Launch
Monitors
Turn
Golf into
Science
Instruction
Brands like TrackMan and
FlightScope are taking the
sport to another level
T
echnology is the top craze
in today’s golf industry as
the sport continues to toe
the line between art and
science. There are so many
terms thrown around—whether it’s angle
of attack, clubface angle or club path—it’s
easy to get lost in the world of numbers.
However, those numbers can also help cre-
ate incredibly efficient golf swings.
TrackMan and FlightScope are the indus-
try leaders in launch monitor technology,
each with their unique characteristics. With
either product, club fitting has reached a
new level of precision through the ability to
track swing speed, ball speed, smash factor,
spin rate, launch angle, and more.
Once the right equipment has been
acquired, it’s easy to test skill level with
tools such as the TrackMan or FlightScope
Combine, which assess ability through
every club in the bag, revealing strengths
and weaknesses. One of the greatest bene-
fits is being able to practice with exactness
during the winter months—even when
hitting into a net.
36
Perhaps the most notable contribution
has been dispelling outdated myths associ-
ated with the sport. For example, the data
reveals that clubface predominantly con-
trols the start line of the golf ball whereas
path controls the curve, even though the
opposite was taught for many years.
Mimi Hoffman, a VSGA member at Belle
Haven Country Club in Alexandria and the
2016 VSGA Senior Women’s Golfer of the
Year, is a strong advocate for TrackMan,
as she has been using the technology with
her swing coach, Joy Bonhurst, for four
years. Hoffman is a three-time VSGA Senior
Women’s Golfer of the Year and last sum-
mer won the 59th VSGA Senior Women’s
Amateur Championship, after which she
praised TrackMan as one of the key reasons
for her championship performance.
“I went to Joy specifically because she
uses technology when she teaches,” Hoff-
man said, “and since my background is in
mechanical engineering, I wanted to com-
bine numbers and the golf swing to come up
with the most efficient swing for my swing
speed, and to try to optimize my distances.”
For Hoffman, TrackMan provides her
the capability to do everything from max-
imizing distance with the driver to dial-
ing in wedge shots. As a fan of technology,
she buys a new driver every year based on
club fitting data from TrackMan using the
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 7
driver optimizer tool. For wedge shots, the
software has drills that allow consumers to
pick shots of any distance to work on and
receive overall scores based on proximity.
The immediate feedback is a major selling
point for Hoffman.
“If I’m 60 yards out I know exactly how
far to take the swing back, I get really good
at numbers. It’s increased my accuracy into
the green, which allows me to make more
birdies,” Hoffman said.
Justin Padjen, a former P.J. Boatwright,
Jr. Intern with the VSGA, now works for
TrackMan as a business developer for
broadcasting during PGA Tour events and
for TrackMan University, the online plat-
form for learning and certifications.
“We’re always at the forefront of different
ideas and technology, whether that’s the
TrackMan Combine, or all of our online
platforms, or integrating video into every-
thing we do. We’re always trying to stay
ahead of the competition,” Padjen said.
The system costs $25,000 and is dis-
counted to $17,000 for PGA Tour members
who allow TrackMan to use their name and
likeness for marketing and data collection.
Despite the high cost, more than 60 of the
top 100 players in the world have bought
one for personal use, including Dustin
Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and
Justin Thomas.
vsga.org
by JOSH APPLE