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At SES we are frequently asked by our customers to give them a quick overview of the golf simulators that we carry. Often knowing a few pieces of key information about a product can really help to steer a customer in the right direction. So we thought it would be a good idea for us to come up with some highlights and quick pros and cons of the simulators we carry. But just to be clear to those who read this... there will be some favoritism with the products we carry. This is not some long case study, by an independent panel; these nuggets of information were put together by the staff at SES, whose job it is to find the best product for our customers. We sincerely hope you find these simulator reviews to be useful as you're learning more about the world of sports simulation.
Thank you, Todd Mallon - President, Sports Entertainment Specialists, Inc..
Please note: All of these simulators we carry can be customized, modified and offer many of the same exciting add-on accessories. For the purpose of this review we’ll set those similarities aside. If you are interested in these topics please check out our blog or contact a member of our sales staff.
Trugolf offers a complete lineup of golf simulators ranging from $7,000 to upwards of $80,000+. The structures are really where the differences lay. The Max Series is smaller and portable and more suited for residential use. The Signature and Premium are built for commercial use but also work well in some high-end residential applications. These two structures are designed for permanent installations and do require professional installation (which we can provide) where the Max series models typically do not.
Trugolf offers two levels of software: E6 Connect and Apex. This is commonly regarded as the best simulator software on the market. This software offers more than 100+ courses, full practice range, competition modes and lots of player options. Dynamic graphics and real physics provide the most realistic 3D imagery and gameplay available. A great feature of the software is the “Post Swing Analyzer” (PSA), standard on all models. The PSA gives you easy to read feedback after every shot and gives you BOTH club head data as well as ball flight data. Not many simulators on the market today offer this level of analysis standard.
The sensor technology for Trugolf’s simulators is called Apogee which uses camera-based sensors to detect with a very high degree of accuracy. These simulators are easy to use and very reliable and work great for both right and left handed golfers. Overall, Trugolf simulators offer an excellent experience, are simple to maintain, and it is also easy to replace the hitting pad and screen when it wears out.
The Trugolf Starter 10 and Max Series simulators are full-featured easy to install systems designed to enhance practice and play. They integrate a large-screen enclosure with the advanced, camera-based APOGEE Launch Monitor for lag-free gameplay. The entire lineup includes the APOGEE system, which measures comprehensive ball and club data without requiring marked equipment, and features the extensive E6 CONNECT and E6 APEX software suites with access to over 100+ world-renowned golf courses.
The Max model is the most accessible option, providing the core 1080p simulation experience and enclosure, but requires the user to supply their own gaming PC and monitor.
The Max + model includes more technology and software, featuring a dedicated gaming PC, a touch screen monitor, and the E6 CONNECT Commercial Suite.
The Max 4K model is the premium offering, delivering the highest visual fidelity with a true 4K projector, a 4K Gaming PC, and a touch screen monitor.
The Foresight Sports GC Quad monitors are known as the one of the best tools for getting accurate data in golf. This strong foundation of camera technology is what makes Foresight's launch monitors so good. It measures how the ball flies based on its launch and spin very well making it a flexible practice tool that can also be taken outside to the driving range.
However, when you move from a great launch monitor to a complete home simulator, you see the biggest problem with the Foresight system. Many people feel like the company constantly tries to get more money out of them, which makes the initial excitement fade fast. The "Sim in a Box" packages seem easy, but the sticker price is often just the start. To get the best experience, including access to popular courses and the FSX Play software, or connecting to other games like GSPro, you often need to pay continuous or large upfront fees after buying the main hardware. This way of charging for software makes the total cost much higher than competitors that include everything in one price.
Also, even though the hardware is amazing, the main software's design and features, especially in older versions like FSX 2020, feel less smooth than other simulators. It seems like the software was made by engineers who care about data, not designers who care about fun. Things like finding menus, starting a round, and setting up the system can be too complicated. This takes away from the easy, "just-start-playing" feel you pay for. One of the most annoying issues during a virtual round is dealing with the tall grass and native rough. It is way too easy to get stuck, turning normal recovery shots into several, hacks and chip-outs that ruin the game's flow and realism.
In short, the GC-powered simulators give you the great data accuracy for improving your game, and the launch monitor part is portable. However, the overall value is hurt by the high final cost because of extra software fees and a system that is often harder to use than systems that offer better entertainment.
If you're in the market for a launch monitor, click here to see our recommended offerings.
The Elite is a multi-sport platform with an excellent golf simulation. With this system you get much more of a wide ranging entertaining experience with the multiple sports included. This is the perfect family sports simulator, where dad can have his golf and the kids can play the other sports. Because this appeals to more than just golfers, this simulator is a perfect fit for commercial settings like family activity centers game rooms and also trade shows. Very popular in the international market (probably because of the soccer program) the models are portable and relatively inexpensive.
The Elite is "all on board" offering Full Swing Golf Software on their golf simulators. They have added an overhead tracking system. This provides video playback of the ball at the point of impact, which is great for checking the face angle of your club face at impact. These new cameras boast a full and comprehensive analysis of your swing. With over 600 fps, it has the fastest frame rate on the market for an overhead camera sensor. This camera system captures your club data, including path, face-angle, and point of impact in real-time, as well as allowing for post-shot playback to view your swing with meticulous detail. With the interface and great post-shot analysis, you won’t miss a single point of vital swing data.
Note these are generalities...
When someone is looking for a great golf simulator with towards entertainment and game improvement capabilities we suggest Trugolf. And when someone is looking for a well-rounded sports simulator that is entertainment focused we’ll steer them towards the Full Swing Elite system.
At SES we truly strive to match up our customer’s needs with the products we feel are the best on the market. We are always evaluating new products and if we find a new golf simulator that meets our standards we’ll add it to our list of reviews. If you have any questions about these products please feel free to contact us at your convenience we are always happy to hear from you.
Thanks,
The SES Staff
Please note: This article is written only to help inform potential customers. In no way does Sports Entertainment Specialists, Inc. or its agents, guarantee or warrant any claims in this article. All customers are encouraged to do their own research and create their own business plan.
