Tweet
I have no experience with Golf Simulators, myself and my 7 year old son have a setup in our shop behind the house with a fiberbuilt and hackket net with a TV right next to the net (always on golf channel), my question is as follows: I am considering getting my 7 year old a skytrak for christmas, he loves golf and we both take lessons each week together, I have trouble getting him interested in hitting into the net, so i thought this might be a good way to facilitate that practice. So I guess I have a couple of options one i can buy the sky track and have it display through the existing TV, or purchase a impact screen and projector? Also am i crazy for spending this on my junior golfer, because i really want him to enjoy it and i have no experience with the simulators with kids.
-
-
First off, I wish I had something like a Skytrak when I was 7!
There are a couple of ways you could look at it. 7 year olds can change their likes and dislikes very quickly and spending close to $2k is quite a bit, especially since you don't know for sure that he would even use it. Now if you are buying it for both of you to use together and you think you would use it even if he decides that golf isn't his thing in a year, then I would say go for it.
You might also consider getting something like an Rmotion or used Optishot to ease into it and see if he uses it. I would think the decreased accuracy wouldn't be as big of a deal for a 7 year old, and if he decides he still doesn't like hitting into a net then you aren't out as much money.
I think a 7 year old would be more interested in the impact screen with a cheap short throw projector than accurate golf shot recording, but every kid is different. So for less than half the price of a Skytrak you could get a used Optishot or Rmotion ($200), inexpensive supertex screen ($100), build a frame for the screen yourself with EMT or something cheap, and get a $150 used short throw projector on ebay. He would get to see the shots and if he progresses and becomes more serious about golf, you could still use the setup with a Skytrak or whatever the newest hardware is in a few years. -
If you are going the lesser cost route, Rmotion is better than opti in terms of consistency but takes a better computer since it comes with TGC. Opti is very inconsistent and you have to tape clubs, but the software does not require a beefy computer and from what i remember, different players can play from different tees. This is not so on TGC yet.Comment
-
I have a 15 year old Junior golfer and even with the Impact screen, projector, Skytrak, and TGC. He still prefers to hit outside.Originally posted by Rahawkins View Post
MHO if your not buying for both of you, then its a huge gamble. Luckily, I was more interested in getting mine for myself and hitting in the garage. My son using it would be a bonus.
If hitting inside he prefers just the mat and impact screen. Every kid is different.
Having a place not to hit at home might be a good thing as well.Comment
-
Understood,
So all of you know i would not be truthful if i was not thinking what a great Christmas gift bonus, i get to get it for him and i get to play as well... our golf pro has one and my son begs to use it every week, (were supposed to get to let him try it saturday so we will see how it goes) also when we go to the PGA superstore he always wants to get in those booths, but never can because they are always so busy. I also seen where there are some really cool kids games to play on them... But i agree with all of you i think for a child the impact screen is a must.Comment
-
Forgot to mention. Originally when I first purchased my skytrak. I was using the game improvement app on an IPAD. My son and I would use it in the garage with a monitor next to us. What I started to notice is the natural tendency to first look at the screen and not follow through the swing. The projector and and impact screen cure this pretty quickly.
Also, while the skytrak is 2K and a great price. I've probably spend another couple of thousand in the build out. Just food for thought.
-
-
Keep an I on Craigslist and other local listings for a used SkyTrak. Last year, I was lucky enough to find one on CL for $1k. The owner let my 13yo daughter demo it and it worked flawlessly.
We’re using it in our garage with a NetReturn Pro and couldn’t be happier.Comment
-
My 2 cents for what it's worth. I would steer clear of the Optishot. I found that with my kid's swings didn't always register which annoyed him. He did like it but that aspect turned him off practicing indoors (which we have to during these cold, snowy, Canadian winters). I just pulled the trigger on a Skytrak + Protee Plus (lots of kids mini-games). I'm hoping my boys like it but even if they don't, I know I will.
The shot delay I am hoping will help the kid's from looking up. My setup is just a monitor to the side and with the Optishot, my kid's always looked at the monitor first as well.Comment
-
We got the Skytrak specifically for my two daughters who both are into golf. The convenience of having a practice range at home is great to keep their skills sharp while still going to the range and the course. I like that you can have a quick tune up or just a fun range session or get really deep into the bag mapping and wedge matrix features. This is really difficult to do by yourself at the range. The specific shot data really gets you to focus on the right aspects of your game.
While my kids are tournament golfers and really use the Skytrak for game improvement, they also have a good time just playing virtual courses with the 3rd party apps. Its the best of both worlds really and its an integral part of our lives. When we recently moved, we chose our house based on where the Skytrak would live.
I say go for it. You can always sell it if it doesnt work out.
Comment
-
Kind of agree with this... I have 2 daughters, both played high school golf.. my youngest (currently a senior) was recruited to play in college. I also play several competitive tournaments every summer. We went through the same thing you are right now... I tried several options (SkyPro swing trainer, ES14 launch monitor, Optishot.. ), and regret not getting the SkyTrak and an impact screen/projector sooner.Originally posted by triplebogeysrbetter View Post
Now at 7yrs old, agree with others that his interests may greatly change, so I would only pull the trigger if you also plan to use it, even if he doesn't.
Skip the Optishot. As much as the price is enticing, and you think "it won't be that bad, I don't need much...." you will find like the rest of us that if you are using it as a game improvement tool.. the Optishot won't cut it and it's more frustrating than it's worth once you see the inconsistency and you realize you have to set up all your clubs in the app to the right lofts, and you have to be sure to change your club every time to get even reasonalby close numbers... it's just a pain. You will always wish for something more... If you just want to mess around, and play courses, and don't care about the accuracy at all.. Optishot can be a good value option.. but that doesn't sound like what you are looking for.
My kids and myself both would certainly rather hit outdoors. It's extremely rare we use the SkyTrak at all during spring, summer, or fall... all my sim stuff in the garage gets put away until about this time of year, and will stay out most of the winter until about March. It's a winter tool.. to keep working on feels.. learn yardages, keep my swing muscles in shape etc... We work with a swing coach indoors all winter as well, so it's a good way to take those things from lessons, and keep working on those same things in the garage at home...
It was a relatively inexpensive setup in my opinion relative to other indoor simulator setups..
SkyTrak - $1400 (keep your eye on the SkyTrak site for refurbished unit offers... especially during the holiday time. That's how I got mine.. refurbished from SkyTrak)
Fiberbuilt performance hitting mat setup - $300 shipped
Supertex hitting screen - $100
Some conduit and other bits to hang the screen, and some side netting to avoid further dents in the fridge and drywall in the garage - $100
Cheap short throw projector off eBay and mount - $50 (I bought a Promethean PR-20 used on ebay.. works great. Only wish it was a tad brighter, but I project it 10 foot by 10 foot so that hurts brightness)
Projector doesn't need to be a huge expense unless you want excellent image quality, but then you also need an excellent screen too... I didn't care about super good quality image here.. it's practice in the garage, not a full on indoor sim.. I just want to see the range out in front of me. If it were in my house (I wish I had that kind of room!!), different story.. then I'd splurge and make it pretty nice.
So all in, and a day putting it all together... $1800-2000 depending on other bits you may want to add for convenience (shelves for laptops, extension cords, club storage area, cheap carpet or fake grass for under the screen to catch balls.. etc. )
To be honest, for my kids at first they loved it... but the novelty wore off a bit after a while.. but I will say, they are MUCH more interested in coming out to practice when the projector is on, and you can see something out in front of you than when it was just a simple net. The SkyTrak range will give you feedback and make your practice sessions more productive. We found hitting into a net got very old, very fast, when you don't know what direction your ball is curving, expecially when you are working on eliminating a certain shot shape that we shall not say out loud...
If you can afford it, I say go for it... I have hit thousands of shots on mine now... i'm sure it's paid for itself if I were to add that up in range tokens...Comment
-
I love that NetReturn Pro. I went through 2 other 200 dollar nets before I finally purchased that one. It is an awesome net but now I don't know if I will ever get a projector setup with the impact screen since this net will probably last forever lolOriginally posted by rmepilot View PostComment
-
So got my new Skytrak (with Protee Play) and me and my kid's love it. I actually only had to tell my boys a few times to look at the net, follow-thru and hold before they look at the screen. That is exactly what they do now and I haven't had to remind them. The Skytrak is very accurate...especially coming from my Optishot.
With the Protee Play, I also cast it to my Chromecast on my big screen so we can watch while we are waiting to hit. It's been a ton of fun.Comment
Comment