Software

The TM4 launch monitor is connected to the computer in our hitting bay and uses the Trackman Performance Studio (TPS) software to share the data it gathers. While in the club and using the simulator, you will stand in front of the TM4 and hit a golf ball off the turf. It is important to make sure the ball is lined up in front of the TM4 so that it will read correctly. You then simply hit the golf ball into the screen and the TM4 will do its calculations and display the golf ball and club data on the screen. In the TPS software, there are multiple different features that our members benefit from such as practice, courses, games and tournaments. 

We get many questions asking how the Trackman can accurately give ball flight data when the elevation is so different in Sandy, Utah than it is at sea level. In the TPS settings, we have the elevation set to 4,400 ft, which is about what the Salt Lake County area is in elevation. The temperature is set to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. These elevation and temperature setting is used to calculate ball flight in all of the practice modes, except for “On Course Practice”.

Practice Modes

Range

Trackman Performance Studio has multiple Practice modes. The first mode being “range”. This is exactly what it says - a driving range. A member will log in to their Trackman account and the range feature. From there they will select the club they would like to hit with. This will bring up a recommended target distance. The member will either keep or change the target distance and start hitting shots. The closer you the target is, the smaller the target area is. The further your target gets, the bigger the target area is. In the bottom left side of the screen there is a box that keeps track of your shots and how many times your ball landed in the target area. Above that box are eight data parameters. These parameters will be the same every time that Range is started. They can be edited to what you would like them to display. The bottom right side of the screen displays where each ball stopped and will display the grouping for that club. The box in the top right of the screen follows the virtual golf ball throughout its flight and roll out. The data from each range session is automatically updated to the Trackman Golf App. This app is free and can be found on any app market place by searching “Trackman Golf” This is a great feature that allows our members to see their data wherever and whenever they want.

Shot Analysis

This feature is the most popular practice mode and helps our members practice effectively while at Divot Golf Club. There are many ways that our members practice and get shot data that they want about their golf swing or ball. The shot analysis feature uses the elevation that is set in the settings for its calculations. (4500 ft for DGC)

There are multiple screens that can be selected to display on the main screen, with the most popular being the shot tracer. Typically at DGC the second half of the shot analysis screen will be video, also quite popular to have on the main screen. However, impact and impact location are also popular.

Shot analysis can have up to 36 different data parameters related to the golf ball swing, and club showing. Having all of the parameters reading and showing at once is overwhelming and feels like you’re drinking from a firehouse, so DGC recommends focusing on just a few parameters at a time.

Slow Motion Cameras

DGC has installed iPhones in our hitting bay that are used to capture the golf swing. Each video is automatically uploaded to the TPS software and is slowed down. The cameras are positioned to see the down line view (behind the golfer). This is great to help with set up and address, in addition to seeing where someone is aiming. 

The other camera is positioned in the head on position (looking at the golfer's front). This view helps to see the golfers weight transfer, club impact and much more. Each video can have after effects added to help recognise different things in the golf swing. Example: Drawing lines to check if the golfer is getting the proper takeaway. 

Normalize, Optimize, Shot List

In the shot analysis feature, there are multiple different features that can be utilized. Normalize is an option in the bottom right hand side of the screen in shot analysis. Tap the “Normalization” button and it will start keeping track of your shots. After a few shots, the Tracy feature at the top right of the screen will have a pop up. This pop up will indicate that it has some recommendations for you to practice.

Speed Training

In TPS’ most recent update (9.4), a swing speed practice mode was released inside of the shot analysis feature. This is to help improve your club speed and does not require you to hit a golf ball. Swinging your club in the normal hitting area is all you have to do. From there the Trackman radars will pick up the club head speed and display it for you to see. I’ve seen multiple members improve their speed by up to 3 mph in just a few weeks!

“Tracy” is Trackman’s a.i. Feature that is supposed to help create an even more effective practice session. 

Optimize is also a button in the bottom right side of the screen right next to the “Normalization” button. Once the optimization tab is selected, it will pull certain data from each shot. The data point it pulls is club speed, ball speed, spin rate, angle of attack, dynamic loft and launch angle. From there, it will show what numbers should be for either a high, medium or low trajectory shot. The shot list is in the bottom left hand side of the screen. Once selected, it will pull up the entire list of golf shots that you hit during that session. From that list, any shot can be selected and the video, shot tracer and shot data will pull up and can be reviewed. 

If you would like more info about shot optimization, you can read more at Trackmans blog here. 

If you would like to use the Shot Analysis feature yourself sign up for your membership to DGC here or sign up for a free trial here.

A list of all the parameter data that is collected with each shot: https://swinggolflounge.ca/trackman-data-elements-full-list/

https://blog.trackmangolf.com/40-trackman-parameters/

On Course Practice

This feature lets you choose from any of the 300+ courses and practice that hole. Have a trip to Black Desert Resort? No problem, come to Divot Golf Club to practice specific holes or play all 18 holes! The course that is selected to play will use the elevation that is pre-programmed by Trackman to be accurate to the real elevation of that course. Ex. Black Desert Resort is set to 2,930 ft elevation. The Reserve at Moonlight basin is 7,500 ft elevation, Pebble Beach is Sea level.

Performance Center

Also released with TPS update 9.4 came the performance center. Performance center is extremely popular and is a great tool to have for the simulator and we are so excited to have it. It has a similar look to the “range” practice feature but has much more data and customization to practice.

Performance Center lets you select your target distance, choose the shape and size of the green, pin location on that green and speed of the green. Bunker locations and size can also be customized to help improve your game and practice what matters most. Practicing in this mode also keeps track of strokes gained based on the shots you make. This feature is used by the best on the PGA Tour and LIV, so it definitely can benefit your golf game.

Target Practice

Target Practice has endless opportunities to shave strokes off your score card. This feature has all the practice shots you can think of. Loading into Target Practice, you automatically load you onto a tee box, from which you can see all the different targets to go for. Targets range from 50 yards to 300 yards from the tee box. However, the ball doesn’t have to be hit from the tee box, the ball can be placed anywhere in this feature. 

Practice hitting fairways, avoiding bunkers, getting over water, chipping, hitting from the rough or even hitting out of trees or anything else you’d like to work on. This practice mode also uses the elevation set in the settings now (4400 ft in elevation at Divot Golf Club) so you can practice accurately for our higher elevation.

Courses

The TPS software has the most courses available to play out of all launch monitors. As of writing this, there are 326 courses available for DGC members to play. Trackman is always working on new courses and updating the current courses. 

Trackman tries to add one to two new courses to the software each month, sometimes more than that, so you’ll never run out of courses to play! Most courses are real courses, but there are some that are fictional and created by the Trackman team. Each course will show what the elevation that it plays at. Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay all play at sea level whereas Yellowstone club plays at 7,500 ft of elevation. 

When you have a Trackman account, (which is free, just need a name and email), and are signed in while playing a course, you will get a Trackman handicap. This handicap will be used each time you play a course and it will display on the free app, if you download it and sign in. The app also keeps track of your rounds of golf when you are signed in. This allows the golfer to go back to each hole and view the distance of each shot and see where they ended up. 

Divot Golf Club has the putting set up so that it is an automatic two putt. Land anywhere on the green, it’s a two putt one the scorecard. If you land in the 8 foot circle around the pin, it is counted as a one putt for that hole. This can be changed before or during each round if you prefer to manually putt the ball.

List of Courses

Games

Trackman has created multiple different games that are fun and that gets the whole family involved. There are three different types of closest to the pin competitions: Closest to the Pin, Bullseye and Capture the Flag. There are also game modes that are animated and geared to the younger generations of golfers: Scrapyard and Magic Pond. The last two  game modes in Games are Hit it! And Streets of Neon. 

For Closest to the Pin, you choose any of the 320+ courses available and select which par 3 hole(s) you want to have the competition at. Each player will get three attempts to get it on the green and closest to the pin. There are penalties for landing in the sand, rough, water or out of bounds. 

Scrapyard, Magic Pond and Mystic Sands are game modes geared toward younger children and those just beginning to learn to golf. Each game mode has multiple targets on the screen and each time a target is hit, there is a big explosion or celebration. This helps keep kids interested and entertained. These game modes can also help the experienced golfer with accuracy. 

Streets of Neon is a putting game that has similar animations to Scrapyard, Magic Pond and Mystic Sands. It has 9 hole or 18 hole mini golf courses. Each hole has different challenges in the path to getting to the hole. It’s a fun way to get the family involved and allows everyone to play without knowing how to swing a golf club.

Tournaments

The tournaments tab is where all of the Trackman tournaments will be found. Trackman often has multiple different types of tournaments going on each week. They consist of 18 hole rounds, closest to the pin competitions and long drive competitions.

The tournaments tab will also be where our members go to participate in Divot Golf Club seasonal tournaments. To participate in any of the tournaments, whether it's a DGC or Trackman tournament, a Trackman account and handicap is required. Trackman accounts are free and easy to set up. They only require a name and email.

Online

Online is a new feature that was just released with TPS update 9.4. This feature allows you to login and play with someone at a different Trackman bay. Anywhere in the world, you can get that round of golf in with your golf buddy.