A Golf Simulator , Trackman, Swingshot Camera or Launch Monitor: there are many terms used to indicate the same thing, namely a data analysis of your golf swing. In this article you will learn more about golf simulators and important information before you buy one!
When you go to test new golf clubs at a reputable golf shop, you will probably have come into contact with them at some point. You hit a few balls, and the screen showed the distance of the ball, the height of the ball flight, the amount of spin, and the length of the roll. This, in combination with the feel of the clubs, was your basis for your purchase.
However, these devices are not only very useful when testing new golf clubs, but throughout your entire golf career. As you improve, your ball flight ( carry ) will increase, you want to land your ball closer to the hole, and less often end up in that annoying rough, by continuously relying on your data you improve ball control. And that ball control is perhaps the most important thing in golf, videos help to improve your swing, however, every swing is different, what launch monitors do, they give you information about how your ball control is. As long as you are good at that, you can also make a lot of progress without improving your swing.
A good example: one time you hit your 7-iron 130 meters, and the next shot it is 135 meters. That can make the difference between landing on the green or in the woods. A golf simulator can tell you exactly whether it is because your clubhead speed , angle of attack , or smash factor varies. When you gain insight into this, you can adjust your training in a targeted manner, for example by practicing with the Tour Striker Impact Strap. This handy training tool will ensure that your angle of attack becomes more consistent, so that you will hit the ball more consistently and improve your scores!
Differences between each golf simulator
There are many brands that sell launch monitors these days, however, there is a big difference in the amount of options, accuracy, user-friendliness, lifespan and especially price. There are already golf simulators available for 500 euros, however, you will only have multiple points of attention to work on with the launch monitors of 2,000 euros. Finally, there are brands that offer launch monitors of over 10,000 euros, which are mainly purchased by golf shops, pros and when a completely personal simulation is desired.
The cheaper models lose a lot of accuracy when hitting wedge shots: 40m-75m. There the deviation compared to an expensive model can be 5%. In addition, they are not suitable for chipping or making putts. Where data can also be very important.
Another big difference is the amount of spin they measure, spin is hugely important in determining the height and length of the flight. A ball with a lot of spin will climb itself up in the air, resulting in less distance, and less roll. So if this is not measured correctly, many data points will lack accuracy.
Furthermore, the cheaper models cannot be used in combination with a projector on which you can see the ball flight/data directly. Now this is already very difficult in the case of outdoor golfing, but if you use your net and mat indoors this can be a nice addition to your training.
In summary, a cheap model will give an average golfer enough information to improve his/her swing and ball control. The data will mainly show flight and spin figures. As you purchase a higher price range simulator you will get more data about what happens around impact and they can be used in combination with projectors.
The highest price range is very accurate, gives even more information around impact ( club direction , dynamic loft , golf swing ) and can also be used for chipping or putting. However, there are also specialized devices that focus solely on chipping and putting for a considerably lower price!
At Golf Backyard you will only find golf simulators that we know make golfers better and that are often used by professionals. In addition, we strive to make (home) golfing as accessible as possible, and we do our best to offer the most competitively priced items.
Finally, many English terms have been discussed, if you want to know more about this. Then read “The most important golf simulator terms explained!” .
