When most people think about playing a round of golf, they usually picture standing outside on a golf course on a beautiful day with clear blue skies. While this is the most common scenario, golfers who practice a lot have another option: an indoor golf simulator. This is a system that allows them to play and practice without ever leaving their homes. When you see them play, you might wonder how the system works. Below, we will break it down.
The Basics
How golf simulators work is very easy to understand. You start by placing the ball on the swing mat. Depending on the system you have, you might have to place the ball on a specific spot while on other systems, you can place the ball anywhere. Once you have done this, take your club and hit the ball as you would when playing on a golf course.
The ball will hit the screen and the simulator software will start analyzing the data it receives. Such data includes the club you used, the speed of the swing, the force of the swing, the elevation of the ball and a lot more. The data is used to pinpoint where the ball will land and show you the entire flight of the ball on the screen in real-time.
The simulator will take you to the next shot and you just have to keep hitting the ball until you are done with the round. Some simulators also allow for putting and chipping. Once all the data is in, the simulator might show you areas of improvement.
Simulator Vs Launch Monitor
A launch monitor collects various data points and it is usually paired with a golf simulator or simulator software. The software is the one that does the hard work of analyzing the data and showing you the flight of the ball on the screen. The simulator is also the one that creates the virtual golf course so that you have a better understanding of the course you are playing or training on.
Setting up a Golf Simulator
There are various interlocking pieces that you need to have the best golfing experience. Before setting up all the physical stuff, you need enough space to swing your club so as not to hit anything in the house.
The other things you need include:
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The golf simulator software
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A golf net
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A computer to run the software
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A launch monitor
You can always decide to opt for a projection screen instead of the golf net. If you do this, you also need a golf simulator projector.
Since it can be quite expensive to assemble the set up yourself, you can always look into Minnesota Indoor Golf Simulators. This allows you to play and practice using simulators that are already set up for you.
Conclusion
Practicing your swing does not necessarily mean that you have to go to a golf course. Try an indoor golf simulator and see how much fun it is!
