POLL: SkyTrak Calculated Club Data Inclusion

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Some of you have had the opportunity to test out the new v3.1 beta and I'd like to get your feedback on a very high level.

Given that there are integration options for enhanced accuracy on certain values, and that SkyTrak club data calculations are based on center-struck shots and are our "best guess" as to what the club was doing during the shot, do you all feel like it is a worthwhile inclusion to the app? I will preface this by saying that if you choose not to utilize this club data, you can always just switch to the alternate graphic showing side and top profiles (opposed to club data) and still be able to utilize the advanced Shot Optimzer in the club data screen.

[triplebogeysrbetter]

definitely a worthwhile inclusion to the app!

[GolfSimUN]

Even 'best guess' data can prove useful. Right now with the estimated club head speed I can confirm if I hit a shot fat. The club head speed will drop significantly even though many of the other numbers remain in the normal range. With my mat I seem to get close to the same distance on slightly fat shots. Without the estimated club head speed I wouldn't be able to confirm 99% that the shot was hit fat.

[MileHighSkytrak]

I was out of town and didn't get a chance to test the beta but based on how you derive the data and the fact that gear effect and other things on off center shots don't change your flight TOO much (with irons): I think it should be included.

Boy am I gonna take a lot of heat for this next line--but-- One of the main things we all should be working on here is hitting the ball out of the center, or close enough to where this data would be applicable--and since we all have hit about a billion balls we should know when we don't come close to the center and discount what skytrak spits out. I think not including it because it doesn't work all over the face is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

--any idea when you guys are gonna drop 3.1, SkyTrak_Seth?

[Morini]

Since using the club data is optional, I can't think of a reason why the baby nor bathwater needs to be thrown out. Nor why you would take heat for saying so.

Trackman argues that for data to be "actionable", the data has to be <1 degree error for club speed, attack angle, club path, dynamic loft, face angle. We have to remember that Trackman is a business, and will obviously promote their products strength. We also have to remember that many of their customers are tour pros and instructors who work with tour pros. Still, I think the 1 degree error is a reasonable point to draw the line.

The million dollar question is how quickly the accuracy of numbers drop as we move away from center fact contact. As milehigh suggests, we do know when we mishit a ball. Likewise, I think most of us can feel it when we strike a ball absolutely pure. How far off center can we be before we start getting 2+ degrees of error? Perhaps Seth can give us some idea about that.

[MileHighSkytrak]

Agreed here--I'd like to see a little 'heat map' of strike vs percent error. I took center strike at face value as being 'oh yea I hit that pretty much out of the center' not 'Oooooo right on the screws!'. That's a poor assumption on my part.

FWIW: I used it yesterday and have found that many of my balls that start left and move right (I'm a lefty) have a out-in path, which as we know is impossible. These were centerish strikes (I know I absolutely pured at least a few) and this result is somewhat...concerning. I know the club face is going to be opposite for me right now (since it's only set up for righty at the moment) but would path also be changed? SkyTrak_Seth I'd love to know what may be the issue here.

[James James]

I think it is just the graphic/text which is wrong. If you look at the value the path should be -ve and the face angle should be +ve

[jschalk]

I have used it a little and liked it. I would like to be able to stretch that data to my other monitor, is that a possibility?

[James James]

I tried it at the weekend and think it is a great inclusion. I won't be making swing changes based on the club data for a single shot but if you look at the averaged data it seems pretty close. Even with r motion, Skypro etc I wouldn't do this so showing the club data without needing extra stuff is great.

I was on trackman Friday and my path was 2-4 left. Skytrak showed the same average and face and dynamic loft seemed spot on.

[trumb1mj]

If this feature is going to draw your limited dev resources away from usability improvements (csv export, customized number layouts in range, better challenges, etc.) I say scrap it. It's really irritating to have this half baked idea come out with so many outstanding improvements and bugs in the back log that folks have been begging for for years.

[Miura Mario]

Agreed here--I'd like to see a little 'heat map' of strike vs percent error. I took center strike at face value as being 'oh yea I hit that pretty much out of the center' not 'Oooooo right on the screws!'. That's a poor assumption on my part.

FWIW: I used it yesterday and have found that many of my balls that start left and move right (I'm a lefty) have a out-in path, which as we know is impossible. These were centerish strikes (I know I absolutely pured at least a few) and this result is somewhat...concerning. I know the club face is going to be opposite for me right now (since it's only set up for righty at the moment) but would path also be changed? SkyTrak_Seth I'd love to know what may be the issue here.

Path would also be opposite for a lefty

[MileHighSkytrak]

Yeppppp. I probably could have figured this out before posting but after work yesterday I went home and hit some intentional slices and hooks and that was immediately clear. I was also pretty impressed with how well it did matching up to off center hits. I want to hit a couple heel cuts today to see if it reads as it should (a draw) despite skytrak showing a cutting flight. I just can't control contact THAT well so I'll probably have to hit 100 shots

[mdniBruce]

Seems like, it's a good thing but unfortunately depends on the user knowing how well they struck the ball. You may want to include a pop-up when enabling it that must be dismissed at least the first time that includes a disclaimer that the data can only be valid for perfect strike conditions, and that if the user wants better data the need to consider an integrated product.

Win-win.

[Phish828]

This is a must have for sure. The skypro integration is a long time coming and appreciate the efforts. Keep up the good work!! Will this be pushed to IOS by April?

[LotharFriend]

SkyTrak_Seth From a "Pie in the Sky" perspective (no pun intended)... It's great that other club path options are going to be available soon but I feel the most important piece of the puzzle truly is where you are striking the ball on the clubface.

I know, I know, stickers/foot spray are the cheap option but couldn't SkyTrak / Skygolf develop a secondary hardware device similar to the HMT that adds on to the GC2? A camera integrated into the Club Path device could probably capture all that clubhead data and talk to the Skytrak?

I found that the SkyPro was the most accurate club data in the beta so far BUT it's tedious to move that from club to club. A secondary camera hardware device would, of course, remove the extra time to move dongles onto clubs also. (like SkyPro or R-Motion)

I certainly would purchase an add-on piece of hardware to supplement Skytrak's fantastic ball flight data and this would make Skytrak a seriously low cost option for home users and even professionals who wanted to see clubpath / face data in addition to the ball flight characteristics. I certainly could think of some teaching pros who don't like shelling out $25k for trackmans as that is a lot of dough if coming out of their own pocket. However, a say, a couple thousand dollar solution that has essentially EVERYTHING that the others have would really get some teaching pros (and home users) thinking they are spending too much for the other solutions.

Again, "Pie in the Sky", but this seems to be the best option of all when talking about club path / ball strike data in the long term for Skytrak!

[Jerome]

From a "Pie in the Sky" perspective (no pun intended)... It's great that other club path options are going to be available soon but I feel the most important piece of the puzzle truly is where you are striking the ball on the clubface.

I know, I know, stickers/foot spray are the cheap option but couldn't SkyTrak / Skygolf develop a secondary hardware device similar to the HMT that adds on to the GC2? A camera integrated into the Club Path device could probably capture all that clubhead data and talk to the Skytrak?

I certainly would purchase an add-on piece of hardware to supplement Skytrak's fantastic ball flight data and this would make Skytrak a seriously low cost option for home users and even professionals who wanted to see clubpath / face data in addition to the ball flight characteristics. I certainly could think of some teaching pros who don't like shelling out $25k for trackmans as that is a lot of dough if coming out of their own pocket. However, a say, a couple thousand dollar solution that has essentially EVERYTHING that the others have would really get some teaching pros (and home users) thinking they are spending too much for the other solutions.

Again, "Pie in the Sky", but this seems to be the best option of all when talking about club path / ball strike data in the long term for Skytrak!

Echo this! 1k more for real club data and I'll be begging Sky Golf to take my money.

[LotharFriend]

My thoughts exactly!

[Dan McWhirter]

Considering Rapsodo's stuff, like reading hardball pitches device. But maybe they're running up against other patents. For example, the radar guys are up against Trakman for spin.

[mnk91998]

I Echo this as well. I would be very interested in an add on feature like HMT for GC2 for the skytrak unit.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

I'll get to everyone's questions come Monday, but I'll go ahead and copy what I posted in the v3.1 beta thread because it applies here as well:

Thanks everyone for the SUPER feedback! We've come to the consensus internally that we simply need more time to test the SkyTrak calculated club data. I just can't hold up this release any further because there are more features in the pipeline, so we are going to release v3.1 without the club data. It will still have fairway practice, the shot optimizer, and SkyPro integration. I am testing a new build now that I hope to post up on Monday.

That said, I'd like to continue to get your feedback on the club data as we continue testing and tweaking. So I plan to still make available a version for you guys to have access to club data, even though it won't be an official release. So I will periodically post new beta builds for anyone who wishes to use/test.

Thanks again for your help and understanding!

[LotharFriend]

"More features in the pipeline"... Care to elaborate?

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Want to get back to churning out features...next month will be a new game improvement feature targeted toward wedges.

[trumb1mj]

When is the next version hitting the store?