By: Fred Altvater
When the topic of technology comes up, most golfers immediately think about the ball that flies farther and club improvements that make them easier to use, but technology is also making huge changes in every aspect of the game.
Trackman
Trackman, developed by the people that provide tracking systems for military weapons, provides yardage, spin rate, launch angle, carry, and every other number you could possibly imagine for a golfer and is responsible for club fitting and professional golfers dialing in each club to precise measurements.
FlightScope is another name used to completely overwhelm the average golfer and make him think he is going to be the next Tiger “Freakin” Woods.
Technology, Trackman, FlightScope, spin rate, launch angle, ball speed, Oh MY, is it all too much?
TopGolf
TopGolf uses a micro-chip inside the golf ball to record accuracy and distance at multi-million-dollar food, entertainment and golf facilities across the nation. They attracted 10 million revelers through their doors last year. These are for the party hearty and are a boon for millennials, who grew up with video games, but is TopGolf for real golfers?
The Shark Experience
Greg Norman just announced his newest business venture, the “Shark Experience,” in partnership with Verizon, Club Car and GPSI.
The Shark Experience turns a 10-inch video monitor and two specially designed speakers, installed into a golf cart into the hub for music, information, live television programming, video golf lessons, personal shot-tracer technology and more. The product will debut on 50,000 Club Cars in 2018 and will be included on each of the company’s carts going forward.
Get the comfort of your big screen right in your golf cart compliments of the Shark.
Trackman Driving Range APP
Trackman continues to make its product more accessible to the average golfer. They partnered with Carl’s Driving Range in Detroit to install the first Trackman Range APP in the country. Once you get your bucket of balls at Carl’s, you dial up the Trackman Range APP on your phone, punch in your mat number and Trackman will give you a readout on every shot you hit. Spin Rate, Carry Distance, Ball Speed, and Launch Angle readings make sure you are getting the most out of your practice time.
The Trackman Range APP even includes games that you can play against your friends, while at the range.
Real-time Virtual Golf, What’s NEXT?
Club Fitting
Club Fitting, has become the biggest business for golf professionals these days. It seems every teaching professional, driving range and pro shop has a Trackman or FlightScope to accurately predict what loft, flex, and brand of golf club best suits your swing.
If you are going to spend a couple of grand on new sticks, you should go all the way and be properly fitted, as well.
Golf Simulators
Another golf technology phenomena is the golf simulator. AboutGolf, Full Swing and Ace Indoor, to name just a few, produce indoor golf simulators to enjoy golf indoors, when the weather is less than pleasant outside.
Golfaholics can continue to get in their appointed rounds using the latest and greatest technology.
Range Finders
It seems everyone on a golf course has a Range Finder, and loves to use it to slow down play. It doesn’t matter that the golfer can’t hit his 9-iron 125 yards consistently, he pulls it out of the bag anyway, then dumps his approach shot in to the bunker. (Discussion for another day.)
Where does it end?
Is all of this Hi-Tech Gadgetry right for the average golfer?
As long as golfers will buy it, the companies will continue to produce it.
It is not going to end any time soon. Large corporations are banking on the fact that golfers will go to great lengths to grab up anything that they think will make them a better golfer. We are all so technologically advanced that it seems to be completely normal to carry our technology fetish onto the golf course.
