Practicing with a Launch Monitor

[dhc1]

What's the best way to practice with trackman as I now have free access to one? Thanks.

[cwdlaw223]

Understand the definitions first and foremost when it comes to path, face angle and AoA.

Watch out trying to chase club data numbers every day.

Also, the machine forces you to always aim dead straight. I suspect the numbers are skewed if one doesn't aim dead straight.

I like it for little tweaks, but lasting swing changes are hard to come by with just Tman.

Of course, I used to be married to the device but we are now separated.

Too many intelligent people have raised legitimate issues regarding the club data. Still better than guessing IMO.

[Richie3Jack]

I agree with cwdlaw223.

You really need to understand the definitions of the data. You will also find that it will help you with alignment. Now, I think address alignment can be very overrated. But, Trackman can do a good job of getting you out of aiming too far right or too far left of the target, particularly with the club face.

I would bring a camera. Trackman's built in camera is set too low and too close for my tastes.

You will probably want to get your initial readings first. You may see too steep of an attack angle or a path that is too inside-to-out or outside-to-in, etc.

The initial readings will help you get an idea of what your impact conditions are and help get an idea of what pieces of impact are giving you the most issues.

From there, it will help identify if the stuff you are working on with your swing jives with what the data shows. For instance, if Trackman shows that you struggle with controlling the club face, but you are working on stuff that will help you control the low point...then you may want to re-think what you're working on.

Also, if you swing at 100 mph or more with the driver, I would NOT try to hit up on the driver if you are hoping to improve your driving. The payoff of extra distance by hitting up and the adjustments needed to keep the ball in play doesn't really equal. Unless you feel you're driving the ball great, I would try and keep the attack angle near 0.

Lastly, much of this depends on how the Trackman studio is setup. The best setup has Trackman hooked up to a flat screen TV and it is voice activated to give you any particular number you're looking for. You can simply hit a shot, look up at the screen and see the numbers.

I fully agree with cwdlaw223...don't chase the numbers. Try to focus on the mechanics that will change the numbers. Trackman is really good at helping establish the feels you need to execute those mechanics and to get the numbers you are looking to achieve.







3JACK

[Richie3Jack]

One more thing. Bring a can of foot powder spray for your driver so you can measure where you are making contact with the ball.

One of the things I had an issue with a few years ago was I had an attack angle with my driver of -4 to -5 degrees. However, the ball flight was perfect and a bit high. The reason why is that I was hitting well above the CoG of the head/face. That's where there is more loft on the driver. So essentially I was taking my 9.5 stamped driver and hitting down too much, but hitting a spot on the face where the loft was more like 12 degrees. Not an efficient way to hit the driver.

You'll find that Trackman has issues with off-center driver hits.

Also, don't get too down on club head speed with the driver or too high on Smash Factor. Trackman reads club head speed by measuring too close to the heel with the driver. I had a PGA Tour client that is measuring at 109-110 mph on Trackman, but on ENSO he was 113-114 and got a high of 115.7 mph. Basically, TM tends to understate club head speed.

It's a great tool, but it has its flaws. You just need to know how to work around them.







3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

I tried to chase numbers and lost!!!