Different results using driving range feature of skytrack and TGC 2019

[Joe M]

I’m out of sorts. My results using an 8 iron when I use the driving range feature of skytrak and TGC 2019 give me different results. First off I have mizuno Jax 921 hot metal irons with recoil f3 graphite shafts. The loft angle of my 8 iron is 34 degrees. Using the TGC driving range my ball carries 115- 120 yards with a smash factor of 116 and a launch angle of 26 degrees. Using the same iron and swing on the skytrak driving range I average 128 yards of carry with a smash factor between 130-135. How could both of these be so different using the skytrak simulator? Which one should I believe? I’m beginning to doubt the accuracy of my skytrak unit? Any advice is appreciated. Joe

[aussiebenny]

You should trust the Skytrak's software. TGC 2019 has its own flight model, and it is not as accurate as the LM's own software.

[Morini]

TGC2019 ball flight model was far superior to Skytrak's. But since Skytrak updated to account for spin decay, fairly equal. No ball flight model will give more than a few yards apart on a 120 yard shot. The difference is due to differing ball data.

[Dsheehan87]

Skytrak's data at least with my unit is highly inaccurate - it calculates a swing speed with various irons at roughly 65mph, yet on trackman my swing is 87-88 with my 6iron. If I use TGC 2019, my swing speed at right on, very close, in the mid 80's with a 6 iron. My driver is roughly 25-30 yards short in skytrak, as are my wedges on full swings. The irons are roughly 10 yards off. (Why the difference in wedge vs iron I have no clue). With WGT I can boost these numbers to match trackman.

The only thing I trust about the skytrak software is the shot shape - I honestly trust nothing else whatsoever. In fact I am purchasing a mevo to run on an ipad alongside just to give me accurate distance and swing/ball speed & smash numbers.

Another fun fact, version 4.0.2 is far more accurate than 4.1 for all parameters save for shot shape (the new spin decay model is more accurate).

I am actually sick that I purchased the skytrak instead of the mevo+, because in order to switch to mevo+ now i'd have to pay money to upgrade WGT to full, and pay money to move WGT to mevo+ and then there's the loss of selling the skytrak on ebay and having to pay the difference to buy the mevo+. The skytrak is fine for someone looking to build a simulator, but don't trust the numbers for game improvement (only the shot shape)

[cgdavis_2]

I don’t find this to be true. My distances are spot on to real life

[Morini]

1. Skytrak does not measure club head speed, so ignore that and ignore smash.
2. Ball flight models are different, but definitely not more than a couple of yards different ... max.
3. Compare ball data if you want to know why there's a discrepancy. Compare ball speeds, VLA and spin. Use flightscope trajectory optimizer for a third opinion.

[scelebre]

My Skytrak numbers are very very close to real life and Trackman. There is also no reason why you are seeing vastly different distances between TGC and SKytrak. The numbers they pull on TGC are directly from Skytrak. Flight model is slightly different but you are describing completely different numbers which is seemingly impossible as those numbers should be the exact same as what you would see on SKytrak range.

[Morini]

Exactly. No way no how flight model could explain that amount of difference. He should compare ball data to find out what is different. Another very unlikely scenario is that TGC2019 has negative boost on. Or maybe used a different ball. My guess is that the skytrak shots had far less spin for whatever reason.