TRENDING: New Consumer Golf Simulators Debut at PGA Show

The dust has settled from the 2022 PGA SHOW. While COVID still prevents the en masse turnout, golf has been alive and thriving during the ongoing pandemic. Indeed, stats from the National Golf Foundation show that even December—a month when many of us are forced indoors—saw a 37% increase in 2021 over 2020, with 2021 seeing a 5% increase over 2020.

So with golf growing despite facing numerous obstacles, golf companies continue to focus on how to best engage all golfers, both those who are seasoned and new to the game. Consumer golf simulators and launch monitors, in particular, is an area that’s received lots of attention and development. And two vendors are looking bring to market their first entry into this growing consumer segment, which has largely been dominated by established brands, such as Foresight, FlightScope, and SkyTrak.

Golfzon is a brand many of us are familiar with because of their incredible simulator system that, arguably, provides the most realistic simulation experience with their pivoting floor that replicates different lies.

While this system is out of budget for many non-professional golfers (retail starts in the $40,000 neighborhood), Golfzon is looking to bring a new product—the Wave—to market so everyone can enjoy their highly realistic simulator experience.

The Wave is a Doppler-radar system that can be used indoors and outdoors, and comes in a compact package (think shrunken down Trackman, similar to a FlightScope Mevo+). Besides offering tons of data, the Wave will be offered with Golfzon’s VISION course library, which includes more than 190 world-famous golf courses, including St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Kiawah Island, Harbour Town, and PGA National. E6 comparability will also be offered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is most interesting about the Wave is that Golfzon’s current systems are camera-based, and the Wave will be their first attempt at radar. Traditionally, launch monitor/simulator companies look to focus on one type of technology—camera or radar. Golfzon, however, will be one of few companies that will be attacking with both technologies. Perhaps this will enable them to overcome the limitations associated with each system by developing each system, such as space constraint for indoor radar systems—Golfzon is hoping for 16 feet of require space, making it perfect for the average garage.

Golfzon is targeting a Winter 2022 release for the Wave, with an anticipated retail price of $3,500.

Uneekor, similarly, is a lessor-known company that only entered the U.S. market 3 years ago. Their current system, are overhead camera systems that feature some pretty trick data and displays, but the EYE MINI will be their first floor-positioned model.

A quick glance of the EYE MINI—which is currently a prototype and still in development—will make you think you’re looking at a Foresight GC3 ($7,000)/Bushnell Launch Pro ($3,000 plus subscription fees). But in comparison to those, 3-camera systems, the EYE MINI will be a 2-camera device that Uneekor is promising will provide a wealth of ball and club (available when using a single sticker) data points: Ball Speed, Launch Angle, Side Spin, Back Spin, Side Angle, Side Total, Flight Time (modelled and calculated), Distance to Apex (modelled and calculated), Carry, Run and Total Distance (modelled and calculated), Club Speed, Smash Factor, Attack Angle, Dynamic Loft, Club Path, Club Face Angle, Club Face to Path, Club Loft Angle, Club Lie Angle, Impact Point Vertical, and Impact Point Horizontal. Indoor and outdoor usage and an LCD display screen are, also, standard features of the EYE MINI.

In addition the abundance of data, Uneekor is rolling out its new GAME DAY simulator software that will operate with unparalleled 4K graphics and display. The only drawback here is the GAME DAY course list remains unconfirmed, and Uneekor currently does not have big ticket U.S. courses—Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, TPC Sawgrass—in its portfolio.

Uneekor has yet to confirm a projected price range, but I would imagine something between $3,000 and $5,000, not including any software add-ons. My guess-timate is based on Uneekor being a lessor-known company that will be competing against Bushnell’s Launch Pro (base price of $3,000, with numerous subscription fee options) and Foresight’s GC3 ($7,000), which, from a hardware standpoint, are identical 3-camera devices that offer, indoor/outdoor usage and launch monitor/simulator system functionality.  A target launch date for the EYE MINI, likewise, has not yet been confirmed.

Regardless, the 2022 PGA Show brought a few more consumer-focused simulator systems that will largely benefit consumers, who will now be offered more powerful, accurate options at price points that are more comparable to a full set of new clubs rather than a brand new car.

Cover Image Via Instagram