Titleist Golf Ball Marketing Team Indoor Golf Outing (cont'd)

In planning our team indoor golf event, we insisted on a TrackMan facility because our work goal for the day was to experience new Radar Capture Technology (RCT), which Titleist developed in partnership with TrackMan. We introduced Pro V1 RCT  and Pro V1x RCT back in November, but Michael Fish, Product Manager of Titleist Golf Balls, provided us with a surprise – prototypes of new AVX RCT and Pro V1x Left Dash RCT. Titleist Golf Ball Fitting teams are already using these prototypes in their indoor fittings and we hope to bring both models to market later this spring.

Many of us hadn't played or practiced before at an indoor facility. I had recently gone through an outdoor fitting and I saved my launch numbers from the day. I was amazed at how closely my indoor numbers with Pro V1 RCT reflected what I had seen just a few weeks prior at our Manchester Lane Test Facility. As Michael Fish told us, reliable capture of ball spin data is the key. With precisely measured spin rate (not estimated), TrackMan can then faithfully project how your shots launch, curve, carry and roll.

I really enjoyed experimenting at Newport with the height and curve of shots. For me, the only drawback to indoor golf is hitting off mats. You just can't simulate the feel of taking a proper divot with an iron shot and you can get away with some really fat contact that would kill you on real turf. But I do have a great work-around to practice your low-point control indoors. Several companies now offer thin velcro mats or textured "divot boards" that give great visual feedback on where and how your club makes contact with the ground. But for an even easier hack, spray some quick-drying foot spray right onto the mat surface. As you hit balls, you'll clearly see where your club bottoms out, how square your face is at impact, and the direction of your divot - all great pieces of feedback when you don't have the benefit of real grass. Spray the face of your club, too, to see where you're making contact with the ball and to train center-face contact.

 

Having recently relocated from a 12-month per year golf climate to New England, I’m going through the longest golf drought in 5+ years. Indoor golf is a bridge from one season to the next and I absolutely think I’ll be participating in more indoor golf soon. The chance to stay connected, to the game and friends, is a perk of the indoor game in a seasonal region.

I recently made a switch from CB irons to T100s, and the ability to confidently swing indoors and begin learning my new carry distances is greatly improved with RCT and the accurate spin rates it allowed TrackMan to record. I’m also a high spin player, this was one of several reasons T100s made sense for my game. Tracking spin and understanding how my game will shift with new irons required confidence in the spin numbers that I was looking at indoors, because spin translates into carry, roll, total distance, angle of descent and dispersion.

LOL. Not sure the shop will appreciate spraying their mats with white powder. Aside from the issue of hitting from mats, the other problem is simulating putts. Hitting on a constant plane field for uphill, downhill, and side slants is much more difficult, especially for feel putters to adjust speed. That said, the launch, club head speed, ball speed, and carry are not far off from real world. My choice is that or slightly warmer than the actual temperature outdoor bay with balls pried from mud far too many times. A true “box of chocolates”. This is my first year going indoors and I was close to “mid-season” form at the TTI. Well, at least for tee to green. Need more practice on actual greens for that.

As a former collegiate player, I would see lots of great insight from using RCT. Spin plays such a big factor for TrackMan and really determines most of the projections on every shot. Having more accurate numbers would allow me, as a player, to effectively analyze my game shot to shot and learn what I need to focus on. I recently introduced RCT to the Boston College Men's Golf Team and lots of players reported their numbers being closer to actuals when they play outdoors. A team in the northeast that works indoors for months at a time needs a product like this to effectively prepare for the season when they do not have the option to see ball flight on the course. Overall, RCT provides dedicated golfers with a product to effectively analyze shots indoors and convert them into on-course improvement.

I average about 3 times a month in an indoor dome and about twice a winter I play on a simulator - they are just okay. It kind of feels like a video game with golf clubs.

I average about 3 times a month in an indoor dome and about twice a winter I play on a simulator - they are just okay. It kind of feels like a video game with golf clubs.

My golf club fitted a indoor golf simulator a few years ago.
It get regular visits over the winter period by me and a few other when our course is closed.
Definitely would love one similar set up in my house / garage.
Hopefully the practice pays off this season ️‍♂️

Last winter I did use a Trackman indoors to work on a few things. This winter I just went to Florida for the winter!

It just doesn't work for me. I basically can only play eight month a year, at best due to the weather. I do stretch, swing a club, and putt every day, but, I do it in my home.

I work in a pro shop at a Mid-Atlantic golf club. We have 3 simulators set up from December to March, with league play there all winter, as well as open public tee times. Part of my responsibility is to get the sims set up each week for the different leagues, so I am very familiar with the equipment. However, I rarely use the systems, even though they cost me nothing to do so. I just don't enjoy hitting inside. I find I don't feel comfortable swinging indoors. I may take a few swings every now and then, but I get no satisfaction swinging/hitting into a virtual golf screen. I'd rather hit outside in the cold off of a mat in the winter, just for the enjoyment of watching my actual ball flight....in real life.

Luckily, I live in an area where we play all year! Indoor golf is growing in popularity in my hometown in upstate NY and I can’t wait to give it a go. It’s a great alternative to bowling for those long winter days and a great way to prepare for the outdoor season!

Now that I am a year round FL resident, there's no need for indoor golf. When I lived in NY, we had an indoor "Winter League" at a place that had 5 screens. 2 man team Stableford. Weekly, entry fee included golf, Pizza and Soda, and kick in to the end of season prize pool. No liquor license, so you had to BYO if you wanted a couple of brewskis. A great way to get your winter golf fix.

Although I lived in Melbourne and we are blessed by being surrounded by an exquisite palette of golf courses in the Sandbelt, Mornington Peninsula and Bellarine Peninsula, I think the popularity and train-based use of indoor golf bays will only expound in the years to come.

Indoor golf has become an alternative for the least pleasant golfing seasons, overall rainy days and seekers of mere entertainment. It ticks of all the boxes, however, I do miss the turf interaction. It is something that is unattainable with artificial turfs (mats)

I have used the indoor simulator but only recently and on a limited basis. The only appeal, for me, to use it would be during the New England off-season, and I am often be content to rest the sticks for a few months.

That said, it's fun the play famous holes/course on the simulator and, by the way, I'm only 90 minutes from Newport the next time you're putting together a group!

If there was one closer to my area I would probably go more often during the winter months.

This has been something that has been increasing in popularity this past year. Many courses are using them for the off-season to keep the kitchens open, keep the revenue coming, and more importantly keep the camaraderie. The only issues I have are the size of the rooms can be tight, the chipping isn’t always accurate, and the room fee is by hour, not person so the practices can get expensive if going by yourself. It is fun to keep the swing going, but nothing replaces a day in the links!

I’m an avid indoor golfer- it’s something social to do in the tough New England winters. I use it mostly to get swings in off season. Trackman simulators are tough to come by in my area, but they are definitely a premium experience with tools that can help improve your game, especially with the addition of RCT- will certainly be on the lookout! I think RCT gives you direction at an indoor golf experience. I haven’t played a round with them, but just being able to understand why you missed or hit a really clean shot is helpful especially as we start to think about moving the season outdoors. I was very interested in launch angle and club face angle. Those two elements and making adjustments accordingly can have a significant impact.

I wish there was one closer to me. I've considered putting one in my garage but not sure how great the budget friendly ones actually are...

Ive played indoor golf by my area. Around my way it's an average of $55 dollars an hour. An hour is not long enough when you are swinging away. It can get very expensive but a lot of fun.

I practice and take lessons regularly at Apex Golf in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Although nothing compares to taking lessons, practicing and playing outdoors, I have greatly benefited from being able to work on my game during the long, cold winters around here. In addition to 4 TrackMan bays, they also have a pressure mat and a RoboGolfPro.