Home simulator guys, what’s it been like?

[KSP]

I’m seriously contemplating putting a simulator setup in my 13x16x9.5 high study. This isn’t a build question. I was wondering how much you have used the simulator over the years. Has it lost any of its appeal? Have you noticed any improvement? Big improvement? Any regrets?

 

Part of me thinks it’s possible to get significant improvement. I’ve always loved hitting balls, but it’s obviously been limited by the time to get out to the range and weather limitations. At home I always have 20 minutes to hit balls, and I could hit every single day. Of course, I wonder how much improvement you can get hitting alone in a sim. Maybe live lessons via internet?

 

Anyway, I’d love to hear any and every experience.

[sdrthedj]

Zero regrets. In summer I still hit 2-3 times per week, sometimes practice, a lot of the time playing Sim tour rounds with OGT on JNPG. Through the winter I expect to play a bit more as there won’t be any outdoor rounds due to weather and more time.

 

My ball striking has improved. Me wedges are much more so consistent and I’m on the green more often. My driving is slowly improving but I expect to work more on my game through the winter.

 

GC2, 12x8 impact screen, fiberbuilt matt, optima short throw projector and JNPG for software and simulator tour.

[dg_1983]

I've got a dedicated Skytrak and TGC setup. With a young family arriving in the past couple years it is nothing short of life changing. There are few elements in play;

 

Time:

 

Found 20 mins free? Go hit balls in the garden

No driving range travel time (I was 25mins each way)

No weather restraints (Mines is indoors)

Skytrak doesn't close at 9pm

A round on TGC I can get done in 50mins.

 

Practise routines:

 

Wedge ladders 50 - 130yrds. 20 mins session.

80 - 260yrds, 20 yard increments - 30mins session

6 iron - 20min session

Driving - 20 min session

 

Weekly TGC tour:

 

Great fun and goes someway to help real life transfer. Tight fairways good for driving practise. Tough pins good for shot selection and shot making.

 

Usage - everyday that I find 20mins

Improvement - combined with good lessons and some putting practising I've playing the best golf of my life. 100% facilitated by skytrak. There is no way I'd have hit 10% of the shots I have over the last 2 years without it.

[jasonfish11]

Agree with the above, except I don't have TGC, JNPG or some other "simulated course."

 

I just use the driving range currently as my focus in the last couple years has been improving on my golf swing. Once I move more towards scoring instead of "golf swing" then I will likely get TGC.

 

I will admit the novelty does wear off a little. But even then it's still way worth it.

 

Just make sure you pay attention to what your body is telling you, if you feel soreness STOP. If you can't hit more than 50-100 balls without that creeping up you need a better mat.

[pearsonified]

I've had a Skytrak since April, and I love it. I splurged on a Fiberbuilt mat, and I think this was a great call because I haven't experienced elbow or joint soreness despite extensive use.

 

Unless you can get out to the course for play or practice every day, I think a home sim is probably the single best thing you can do for your game.

 

Edit: Okay, maybe that last sentence is a bit hyperbolic—getting rid of a wife who b*tches about your golf habits is the BEST thing you can do for your game.

[Stuart_G]

I just use the driving range currently as my focus in the last couple years has been improving on my golf swing. Once I move more towards scoring instead of "golf swing" then I will likely get TGC.

 

I will admit the novelty does wear off a little. But even then it's still way worth it.

 

It would wear thin for me as well if all I did was use the range functionality, even with some of the skills challenges available. Practice is all well and good and I enjoy working on my swing probably more than most. But playing some rounds - particularly with friends (and maybe even a few bucks on the line) - adds to the fun and can spice things up quite a bit.

[jasonfish11]

I just use the driving range currently as my focus in the last couple years has been improving on my golf swing. Once I move more towards scoring instead of "golf swing" then I will likely get TGC.

 

I will admit the novelty does wear off a little. But even then it's still way worth it.

 

It would wear thin for me as well if all I did was use the range functionality, even with some of the skills challenges available. Practice is all well and good and I enjoy working on my swing probably more than most. But playing some rounds - particularly with friends (and maybe even a few bucks on the line) - adds to the fun and can spice things up quite a bit.

 

I just play local courses in my mind on the range. I can picture my aim points I know what I want the ball to do and if it doesn't do what I want I play the next shot based on the results of the 1st shot (like CPG it's normally a punch out)

[jasonfish11]

Speaking of simulated golf. For the guys/gals who have Skytrak how is the chipping & putting with it?

[Stuart_G]

I just use the driving range currently as my focus in the last couple years has been improving on my golf swing. Once I move more towards scoring instead of "golf swing" then I will likely get TGC.

 

I will admit the novelty does wear off a little. But even then it's still way worth it.

 

It would wear thin for me as well if all I did was use the range functionality, even with some of the skills challenges available. Practice is all well and good and I enjoy working on my swing probably more than most. But playing some rounds - particularly with friends (and maybe even a few bucks on the line) - adds to the fun and can spice things up quite a bit.

 

I just play local courses in my mind on the range. I can picture my aim points I know what I want the ball to do and if it doesn't do what I want I play the next shot based on the results of the 1st shot (like CPG it's normally a punch out)

 

So do I - but at least for me - it's still not even close to the same.

[dg_1983]

Speaking of simulated golf. For the guys/gals who have Skytrak how is the chipping & putting with it?

 

Other than going through the motion I don't think there is much to learn, just fun for sim play

[stunted]

I've got a dedicated Skytrak and TGC setup. With a young family arriving in the past couple years it is nothing short of life changing. There are few elements in play;

 

Time:

 

Found 20 mins free? Go hit balls in the garden

No driving range travel time (I was 25mins each way)

No weather restraints (Mines is indoors)

Skytrak doesn't close at 9pm

A round on TGC I can get done in 50mins.

 

Practise routines:

 

Wedge ladders 50 - 130yrds. 20 mins session.

80 - 260yrds, 20 yard increments - 30mins session

6 iron - 20min session

Driving - 20 min session

 

Weekly TGC tour:

 

Great fun and goes someway to help real life transfer. Tight fairways good for driving practise. Tough pins good for shot selection and shot making.

 

Usage - everyday that I find 20mins

Improvement - combined with good lessons and some putting practising I've playing the best golf of my life. 100% facilitated by skytrak. There is no way I'd have hit 10% of the shots I have over the last 2 years without it.

 

Agree 100%. It's the best.