Using strike tape to improve skytrak distance

[Fawley]

I have exact the same problem with my new ST. My 8 iron backspin is showing between 7000 to 8000 rpm, carrying 125 to 135 yards. This is ~20 yards off my normal 8 iron at the range and on the course. I've measured it with a laser last week. After reading this thread, I tried it with tape and distance is pretty close to my real carry (spin rate is cut to half). I am using the same golf balls as I used on the course. I've tried Callaway chrome soft and pro v1 golf balls.

I was at golfsmith last week, and GC2 shows the correct distance for my 8/7 iron. I was really excited about getting the ST, but now I am a bit disappointed. I think I am going to return ST and maybe see if ES16 is any better... Surprised most people on this forum are saying their ST distance is right on!?!?

I am using standard AP2 irons, no adjustment

What was your backspin on GC2? What was your ball speed on GC2 and SkyTrak?

Depending on angle of attack, shaft lean at impact and club head speed, a well struck 8 iron should have backspin in the 7,000 rpm range (+/- 1,000 rpm). The ball speed will tell the tale, but I suspect you're sub-consciously swinging differently on your home set up vs. at the course and at Golfsmith.

[jyin]

I suppose it's always possible I am swinging differently at home than Golfsmith.

This is what my ST read out looks like for my 8 iron.
Ball mph: 95
launch deg: 23
side deg: -1.2
back rpm: 7122
side rpm: -230
offline: -5
carry: 127
roll: 3
total: 130

[aja]

Numbers are pretty odd. Looking at the last table, the average club speed (I know it's calculated) is 15 mph less for the 'taped' clubs, but the ball speed is virtually the same at approx 104 mph.

The second last table (7-iron) shows really strange results too with very inconsistent launch angles and spin rates. Were you putting the tape on and then taking it off for alternate shots?

Something's a bit fishy.

[RonRed]

Ya I had it on for 3 shots then off for 3 and back on, etc... The SkyTrak person said the club speed makes sense as it is just a calculation of course. The lower spin for the taped clubs then makes the computer determine that I must have hit it farther. That is all fine and I understand the reason, but what still confused me is how my none taped are so low. I know they are lower what I get in the real world.

[MainStGolf]

Here are some pics from my brief test today. I did 15 shots. I did delete some of the obvious mishits from both test groups. When I put the tape on I think it took me two shots to find the "sweet" spot and that first shot when 170 yards as you can see in the pic. I think I got two shots 170-plus and several in the 160s. I see the back spin is WAY down on the tape shots as we expected to find, but what I did notice and have noticed before is the ball will launch higher with the tape on. Even on the sweetest of swings I could not get a launch over 28 degrees. Would the tape also impact the launch angle?

What I found out is like was mentioned previously that the club head speed was down in the 60s on some of these swings reaching these "outdoor avg." distances. I too believe my 8-iron to be about 150. I have yet to be able to take it outside and do my testing although hopefully this week I might have a chance to do that.

[Chughes82]

@Ron Red it seems like you are experiencing what many of us did, which can be caused by various factors. Indoor swing differences affected many of us. The mat we use can also affect results if we hit just a bit fat. Overestimating average distances is common too, though many folks seem reluctant to admit that what we are calling average is really more like our best shots. Keep at it for a bit and by all means use ST at the range with a laser finder to confirm your real world carry distances. If everything else fails it is possible your unit isn't quite right. Candidly, that is unlikely. The forum is full of many comments that ST is short that are later retracted as users realize the cause was not ST. Good luck!

[RonRed]

Thanks Chughes82, I will be hitting it at range when I get a chance.

[SomaPLR]

Main St. - you are averaging 96mph with at 8 iron in both taped and non taped situations. You aren't getting anywhere near 150 yard carry with those ball speed numbers. To get a 150 yard carry you need 110mph ball speed.

Your launch angles are all over the planet. Optimal Launch angle for a 8 iron is about 25*...the higher the number doesn't mean better. You very much flip in your golf swing

[MainStGolf]

I found a distance chart on Pintrest with distances based on driver swing speeds and based on that chart what I'm getting on SkyTrak is exactly where I should be. I'm right around the 100mph club head speed for my driver which is 143 for the 8 iron according to this chart. Hope to get to the range today.

[MainStGolf]

Here is the chart that I found. Based on my driver swing speeds what I'm seeing on SkyTrak is completely accurate. Not going to be able to get on the range today like I was hoping. Have a joint city-county commission meeting I have to cover tonight.

[SomaPLR]

To carry an 8 iron 150 yards, you need ball speed of about 110mph with like a 22* launch angle. That's carry numbers with pro-type smash factor. Trackman averages for pros are 160 yards with 115mph ball speeds with an 18* launch angle. This is basically perfect impact.

As a new ST owner, I was very wary about buying one as I heard a few stories like this - I think it boils down to is that most amateurs have "anchoring bias" and think they carry the ball a LOT further than what they do, couple that with study after study that on-course playing most amateurs hit shots short of the pin on almost 90% of their approach shots (usga study). As a good golfer who hits the ball consistently, I've found that SkyTrak is pretty much spot on. Even I have found that I'm not carrying a 7i 170 yards and it's more like 165. It's been eye opening and now that I know my TRUE carry distances, it has shown up on my proximity to hole stats.

There has been many many threads on other golf forums I participate in about guys "hating" golf simulators and I believe the major factor is that it's the biggest ego check a golfer can have. SkyTrak balls speeds are spot on vs Trackman - I've tested. So either people don't hit the ball as far as they think they do or their setup is way way off.

[SomaPLR]

RonRed - you need about 125mph ball speed at perfect launch angle and SMASH factor numbers to carry a 7i 175 yards consistently. It can be done, but mostly by guys that get paid to do it and very high class amateurs.

[v10king]

Thanks everyone for the comments, but I just can't sell myself on the answer everyone is giving. I agree that tape can affect the results, but look at the 7 iron data, I go from 140 ave without tape to 176 with tape??? Notice how club speed is less for longer distance. (I know ST doesn't measure it, only calculates it). Can someone please try this and see what results they get. Also, I really believe my 7 iron is greater then a 140 average. Maybe I think it is better then it is, but boy I have to say 160 at minimum, that is off by 20 yards? I am in MN so I can start to get out and test it on the driving range and see what I get. Let me know if you can run a test.

Exact same issue I if, I returned and bought a gc2. Also check your mat, I think it was combo of bad skytrak and my monster mat. Now the gc2 with CCE is exactly what I hit in real life.

[MainStGolf]

I never did get to go out and hit on the range as a cold snap came through Kansas. One thing I have noticed is that that the club head speed on SkyTrak is a where from 75-90 without tape then with the tape the SkyTrak club head speed goes down into the 60s with longer shots. But if you go to a range or play on TGC then you will see the 60s to low 70s swing speeds to get the non-tape distances on the SkyTrak range. So there is something there. Not sure what it is.

[Opticsguru]

CHS is complete BS. It is calculated not measured. I don't even understand why they put that number there. It is a mistake.

[Vincent_Vega]

To carry an 8 iron 150 yards, you need ball speed of about 110mph with like a 22* launch angle. That's carry numbers with pro-type smash factor. Trackman averages for pros are 160 yards with 115mph ball speeds with an 18* launch angle. This is basically perfect impact.

As a new ST owner, I was very wary about buying one as I heard a few stories like this - I think it boils down to is that most amateurs have "anchoring bias" and think they carry the ball a LOT further than what they do, couple that with study after study that on-course playing most amateurs hit shots short of the pin on almost 90% of their approach shots (usga study). As a good golfer who hits the ball consistently, I've found that SkyTrak is pretty much spot on. Even I have found that I'm not carrying a 7i 170 yards and it's more like 165. It's been eye opening and now that I know my TRUE carry distances, it has shown up on my proximity to hole stats.

There has been many many threads on other golf forums I participate in about guys "hating" golf simulators and I believe the major factor is that it's the biggest ego check a golfer can have. SkyTrak balls speeds are spot on vs Trackman - I've tested. So either people don't hit the ball as far as they think they do or their setup is way way off.

I don't doubt that there's probably some faulty units out there as far as distance readings go, but this man just laid down so much cold hard reality with this post it's ridiculous. It drives me crazy when I play with people and they refuse to club up because they have some delusion of how far they actually hit the ball. Other than losing a few yards due simply to the indoor effect, my distances are spot on.

[Opticsguru]

Couldn't have said it better myself. It is all in the mind.

[foggedz]

The club head speed that ST is giving you is not accurate. You need to look at ball speed. Your ball speed numbers as member "SomaPLR" just posted are simply not high enough to get the distance you think the ball should be going.

[SomaPLR]

These are the numbers you need to hit 170-175 yard 7i just for information.

I normally am at 7000rpm but was hitting a NXT last night instead of prov1x. Typically I don't get 6 yards of roll with a 7i.

Don't pay attention to the "AVG total" as I was hitting 7 irons and PW's in the same session.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SomaPLR]

After reading a lot of these posts, I don't think you guys know what these numbers mean or are telling you...I hate to be crass, but it's the truth.

If BOTH of the Tape Brothers look at their ball speeds WITH tape and WITHOUT tape...they are exactly the same. The ball speeds are exactly the same, repeat again The reasons you're getting extra yards is because your spin numbers are WAY WAY down due to the frictionless collision the tape is causing. Again, the ball speeds are the same, the tape is creating a frictionless environment. Less spin = further and harder to control shots. You can't play golf with tape on your clubs.

The SkyTrak is ESTIMATING club head speed. So the SkyTrak looks at the launch angle, the backspin, the ballspeed and estimates a number. If you have VERY VERY low spin numbers the SkyTrack estimates you have above average SMASH factor and is giving you a lower swing speed. Again, the SkyTrak because if the tape and less spin, is assuming you had a smash factor that is impossible to achieve with an iron.

MainStGolf - you do NOT want to launch an 8 iron anywhere near 28*, so there is no point of "going over that". Higher Launch angles aren't a good thing.

[Mdewmas]

Totaly agree!!!

[spider]

Great post! Couldn't have said it better. One thing that has really helped me is to bring that launch angle down. I compared the trackman pga tour avg to mine for irons. Now ball goes much further without swinging harder. My distances are farther without any speed changes just more shaft lean and lower launch.

[Opticsguru]

Amen to this..

[Smudge_si]

Skytrak gave my ego a knock about what I thought were my carry distances, I'm a club less now and after getting outside for the first time this year for some real golf at the weekend my approaches to pins [distance wise] were the best they ever been and I use game golf and my numbers matched what I see on my skytrak, it's been a great piece of kit so far over the winter.

[TorchRedRob]

These are the numbers you need to hit 170-175 yard 7i just for information.

I normally am at 7000rpm but was hitting a NXT last night instead of prov1x. Typically I don't get 6 yards of roll with a 7i.

Don't pay attention to the "AVG total" as I was hitting 7 irons and PW's in the same session.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Indeed. Here's another set of 7 iron data. First grouping is with an e6 ball, second is with a cally SR3. Third group was trying to kill one shot just to see how far I could hit it. All this goes to show how much difference spin makes in terms of carry. Also notice significantly lower launch with the urethane-covered SR3. Also note the ball speed required to carry 170+ with a tour ball.