1st Simulator Round

Plainbucknasty · February 16, 2012

This past weekend I played my first round in a PGA Tour Simulator. I have tried out clubs in simulators before, but had never played a round in one. I personally really enjoyed playing it, there's nothing that is like playing a real course, but this was nice to play in when the weather wouldn't allow me to be on a real course. The simulator seemed to be very accurate and responsive. Another possitive is being able to play courses that I will probably never be able to play in real life. I had fun and enjoyed it, just wanted to hear other experiences and thoughts.

One Gray GLI · February 17, 2012

That sounds awesome, I wouldn't even know where to find one nearby in NY, and I'm sure a round on it probably costs more than an actual round elsewhere :P

larrybud · February 17, 2012

What was the model of the simulator you played on?

I have yet to play on one which is accurate, because none I have played can detect ball spin. I have yet to play on "trackman the game", but I would think that one is pretty good.

One of the machine I've played on has to planes of infrared light that detects the ball. So from that it can determine ball speed, trajectory, and direction. However, it assumes that if the direction between the two planes is left, that the ball hooks, and if it's to the right, it slices. So since I hit a pull cut, the ball hooks like crap in the simulator.

The other one I've played supposedly can detect club head speed and club head angle. However, it doesn't know trajectory, so you choose the club on the computer. So it assumes a smash factor of whatever, and computes ball speed from that. I found that the shot shape to be more accurate on this one, but mishits aren't detected.

If they could combine the two technologies, then you'd have something.

Short game on either one is a crap shoot. Putting is difficult at best. Hard to judge a 30 footer when you're looking at the screen from 10 feet away.

FairwaysToHeaven · February 17, 2012

Recently played on one and the technology was the same as that on the GolfFix. It is definitely accurate and takes a couple holes to get the chipping/putting down but overall a lot of fun and pretty cool to play a course that the pros are playing that week and then go home and watch the same course and how they play.

They actually use these simulators to give lessons and fit clubs. other than not hitting off of actual turf, as good as outdoor fitting and being able to see distance and ball flight.

rblmp32 · February 17, 2012

I just played 18 on a true golf hd running e6 software , $30 for the round and range time before. Pebble Beach was the course and I had a great time. The simulator was accurate as hell Imo, except for putting. Even that was not bad. All in all I would reccomend it, and will be going back again for sure.

unlucky · February 17, 2012

here in Minnesota i play alot of simulator golf about 2 a month in the winter.

There are 2 sims close to my house. The one that i have played the most is old and out dated and not very accurate, but there is a new that just opened up and that uses the Pga tour simulator and those are really accurate. I would say if you can find a couple and see what they use and play the one with the Pga tour sims.

SteveL1 · February 19, 2012

We have a bar & grill that has 10, yes 10 simulators that are rented by the hour. $25/hr on weekdays and $40/hr for weekends. We had 12 guys about three weeks ago play Pebble Beach on three stalls next to each other and had a blast! The simulator was very accurate on most shots, even recording a shank as it really would be. Nope, not mine.:rolleyes:

Putting was the hardest aspect and we had them set it up for a gimmie inside of 6'. I think that some of the guys would still be there without that option! Not quite the same as being outside on a real course, but for mid winter in the Midwest, it was very fun just getting to hit the ball. Everyone brought their own clubs and some wore tennis shoes while others wore their golf shoes. I have on a brand new pair of FJ Sports and it was like having Velcro on my feet.

Had a difficult time with the 30-50 yard pitches as I was either way short or way long. Two doubles, 9 & 10, where I ended up hitting a 30 yrd pitch about 50 yards over the green and on to the beach. Had two birdies, very first hole where I hit a good drive and a pitching wedge to 3' and a par five that I reached in two and knocked the first putt to about 2'.

There was a foursome playing the Old Course at St. Andrews and had the putting set on difficlut with no gimmies and they were having a really hard time. Most were about 8-10 hdcp and none of them broke 100.

Tons of fun and will definitly go back again.

rblmp32 · February 19, 2012

[quote name='SteveL1' timestamp='1329672780' post='4323821']

Putting was the hardest aspect and we had them set it up for a gimmie inside of 6'. I think that some of the guys would still be there without that option! Not quite the same as being outside on a real course, but for mid winter in the Midwest, it was very fun just getting to hit the ball. Everyone brought their own clubs and some wore tennis shoes while others wore their golf shoes. I have on a brand new pair of FJ Sports and it was like having Velcro on my feet.

There was a foursome playing the Old Course at St. Andrews and had the putting set on difficlut with no gimmies and they were having a really hard time. Most were about 8-10 hdcp and none of them broke 100.

Tons of fun and will definitly go back again.
[/quote]

Putting is definitely tough to master. I would not want to play it without the gimmies on. I couldn't get the line down, was pulling every putt. Started pushing everything on purpose, but still it was shaky. Definitely gotta have that 6" gimmie setting on!

hoges11 · February 19, 2012

Been playing on the fullswing golf sims four times a week for the past 3 years, including regular club medals and some open competitions. You can have a really good enjoyable game on them, its not quite golf and as per the above posts the biggest issue is when trying to draw or fade which can confuse the sim. The short game and putting are just fine when you get used to them but you have to work off distances rather than what you see, you cant rely on the visuals. We play competitions with 6 feet gimmies (otherwise it would take some people all day) and the comps are very keenly contested. Some people are better at sim golf than outside others the other way round there isnt a pattern that all low handicappers can play good sim golf. I have an outdoor handicap (British system) of 10 and an indoor handicap that has been as low s +4 (U.S. system)1 There was a time i had to giveone of the indoor club pro's 8 shots !!

Plainbucknasty · February 22, 2012

aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator was type I played on (the same as the one on the Golf Fix). I really liked the feel of it because it has three projection screens, 1 in front and one on each side of the main screen. They give u a better visual feel of the course. This type also seemed fairly accurate at reading spin on the ball as my wedge shots would check up and spin. As some of you have pointed out the putting and chipping are the toughest things to pick up on, but once you get the hang of it it is pretty enjoyable.