What Are the Benefits of Golf Simulators?

There are many types of golf simulators, ranging in price from something you can build yourself to thousands of dollars and, sometimes, even more. A golf simulator, by definition, is something that simulates playing golf on a golf course. This can be broken down so much that simply swinging your arms and envisioning a golf shot could be considered a golf simulator. However, for the purpose of this article, golf simulators are defined as equipment that allows for some response and feedback to what a user is actually doing. This could be a screen that electronically projects a golf shot from where you hit it onto a screen and simulates the ball flight, including trajectory and shot shape, or it could be hitting golf balls into a net. Either way, the simulation is something that helps you feel, see and understand not only where your shot would have gone on a full course, but also perhaps why your shot went where it did.

Common Features

Many golf simulators attempt to simulate the last 9/10 of a golf shot by analyzing the first 1/10. It is somewhat accurate, but only to a point and can have a tendency to downplay the magnitude of a mishit, which causes a false sense of security in a shot. The more a shot veers offline, the more the simulator tries to justify bringing it back to its intended target. This is not so bad if you are trying to build confidence, but it is not helpful if you are trying to analyze your ball striking and shot making.

Benefits

Golf simulators can be very useful for keeping your golf game crisp and honed, especially during the winter season when most golf courses and driving ranges are closed and the weather does not permit practice. Golf simulators allow for extended practice time during periods of hostile weather, especially in regions that typically have longer cold seasons.
Another distinct advantage of using golf simulators is that they allow you to play courses that you may never have had the chance to see. Granted, a simulated round on a prestigious course is not the same as the real thing, but it is certainly better than not ever having the chance to look around your dream course at least once.

Shortcomings

Using a golf simulator cannot, and should not, replace hitting full shots at a course or driving range. There is no substitute for hitting full shots in the full effect of wind and weather. Golf simulators have a tendency to misjudge shots, sometimes not by very much at all, which can be frustrating and even cause you to develop poor tendencies once you go back to the real thing.

Expert Insight

Chuck Stogel of PGATour.com wrote an article reviewing the AboutGolf golf simulator and says, "As specialty shops have increased offering custom-fitting for customers buying clubs, AG simulators have become a very popular choice to assist in the process." Bill Bales, CEO of AboutGolf, offers his take on his company's product: "The goal of AboutGolf, in addition to having fun, is to apply simulator technology in ways that will help golfers improve their games. We do not see ourselves competing with golf courses. In fact, in-season, just as much as the off-season [in colder climates], this is where you go to get good. The course is where you go to play golf."

Try It

Basically, golf simulators are simply that, a simulation of a round of golf, but they are not fool-proof, nor do they claim to be. You will never know how you like them until you try them, and even then, they are not all the same.