Go Into Winter With a Full Swing (Simulator, that is)

Have you put away your clubs for the winter?  That's a big mistake, especially if you live in New York City or the vicinity.  For one thing, you can hone your game indoors at Chelsea Piers on the Full Swing Golf Simulators--or even put one into your home as hundreds of dedicated golfers and fun seekers have done.  Forget the old, clunky simulators you may have experienced a few years ago. Today's technology is remarkably close to the real thing and, better yet, equipped with game-improvement tools that can make a huge difference in your score.

That's why so many top players like Hunter Mahan and Ian Poulter have put Full Swing Simulators into their homes.  You can, too, for a remarkably reasonable price.  More on that later.

I checked out a Full Swing Simulator with rep Matt Cook recently.  It happened to be located in the offices of a law firm in Manhattan, which demonstrated just how flexible the installation can be. It was also the first time I ever willingly spent time visiting a lawyer.  The demonstrations showed just how advanced the units are, providing instantaneous feedback on every swing with proprietary technology that puts Full Swing far ahead of the competition.

Full Swing Simulators actually use two types of viewing devices to provide accuracy and responsiveness.  One is infra-red tracking provided by two windows in the floor of the installation that track the actual flight of your ball.  Other simulator (and launch monitor) technologies merely project what's happening in flight using algorithms based on your swing speed, launch angle, and other factors.  The infra-red system also means you don't need to use specially-marked balls to get accurate readings.

The other viewing device is Ion2 Vision technology, an all-new camera-based system that focuses on club head and ball flight behavior.  It's a thin-profile unit that mounts almost flush with the simulator ceiling and uses high-speed cameras to measure your results.  Most competing camera solutions require that you hit from the same 4-6 inch spot on the mat but the Ion2's field of view is an 18-inch diameter, so Ion2 finds your ball and automatically adjusts the target line within the software.  You'll get instant feedback on back spin, side spin, spin axis, club head speed, face angle, and club path.  All Full Swing Simulators come with E6 Software, that, coupled with the vision technology, gives you the most realistic motion graphics available.

The Swing Catalyst is an option you'll love. It provides video of every swing you make along with stats that measure things like the rhythm of your swing (the ratio of time taken for your back-swing to your through-swing).  Want to know why your approach shot on Pebble Beach's eighth hole fell into the ocean instead of landing on the green? You can check out the actual swing you made to find out.

The Full Swing Simulator provides up to 86 courses to play and practice as well as scoring for numerous games and wagers for up to eight players.  Want this in-home golf course for yourself?  They start at just $45,000 for a system with a custom design and training person to make it work for you.

One of the many cool features of the Full Swing Simulator is the "boost" setting, which allows your kids to hit the ball as far as you do--or vice versa!  Sounds like a great way to get the whole family involved in golf, doesn't it?  And for those times when pasture pool isn't on the agenda, the system provides a powerful gaming computer with high definition projection that will "wow" even the hardiest gamer.  Great family Christmas present? You bet!

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf