featuring "FiberBuilt" true feel grass fiber mat inserts
The basic system consists of a system control board, system software and a synthetic fiber grass mat containing high-speed optical club-head sensors with ball flight track and vertical sensors as an optional extra.
The GGS sensor hitting mats allow you to use your own clubs as are! As opposed to other manufacture's systems, you do not have to stick any bits of reflective tape or such on them.
All sensor mats come with a power supply and serial cable that you connect to the serial port on your PC.
If you choose a sensor mat with just club-head sensors then the ball's launch velocity, path and launch angles are calculated from the club-head data stream coming from the mat. Advantage here is that you can see the club-head path, face and attack angle and where the ball made contact with the club-head face so that you can focus in on swing faults. Also, you can use the system without a ball at all. Just use an imaginary ball and swing as normal for silent practice. Disadvantage with just using a sensor mat that only tracks the club-head is that ( because not all clubs have the same performance characteristics) there may be inaccuracies. e.g. The system will calculate the same ball flight trajectory with a top of the range titanium driver as that for a cheap starter driver.
To achieve a true ball flight trajectory for the specific make of club you are using you will require the ball flight tracking sensors
Ideally then, for an optimal configuration, you will want both but because the system is completely modular you can start off with just the club-head sensor mat and add on the ball flight tracking sensors as and when required.
The system graphics, trajectory calculation and game software is being continually updated with new and improved features and new golf courses. All software updates are free of charge and are available via download.
Golf Simulator and Game Software DVD
The GGS software is available in 3 versions. GGS, GGS-ProX and GCD.
The GGS version is the standard version for use with golf simulation hardware.
GGS-ProX is the professional version of the standard GGS software and contains a number of additional advanced features. These include advanced player statistics, enhanced graphics, easy user auto course generation and 3d model course rendering. Many new and exciting features are currently under development for this version of the software.
GCD is the PC Game & Course Designer version of the GGS and GGS-ProX software. It has all the features of GGS and GGS-ProX but does not operate with golf simulation sensor mats.
You can purchase the software alone for swing analysis, golf physics experimentation, game fun and evaluation purposes.
Designed for the serious golfer in mind the system allows you to set-up the swing using real world parameters.
These include:
Swing path (degrees in-to-out or out-to-in)
Club-head velocity at impact to ball
Club head face angle at impact to ball ( degrees club-head open or closed at moment of impact in relation to club head path )
Ball position on club-head face at impact (x , y co-ordinates or deviation from sweet spot)
Club type
Club-head characteristics including : Dimensions, Material construction -composite, steel, titanium, iron etc.
Driver head spring rates
Wind direction and strength
Air density and humidity
Gravitational pull.
Friction coefficient of club-head and ball (affecting ball spin rates)
Fixed ball back-spin, top-spin and side spin rates and spin axis tilt angle.
Plus complete game software (scoring, flight next-up, drop, statistics, etc)
The package comes with a number of 18 hole golf courses (based on well known championship course) and a driving range.
Club mat sensor system
for both Left and Right handed players
containing 96 club-head sensors in 2 "FiberBuilt" brush synthetic grass inserts,
power unit and serial mat-to-PC cable.
The sensor mat connects to your PC serial port and - with the graphics software installed - allows you to analyze your swing and play a round of golf. The views of the golf course, ball trajectory and club face analysis graphics are shown on the PC monitor. You can add on your own projector - if so desired - at any time.
Data captured:
Club head velocity
Club head face angle at impact to ball ( degrees club-head open or closed at moment of impact in relation to club head path )
Club head path i.e. Square, in-to-out, out-to-in.
Horizontal ball position at impact on club face
Accuracy :
Club-head speed to within 0.0137 mph ( 0.00085 kmh)
Club-face angle to within 0.001 degrees
Club-head path to within 1.0 degrees
Advanced mathmatical algorithms in the software determine ball spin and spin axis tilt
from the club-face angle, club path, loft and velocity which is result in ball flight curve
ie. draws, fades, hooks and slices.
USB port adapter
Mat comes complete with "FiberBuilt" adjustable real tee holders
Optional plug-in extras
Vertical Launch Monitor
Plug-in Module for Pro Sensor Striking Mats using ProX software
Featuring 224 sensors, the system detects vertical ball launch angles to within 0.5 degree from 0 to 64 degrees, ball height above ground from -10 mm (low lie) to + 35 mm (on tee), club-head angle of attack and club-head height to 60 mm above ground.
The club-head vertical height sensors are required to determine where the club-head face made contact with the ball vertically (y co-ordinate) in addition to the horizontal (x co-ordinate) point of impact. The system is then capable of showing the amount of deviation from the sweet spot the ball had made when contacting the clubface.
The VLM can be used for both right handed and left handed players.
Ball VLM circuit boards
Club-head vertical circuit board
Ball Tracking Sensors
Horizontal and Vertical Ball Tracking System containing 192, 320 or 384 sensors each
for ball path, launch velocity and vertical launch angle detection.
Standard Ball track is 192 sensors spaced at 3.84mm. (Length : 0.73m) = 0.14668° ball path angle resolution. Range: +/- 14° angle detection for low level launch angles +/- 7° for high level launch angles
New XD double bank ball tracking systems
Casing features massive acrylic glass cover allowing players to stand directly on them
These systems will normally be integrated into the synthetic grass flooring
Ball Roll Putting Mat
The ball roll putting mat is designed specifically for putting where the player's head is over the ball and the club head moves only a short distance at slower speeds. Featuring 98 of the latest technology low profile and high density SMD optical sensors plus 24-bit ball velocity timers, the mat captures ball path and speed with far increased accuracy. As opposed to the regular hitting mat which features medium high grass fibers to simulate fairway grass, the surface of the putting mat is low profile putting green grass which allows the ball to roll more naturally. The add-on putting mat is placed in front of the regular mat.
Clubhead Putting Mat
The clubhead putting mat is designed specifically to show the putter's path and face angles. Featuring 256 high density SMD optical sensors plus 3 24-bit clubhead face angle and velocity timers, the mat captures putter speed and path to within 0.76 degrees plus 3 clubface angles: Face angle before impact, at impact and after. The add-on clubhead putting mat can be used instead of the ball roll putting mat or used in conjunction with it.
Light Strip Game Controller & Club Selector
This add-on device allows you to control certain game functions with a wave of your club from your ball address position saving you the walk to the system console.
Functions include Club Selection, Camera Rotation (ie target change) and Game Yes/No decision making.
Screen Vertical Sensors
Screen Vertical Launch Angle Detection System
The system calculates ball vertical launch angles by detecting ball impact Y position on screen. Accuracy : 0.5 degrees.
This allows the system to produce more realistic flight trajectories and for you to determine your club angle of attack
ie hitting the ball on the up-swing, down-swing or square to the ball
A total of 380 infra-red sensors and high power narrow beam Infra Red LEDs are mounted each side of the projector screen and in conjunction with the ball track sensors - that detect ball path - the exact xy screen impact point co-ordinates can be determined.
Club-head & Tee Height vertical sensor system
This infra-red sensor system is an inexpensive scaled down version of the Vertical Launch Monitor and is used to detect ball hieght above ground (ie Tee height) and club-head height above ground at impact to the ball. This information is then used to show the ball impact position on club-face in the swing analysis windows.
Complete full feature professional mat system
containing a total of 452 (upgradable to 775) club head, ball track and vertical sensors
including full GGS Pro Software package , power unit and serial mat-to-PC cable.
Data captured:
Club head velocity
Club head face angle at impact to ball ( degrees club-head open or closed at moment of impact in relation to club head path )
Club head height above ground at impact to the ball
Ball launch velocity
Ball path
Ball launch angle
Club head angle of attack / Effective loft ( hitting the ball on the down or up-stroke )
Ball Lie/Height and Tee Height detection
Optional extras for above:
Halogen sensor lamps
Two 50 watt Halogen sensor lamp including housing and transformer
(two required if using ball tracking sensors)
USB port adapter ( only required if your computer
doesn't feature a standard serial port )
Having selected a sensor mat you will additionally require the following items for a complete full scale golf simulator.
PC or Laptop with Microsoft XP operating system and 512 MB of physical RAM
A good XGA resolution projector
A projection screen
Some sort of enclosure if you want to hit real golf balls ( this could be a dedicated room in the house, basement or garage)
If you are already in possession of the above items then you're ready to go with just the GGS sensor mat and GGS golf simulator software.
The projector, screen and enclosure are only required if you want a full scale simulator. If you just want to work on improving your game and/or analyze your swing accuracy, then you can use the PC monitor alone to display the graphics.
Stance mats
Deluxe "FiberBuilt" stance mat with ball tray
The full-feature mat consists of 4 "FiberBuilt" brush synthetic grass inserts - to absorb the club head at impact if taking a divot or hitting fat - and a thick layer foam rubber stance.
The GGS stance mat system is a practical alternative to full flooring. The stance mats are highest quality FiberBuilt with molded rubber foundations that
add an extra layer of flexible rubber compound for increased comfort and playability. All sensors, electronics and cables are embedded.
(Click on the above image to find out more about FiberBuilt Golf Mats)
An extremely important aspect of the GGS sensor mat systems is that they all feature "FiberBuilt" synthetic grass which gives you a really true feel. Beware of other manufactures of low-cost simulator mats using synthetic rubber or plastic that will cause an unnatural and unpleasant hard kick-back or bounce when struck. So don't except anything less than a true feel mat.
Computer System Requirements
The graphics system is a real-time high-performace one, so you will require a high-end PC (actually quite standard these days) with at least the following features:
Graphics Card with at least 256 MB (512MB recommended) Dedicated Video Memory ie (GeForce 8800)
& 32bit color (this is essential!!!)
1024 MB of physical RAM (recommended)
A fast processor ( 2 GHz plus recommended)
1.5 Giga Byte of free disk space
Serial port or USB-to-Serial Port Adapter
Windows XP or Vista operating System
Note: Vista converts OpenGL instructions to DirectX and as most graphic cards do a better job of supporting DirectX,
performance (especially course texture loading time) is far better.