Trackman is now one of the most recognisable brands in the entire golfing sphere. You see Trackman everywhere. If you turn on the TV and see PGA Tour players practicing on the range, they will most likely have a Trackman. The ball tracer you see when the players hit shots, that’s Trackman. Local driving ranges are now “powered by Trackman”, and if you go a see your local professional for a lesson. There is a good chance their launch monitor will be a Trackman. Why is everyone using a Trackman? Read on to find out more.
How does it work?
Trackman is a dual radar-based system to track both the golf club and ball, before, during and after impact. One of the radars is a short range, ultra high-resolution system. This is focused on putting, club and impact data. The second radar is a long range, high accuracy ball tracking system. This radar is used to track the golf ball through the entirety of its flight, for the most accurate data. These two radar systems work in sync with each other, to produce arguably the most accurate launch monitor data possible. There is also a high-speed camera that is built into the system to help gain even more accurate data through impact. All this technology packed into one small unit, makes the Trackman incredibly dependable and accurate both indoors and outside on the range or golf course. This is one of the reasons it is so widely used.
What does it measure?
Let’s look at what data parameters Trackman can offer.
Club Data
Club Speed, Attack Angle, Dynamic Loft, Club Path, Face Angle, Face to Path, Spin Loft, Swing Plane, Swing Direction, Low Point, Impact Height, Impact Offset, Dynamic Lie.
Ball Data
Ball Speed, Smash Factor, Launch Angle, Spin Rate, Launch Direction, Spin Axis, Height, Curve, Landing Angle, Carry, Side, Total, Side Total.
Putting Club Data
Club Speed, Backswing Time, Stroke Length, Forward Swing Time, Tempo, Dynamic Lie, Attack Angle, Club Path, Face Angle, Face to Path.
Putting Ball Data
Launch Direction, Ball Speed, Skid Distance, Roll Speed, Speed Drop, Roll %, Break, Entry Speed Distance, Total Distance, Side.
Putting Green Data
Effective Stimp, Stimp (Flat), Elevation, Slope % side, Slope % rise.
As you can see, virtually every data parameter you could ever want to measure in golf is covered by Trackman. The amount of data given to you is truly unmeasurable against its competitors. This is one of the reasons why so many touring professionals and coaches alike trust Trackman. Every piece of data given can be used to understand how you or your client swings the golf club and how that subsequently effects their ball flight. If all this data at your fingertips looks overwhelming, there is no need to worry. Trackman have their own educational programme called, Trackman University. With this, you can learn all about the data you will be using. You can also take trackman level 1 and 2 courses to become an accredited Trackman user, further bolstering your knowledge and understanding about the equipment and technology you are using.
How do I set it up?
The Trackman set up process is so simple it takes less than one minute to do. Firstly, if you are using Trackman indoors, you will need at least 10-13ft from the ball to your impact screen. You will also need 7-8ft from the hitting area to the Trackman. To start the process, pull down the back rest of the Trackman until it clicks into place. The front supporting legs will automatically lower themselves from the unit. Now place the unit 7-8ft behind the golf ball lining up the front camera on the unit with the golf ball and your intended target. You can now open either the Trackman Go app on a mobile device or iPad and connect you Trackman using the built in Wi-Fi. Or if you’re using a PC or laptop, you will open Trackman Performance Studio application. With this you can connect the unit using either Wi-Fi or ethernet cable. Once you are connected you can use the built-in camera to align your unit with the hitting area and your intended target. You are now ready to go.
Where can I use it?
One of the beauties of Trackman is that it can be used indoors, and the range or out on the course. This means you can collect data in any environment. This lends itself as an incredible tool to coaches and players everywhere. You can practice and play golf indoors, then see if your data changes when you hit the golf course. This can be incredibly valuable to elite players and coaches who are trying to gain advantage possible, in the pursuit of playing their best golf.
With over 170 worldwide courses available, Trackman is also one of the most comprehensive systems available for home simulation or use in a commercial golf studio. You and your clients will never get bored of the fantastic courses on offer to play, with new ones being added each month. From Pebble Beach to St. Andrews Old Course, there truly is something for everyone.
As well as the gameplay, there is a target practice range where you can create virtually any shot imaginable. You can also practice different shots on any of the 170+ courses with on course practice. The Trackman Performance Studio also offers games such as, closest to the pin, longest drive and capture the flag to name a few. It really is the most comprehensive system on the market today.
Pricing:
Trackman 4, Indoor Software - £17,928
Trackman 4, Indoor/Outdoor Software - £21,895
Final Thoughts.
With the amount of data Trackman gives, it’s a serious piece of kit. It really lends itself to the Golf Coach who wants to provide a complete data package for their clients, an elite player who wants to get the best out of their game. Or a commercial indoor centre that wants the best technology to wow their customers. However, if you bought one of these for you home simulator, you would never use another launch monitor again. The Trackman 4 really does cover all bases, and for that reason we can conclude that Trackman 4 really is the King of Launch Monitors.
Harrison Peck PGA Professional
