Your Opinon/Experience of a Golf Simulator

[jkumpire]

Had to play/practice on something

Recently, I have been hitting balls at a local golf simulator near my home, since the nearest range is a long distance away, and it is cold.

It has been an interesting experience, and my swing has improved, doing drills and hitting balls there. I play a course sometimes, but usually I just hit balls on the range. I never putt, I tried it once and I knew in my heart I would screw up my putting game if I putted on a simulator.

Overall, other than inconsistent distances on my shots some I hit great, others I hit bad (and they don't feel like mishits), I think a simulator is a reasonable thing to have when winter does not allow you to play. It's not perfect, but it is better than sitting around.

What do the rest of you think? What have your experiences been, and do you see your real game get better as a result of practicing on one.

Thanks!

[Bite Bite]

Personally, I think that there are way to many golfers who are depending on golf simulators. Many people do not even hit the equipment that they are purchasing on the course. They just hit balls into a net and when the simulator says "slight draw with carry distance of 280 yeards" the sales reps hear **cha-ching cha-ching**. Hitting balls into a net for half an hour a day is good to stay loose and focus on making solid contact but without seeing your ball flight you are playing a guessing game. Who knows, maybe you are striking the ball sweet and it feels like butter but then you get out in the open and watch where your shots go and you are hitting a 40 yard slice. Then you have practiced all winter on how to slice the ball.

 

So yeah, hitting into a net is good but I would never rely on simulators for accurate shot readings or for my club purchases. 90% of the people who spent $2000.00 on new equipment over the winter will walk out onto the course and shoot the same scores as they did last year. Maybe a few strokes better than their usual 95.

 

I find that hitting balls into a net makes me rush and I really don't see any positive results. The course is the best way to go and the net works to stay loose, no need for a simulator and more headache.

[mantan]

Hitting balls of a simulator or mats in general has VERY limited value.

 

Most simulators (not LM's) are notoriously inaccurate, so I'd never use one to gauge how I was really hitting the ball. We've all seen the guy crushing drivers into the net in the Golfsmith sim that are all carry 270 with a 10 cent swing. You know the results aren't like the real world.

 

Plus hitting irons off a mat can cover up some impact faults that show up big time when you're back on real turf.

 

If you live in a climate where that's your only option during the winter, then it's an OK way to get your golf fix in. But I'd expect any true improvement to be a bonus.

[Mongo26]

I think their great to keep your swing in shape but the yardages they give are off at least when I used them. 340 yard drives and 200 yard 7 irons