First range session outside (w/o skytrak)

[calebm1001]

First range session w/o ST today. I must say... I am very pleased with the way I hit the ball. I hit baby draws all day. Very consistent with the expectional bigger draws.

However, my typical shot on ST was not even close to what I just saw in real life. 70% shots the ST registers is big draw/hook - like 10-30 yards offline.

Just last night in my practice session 90% landed left of target, and of those 90% shots, easily 70% landed more than 10-15 yards left of pin.

Im on mobile and it doesn’t look like any history transfers to the mobile app so I can’t post my stats right now.

I dont have ranges with mats in town so I can’t confirm flight outdoors but hope to someday.

Ive posted a lot about how I feel my Skytrak is defective and I think seeing true ball flight confirms that.

Could it be the CCE mat as well? I just don’t understand how over the course of three months my typical shot is a big ass hook. Literally my average shot on ST is this big 15+ yard hook all the way through the bag.

Any one have any ideas how there could be such a glaring difference?

[rjd1975]

I can't speak technically but I definitely feel that Skytrak over emphasizes the draw/hook. I normally have to adjust when I go outside and play "real" golf but overall I think it is making me better. I think I read that have other simulators have issues with the sidespin.

[Scoop]

if you're hitting the mat slightly before the ball, its definitely possible the mat is part of the difference. is your mat portable enough so that you can take it to the range? that is about the only thing I could guess to try for verification

[Whiskeyjack]

I originally had a CCE mat and found that it exaggerated my draw. I switched to FB and had better results. Also I found my elbows and wrists are better...lol.
I think spin decay is also an issue with the skytrak though and has been discussed much on the forums.
When I first brought my Skytrak out to the range (range had FB inserts), and after a few setup hiccups, i found it to be pretty accurate in relaying what I was doing in real life that day.

[allen2be]

1. ST definitely seems to overdo it on draws/fades/hooks/slices... there have been some posts on here about spin decay and how the ST algorithms might not account enough for it (think: how shot tracer on a PGA broadcast shows a big ol hook, but the ball is essentially falling straight down by the time it gets to the ground because a lot of the sidespin has "wore-off").

2. I think I tend to swing a tiny bit flatter in my garage.

3. being able to see the tracer on ST/TGC I think really shows you how much the ball curves... when outside, you don't get to see the trail, so maybe it doesn't look as drastic? hell idk

Regardless, I also never see as big of draws and cuts outside like I do on ST.

[cmckelvmi]

All of this makes a lot sense to me!

[Morini]

This is a great discussion. Overall, ST has improved my game, as well as the game of my kids ... by a lot. In the spring, there used to be a bit of a learning curve hitting off real grass, but this year we used Fiberbuilt and the transition back to outdoors was much smoother.

As has been discussed, ST HLA has error, especially for shots that are reasonably straight.

I believe that the ST is very accurate on both spin rate and spin axis. The issue is that the flight algorithm does not account for spin decay. The rate according to trackman is 4 % per second. As such, the amount of curve on large driver hooks and slices is definitely exaggerated. It is proportionally less so for shorter shots. The good news is that you are better in real life than ST tells you.

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree. I had a RL handicap of around 15 when I started last year (carried over from the year before.) I worked hard on my irons over the winter on the ST and had my RL handicap come down to 9.4 by mid year and finished off with 9.7.

[calebm1001]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Seems like the main points are in fact the mat (which is consistent all over this forum in regards to CCE) as well as spin decay. I wish this is something that could be fixed in an update. Over years of software updates, I wonder why this algorithm hasn't seen much review.

[trumb1mj]

Spin decay + more realistic landing. I'd love to see what I see in real life where the ball skids and checks.

[calebm1001]

Right on the landing. Anything <100 yards seems to hit and instantly come back. No bounce and check on any shot. In the ST range, you have to fly it to the target.

[thorin33]

I was able to hit the range last weekend as the weather was finally nice here in Calgary. We weren't allowed to hit off grass and the range have the same FB insert as my basement. My shots in real life curved as much as the Skytrak shows. I really think the mat makes the draws bigger compared to hitting of real grass. I'll be able to test that out once we are allowed on the grass or when I get on the course finally.

[FaultyClubs]

You can test the CCE mat by hitting off a tee.

[WadeH]

Another thing to consider is range balls vs. What you are hitting inside. This can make a big difference.

[calebm1001]

Yeah, these were nxt tours. Not going to give me the differences in ball flight to use that excuse.

[Burtgolf]

Funny I just posted something similar to this on a facebook group page. I see my 6-LW with normal draw to big hooks with wedges on the SkyTrak and R-Motion but was at the driving range hitting off of grass (mainly sand) and never seen one hook even shots I "thought" was going to hook based off the last 6 months of swings were just slight draws. Not a complaint as I was extremely happy with my ball striking with all clubs and never seeing a hook for me is a GREAT thing. I think it just has something to do with how the algorithms work with the draw spin as most of my "hooks" normally start center or slight left where anything that has started right will be just a nice draw unless its that dang ole push cut

[JPXG]

First range session w/o ST today. I must say... I am very pleased with the way I hit the ball. I hit baby draws all day. Very consistent with the expectional bigger draws.

However, my typical shot on ST was not even close to what I just saw in real life. 70% shots the ST registers is big draw/hook - like 10-30 yards offline.

Just last night in my practice session 90% landed left of target, and of those 90% shots, easily 70% landed more than 10-15 yards left of pin.

Im on mobile and it doesn’t look like any history transfers to the mobile app so I can’t post my stats right now.

I dont have ranges with mats in town so I can’t confirm flight outdoors but hope to someday.

Ive posted a lot about how I feel my Skytrak is defective and I think seeing true ball flight confirms that.

Could it be the CCE mat as well? I just don’t understand how over the course of three months my typical shot is a big ass hook. Literally my average shot on ST is this big 15+ yard hook all the way through the bag.

Any one have any ideas how there could be such a glaring difference?

Quick question: When hitting on your SkyTrak, do you align the ball logo towards the unit before hitting? I have noticed on my SkyTrak that I get more accurate shot shape when I align the logo first. I think it gives the cameras a more reliable reference point when calculating spin. I could be completely full of s**t, but that has been my observation.

I used my SkyTrak at a heated range all winter, and have been super surprised with how accurately the ball shape matched what I was seeing in real ball flight.

[calebm1001]

I have not aligned the logo. Maybe I will give that try.

In general, there seems to be a lot of things you have to do right in order to get accurate reads.

[jut111]

You seem to be looking for a reason to find the skytrak is wrong. Why don't you just hit balls at the range with the skytrak instead of guessing? No mats, hit drivers.

[calebm1001]

I believe it is wrong, but I'm trying to cut out user error... thanks for checking.

And there is a known problem with driver when the balls reach over 150mph, which mine do, so that doesn't help.

[wbond]

Well if you want to know whether or not it's working you actually need to take the unit with you and try. If driver speeds are an issue then hit an iron off a tee. Skytrak has stated that you should face the alignment aid on the ball towards the unit for more accurate readings.

[calebm1001]

Yes - Someone has stated above and I commented that I would try these things. This entire conversation is exactly what I needed from the forum. When I have a chance to drive almost 30 miles away to confirm the Skytrak is funky or not, I will be be pleased to put this to rest.

I should also mention I am not the only person experiencing these things so It's been helpful to see and compare similar situations and try to find commonalities and outliers.

[Gazpacho]

FWIW, I find my six month old Skytrak unit to be scary accurate. Shot shape and carry distance are unreal. Any variable irl is due to uneaven lie and landing conditions for the ball. Carry and shape are crazy accurate. I have a FB mat and love it. If golf courses were flat and made of fiberbuilt turf, I’d be an awesome golfer. My home course is uber undulated so I’m humbled sometimes.