AG Trackman

[Deleted Member 1156]

I tried a couple of drivers in my local AG store today. Some of the readings coming off the trackman were quite simply impossible. Swing speed was 96-98mph which is about right for me but what I couldn't believe was the ball speed. Often in excess of 160mph which is frankly impossible from that sort of swingspeed. Most amateurs can achive a smash factor around 1.4 to 1.45 with pros around 1.5. So even if I was striking the ball sweetly out the middle every time and achieving 1.5 that only equates to a ball speed of <150mph from my swingspeed.

Can't help but think these machines are set up to make punters think they are better than they really are

 

[Ethan]

It is possible ......... If your club and ball have accidentally stumbled on to some kind of cold fusion method of unleashing the hidden nuclear energy in their atoms. There could be a Nobel Prize in physics in this for you.

Or maybe the machine is turned up to 11.

 

[bobmac]

Did you try your own driver for comparison?

 

[BTatHome]

What did they say when you confronted them ?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

No Bob as I don't know what the true figures are for my driver to compare against.

I did mention the figures to the guy but he just shrugged it off saying my ball striking was very impressive.

TBH, really not that interested in jumped up numbers, how a club performs on the course is obviously more important. It really is nothing more than a comparison tool between different clubs.

 

[swanny32]

One of my friends used to work at AG and he admitted to me that the stats on them are embellished to give the impression you are hitting the ball further and straighter than ever before.

 

[Foxholer]

Did you try your own driver for comparison?

This is, indeed, the only proper way!

And not only at the start, but also during comparisons without any intervention from the 'fitter'.

You can say that you want to re-calibrate after being warmed up, but the results should show any fiddling they've done to boost their figures - and a smash factor of 1.5 is indeed the max possible with legal Drivers.

 

[RGDave]

I find it a little suspect.

Last time on the AG trackman, I was up at 87-91 mph. Which is 5-10 mph more than usual.

Then again, I have been taking lessons and working hard.

Is it possible some of the swings were faster? or did you actually see 160 ball speed off 98 mph.....which could be a bit of a whistle blowing moment.

 

[DannyOT]

I've also noticed that the little putting green in most AG stores are sloped straight towards the hole.

 

[stevelev]

I've also noticed that the little putting green in most AG stores are sloped straight towards the hole.

Is that towards all 3 holes, must be like a toblerone. :whoo:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not only would I never trust the numbers on these machines at AG but in the majority of cases I wouldn't trust the staff to be able to interpret the information correctly either. I'd rather go to my local driving range where I know the pro and the staff or my local club pro

 

[wrighty1874]

And they let you believe a wedge flies 150 yards!!!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Is it not against the law? False advertising or something like that ie making you believe a product is better than it really is?

Personally id never buy a club without taking it on the range at least.

 

[jdchelsea]

In my search for a new driver I went in to ag and tried out their launch monitor. I wrestle with a slice off the tee with my driver but when I hit shots on theirs not one slice was registered. Some pushes and pulls but no slices or hooks only straight ball flight-miraculous!! This was also true for my friend who was looking for new irons. He was also getting nearly 30 more yards with his irons.

Staff were also very keen to emphasize how well we were swinging the club and we both got the "do you really play off that handicap" line and from different shop assistants.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

In my search for a new driver I went in to ag and tried out their launch monitor. I wrestle with a slice off the tee with my driver but when I hit shots on theirs not one slice was registered. Some pushes and pulls but no slices or hooks only straight ball flight-miraculous!! This was also true for my friend who was looking for new irons. He was also getting nearly 30 more yards with his irons.

Staff were also very keen to emphasize how well we were swinging the club and we both got the "do you really play off that handicap" line and from different shop assistants.

Come to think of it, I have noticed that the wind in the american golf simulator is ALWAYS downwind, never right to let. Maybe that is why drives in there always go long and straight?

RGDave, that 160 ball speed was consistently from swings around the 98mph range, I really struggle to get any more speed even when I try to lash it.

 

[MKDave]

When my dad used the one in Milton Keynes to try out the Wilson Irons he wanted to buy, the distance between his then current donnay clubs vs the new wilsons were pretty much the same. Also when he tried out the Cobra S3 3 wood to match his 5 wood and driver the distance he hit that was very accurate to how he hits it on the course.

I do like the idea of hitting out onto a range to watch ball flight etc but as a comparison tool does it really matter if they are 'pumping up' the stats providing the settings don't change between different sets?

I'm buying some new irons in July and am going to use American golf.

 

[sev112]

Might it not have something to do with lower humidity and therefore less air resistance indoors, which would allow the club to be swinging faster than outdoors ?