GC2 vs Trackman – What’s The Best Simulator and for Who?
There is no shortage of premium golf simulators and trackers on the market. You can easily find a simulator that costs thousands of dollars and has tons of rave reviews. Likewise, there are a lot of more reasonably priced devices that seem to work great for most people.
The problem in the golf tracker market space is that there are almost as many different types of golfers out there as there are stars in the sky. There is no universal, “one size fits all” style of golf launch monitor.
You can pay thousands of dollars and still not get what you need from your tracking device. You can spend much less and again, not get what you want. The fact is that the price tag generally will not be indicative of which tracker will be right for you.
In the following review, we will be highlighting a couple very popular launch monitors/simulators to help you find your fit.
The Trackman
The Trackman is a dual radar golf simulator and launch monitor. But it also utilizes cameras to record your swing for radar analysis. To compile ball data however, only the radar system is used. Because it relies on radar technology for ball data, the Trackman is an excellent launch monitor to use outside.
Of course, you can use it inside as well. Set up a net or impact screen and have real golf courses from around the world simulated in your own home or practice space. The simulation and data can be displayed on your phone or tablet as well.
The Trackman is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms. You can also use the Trackman to enter into online golf tournaments and test your skill in a number of fun and engaging games.
Pros:
- Great accuracy outdoors
- Can be paired with more cameras for more in depth swing analysis
- You can compare your swing against tour pros
- Dual radar devotes one sensor to your club and one to your ball
- Fun games and challenges
- Rich simulation experience
Cons:
- Needs a lot of indoor clearance space to be accurate
- A bit on the expensive side
- The software lags a bit
- It needs to be very carefully aligned for outdoor use
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The Foresight GC2
The Foresight GC2 is definitely for the serious golfer who is itching to improve his or her game. It was originally developed for use in the professional sector (trainers, club fitters etc.) so it provides a vast amount of data for the user.
The device itself is fairly self-contained. There is an on-board screen that displays all the pertinent shot data. But of course, you can pair the Foresight GC2 to your phone, tablet or computer for even more information.
It was very easy for us to get immersed in the wealth of shot information that the Foresight GC2 provided. In fact, there were some metrics that we didn’t even really know what to do with. But it kept us engaged and informed nonetheless. The simulation mode was also very entertaining.
Pros:
- It has a very wide shot pickup area
- It was great for picking up all our shots
- It’s very fast with shot feedback
- Professional-grade metrics
- Can be supplemented with HMT (Head Measurement Technology)
- The different game modes are fun
Cons:
- If you want club data, you will have to pay more
- Closed programming (does not work with third-party software suites)
- Less immersive simulation experience
- Battery life isn’t so good
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What do they Measure?
Launch monitors should be able to give you all the data you need to improve your particular game. So here is a breakdown of what each device measures so you can compare what data they give to what data you need:
The Trackman:
- Face angle
- Ball speed
- Club path
- Attack angle
- Side spin
- Side angle
- Launch angle
- Back spin
- Descent
- Smash factor
- Roll
- Flight path
- Carry
- Total distance
- Impact location
- Club path
- Dynamic loft
The Foresight GC2:
- Ball speed
- Carry
- Launch angle
- Push degree measurements
- Pull degree measurements
- Side spin
- Back spin
- Club head speed
- Smash factor
- Club path
- Face to path
- Angle of attack
- Loft
- Lie
Courses you Can Play
With the Foresight GC2 you can play famous courses like St. Andrews Links (in both a basic and premium mode), Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay.
With the Trackman, you get lots more options including Sutton Bay, Albany Golf Club, Hillcrest Country Club, Glen Abbey, Sea Islands Seaside, Montecito Club and many more.
The Trackman can also be loaded up with third-party software to add more courses and game modes while the Foresight GC2 comes stock and stays that way.
Performance Comparison
For this comparison, we will break down the performance according to shot categories:
- Driving – Both the Trackman and Foresight GC2 were accurate with drives to within a couple of yards.
- Irons – The Trackman was very accurate with our short irons, giving us very detailed shot path analysis while the Foresight GC2 struggled a bit with our longer irons, providing dubious spin rates.
- Chipping – We think that both these devices had trouble with chip shots. They both seemed to give questionable read outs for flight apex and weren’t very realistic in terms of lie.
- Putting – Hands down, the Trackman was the better launch monitor for putts. It was surprisingly sensitive and gives specific putt analysis for tempo and launch direction.
Price Comparison
The Foresight GC2 will cost you around $6,000 while the Trackman setup will run you about $18,000.
Which is Best for you?
We think the Trackman does offer the better overall value. It has a more immersive and inclusive library of simulated courses, it is very accurate indoors and outdoors and provides a plethora of shot data.
The Foresight GC2 provides lots of data too, but if you are a casual player, you may not be able to make sense of everything it tells you. Plus, you don’t get nearly as many courses as you do with the Trackman.
The Trackman is much more expensive, but we think most types of golfers will benefit from it. Try it out today!
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Hi, I am Matthew, a mid handicap golfer who likes to play as much as possible. I love trying out new gear and this blog is where you can find all the gear I have tested over the years!
