Trackman Data Comparison with ProTee Installation

[Buckminster]

I have a ProTee system that I have been using about 4 months now.

Today I was able to compare shot data with a Trackman launch monitor. Trackman is supposed to be the most accurate launch monitor that money can buy.

Observations:

1 - When the ball contact is perfect, the distances with Trackman and ProTee were very close.

2 - When the hitting mat was contacted prior to the ball (a fat shot), the Trackman distance was always significantly longer than ProTee. I had suspected this, but now I have strong data indicating that ProTee penalizes fat shots too much. The penalty is probably about 10% too much compared to Trackman. A fat shot with a 140 yard club may carry about 120 on Trackman, but only between 105-110 on ProTee.

3 - A low handicap player was getting swing path data on Trackman showing an inside-to-outside swing path with a slightly closed face-to-path number. This should have resulted in a beautiful ball that starts a few degrees to the right and draws back to the center. My ProTee system never really showed that draw. It seems that if the ball starts to the right that it never draws back, but hitting a tight draw on a very slight pull is doable.

4 - My ProTee system rather consistently showed club paths that were typically 4 degrees more outside-to-inside than Trackman. Example, a 4 degree inside-to-out club path on Trackman would be straight on ProTee. A 4 degree outside-to-in club path on Trackman would be 8 degrees outside-to-in on Protee.

I suspect that I need to make some adjustments to my ProTee system to correct for the club path. But for the most part, I think my ProTee system gives good results. So I am wary to make many changes. But that slight draw is something that I do hit on the course when I am swinging good, but have never been able to hit on my ProTee system. Now that I have a low handicapper and Trackman data on my side, I will experiment to see if I can make things better.

[FaultyClubs]

4 - My ProTee system rather consistently showed club paths that were typically 4 degrees more outside-to-inside than Trackman. Example, a 4 degree inside-to-out club path on Trackman would be straight on ProTee. A 4 degree outside-to-in club path on Trackman would be 8 degrees outside-to-in on Protee.

The fact it's consistent is good. Should just need to change the default club path correction values.

[Joshua1745]

I think hitting the shot is penalized too much on the protee also. However, I assumed this is from the fiberbuilt turf slowing the club. We’re you hitting on the same turf for your comparison.

[Burtgolf]

an inside-to-outside swing path with a slightly closed face-to-path number. This should have resulted in a beautiful ball that starts a few degrees to the right and draws back to the center. My ProTee system never really showed that draw. It seems that if the ball starts to the right that it never draws back, but hitting a tight draw on a very slight pull is doable.

Somehow the "new" ball flight laws apply to this as an in to out swing only determines flight not starting path. I had a thread I started on this same issue and andygg1986 stated "what I feel like I am doing and what is actually happening don’t always match up" .. and later went on to explain that "what I feel is over the top is actually still a couple degrees in to out" which made total sense to me and can explain why your seeing the pull/draw instead of the push/draw your expecting.

I think it depends on the simulator your using and how they are applying these "rules" as what I am finding in my "simulator" world if I want the ball to start right and turn back to the left (right handed player) I need an open club face at impact with an in to out swing where the face to club path angle has a (-) negative number(actual shot is so far right its scary). For me in simulator world all my irons 6 - LW start left and hook worse as I go down towards lob wedge (pull draw) where 5 up to Driver I get a push fade and worse as I go up towards driver. Which for me just means I have to know I am playing a game because in real life I could not hook a lob wedge 30 yards left and never seen one driver start so far right that it has 40* launch angle .. frustrating at the least for me.. but at least yours is being consistent in your results!

[Buckminster]

Thanks for your comments. I have determined that the 4 degree difference was probably because the Trackman was not properly aligned.

But it is still the case that Trackman data was showing a push-draw (in to out club path with face closed relative to club path) when my ProTee system showed a dead straight ball.

I probably need to make an adjustment to the settings. I noticed that the ProTee website posted an article in December 2018 titled "Club face and club path corrections" in their customer support area that lists default and most-used settings. But there is nothing to help determine want changes make sense for a particular installation and how to diagnose whether you need to make changes.

Have you tried adjusting these settings?

[Stonebattle]

I just found this thread. I can agree with much of what has been observed here. Have any of you taken any data and compared that with the reading you are getting from the Protee sensor?

[Wizard of Coz]

Im not sure trackman in indoor mode would be trustworthy outdoors yes. I would trust a gc2 indoors more than a trackman indoors.???

[Stonebattle]

I guess Trackman 4 is for indoor or outdoor applications. I have never seen one, but they are selling them.
I have never hit on a GC2 with HMT or GC Quad, but would like to have a chance.

[Dax]

Im not sure trackman in indoor mode would be trustworthy outdoors yes. I would trust a gc2 indoors more than a trackman indoors.???

While there are a number of variables to ask in order to ensure the set up for comparison is true, I would suggest you read Leo’ reviews and comparisons. Also not sure how TM could get its club and swing measurement to be bad inside and not so outside, which as also part of the comparison here?

[SMO]

I was told by a club fitter (who uses TM outside) this week that TM needs aboiut 30 meters of ball flight to get real accurate data. He said if he was working inside he would likely use the GCQuad.

[Dax]

This is a very common discussion point by many, but think one should really look at the comparison data posted by Leo. The 30 meters is a common discussion point, but again I think Leo’s testing indicates otherwise to a certain extent. While there are still variables in which further discussion is warranted, it is funny how many people jump to these types of conclusions when testing has shown otherwise and testing has shown that both products have their strengths and weaknesses.

[mthunt]

There is a TM4 indoor only. TM told me if the ball goes more than 20 yards it won’t register. It’s less money.

[Dax]

This is the indoor only TM and is $5k less than the full blown TM.

There is a TM4 indoor only. TM told me if the ball goes more than 20 yards it won’t register. It’s less money.

[Wizard of Coz]

I watched a youtube video where they tested trakman outdoors but in indoor mode vs gc2. The trakman wasn't doing a very good job on getting the shot shape right. Like sometimes it was opposite of the truth while the gc2 was getting the shot shapes correctly. Ofcourse I wasn't there to confirm just watched the video and trusting their testing.

[Stonebattle]

Wizard:
If you are referring to the Bea video. I watched it. I was noticing how the ball came back off of the screen when he was hitting the iron shots at first. Hard to tell for sure, but it seems to me the bounce off the screen was better predicted by the Trackman numbers.

[Wizard of Coz]

Maybe but I was paying attention to when they were hitting outdoors on a range. They were watching the ball flight and the gc2 was confirming the correct flight while the trakman in indoor mode wasn't? I have skytrak so it doesn't really matter to me. I just enjoy all this golf technology and watch probably too many youtube videos of testers testing units and equipment.

[LEO MODE]

As Dax said, club data shouldn't be different whether it was indoor or outdoor on Trackman. Also as SMO said it is true that 30yds is required to measure spin axis or the correct ball flight. It is currently a challenge for a radar to correctly reflect accurate ball flight indoor especially as clubs go higher (driver).

Latest Trackman update which happened a month ago really helped radar system to get better data. I've noticed enormous rate of club data pick-up for lower clubs (wedges, 9 iron, etc.) about 4 times better as well as better ball flight for a driver too (although it's not perfect yet) about 2 times better. This wasn't a formal testing so just take the improvement number as a grain of salt.

In April, Trackman will have a major update where they will specifically remedy the gear effect and spin axis calculation for indoor flight. While they're still not directly measured, at the end of the day if the ball flight is correct and accurate it wouldn't matter if it's measured or calculated.

I still have a lot of faith in Trackman company itself versus other competitors, mainly because it's used by hundreds of tour players and coaches alike. With enormous amount of outdoor data, their data would only get better and enriched with confidence, which is a huge advantage versus other competitors.

I will do a formal testing again after April update is released and let you guys know the findings. This time around I am thinking of posting it on Youtube as well.