Launch monitors for player development

[Agolfman]

Hope I'm posting this in the proper place...sort of ironic given my intent that there's very little discussion of this topic.

Anyway, as I've already said, it's a great forum for golf simulators, and appropriately named for that matter! I recently decided to make a move this week from Skytrak to a gently used FS X2 and was thinking to get a discussion around more technical aspects of how LMs are being used in specific ways to target areas of improvement, either quality of ball striking, practice techniques (Combines, skills apps, etc.), Improving swing planes....that kind of stuff.

There's clearly some good stuff out on the web, but it's very teacher centric, which is good, but not owner centric in terms of specific ways owners have benefited from unlimited access to target their own game improvement. Measuring baseline data, identifying areas to work on, a game plan to work on those things and measuring progress and results.

I'll add one video here because I thought it was a bit of a surprise at how useful TM was in a chipping/pitching scenario. Did not expect that and looking into it further, found a few other teaching videos that also explained similar tour and teaching trends. I think this sort of info is really great and could add a lot to this site.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eSowclJduew

[longhornlove]

Hope I'm posting this in the proper place...sort of ironic given my intent that there's very little discussion of this topic.

Anyway, as I've already said, it's a great forum for golf simulators, and appropriately named for that matter! I recently decided to make a move this week from Skytrak to a gently used FS X2 and was thinking to get a discussion around more technical aspects of how LMs are being used in specific ways to target areas of improvement, either quality of ball striking, practice techniques (Combines, skills apps, etc.), Improving swing planes....that kind of stuff.

There's clearly some good stuff out on the web, but it's very teacher centric, which is good, but not owner centric in terms of specific ways owners have benefited from unlimited access to target their own game improvement. Measuring baseline data, identifying areas to work on, a game plan to work on those things and measuring progress and results.

I'll add one video here because I thought it was a bit of a surprise at how useful TM was in a chipping/pitching scenario. Did not expect that and looking into it further, found a few other teaching videos that also explained similar tour and teaching trends. I think this sort of info is really great and could add a lot to this site.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eSowclJduew

Any specific reason you aren't using ST anymore?

[Agolfman]

A couple, but mostly due to what I was looking to get out of it. I'll probably do a longer comparison post in a couple of weeks, once I get som FS direct experience. I'm looking for more game improvement and only have a secondary interest in simulation.

Three things, but really the first one is the main one:
1. Looking for more sophisticated information and tools, short of making a huge investment in a TM: a combine app, skills weaknesses, club and path data, club and shaft comparisons, wedge and ball spin rates for comparison, etc. some of this is on ST, for sure, but not in a complete, mature package. Feels like ST 3.0 is going to be fantastic and, if so, I may relook at it at some time in the future.
2. My yardages were not close enough to my actuals, across my whole bag, same for my son's. This isn't a total deal breaker, but it's essentially 1 to 1.5 clubs different. I'm a 3 hcp and do know my distances down to a yard or two and I think I just need a little better than I was getting for that kind of money. I've thought seriously about whether I might have a unit out of spec slightly, but again, it's a question of product maturity.
3. Lag (time to render) and connectivity. I'm always 6-7 seconds before the shot renders and it's just too long. Also, the combination of AirPlay and WiFi remain less than perfect. I was 100% getting it to work for each session, but would consistently would need to redo wifi connection and ST device connection, or, AirPlay resets....would have to cycle through the connections at least twice if not three times prior to establishing each session.

I still really want to see ST succeed, particularly with WGT, and that may fit some customers better than I, if so, then a user will have a great product!

[JV17]

I would agree that this is a very underserved topic on this site. I'm a relatively new golfer, and my primary purpose for getting my GC2 was for game improvement. There isn't any focus on that here.

[p3eps]

I would agree that this is a very underserved topic on this site. I'm a relatively new golfer, and my primary purpose for getting my GC2 was for game improvement. There isn't any focus on that here.

Me too. I bought my GC2 primarily to help me practice my golf lessons at home, and as a way of actually seeing my improvements.
The simulation software was an added bonus, and will help to keep my interest levels. It also means I can play a round of golf in an hour when I have limited time (or even play half a round and finish it a few days later). Usually I'd have to take 5-6 hours out of my day to play 18 holes, whereas I can be hitting balls within a couple of minutes with the GC2.

[Agolfman]

Just a quick update here on my use of FS Skills app over the last week or so.

I'm about ten or so "combines" so far and I am really satisfied with the dynamic of practicing with feedback and data. I use both the stock combines, of which there are a few, as well as my own custom combines. Without a doubt, my practice has turned more competitive...against myself...sort of an interesting dynamic.

FS has an audio feature whereby each shot is scored and read back after a second or so telling you that you scored 0, 1, 2, 3, or 5 points. When I get the feedback of "0", trust me it gets me motivated to make the next shot better. You pay for that mistake in your total score , so avoiding "0"s really amps up your focus. Believe it or not, this happens on some of the shortest shots more than the full swings...if you miss a 40 yd shots by just a few yards, you get penalized pretty severely.

The custom combine I've created is one that tests my actual playing distance for each club in my bag (3 shots each) and scores the whole session...it took a couple tries to nail down my target distances and sizes, but I think I've got them right now. I can do the custom combine (saved in My Playbook) in 15-20 minutes and then do another (or a few more), if I feel it. Essentially, it's more like video gaming then I would have thought. I have sessions where I hit as many as 125 shots or so, and I never would have gone that far at an outdoor range. So a great combo of both quantity and quality.

I can't see going to the range right now, except for loosening up before a round. It's a little strange preferring practicing in my garage vs a full outdoor range, but I'm definitely motivated daily to be trying to beat my prior scores. The trend is definitely heading in the right direction....I'll keep posting here about specifics, but I think I've learned that there is a lot of benefit to planning and structuring practice....assimilating feedback, then revisiting areas to improve is the way to go.

One last thing is that I'm no longer tied to sundown to squeeze in practice time....last night I finished at about 10:30 or so and that flexibility is really helpful to practicing very day.

[RCorsa]

Found this old post and wanted to give it a bump. I just bought a sim and GC2/FSX 100% for improvement and allow me to play in bad or cold weather. The ability to hit for an hour at least every day is really making a difference, I was also able to test my clubs and think accurate carry data which at many courses is far more critical that total distance, especially if 5-10 yards error means you end up in a bunker or tall side grass and the ball just stops. In just two weeks I've really dialed in my irons which was huge yesterday when I went to the course for the first time since installation (they did spring aeration so it was closed for a week) not sure if adding the HMT for another 6k will be much more help......