Author

John Spagnola

Simulator Tips

SkyTrak Tips For A Great In Home Golf Simulator Experience

by John Spagnola
written by John Spagnola

For most golfers, the idea of an in-home golf simulator is nothing more than a fantasy. However, with advancements in technology, your own golf simulator is now more attainable than ever. Gone are the days when a simulator installation costs 30, 40 thousand or more. Now, with SkyTrak you can get accurate, real-time data and course play at an affordable price. 

When making the decision to add an in-home launch monitor/golf simulator setup, the first question to ask is “where?” Whether you plan to custom build a golf studio or repurpose that space in your basement or garage, these questions need to be addressed:

  • Do I have enough room to comfortably swing a club? To test this, grab your driver, take a swing and ensure you have sufficient height, width and depth available. 
  • What setup best fits my space? Is there sufficient room for a hitting bay with a projector or is a smaller setup with a hitting mat/net combination optimal for my available space?
  • What am I looking to get out of my setup? A dual-purpose golf simulator/home theater? Am I more interested in game improvement and data tracking or playing championship golf courses with friends and family? Or, all the above? 

After you’ve addressed these pre-setup questions, make a plan. If you have the space and budget, a custom-built golf studio with projection is the optimal path. For the more budget conscious, there are numerous turnkey do-it-yourself options that are simple to assemble and provide an immersive simulation experience. If your available space and budget are limited, a simple setup with a hitting mat/net combination will still provide great feedback and is a very effective solution. Many SkyTrak customers use the system in smaller spaces by connecting their mobile devices to a TV or external monitor to maximize their visual experience. Want some inspiration for your space? Check out these SkyTrak setups!

Next, address your objectives/goals. Are you looking for more insights and data on your game to improve your on-course performance? Take advantage of the numerous game improvement options available in the software and mobile app. Or, if you’re interested in course play, there are a variety of excellent options available; nearly every golf course imaginable available to play at your convenience from the comfort of your home.

Finally, set your plan into motion. This setup is where you and your family will be spending the majority of your free time so it’s important to get it right.

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Launch Monitor

Get the Most Out of Your Range Session with Practice Area Features

by John Spagnola
written by John Spagnola

On the SkyTrak practice range, you will get all the data you need to take charge of your game.

How are you using the SkyTrak Practice Range? Keep reading to get the most our of your SkyTrak sessions.

On the SkyTrak Practice Range, you will get all the data you need to take charge of your game. From ball speed, side angle, backspin, side spin, launch angle, and a calculated club speed, you will have the same data the pros use to fine-tune their game. On the main screen on the driving range, there are two tabs that grants you access to some changeable features.

On the left side of the screen (under distance), you will see a Practice Area setting. To access these features, you must be signed into your SkyTrak account. Once you click on Practice Area, you will be able to gain access to the Practice Greens and Practice Fairway feature.

From here you will be able to give your green or fairway a desired shape and difficulty. The harder the setting, the more you will need to focus in your practice sessions. At the bottom of the screen, you have access to the Randomizer feature that allows you to simulate shots you will see on the course. The Practice Green feature is one of my favorites that I use. I used to go for every pin regardless of the trouble. That would get me into some tough up and down situations. When I started using the Practice Green feature I started aiming for the middle of the green and I noticed out on the course my GIR per round went up significantly. If you are looking for more ways to use the Practice Green/Fairway feature, Top 100 Instructor Joe Hallett shows us how to get the most out of these features.

The second tab is the menu icon in the upper right – this is where you can adjust the Practice Settings.

In the Settings tab, you have the ability to change the camera angle and the number of tracer shots. You can change the elevation, wind speed and direction. It’s fun to see how much wind can affect the shot shape, distance, and shot dispersion.

Take advantage of these features and start hitting more greens!

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Improvement

From the Range to the Course

by John Spagnola
written by John Spagnola

One question I always received as a teaching professional was, ​“why can’t I take my range game to the course?” As golfers, we are always trying to mess with our swing, mess with our equipment, or we mess with our setup. But we often neglect how to transfer our practice sessions to the course.

One mistake I see is that most players spend too much time on block practice. ​“Block” is the type of practice where golfers tend to hit a full bucket of balls without having any purpose or goal in mind. Most of the time it is to just to get the body loose. Block practice does have some creditability if you are working on a swing movement and you need repetition to get comfortable with the new movement. Your practice sessions should align with what you will do out on the course.

  • Pre-Shot Routine
  • Commit to the shot
  • Post shot feedback

On the range you should go through your pre-shot routine. You visualize the shot, measure your distances, and take the conditions into account. After you go through your pre-shot routine you commit to your shot. Finally, you analyze your shot and assess what you did good and bad. Out on the course you will not hit the same yardage multiple shots in a row. It is always random distances for every shot. With SkyTrak, you have the Randomizer feature that allows you to hit random distances with each shot. This allows you to take your practice sessions to the course easier.

You can access this feature on the Practice Range or the Skills Assessment feature. When I am struggling in the long or short part of my bag, I turn on the Randomizer and see what my shot tendencies are. That way I can plan for any course I can play. This helps me eliminate any pressure or nervousness I feel out on the course. I challenge all #SkyTrakUsers to use the Randomizer each week. You will see dramatic improvements in your ball striking and your scores!

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