Simulator

[CoachHayes]

I'm a high school golf coach at a small school in Nebraska. This will be my 4th year as coach and I'm working very hard to build the program. Golf, unfortunately, does not get a lot of attention. Our local golf course is a 9-hole course with NO driving range. I'm trying to find an indoor simulator for my team to practice the range during inclement weather and the off season. Funds are not great so I'm trying to either find grant money or donation help. My district is 86% free & reduced lunch so many of my golfers do not normally get a lot of opportunities at experiences like this beyond school. Any ideas for an indoor range simulator?

[Clark55810]

I think the cheapest option that still has good quality is SkyTrak. However, there are other options available also depending on needs and budget.

 

I would suggest you jump on golfsimulatorforum.com and read some of the forums on that site. Lots of comparisons with pros and cons of each option.

 

Not sure about grants, but you might be able to work with the manufactures to get a good deal based on position.

 

Clark

[cgasucks]

I wish you the best of luck in finding a quality simulator that is in your budget Coach.

[nicoy3k]

Do you have a gym? Maybe you could set up a giant netting system and some mats

 

Simulators are very expensive and only one player can it at a time

[EvanScottKing]

If you have the space to put in a dedicated simulator, I saw some info (might have been in an email?) from TruGolf the other day that they're offering financing on their simulator packages. The systems aren't cheap, but the one I use at a local shop is accurate and dependable. It might be worth a try to reach out to some of the companies directly and see if they'll do a deal on a system for you since you work at a school.

[Ryan5508]

For kids I would reccomend a protee system that you can build upon over time. This will allow left and right handed golfers to play easily.

 

If money is not an option then a GC2-T setup would be even better.

 

 

I personaly started with skytrak ----- protee ----- and now a GC2 in my garage.

[CoachHayes]

Do you have a gym? Maybe you could set up a giant netting system and some mats

 

Simulators are very expensive and only one player can it at a time

 

Yeah we have our activity building. Each spring the HS PE teacher puts up an archery net that we use to hit into during inclement weather days. I can have 4 boys hitting at one time. Our school also just built a field house but access is mostly for our soccer and football teams since it's a 60 yard turf field with 4 half court basketball courts on the side. I was told golf is at the bottom of the totem pole for access. But the net doesn't give my team the visual of the end result. I mainly want my team to see the distance and spin they get from each club like a driving range. Most of my golfers are extremely inexperienced. The slice and hook play a major role in their play.

[sgsst18]

SkyTrak will be the most affordable option and believe there are even payment plans available. The unit is under 2k and can simply be used with a net and computer/tablet. You could add a projector and impact screen but cost will go up. The website has some useful info. Good luck to you.

SkyTrak Features:

• Photometric Launch Monitor
  
• Completely Wireless Design
  
• Skytrak is iOS, Android and PC compliant
  
• Professional-Grade Accuracy
  
• Robust Set of Measured Parameters
  
  • Ball Speed
    
  • Launch Angle
    
  • Back Spin
    
  • Side Spin
    
  • Side Angle
    
  • Spin Axis
    
  • Total Spin
    

[dbleag]

Many GolfSmith stores closed across the country when Dick's Sporting Goods bought them.

 

Maybe you can pick up a used simulator from one near you.

[IsleOfMan]

Many GolfSmith stores closed across the country when Dick's Sporting Goods bought them.

 

Maybe you can pick up a used simulator from one near you.

 

You could have 10-12 months ago, but the sims were some of the first items to go when the liquidators came in, often to employees.

[Ryan5508]

skytrak is great until your new golfer either hits it with a ball or the club. Then you are done. Its not a very durable box. You also have yearly fees involved for practice and sim usage.

 

I also would not let them hit on an unprotected GC2.

 

Protee system if the most durable of the 3 I mentioned. Its the only one I would allow new golfers to play on personally. They definitely cant break it. You can buy a new system with sim software for $3k or used for under $1500.

[IsleOfMan]

I'd agree a protective case would be a good idea for any side-facing launch monitor, and they're not terribly expensive, even the metal ones.

 

If you're really rubbing pennies together, an older Vector Pro (predecessor to the SkyTrak, PC only) gives good reliable data. I have one I'd part with on the cheap, especially for a good cause. I know I'll regret it less when I don't have it come winter if I know it's going to a good program.

[Milfordlefty]

I'm a high school golf coach at a small school in Nebraska. This will be my 4th year as coach and I'm working very hard to build the program. Golf, unfortunately, does not get a lot of attention. Our local golf course is a 9-hole course with NO driving range. I'm trying to find an indoor simulator for my team to practice the range during inclement weather and the off season. Funds are not great so I'm trying to either find grant money or donation help. My district is 86% free & reduced lunch so many of my golfers do not normally get a lot of opportunities at experiences like this beyond school. Any ideas for an indoor range simulator?

 

Where in NE? Is there spot of land at the course for a driving range? Maybe a fundraiser project for the team to clear and build a range?

[CoachHayes]

I'm a high school golf coach at a small school in Nebraska. This will be my 4th year as coach and I'm working very hard to build the program. Golf, unfortunately, does not get a lot of attention. Our local golf course is a 9-hole course with NO driving range. I'm trying to find an indoor simulator for my team to practice the range during inclement weather and the off season. Funds are not great so I'm trying to either find grant money or donation help. My district is 86% free & reduced lunch so many of my golfers do not normally get a lot of opportunities at experiences like this beyond school. Any ideas for an indoor range simulator?

 

Where in NE? Is there spot of land at the course for a driving range? Maybe a fundraiser project for the team to clear and build a range?

 

Schuyler. I guess a while back there was a farmer that let the course use part of his land as a range. It was located on the opposite side of the course from the clubhouse. Not sure what all happened to why the land is no longer used as a range.

[Milfordlefty]

Closest businesses are in Omaha, so not an option. Simulators or launch monitors are expensive, so a used unit is likely the best option, but only one golfer at a time anyway. Any parent/adult have some land 250 yards long who would let you build a range? just need a piece of flat land long/wide enough. Used driving range balls and shag bags are relatively inexpensive on ebay. Doesn't solve the inclement weather issue. Good luck in your quest, thank you for donating your time.

[Scottie68]

If truly limited, there are swing speed radars which measure swing speed and ball speed, and use a calculation for distance depending on the club (where it assumes a given launch angle and spin). Certainly not a skytrak, but can be had for a couple hundred bucks.

[bradski]

Skytrak is the best budget system and with an Ipad you can hit shots and work on swings. I would look into some putting turf and run drills this way also.

- Ipad also should be great at filming swings and with the $5 V1 app you can review them with the students.

 

With more budget you could setup

 

-GC2, but the cost would be much more

-because you have an indoor gym you could look into flightscope (you need 16 feet or so for it to track a ball)

- I would look into some putting turf with a few holes where you can run putting drills.

[Hondabuff]

For the Money I would purchase two Flightscope Mevos and two range mats. Every kid has an iPhone or Ipod and can create an account to use and track stats.

[Milfordlefty]

For the Money I would purchase two Flightscope Mevos and two range mats. Every kid has an iPhone or Ipod and can create an account to use and track stats.

 

From the initial OP "My district is 86% free & reduced lunch" , so I wouldn't necessarily count on every player having an iphone or ipad.

Not everyone can spend the money the avg forum member can, some of us are on a budget too.

[Hondabuff]

For the Money I would purchase two Flightscope Mevos and two range mats. Every kid has an iPhone or Ipod and can create an account to use and track stats.

 

From the initial OP "My district is 86% free & reduced lunch" , so I wouldn't necessarily count on every player having an iphone or ipad.

Not everyone can spend the money the avg forum member can, some of us are on a budget too.

 

If you can get a Old Flat screen TV, You can use a cable from your smartphone to HDMI to the tv and have a larger display to see. I would approach this as a batting cage setup so it can be torn down quickly. $800 can get you a Mevo, Mat and a ipad2. Back in HS when I was on the golf team I would of killed for this setup in our gym. Even SC200's or ES12's could get you by. Depends really on how much cash you have for this project.

[Milfordlefty]

For the Money I would purchase two Flightscope Mevos and two range mats. Every kid has an iPhone or Ipod and can create an account to use and track stats.

 

From the initial OP "My district is 86% free & reduced lunch" , so I wouldn't necessarily count on every player having an iphone or ipad.

Not everyone can spend the money the avg forum member can, some of us are on a budget too.

 

If you can get a Old Flat screen TV, You can use a cable from your smartphone to HDMI to the tv and have a larger display to see. I would approach this as a batting cage setup so it can be torn down quickly. $800 can get you a Mevo, Mat and a ipad2. Back in HS when I was on the golf team I would of killed for this setup in our gym. Even SC200's or ES12's could get you by. Depends really on how much cash you have for this project.

 

That is a great idea. Run an outing at the course as a fundraiser?? Boys act has hosts, carry bags from car to carts, man the closest to pin and longest drive holes to mark the shots, on a long hole, find anyone (coach, player, parent, etc.) who can really hit it out there and have foursome pay money for a 5th shot, boys clean clubs as golfers come in, may get a tip, winning teams will sometimes donate their $$ back to the organization, ask some local businesses to sponsor holes and/or for products/services to auction or raffle off