Indoor vs. Outdoor distance - I don't think it's indoor swing syndrome

[tommyh83]

Hi All,

I recently finished my Skytrak setup in my garage and off the bat noticed my distances were low. With my 7I my average ball speed was 86mph and average total yards was 120.

I took the Skytrak to the range the next day and my average ball speed was 94mph and average total yards was 141. My local range has a Trackman system so I know these are my typical average numbers. I came home 20 minutes later and tried on the Skytrak and I was again back to 120 yards average.

I'm aware of indoor swing syndrome and I'm 95% sure that's not what is happening. I have a sufficient space and I'm swinging as hard as I normally do outdoors (I think ).

The unit is at the same level as the hitting mat (Fiberbuilt strip) and the unit is level. I have LED lights in the garage (I've tried pointing one of the lights at the mat, and also turning it off - didn't matter). While swinging directly behind me I have blackout curtains (black).

I've tried hitting off a small mat I used to use in the backyard as well as off the artificial turf which surround the Fiberbuilt. Neither helped.

I recognize maybe this truly is indoor swing syndrome - but just curious if anyone has any ideas of what else I could try to troubleshoot this problem?

Thanks!

[iacas]

I misread, sorry if you saw the original post.

Are the mats the same? If you hit the ball a bit heavy a "thicker" mat could slow your clubhead down a bit more.

Do you have another means of measuring ball speed (like a PRGR or something)?

[tommyh83]

The mat I have at home is the Fiberbuilt and at the range it is the "standard" type mat - which I think is similar to the CCE? Your comment got me thinking I should take the Fiberbuilt to the range and see if I get the same lower results as I do at home.

[jhp016s]

It really sounds to me like indoor swing syndrome. The unit does not seem to be at fault since you took it to the range and it produced Results that were typical for your outdoor swing, which would say to me that the unit is fine.. The only thing that changed was where you were swinging. I would be surprised if the Matt caused that drastic a change. I use a fiber built in my garage and it doesn’t cause any Differences whatsoever, if anything it causes the distance to increase due to the flyer lies you can sometimes catch with a fiber built. It could possibly be a lighting issue I guess, but I am not a sky track user so I don’t know what the requirements are or how much that makes a difference. If you can find a different unit that measures ball and club speed in your garage that would be the fastest way to determine what the culprit is. Otherwise you can Just keep swinging in the indoor swing syndrome will eventually work itself out and you’re distances will start to match up.

[Critzblank]

I had distance issues (as well as hooking) when I first hitting into my indoor screen. For me, I found that I would swing at the ball (stopping my lower body early) which caused a loss of speed and hooking. Now, I try to hit through the ball and to the target and my speed is back up. Still not like on the course (I take my GCQ with me on occasion) though.

[Morini]

Most likely indoor swing, but try hitting off a small tee at home to see what happens to ball speed. Also, use foot spray and see where you make contact.

[Barnegx]

I have found that Skytrak is about 7-10% lower when compared to my grass tee distances. It doesn't really bother me since I am mostly looking for changes in distance and spin rates. I have set my driving range up to be 10 MPH down wind with dry conditions. That seems to be a good estimate for the real world.

[cgdavis_2]

I’m thinking mat could be an issue. I had a similar issue until I learned out to hit off my fiberbuilt. Now I can hear my shot as I hit and tell I caught it a bit fat and it will be short….even when I don’t feel it.

[Morini]

It is zero chance that it is anything to do with the unit itself as it doesn't care if it is inside or outside. It takes two pretty clear photos of the ball and calculates ball speed, VLA, HLA, spin axis and total spin. It is not a fickle machine that would change ball speed because you are wearing white shoes or whatever. In all likelihood it is measuring the ball speed correctly.

So it comes down to three things:

• Indoor swing causing a significant reduction in ball speed.
• Making very poor contact when swinging indoors. This should show up in other ball data, but use footspray to make sure.
• You are hitting fat and getting robbed of ball speed. This is unlikely with Fiberbuilt as it is quite forgiving. In any case, just hit off a short tee.

It is most likely one of the three or a combination.