To be real or not to be real?

[Maverick]

Set Optishot for real life distances or not?

[MrHogan]

So thats not really a maximum swing speed but more a fixed swing speed for everybody (if ppl who swing at 105 get a boost above 100% to get upto 115mph). Its out of the box thinking which is good but i think this removes competitive advantage. Lets say when i swing comfortably within myself at 90% I always hit a fairway, would i not just always do that and have the game boost me back to 115mph safe in the knowledge i will find fairway? The trade off between really going for distance off the tee is that you know you're introducing risk of finding trouble at the same time and thats the great dilemma of the game, risk reward.

[Buckeye]

I agree risk v reward plays a major part in the game.

This seems to be the only way to get people to play a realistic drive though. Will more fairways be hit? Probably. Will there be fewer 350 yard drives? I hope.

Could also impose some penalty system for over swinging to many times in a round. Say we set the number at 115 mph and make a rule that you get 2 swings over that per round (for adrenaline purposes or what not) and after those two you must impose a 1 stroke penalty on yourself each time.

Now if you set your game for a 75%-90% swing to equal 115 mph you run the risk of over swinging and facing a penalty.

Obviously it would be difficult to police, but I guess we would have to rely on the honor system or find a way to entice people to stream.

[Buckeye]

The idea is that you make a normal or strong swing with your driver and use that as a base line and then adjust your game settings to match whatever number is agreed upon.

[JohnMeyer]

I like the concept of limiting swing speed somehow, as like you say it does seem unlikely that many peoe would be hitting much above 120 at the most, but as hogan says dont think those who swing slower should be boosted up to that figure as would remove the " advantage" of those who swing faster. Big driving doesn't always mean advantage. I'm often outdriven but can hit my shorter irons a long way, so balances out, it's like everything I guess, in an ideal world we'd all setup at real world distances and let the handicap do its job, as it does in real life too.

[CatMan]

Catmsn could you get my round 3 invite out today so can get my 3rd done tomorrow morning here in UK please.

I don't see why not bud, I will try to get them out tonight...

[MrHogan]

For me the answer is dead easy, we all know the numbers in the game are bs, this is why our winners are always -10 and the other simulators dont have winners under par. So we all set woods to 85 or 90%. Its the same for everyone we can then play the courses as the course designer originally intended. Simple and easy to police.

[Buckeye]

For me the answer is dead easy, we all know the numbers in the game are bs, this is why our winners are always -10 and the other simulators dont have winners under par. So we all set woods to 85 or 90%. Its the same for everyone we can then play the courses as the course designer originally intended. Simple and easy to police.

And that works too. I would still suspect many scores under par though. I am not sure 85% or 90% is enough for some honestly.

At least we can agree that what we have isn't working all that great and could be improved on.

[MrHogan]

It wouldnt matter if it is enough, its the same for everyone. The alternative is we continue to overpower all the courses reducing them to pitch and putt.

[CatMan]

My swing Speed with driver in real Life 95-100, I can't achieve that because of ceiling height so I am getting about 90-95. occasionally I get weird reading +100 ... But the Distance is about Right at 240-265. That is just me and my setup. One thing I have figured out with all the discussion is that no one has the same Setup, ie Lighting, Taping, Clubs, and so on, so there can be a lot of variables to what players get.. Every club in my bag seems Right on at 100% except when I get misreads.. Driver can tend to be long at times, but I think that is influenced by Wind...and Elevation.. and F/W speeds.. and of course misreads..

So it would be tough to set a fixed Standard to match everyone unique situation. I think Players should take it upon themselves to make it as real as possible,


Just my 2 Cents,

[Willymakit]

I'm with catman. This swing speed has gone on to long. That's all I been hearing about and if you look at the scores I'm no where near the top and supposedly I hit 350 yard drives ALL the time which I'm sure catman can verify that does not happen since we played almost 3 rounds in a row. And yes my swing been videod with the top of the gadgets out there and I swing with the driver 113 to 124 mph all day long.

If anything the putting should be looked at in which it is. I don't know how many times I missed eagle putts and birdie putts and ended up with a 8 or a 9 and sometimes I had a 12. But in the end I really don't care. it's a game There's no money on the line. If we start adjusting every little thing then we will be losing a lot of players that enjoy this game over some silly requirements you have to abide on. So far I'm liking where it's going.

It's a game guys. Enjoy it for what it's worth. Only 5 more months until golf season. Lol.

[MrHogan]

I hear ya catman but the scores dont reflect this, half of us would win on the PGA Tour week in week out based on our scores!

For some perspective heres the average mens driving length according to yahoo.
Club Men short-medium-long
Driver 200-230-260
3-wood 180-215-235
5-wood 170-195-210

What were really saying is that everyone who happens to have signed up for our tour is a long hitter or an extreme long hitter.
Bear in mind a player who can hit 280 yard drives in real life doesnt hit 280 on average.

[Maverick]

You want more realistic scores, sell your Optishots and pick up a used ProTee or GC2. Then join the ProTee league.

[Buckeye]

The thought behind my suggestion above is to have a way to takes in to account as many variables as possible but maximizing the swing speed to a more realistic number. Then everyone with their own unique set ups can customize their clubs to meet that number, ideally at a normal full swing.

I know that personally I am hitting the ball a good 15-20 yards further than I do in real life and I feel like I'm still getting out drove by 40-50 yards! There is some truth to the idea that iron play, short game and putting will balance everything out, however with the off set adjustments available it is possible to tweak your clubs to be long and dead straight.

I simply would like to see this more realistic that is all. I understand it is a budget simulator, but it has the ability to come close to real life if we utilize the options available. Like someone mentioned above the other simulator guys aren't having -15 or -20 winners, I would like to see our group more in line with reality too.

[CatMan]

This is in response to MrHogan:

Yes I hear you, that's why if a Player knows they are way off, they just need to make the adjustments, but in the end Shot Makers when Tournaments.. Getting up and down to save par, draining putts.. I wish everyone would make there driving Distance more Accurate, for me I can say mine are pretty close.. I cant speak for anyone else..

Players just need to take a look at where they are at and say "is this real or not". If our Real is within 10-15 yards of reality we can live with it.... But much more than that players should adjust.....

[MrHogan]

Willy, i just think the game would be more fun if we played the courses how their intended to be played. I watched vega tee it up on the 1st at bethpage he just aimed right into the trees ignoring the fairway entirely knowing he could hit it 320 yards over the dog leg for a 60 yard 2nd into the green. Im not criticising him for doing that, thats within our rules, i just think he wouldnt play that shot in real life. We are playing these courses like tour pros and thats well playstation stuff. Im happy to continue like this, but ppl have to admit thats what we are doing.