Sim program choices

[Jeff Tilley]

Ok, golf cave is nearing completion, hitting area almost done, getting ready to order sim program soon. I’m leaning towards Creative Golf 3D, but am open to others. I’ve watched tons of vids on YouTube, I’ve read tons of reviews including this forum. IF you have tried them all, please post your pros and cons of each.

[3on3putt]

Dollar for dollar, I don't know if you'll find a better value than TGC2019. The number of courses, the ability to design your own, the online tournaments. I also think it has the best graphics. And no subscriptions or paying for additional courses. Just a one-time payment and you're done opening the wallet.

[RAH5]

I’ve got TGC and Creative Golf. I actually don’t play Creative Golf that much other than playing some of the games with our kids. I’ve heard that the ball physics (particularly interaction on the green) are better so I’ll need to play some and provide thoughts.

Though I think overall my choice if I were to pick one would be TGC simply because of the number of courses available.

[RJBoogie]

Jeff Tilley I recommend you watch Jay’s Golf Simulator Videos YouTube channel as he’s done overviews of at least 5 different ones. TGC2019 is great as is one of the newest software options that was recently updated on his channel. Those would be my top 2. I like E6, but I only have the Demo which is limited to one course. I’m probably not going to convert to the annual subscription model though.

[Jeff Tilley]

Jeff Tilley I recommend you watch Jay’s Golf Simulator Videos YouTube channel as he’s done overviews of at least 5 different ones. TGC2019 is great as is one of the newest software options that was recently updated on his channel. Those would be my top 2. I like E6, but I only have the Demo which is limited to one course. I’m probably not going to convert to the annual subscription model though.

Yep, been watching his videos quite a bit lately. I tried the E6 demo, didn't like the ball physics around the green. Everything was too fast. I tried to get the Fitness Golf demo to load a gazillion times, no go. I have never tried TGC, but most everyone complains about the first bounce, and it appears the ball physics around the green wouldn't be as realistic as Creative Golf. Plus, at my age I'll never play 170,000 courses. Sure, graphics do look better on both E6 and TGC, but ball physics around the green are much more important to me at this point.

[Antony Chang]

I have been using TGC and TGC2019 for more than 3 years. I have e6 Connect and FSX2020 also, but I play TGC everyday. Though first bounce is a pain in the ass, it happens may be once in 100 hits in my case. The ball physics around the green is even better than other softwares in my opinion. TGC is better in zooming to see the front situation, green break and speed is easier to tell. You don’t need thousands of courses, but you would like to have Pebble Beach, Augusta and many many other great courses to play free.

[3on3putt]

I have been using TGC and TGC2019 for more than 3 years. I have e6 Connect and FSX2020 also, but I play TGC everyday. Though first bounce is a pain in the ass, it happens may be once in 100 hits in my case. The ball physics around the green is even better than other softwares in my opinion. TGC is better in zooming to see the front situation, green break and speed is easier to tell. You don’t need thousands of courses, but you would like to have Pebble Beach, Augusta and many many other great courses to play free.

I agree on the first bounce thing. Personally, I think people make a much bigger deal about it than it really is. On a normal shot it doesn't come into play. Only on low wormburners and punch outs. I probably get it less than once per round. Definitely not something to base your decision on as all softwares will have their own little idiosyncrasies and like I said, I think people tend to blow it out of proportion. Just my two cents.

[RAH5]

Agree with this. I could use more hold on the greens but overall am very happy with it.

[Jeff Tilley]

Are the ball physics the same, better, or worse in the original TGC?

[Mirek_62]

I have been using CG3D for 3 years and I have not noticed any problems with the Skytrak connection (unlike the TGC problems constantly solved here). I bought a one-time payment, I also have a library of courses (more than 150 courses in total), a sufficient number for me for long winter evenings (for which 170 thousand courses 🤔). Another advantage for me are low hardware requirements (graphics are sufficient for me - I do not need "Hollywood quality", it is not an action movie, but a training aid), the possibility of off-line operation, the possibility of choosing a tee (usually 4-5 levels), many options training areas, fun games for children. Another advantage is regular updates and improvements. In the latest version, for example, the "terrain influence" function has been added, when, for example, in a heavy raf, the shot is affected by up to 45%, so it is closer to playing outside.

[3on3putt]

To be clear, tgc also has offline mode, multiple tee boxes and terrain penalties as well.

[RAH5]

I do like the heavy rough penalty and wish TGC had something more punitive in its calculations.

[Albie999]

Yep, been watching his videos quite a bit lately. I tried the E6 demo, didn't like the ball physics around the green. Everything was too fast. I tried to get the Fitness Golf demo to load a gazillion times, no go. I have never tried TGC, but most everyone complains about the first bounce, and it appears the ball physics around the green wouldn't be as realistic as Creative Golf. Plus, at my age I'll never play 170,000 courses. Sure, graphics do look better on both E6 and TGC, but ball physics around the green are much more important to me at this point.

I have just got Fitness Golf myself, as it is in offer for £189, for lifetime licence. The demo does not seem to download from skytrak website, but if you got to fitness golf site, it is available (http://www.fitnessgolf.net/links.html) ... I have to say, I am actually enjoying Fitness Golf, yes, the graphics might not be as good as TGC, there is no online play .. but for me, I do not do online play, just wanted more than just the skytrak driving range. Currently, I have played Abu Dhabi, Celtic Manor, St Andrews and Augusta. There are 161 courses in total. The demo gives you full 20 day access to 3 courses ... take a look, you might be a little suprised in it. Also, Fitness Golf does not need a high spec machine, I am running it on a 6-7 year old laptop, and it runs fine

12th hole at Augusta

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aKwgtTGjPgTgwsnk8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZPnhfHAkNgkqEGWQ9

[fitness golfer]

Thanks for making me aware that the Fitness Golf demo link is not working on the SkyTrak site. I also noticed that our introductory video link for the software is also not working. I've contacted Skytrak to fix both of these problems. For anyone interested, you are correct that you can download the demo at the above link and you can watch the introductory video for the Fitness Golf software at: www.fitnessgolf.net

[Jeff Tilley]

I have just got Fitness Golf myself, as it is in offer for £189, for lifetime licence. The demo does not seem to download from skytrak website, but if you got to fitness golf site, it is available (http://www.fitnessgolf.net/links.html) ... I have to say, I am actually enjoying Fitness Golf, yes, the graphics might not be as good as TGC, there is no online play .. but for me, I do not do online play, just wanted more than just the skytrak driving range. Currently, I have played Abu Dhabi, Celtic Manor, St Andrews and Augusta. There are 161 courses in total. The demo gives you full 20 day access to 3 courses ... take a look, you might be a little suprised in it. Also, Fitness Golf does not need a high spec machine, I am running it on a 6-7 year old laptop, and it runs fine

12th hole at Augusta

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aKwgtTGjPgTgwsnk8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZPnhfHAkNgkqEGWQ9

Yeah, I tried both ways. I tried again later but it kept telling me my demo had expired, or something to that effect. I got ahold of Fitness Golf and they informed me that I had to remove whatever downloaded to my PC and try again, but that didn't work either. Someone else, maybe on here, informed me that if the demo didn't work for me then the complete program probably wouldn't download correctly. So, short of getting someone who knows more about PC's to fix it for me or getting another PC, it's a no go for now.

[Jeff Tilley]

I have been using CG3D for 3 years and I have not noticed any problems with the Skytrak connection (unlike the TGC problems constantly solved here). I bought a one-time payment, I also have a library of courses (more than 150 courses in total), a sufficient number for me for long winter evenings (for which 170 thousand courses 🤔). Another advantage for me are low hardware requirements (graphics are sufficient for me - I do not need "Hollywood quality", it is not an action movie, but a training aid), the possibility of off-line operation, the possibility of choosing a tee (usually 4-5 levels), many options training areas, fun games for children. Another advantage is regular updates and improvements. In the latest version, for example, the "terrain influence" function has been added, when, for example, in a heavy raf, the shot is affected by up to 45%, so it is closer to playing outside.

Yep, all that appeals to me. Just trying to get others opinions who have used them all.

[Albie999]

Yeah, I tried both ways. I tried again later but it kept telling me my demo had expired, or something to that effect. I got ahold of Fitness Golf and they informed me that I had to remove whatever downloaded to my PC and try again, but that didn't work either. Someone else, maybe on here, informed me that if the demo didn't work for me then the complete program probably wouldn't download correctly. So, short of getting someone who knows more about PC's to fix it for me or getting another PC, it's a no go for now.

Is there anyway, that you could rebuild your PC, to get it all clean and try install again. As once it has been rebuilt, there would be no trace of the Fitness Golf

[Jeff Tilley]

I just need to find someone to remove all traces of whatever I downloaded. I’m too scared to try to remove some of the things associated with Fitness because I’m not aware if I may need those things for other programs.

[fitness golfer]

Hi Jeff, I'm a little confused. If you are getting the "Demo has expired" message then this means the 21 day trial period has been used up. Was that not long enough for you to make a decision about purchasing the software? If you need more time to demo it, you can download it onto another computer to test it further. There is no easy way to demo it longer than 21 days on the same computer because registry entries are made to prevent this. Hope this helps. Greg

[Jeff Tilley]

The demo would never load right to begin with. I tried loading it off the link Skytrak sent, it loaded but wouldn't allow me to access anything. So then I tried off the Golf Fitness site and had the same issue. A year later after renewing my Skytrak subscription, I tried again and it told me my demo had expired. After contacting Fitness Golf, they told me I had to remove all parts of the old demo off my PC, then re-install the current demo. I tried that with no success. They were a couple parts that I was afraid to remove because I didn't know if those parts were actually part of my PC or not. I'm not very up to date on PC language so I just quit before I messed something up with my laptop, which is the only PC I own now. I may borrow another laptop from someone and try again.