Can I trust a local golf shop launch monitor?

[jfaon01]

I'd like to get fit into a driver that fits me, but we don't have too many good golf shops in the area, and none that I think are trained club fitters. Should I just hit some drivers in the local shop and get some stats off the launch monitor to make a decision, or do I need to travel to an experienced club fiiter?

[goloworgohome]

You can trust them until they give you a reason not to...If you average 250 off the tee and the launch monitor is saying you're carrying everything 290+ then you should probably take all results with a grain of salt

Same with the fitters...there are a lot of good ones out there...but if they start pushing hard for the most expensive clubs in the shop with no regards for the data or your personal feedback then it might be time to just walk away

[slahitou]

What Launch Monitor are we talking about. I would trust a Foresight GC2, flightscope or trackman. A Zelocity or a Vector, not so much.

If the store has a sim like aboutgolf, or GCA I would not trust it for a fitting either, those are great for playing around, but some values, such as spin can be calculated and not measured.

Ask them what system they use for the fitting first.

[jfaon01]

Thanks. I've heard so many people report on crazy launch monitor numbers, and the way they can be tweeked by the staff that I didn't know if they are even worth looking at. Spin tends to be a problem for me, so I would be looking closer at that number in a fitting.

[martinbns]

Bring your current equipment with you to establish a baseline, you find out if the machine is on or not.

[glenhillsgolfer3]

[quote name='martinbns' timestamp='1373929081' post='7460760']
Bring your current equipment with you to establish a baseline, you find out if the machine is on or not.
[/quote] I have always found this to be an effective method of testing. Although still not even close to being outside.

[Pepperturbo]

Not all Launch Monitors are created equal. It depends on who's hands they fall. But, "NO", you can't trust those at LGS. The only way you might discover a LGS monitor is not trustworthy, is if you're suddenly hitting the ball way beyond your norm. For that to happen the unit would have to be really miss calculated; which I tend not to think the average LGS would do. They will simply tweak the numbers, so nothing too extreme shows up, while numbers easily show improvement.

[markp]

[quote name='furykswing' timestamp='1373922932' post='7460138']
What Launch Monitor are we talking about. I would trust a Foresight GC2, flightscope or trackman. A Zelocity or a Vector, not so much.

If the store has a sim like aboutgolf, or GCA I would not trust it for a fitting either, those are great for playing around, but some values, such as spin can be calculated and not measured.

Ask them what system they use for the fitting first.
[/quote]
I agree about all of the monitors but the trackman if your swing is steep the trackman will estimate your spin and most people I have fit with a steep swing the trackman always gives them high spin numbers. we also have a foresight in the store and i'll move my customers with steep swings to it and the spin is half the rate from the trackman. don't get me wrong though I love to use a trackman outside since it reads full ballflight.

[Joe26]

Numbers dont lie, except at golfsmith

[timbo08]

Really tough call on this one. Honestly maybe see if they will let you take a demo with a deposit to compare to your gamer on the course?

[Ballgofarboy]

I have hit is a number of simulators some side by side, where I hit 250 and 260 and go next door and SUDDENLY, I am hitting the ball 290. Horse crap!

Now you can set these up for mountain altitude and your carry goes way wild too. Look at how they set it up and as discussed take your clubs in for comparison. I have been lucky enough to have demo days outdoors where you are hitting some good and some poor range balls and that speaks volumes for the performance.

Bottom line, launch monitors are good for direction and launch angle, distance is going to vary with course conditions. Find one that feels solid, launches on the angle you are looking for and makes you feel a few inches taller when holding it

[Jacob Mac]

I really prefer an outside fitting along with a monitor. But finding a good fitter is so hard to do. If you have a teacher you take lessons from, they can be a good source of info and should know a good fitter.

[BD57]

[quote name='martinbns' timestamp='1373929081' post='7460760']
Bring your current equipment with you to establish a baseline, you find out if the machine is on or not.
[/quote]

Absolute best advice you could get - you get to compare Apples to Apples.

[richard t]

If I can't hit it outside I'm not interested. I've never hit a ball outside as looong as I've hit them indoors.
Not saying they have no value just on a range or the course all the real course variables are present.