Comparing Simulator Software for SkyTrak

[SDL]

An important decision for new SkyTrak users is choosing among several software options for golf course simulation. Currently, The Golf Club (TGC) and World Golf Tour (WGT) are available through the SkyTrak website, and Perfect Golf (PG) and E6 from TruGolf are expected very soon. Individual SkyTrak threads exist for these sim options, but opinions about which sim is the best often cause these threads to drift off topic. It is hoped that this thread will provide GSF members with an opportunity to express their opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of each sim option for use with SkyTrak.

As the GSF Forum Rules make clear, "We appreciate passion, as well as different viewpoints, and we hope to see both in our forums. But each of these ideals can be served without hostility. So, like the sport of golf, we will expect courtesy and respect." The intent of this discussion of sim software comparisons is to promote the expression of passion and diverse opinions, but to do so with goodwill and fairness.

[Sledge0001]

As a new ST owner I must say that WGT left me wanting more than they currently offer. I think multiplayer and a PC version is a must and WGT is missing the boat by not including these options in their software. At no point in time could I get the screen to be full hd which was pretty crummy since I was able to do this easily in the optishot.

I ponied up the funds after seeing the TGC videos and reviews with ST and I am still learning how to use the system. I do wish that they would remove the auto club selection at the top of the screen. Obviously we are going to select the club based on the shot we need so this is useless as I understand it with Skytrak and TGC. Graphics and the physics of the ball in TGC are impressive although I can't seem to get the system to run in anything other than windowed mode. Since the graphics are full Hd and require a bit more hardware that my optishot 2 I did have to throw a few bucks to upgrade my computer hardware to get the most out of the HD software graphics but I am not unhappy with the selection of TGC. Now TGC really needs the ability to select any hole on any course and just practice that one shot. I would love to see a closest to the pin option or something of that nature. The 3 second delay is something that doesn't bother me at all. Putting is meh... As it is on all sims.

E6 seems to be buggy still and with that hefty price tag I just can't seem to be able to justify that as an option.

Since I started playing virtual or sim golf I own the Optishot1 and 2, now ST with TGC which I find to be a hoot. I have been fortunate to play on TruGolf, Trackman, and Xgolf systems and I am very happy with the ST / TGC combo purchase.

[Bubba22]

Club selection will help with scout cam. As well we will have club stats soon so selecting club will be the only way the system will know your stats. Skip hole feature is coming. Many more features around the corner.

[Sledge0001]

I wasn't aware but it seems a bit confusing to me. In one instance I was right of the fairway with 220+ to go and it wanted me to use my pitching wedge. This resulted in me emailing ProTee about how to change clubs in the system which I was told I didn't need to with Skytrak. I am sure that I have quite a bit to learn on TGC but so far I am liking it. It's night and day compared to the Optishot2 graphics and feels much more realistic overall.

[aja]

Lots of useful info here:

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/golf-simulator-brands-and-types/the-golf-club/14369-tgc-instructions-manual-plus-q-a

[mthunt]

As a new ST owner I must say that WGT left me wanting more than they currently offer. I think multiplayer and a PC version is a must and WGT is missing the boat by not including these options in their software. At no point in time could I get the screen to be full hd which was pretty crummy since I was able to do this easily in the optishot.

I ponied up the funds after seeing the TGC videos and reviews with ST and I am still learning how to use the system. I do wish that they would remove the auto club selection at the top of the screen. Obviously we are going to select the club based on the shot we need so this is useless as I understand it with Skytrak and TGC. Graphics and the physics of the ball in TGC are impressive although I can't seem to get the system to run in anything other than windowed mode. Since the graphics are full Hd and require a bit more hardware that my optishot 2 I did have to throw a few bucks to upgrade my computer hardware to get the most out of the HD software graphics but I am not unhappy with the selection of TGC. Now TGC really needs the ability to select any hole on any course and just practice that one shot. I would love to see a closest to the pin option or something of that nature. The 3 second delay is something that doesn't bother me at all. Putting is meh... As it is on all sims.

E6 seems to be buggy still and with that hefty price tag I just can't seem to be able to justify that as an option.

Since I started playing virtual or sim golf I own the Optishot1 and 2, now ST with TGC which I find to be a hoot. I have been fortunate to play on TruGolf, Trackman, and Xgolf systems and I am very happy with the ST / TGC combo purchase.

You need the club at the top for scout cam. The distance of the scout preview is based on the club.

[Sledge0001]

I have much to learn about TGC!

[SDL]

Sledge0001, like a lot of the TGC players I hear from, you seem to be very happy with the TGC purchase but still wanting more features and some tweaks in how the game operates with ST. I wouldn't be surprised if players who purchase PG will have similar reactions once the ST version is available - which may be as soon as next week. I have to say that I would already be using TGC if it had a demo version or a less expensive subscription option, but since that isn't possible I'm waiting for PG. I have the PC versions of both TGC and PG, and prefer PG despite the more limited course options. I might feel different about the ST versions of these sims if I had been able to demo them both. I have played the ST versions of WGT and E6, though, and neither is in the running for my top choice in ST sim software.

[doublebogey]

From observations I have to say it seems like ProTee/TGC's customer service and support really stands head and shoulders above the rest in this LM/sim world.

[SDL]

I certainly agree that TGC support from ProTee has been outstanding from what everyone has said. At this point, though, I'm back outside again for Spring golf so my desperation to have a full-featured indoor sim has lessened a bit and I can wait a few more days for PG to be released. If PG turns out to be disappointing, however, I will definitely pursue TGC as an alternative.

[TeaPeg]

I'm in the same boat. Have been holding off for Perfect Golf as I can't afford both. I have both PC versions and they both look really great but for me Perfect Golf just feels and looks closer to the real thing.

[golfsim53]

I know PG is only in Beta right now but I am curious for those that are playing both PG and TGC which has more users playing in tournaments right now?

Also between PG and TGC which requires a faster internet connection (or does it seem pretty equal)?

Thanks!

[DeaconBlooze]

I'm pretty proud of myself for being uncharacteristically patient.. Normally I would have jumped at the first decent option available, but I think PG really fits me better, so I'm still holding out for that. I'm going to try the E6 trial (if it's still available) for a bit to hold me over in the meantime.

[Fieldygolf]

Ive have both and been havng massive issues with perfect golf for chip shots and bunker shots around the green where they just seem to rip back past where i was hitting from so gone back to the tgc

[SDL]

I tried to replicate your results on JNPG last night on my own Skytrak, but I couldn't. You should check out the actual numbers that your Skytak is putting out for JNPG. If you are getting very high backspin numbers, that is probably coming from a misread by ST.

[SDL]

It looks like both TGC and JNPG are working hard to get short chips and bunker shots to work well with ST. TGC users are reporting that the latest software update has helped a lot - at least when short chip correction is "on." JNPG was working well for me for chipping after one of the recent patches, but I have not had time to use JNPG after the latest patch, and Paul's post above reports current issues with chips and bunker shots using JNPG.

I think it's great that both TGC and JNPG are making a serious effort to modify their software to overcome limitations in the ST's ability to pick up low and slow shots! It's frustrating, though, that every new patch seems to have unintended consequences that affect other aspects of how the software functions.

[BamaGambler]

I prefer short chip correction OFF.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SDL]

From the thread on TGC short chips and bunker shots, it looks like some users are thinking that results are more reliable with the correction ON. What are the advantages or disadvantages of having the correction OFF vs. ON?

[Chughes82]

Short chips working okay in JNPG for me. Can't compare it to TGC because I don't have both, but I'm happy with JNPG and its online tourneys.

[SDL]

That's reassuring to hear! I wonder what is causing the problem Paul is reporting. Are you happy with putting on JNPG after the latest software update?

[Ironstrokes]

From the thread on TGC short chips and bunker shots, it looks like some users are thinking that results are more reliable with the correction ON. What are the advantages or disadvantages of having the correction OFF vs. ON?

I've explained the difference of OFF and ON in a few threads a little more in-depth, but the basics of it is that in OFF, the spin numbers are a bit more accurate from 20 yards and in but won't read the shot at all if you try landing the ball like 9ft or less in front of you to run up for a short chip. And with ON position it will read any chip of any length 20 yards and in but the spin numbers aren't as accurate but still decent

[SDL]

Thanks, that's very helpful!

[Chughes82]

Overall I'm happy with the putting. For putts under 10 feet, I've compared JNPG to actual putts on my artificial putting surface and it's very close. Over 10 feet I haven't done a real life comparison and I struggle mightily with speed on putts 20 feet and greater, but I've only played five rounds so I'm still getting the hang of it. At this point I assume user error on the long putts.

[Mikkaat]

Based on the input from wbond and Shardak, it looks like TGC has several data display options. I searched on YouTube for videos of TGC on ST, and the data is displayed in a large box covering the middle of the screen. The data displayed include the measured data (LA, ball speed, spin, etc.) as well as estimated data, although there are also estimates regarding club path and smash factor that can't be calculated from the actual ST data (but these can be ignored). I also viewed some E6 videos that displayed a similar central box on the screen for data after each shot. However, I couldn't find any video for PG on ST that showed launch, spin, or ball speed data after a shot. Does anyone know if the PG interface for ST will allow display of this type of shot data?

I am seriously looking at purchasing the Skytrak with a SIM option (as its within my budget). I have been watching a few video of the various sims available with Skytrak and have also noticed the Club Data points on TGC (and i think E6) and was wondering how close these are to being realistic. Am i correct in assuming they are calculated based on ball data, or are they nothing to do with ball data and basically there as pretty pictures which provide absolutely no value. I guess what im looking for is an indicator of, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being close to GC2 with MHT and 1 being index finger in the air, how close is the club data.

Thanks

[ProTee United]

SkyTrak does not measure any club data. When you are using a SkyTrak with TGC (or any other sim software) the club data is reverse engineered from ball data. These calculation are not accurate. Some calculation will be very close and some will be completely off, so your scale will vary from 1 to 10 for every single shot. If you want accurate club data you will need to buy hardware that actually reads club data like ProTee(tip! lol), TruGolf or HMT.

[Mikkaat]

Thank you for the feedback, and thanks for the 'tip' unfortunately the ProTee is a little out of my price range.

[nixon_ltd]

I don't typically post in forums but I felt obligated to share my findings. I have had my home simulator up and running for about a week now and I am loving it. I went out on a limb and made the $995 investment in The Golf Club game. I am extremely disappointing in the software and the information that can (can't) be found on it. Perhaps my expectations were too high but for a game with a $1,000 price-tag, it better be good.

Here is what I don't like:

There is no way to save a local player

The stats, clothing and handicaps for local players are not able to be saved

There is now way (for lady golfers) to play different tees than the rest of us

There is no way to skip a turn if you are playing with a local group and someone leaves the room when their turn arrives

The in game controls "escape menu" are terrible- including no live yardages from your second or third shots- everything is based on the distance from the tee. So when you need to "bump out"
you have no idea how far that would be.

The interface to set up the Skytrak does not always work, sometimes I have to "control-alt-delete" some processes and restart the software for it to read.

Not sure if it is the Skytrak or the TGC software that is giving my buddy such a hard time. He is a scratch golfer and former pro. His trajectory is low and he takes huge divots in real life. TGC had his 230 yard rescue club going about 170 yards. And same with drivers. take about 50 yard off.

There is no support for this software- I have never purchases ANYTHING for this much money and then told to find help in user forums. WTF. Where is the user guide or manual or ANYTHING!

Things just as simple as explaining what the readings mean, why are there two distances on putting? Basic stuff like that.

The software does not have the ability to "look up" to see if a tree is going to be an obstruction. (other than the flyby button of course).

There are some in game glitches regarding water balls. It was resetting my buddy back to the tee even though he was bouncing off the green into the water and should have been dropped thereabouts.





The worst part of all this is that SkyCaddie, ProTee, HB Studios or whoever is selling this software will not refund my money. I have asked so nicely and would have gone away but now I am forced to blast the game in forums (including the HB Studios forum where I was directed to learn from others). It would have been nice to have a week long demo or something. Or at least a full rundown of the features that this game has (or doesn't have).

If $1,000 means anything to you, do not buy this game.

[GSF_Admin]

Bashing (ranting against) companies on golfsimulatorforum.com is not permitted. Try to resolve the issue with the company directly. Ranting on a forum to 'get even' or to 'force a quick resolution' is not the way to handle things.

[Fabien Leduc]

I believe you forgot to introduce yourself in the appropriate section of the forum...

With your permission, I will preciously keep your message. I will show it to my kids to illustrate what "over react" really means...

[ProTee United]

Our helpdesk received your message 1 hour ago. We did not even get a chance to respond and yet you claim nobody wants to help you AND you want a refund??