss with the app. Turned it on, it found the TM and off we went. I do have a hand me down ipad so the Trackman Go app with all the data took a few seconds to pop up. I quickly learned to change it to the table view and I was getting the beep after each shot. When I got home on the network I hit the share button and it sent me the email that the mytrackman was updated. Very slick. Note all the data from your session is in mytrackman but it only shows like 8 or 9 items wide. You can pick and choose what you want to see but I didn't see a view that would show everything.

Then I took it to the sim room at night and did some putting. Set up a cup (roll of tape) 10 feet away and started making putts. I had my wife hit a putt while I was playing with the app and it said 8'4" and I said that's not right, grabbed the tape measure and it was exactly 8'4". Very cool. The reading Trackman was giving on the putting surface was a stimp of 10. I did get some readings that said not enough light, because I really don't have the light setup. I did order one last night that is made for video. Trackman needs something called an OERT light but it is basically a continuous photo light. I bought one off of Amazon last night and will install it and provide feedback.

More to come.

[Minnelli]

Progress today. Projector went up last night - Optoma GT1090HDR Short Throw Laser. Carpet Side Barriers are up. Attached to an 8 foot 2x2. The final 2 feet will be added with a little curve to the screen to collect any balls that go into the corner. Iron Angles are all up. Two 5 footers on each side and Three 6 footers across the ceiling. Turf down but not fully ready. Need to add the 5/8 under the turf. Monitor mount completed. Computer installed out in the garage and fired up as a test. Obviously no impact screen yet but an 18 foot wide image isn't too bad

More to come in the next few days.

[Minnelli]

Sorry for the delay in pics. Things are Awesome with the build. Trackman has been working great. I still need some pics on my computer stand/cabinet. I bought 2 off of Wayfair and only built one so far. I have been away the last few weekends so I've had a delay on my side. SimTurf is holding up but I bought more 2x2 foam squares to place under the hitting surface. Then I bought a gel insert off of Amazon that is 5/8 thick to absorb the impact to the elbows. The SimTurf is good but it does seem to twist the club on mishits and can slightly punish your arms. The gel has reduced that feeling. Also, I'm thinking about cutting the 4x8 mat in half and adding maybe a one foot wide hitting surface in the middle. This way it would be easier to replace than a whole mat.

[FierceVibe]

Minnelli - That's a great-looking setup. I have an Optoma GT1090HDR on order. One question: Did you have to angle your projector upwards on account of the vertical offset? Any focus problems as a result?

[adamholc]

very nice setup!

[EVH5150]

Looks amazing! Can't wait to see more pics.