Tweet
So i have an outdoor hitting cage set up on my patio. I've been thinking and scheming of all the possible ways i could set it up for projection outside(blackout shade rollers on the ceiling etc, super bright projector etc. I had a enclosure wrapped with tarp that appeared it would be dark enough, however 70+ MPH wind completely destroyed this enclousre a few weeks ago..). I actually already have a theater room upstairs, but the ceiling is only 8 foot, so full swing with all clubs are kind of out of the picture up there. I was curious though if I could get somewhat meaningful wedge practice hitting foam balls into a wall away from the projector screen. I'm not a very good wedge player, but was hoping to use the wedge matrix and Pelz system for figuring out distances. It would be much easier if i could just set up upstairs for this type practice hitting foam balls into the wall. Will this hurt or help me? Will it screw up my distances? I guess I could just do some practice outside, and some practice inside and see what kind of numbers i get and compare.
-
-
i started with foam balls... outside hitting against the side of the garage. i used the orange callaway balls. they are average at best imo. they will get you out there practicing, which is essentially the most important part, the practice.... but i wouldnt be reading too much into the numbers & flight. its more the body movement / repetition... i built a garage sim and started using callaway chromesoft, 10 with real balls, 10 with foam... there was a fair disparity in the 2... -
The biggest issue with the foam balls is that they don’t spin nearly as much as real ones. There would be a benefit to trying to make repeatable swings that go the same distance, but a 75 yard shot on the simulator with a foam ball is unlikely to actually go 75 yards on the course.
When you say hitting into a wall, I hope you plan on at least hanging a bed sheet. Otherwise those foam balls will come bouncing back and you will probably have trouble making a relaxed swing because you will be flinching from anticipating getting peeled by a ball haha.Comment
-
I actually have Black Velvet material in my theater already but there were still a few that bounced back aiming for me..😂Originally posted by andygg1986 View PostComment
-
A wedge matrix approach has paid off well for me and my son. However, the point is to have very exact carry numbers. Hence I use only premium balls in ST, and use a fiberbuilt mat. I went outside to test, and found that it was close, but I had to fine tune carry by using altitude changes.
We felt we had it nailed, on and off the course, but the last few weeks my son has reported that real life averages about 4 yards longer compared to ST on longer wedge shots (say 80 yards). Irons are spot on, and woods are overstated on ST. Right now he adjusts by mentally recalculating. Most likely it is a result of hitting off mat, which gives higher launch and lower spin.
I would not mess around with foam balls unless there is no other way to practice partial wedge shots.Comment
-
I still think it's very important to use real balls outside, but setting up outside is i a minor ordeal of carrying out clubs, skytrak, tablet/projector, and then getting everything set up.
The foam balls upstairs option gives me the ability to grab a wedge, take it up stairs and hit partial wedge shots for 15-20 minutes. I am also a very high handicapper so just the repetition of those shots should be of benefit to me even if i have to estimate numbers i am seeing.Comment
Comment