Drive only going 140yds

[surfclown]

Hi all,

Great forum here and I've gleaned a ton of great info. I've read other's questions regarding distance, but still haven't been able to solve my driver issues. It seems all my clubs are 10-20yds short, but I can live with that easily enough. The driver reading has me very frustrated as it is only going 140-160yds even when straight/slight draw/fade I'm not a super powerful swinger, but I know I can put a really slow swing on it to get 140yds. I have a swing radar and am getting 80-95MPH, this is anywhere from 5 to 10MPH above what ST was reading on the same shot. One of my early setups the distance seemed to work great, (though wasn't able to try the driver), so I do suspect it has something to do with set up. I also used spray on my driver and know that I had some very decent shots that should go well beyond what is reading.

Are there any factors in the setup that affect the reading of the shot? In particular I think it's registering a slower ball flight.

I have very few issues with shot not reading and have tried different tees and placement of the ball. Attached is my set up. I thought maybe the windows (door) behind me might be an issue, so placed the plywood there, but didn't seem to have any effect.

I appreciate any thoughts anyone has.

[DS12]

Sunlight can impact readings, not sure if it causes misreads or no reads. Don't use Skytrak club speed as it's purely calculated off ball speed. I've seen people say they put half a box from a dozen golf balls over the Skytrak as a shade. Might not look great but can be effective.

Post some more data with regard to spin/launch to see if that's causing severe distance loss

[surfclown]

Here are a couple of the swings. It seems to mostly make sense except for ball mph. Granted I haven't played in a month, but I feel I absolutely striped a few of them. I thought I read in a previous post that sun only causes misreads, but worth playing around with. Though I often play in the evening and have the same issue.

(averager ) ballmph 111 launchdeg 12.8 backrpm 4910. sidedeg -0.1. siderpm 1230 offlineyd 17 carry 144 rollyds 15. totalyds 159 flt sec 4.7 descent deg 32 hght 16 club mph 81. PTI 1.36
(long) 121 14.9 4529 2.1 2069 47 171 16 187 6 41 23 87 1.4
110 13.4 2219 -2.3 287 0 153 25 178 4 23 12 74 1.5

[3on3putt]

Have you checked the tilt and roll using the alignment mode?

Also, it looks like in the photo the alignment stick is raised up above the mat a good bit. Maybe that's just an illusion.

Have you tried hitting in the evening when it's darker?

[surfclown]

Alignment checks on the ST unit, but the mat may not be perfectly level. I've read a lot of comments that it needs to be +/- 5 degrees, which it is. I've tried various heights of the unit, doesn't seem to make a difference. The time it really worked well it was at dusk, but haven't been able to repeat.

[Mirek_62]

According to the photo, the space seems to be relatively narrow (the wall with the windows is close). I would not look for the reason for the short distance in the Skytrak unit, but in the indoor swing syndrome.

I'm also amazed that the backspin value is too high - it also affects the distance.

[surfclown]

Thanks, I realize indoor swing syndrome is a possibility - but also feel I'm putting some really good swings in.

[Mirek_62]

Your backspin for driver is really too high, it does not indicate a good swing.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Can you post a screenshot of the launch data? That would certainly help understand where the problem could be.

[surfclown]

posted two screen shots

[surfclown]

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Thanks! Just looking at that data, the projected carry/total seems correct. Even when I plug that data into the FlightScope Optimizer I get the same results. I just don't think there is any way to get more distance with that ball speed. If you hit it farther outside, it may just be "indoor swing syndrome". There is a possibility the unit is not calibrated correctly, but I could count the number of times I've seen that on one hand out of 40,000+ units.

[wbond]

Low ball speed and very high spin is not going to carry very far. I would suggest that if you are able to take it to a range, bring a few balls you don't mind donating and see what distances you get there. Lots going on in that setup that may be affecting your swing, glass doors, narrow space, looking at the expensive car in front of you, etc.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Exactly...tight space with glass on one side and an Audi right in front of you has to has some subconscious psychological effects

[surfclown]

Appreciate the feedback from everyone! Will keep working the swing see if that improves it.

[sirish19]

Yeah, echoing what others have said, I can't imagine that you are getting a really good full swing with good rotation and full follow-through with that setup. I would be deathly afraid of hitting the glass on my backswing. Ball speeds and extremely high backspin also seem to support the indoor swing syndrome. Your backspin should be in the low 2,000 range and you're getting 3,000-6,000 RPM's. That will kill your distance. I am by no means a golf pro but I might think that you could get very high backspin by chopping down at the ball and limiting your follow through as a result of the indoor swing. I would definitely try to take it out to the range and see what kind of numbers you get then.

Also, your launch angle seems to be relatively low and a bit all over the place ranging from 5 degrees to 26 degrees. I would think those low launch angles are causing the very high backspin. Have you tried teeing the ball up higher? I use those rubber tees as well with my mat, but I don't actually put them under the mat through the hole, but rather set them on top of the mat. They will just go flying into net along with the mat (much better than using a mat with real tees because I am also in an outside rooftop balcony setup). This also prevents them from breaking or tearing too quickly. Looking at your tee and assuming you are using an oversized driver, I would think you could stand to tee the ball up a bit higher than you have. try setting your tee on top of the mat and see what kind of numbers you get with that.

I am not a long hitter either and my driver generally goes 230-250 total distance but if I get backspin over 3,000 RPM, even though it felt like a really good solid shot, I can definitely see 170-180 yard shots.

Keep us posted.

[Morini]

Yeah, that back spin is way way high. Like double what you should see. Maybe the setup is causing that, so temporarily try a different location.

Also, swing speed radar reads fastest part of club head, the toe, and will invariably come in high. Take at least three off.

Also, you give a 15 range for the swing speed radar reads (80-95 mph). Most people range 5 at the most, so that is likely inconsistent readings, or it is picking up the ball sometimes. If I take the middle of your range, and subtract 3, I get 84.5 MPH. That should give a ball speed around 125 mph on your best shots. You don't get that, but with that backspin, is highly likely that you are not hitting it clean, even if the impact location is in the middle sometimes. And as mentioned, I don't know if we can trust your swing speed radar readings so the 125 mph ball speed potential may be optimistic.

The variability of spin, ball speed and VLA is very large, so regardless of whether ST is accurate or not, you need to get that sorted out. And like seth implies, the chances are about 1 in 10 0000 that the problem lies in the ST end. But anything is possible.

[surfclown]

Thanks! Good info. I was moving the radar around was also trying to both slow some swings down and really kill other swings, so not a completely accurate reflection.

[mikemcd22]

I think ST is interprolating club head speed from ball speed. In any case, one other thing I noticed is the apex on your shots seem really low as well. I agree with teeing it up (and everything else said about ISS). I would get some stickers for your club face and make sure you are hitting the sweet spot. These work great: https://www.amazon.com/LongShot-Golf-Standard-Iron-Roll/dp/B00JEE93MO/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=golf+club+stickers&qi d=1588417577&sr=8-6
The great thing about launch monitors is that I discover a lot about my swing.... The bad thing about launch monitors is that I discover a lot about my swing.

[surfclown]

I've been using Tinactin. Yeah, it's a fun and miserable process.

[AnthonyZ]

When I first got my SkyTrak a year ago, I struggled to hit drives further than 200-yards carry and Trackman has measured my club head speed in the 95-100 mph - 135-140 mph ball speed range. My irons measured about 20-yards less carry distance as well. I use my SkyTrak outdoors and it never gets direct sunlight into the SkyTrak - lens. I build a dead level sand/limestone screening/paver base for my Fiberbuilt mat and leveled the base of the SkyTrak with the mat hitting surface and am now getting Driver ball speeds in the 125-130 mph and carry distance averaging 220 yards. My irons are still carrying about one club short. Distances for irons and driver have improved, albeit still short of Trackman and on course distances.

OP:

• Is the floor fairly level where you use it? (Garage floors tend to slope towards the door for drainage purposes)
• Is your SkyTrak base level with the mat hitting surface?
• Do you have room to set up you SkyTrak outdoors on a level surface? (Seth I spotted the glass doors and the Audi as well as the propane tank behind the net).
• Where do you position the ball on the tee relative to your laser? (under 140 mph ball speed, at the base of the tee or slightly ahead has worked for me)
• I have always used a black tee with mat insert, folks have said that white tees can confuse SkyTrak.

[surfclown]

Good points- thanks.
-The floor isn't level or even, not sure I'll be able to address that before moving.
-I've tried varies height levels on the ST, doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
-The unit is in the best place, I originally tried it where the car is, but too far from the internet. (I wasn't even thinking about the propane tank) I have sense rotated the setup sideways so it's now facing the windows and instantly got 40 yards on my driver.
-Tried multiple ball positions. Doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Slightly ahead doesn't seem to work too well for me for having the shot register with unit.
- Will try black tees too

[surfclown]

Update: I appreciate the swing advice everyone gave, it has been very useful. However, I'm 75% sure that my complaint was solved by changing the placement of the unit. When I turned the setup 90 degrees to face the doors/windows, my 8 iron was reading 10-15 yds longer (more in lines of expectations). My first driver swings was 170yds on a fairly tentative swing. The mishits went farther than a lot of my previous solid shots. I suspect the glass in the back of my swing was causing some kind of reflection issue which caused either an increase in spin or decrease in speed- but I really I have no idea. But it could also be the new set up was placed in a flatter area and this impacted the read.

I was happy with the unit before, but this will definitely ease some frustration and increase enjoyment of playing holes. Good luck everyone!