That's what I like about having a golf sim in the garage... When I work on technique I don't turn on radar or projector.. Just hit balls in the screen and maybe video or use mirrors to verify the feels.. Fingers crossed the results are improving!
I owned a net in my early years of playing. I can definitely say that’s what got me to scratch. Solid, consistent strike is by far the number one thing you have to get good at. Once your strike is a non-factor, you can easily work out “direction”.
Hi, I have the same size cage in my garden. I couldn't agree more with it helping with your golf game. But having a launch monitor to identify distance and other factors is (in my opinion) the cherry on the cake when it comes to practice. Plus they are great fun for sim golf 😁
I hit plastic balls against the wall in my lounge room and film every shot. Do lots of drills. I have made some great progress on my swing. Going to the range is the absolute worst thing I can do, I focus far too much on the outcome and always just end up standing there rapid firing balls and hitting worse and worse shots as I lose all my timing and just engrain my bad habits further. The best thing is that at home, I can practice every day, even if just for 10 mins, and make real progress.
100% the truth, brother in law got one, made changes to his swing, went from 12 h’cp to 7 and to top it off, won a competition and first prize was a years free membership at his club, great content JC
Agree, I work from home and use it 2-3 times per day for just a few minutes, it really helps to get confidence and consistency. Also, I focus only on form and strike. When I go the range it’s too easy to think about distance. Eventually, using the net you can see the start direction and feel the shape.
Same here and I’ve been hounding my friend/co-worker to get a net already and set up a practice station in his garage. My improvement Also sped up when I decided last Fall to keep the net up full time rather than pack it up end of each session. Rapsodo launch monitor, most times, is a critical component of my net sessions. Helps track progress, can make tweaks and then refer to subsequent data, records each swing so I can also analyze using video, and monitor swing/ball speed improvement. On sale at amazon now for $349 ($499 regular price). Absolutely love the data insight it provides.
Hey JC. I do all the things you mentioned but I found one huge problem here: sponge balls and wiffle balls don't show face contact points. I hit thousands in the garage into a blanket and then go to the range when the weather warms and I'm back to toe-hitting shots which surfaces using Dr Scholls Odor X spray on the face. I fix the issue with real balls and the spray and then must be toe-hitting 100% of the sponge balls in the garage. The spray won't work with those. That means all the hours with the sponge balls are WORSE THAN USELESS. It took a lot of balls today at the range to fix the swing. I have to get a thick canvas to hit real balls into because I now see the damage done with countless hours of sponge balls. There's zero face contact feedback so I'm just engraining the toe-hit mechanics. 12 ounce heavy duty canvas dropcloths by Chicago Canvas and supply or Home Depot equivalent highly recommended by a YT guy who says they are indestructable and he knows his stuff.
I primarily hit foam balls into a net, I don’t spend much time at the range, way too expensive where I live. I just work in the net and go play and see if I did anything right.
I had a small net but found it too limiting, when you are trying to change something the likelihood of a shank and it ending up in a neighbour's garden is too high. Now got a cage can hit 60 deg to driver with no issues. Mainly due to Johanthan's recommendation. The wife's not happy.
One question if I may, just ordered this exact cage after watching your videos. Have you ever hit the uprights behind the impact mat? Im pretty much a beginner and can see a clear line of sight to those uprights which if I hit I could see being dangerous. Was thinking of getting some of those swimming tubes and wrapping around them for the time being
Is there a way to protect the net from theft? I assume you leave it up until winter weather. Nobody has stolen stuff from my unlocked shed, but I can see them taking a $500 cage at some point.
Way ahead of you - although being in Wales it's raining a lot and my net (like yours but now foldable and currently lying on the ground) is soaked. However my girlfriend has gone away on work for 10 weeks and so my smaller net and mat is in the living room (luckily the ceilings are high) and I am doing rotational drills at every opportunity ! I have to use SwingProfile on my iphone (feeding a local monitor) as for some reason SwingProfile is not recognising my swing on the iPad.
If you are outside and have the required distances you can use a Mevo+ to show you all the numbers and shot shape, but when you are trying to make physical movement changes to your swing (to become more rotational, for example) then you don't want to see that, only what your swing is looking like - the SwingProfile app in replay mode is good for this.
Yardage is an important stat to know, but you can figure that out in a few shots. Making a meaningful and lasting change to one's swing necessitates focus on a single component at a time and, most importantly: repetition. Knowing your maximum yardage means very little if your swing is inconsistent because you'll be working with a wide range of yardages from single digit yards if you chunk it badly to maximum yardage.
Yes but, often I find it’s best to focus on strike and form. Sometimes, If the ball doesn’t go as far as I expect then I swing faster/harder - this never works. Personally, I improve more when I forget about distance. Occasionally I’ll go to check my gapping at the range using their monitor.
That's what I like about having a golf sim in the garage... When I work on technique I don't turn on radar or projector.. Just hit balls in the screen and maybe video or use mirrors to verify the feels.. Fingers crossed the results are improving!
I owned a net in my early years of playing. I can definitely say that’s what got me to scratch. Solid, consistent strike is by far the number one thing you have to get good at. Once your strike is a non-factor, you can easily work out “direction”.
Hi, I have the same size cage in my garden. I couldn't agree more with it helping with your golf game. But having a launch monitor to identify distance and other factors is (in my opinion) the cherry on the cake when it comes to practice. Plus they are great fun for sim golf 😁
I hit plastic balls against the wall in my lounge room and film every shot. Do lots of drills. I have made some great progress on my swing. Going to the range is the absolute worst thing I can do, I focus far too much on the outcome and always just end up standing there rapid firing balls and hitting worse and worse shots as I lose all my timing and just engrain my bad habits further. The best thing is that at home, I can practice every day, even if just for 10 mins, and make real progress.
100% the truth, brother in law got one, made changes to his swing, went from 12 h’cp to 7 and to top it off, won a competition and first prize was a years free membership at his club, great content JC
I set up a net in one bay of my shop years ago. That is where I work on improving and filming my swing.
Agree, I work from home and use it 2-3 times per day for just a few minutes, it really helps to get confidence and consistency. Also, I focus only on form and strike. When I go the range it’s too easy to think about distance. Eventually, using the net you can see the start direction and feel the shape.
Same here and I’ve been hounding my friend/co-worker to get a net already and set up a practice station in his garage.
My improvement Also sped up when I decided last Fall to keep the net up full time rather than pack it up end of each session.
Rapsodo launch monitor, most times, is a critical component of my net sessions. Helps track progress, can make tweaks and then refer to subsequent data, records each swing so I can also analyze using video, and monitor swing/ball speed improvement. On sale at amazon now for $349 ($499 regular price).
Absolutely love the data insight it provides.
I find my garden net coupled with a Mevo+ has helped my game considerably.
I find the reps also build your strength. I’m hitting the ball further than ever now
Any recommendations for a hitting mat for use on concrete?
I only have a back yard, so can fit a net OK but need something to hit off.
Do you by chance have this net linked somewhere ? I want to get one for my backyard
Thanks for the great tips and info, will invest in a net for the garage.
Hey JC. I do all the things you mentioned but I found one huge problem here: sponge balls and wiffle balls don't show face contact points. I hit thousands in the garage into a blanket and then go to the range when the weather warms and I'm back to toe-hitting shots which surfaces using Dr Scholls Odor X spray on the face. I fix the issue with real balls and the spray and then must be toe-hitting 100% of the sponge balls in the garage. The spray won't work with those. That means all the hours with the sponge balls are WORSE THAN USELESS. It took a lot of balls today at the range to fix the swing. I have to get a thick canvas to hit real balls into because I now see the damage done with countless hours of sponge balls. There's zero face contact feedback so I'm just engraining the toe-hit mechanics. 12 ounce heavy duty canvas dropcloths by Chicago Canvas and supply or Home Depot equivalent highly recommended by a YT guy who says they are indestructable and he knows his stuff.
The foot spray on the club face is a big help to find the sweet spot.
I could not agree more! Great advice.
I primarily hit foam balls into a net, I don’t spend much time at the range, way too expensive where I live. I just work in the net and go play and see if I did anything right.
Great advice ,love your setup and clearly explained cheers....
I had a small net but found it too limiting, when you are trying to change something the likelihood of a shank and it ending up in a neighbour's garden is too high. Now got a cage can hit 60 deg to driver with no issues. Mainly due to Johanthan's recommendation. The wife's not happy.
Would you say if you don’t have room for a net the next best thing is a divot mat?
One question if I may, just ordered this exact cage after watching your videos. Have you ever hit the uprights behind the impact mat? Im pretty much a beginner and can see a clear line of sight to those uprights which if I hit I could see being dangerous. Was thinking of getting some of those swimming tubes and wrapping around them for the time being
Does anyone have links to a good golf mat please? To put down on a patio as opposed to on grass?
My wife got me a net and mat for the garage for Christmas. Haven't gone a day without using it
What do you think the best club to practice with is?
Is a 3m x 3m net like that tall enough to hit a driver in without being in danger of clipping the top pole?
Is there a way to protect the net from theft? I assume you leave it up until winter weather. Nobody has stolen stuff from my unlocked shed, but I can see them taking a $500 cage at some point.
Way ahead of you - although being in Wales it's raining a lot and my net (like yours but now foldable and currently lying on the ground) is soaked. However my girlfriend has gone away on work for 10 weeks and so my smaller net and mat is in the living room (luckily the ceilings are high) and I am doing rotational drills at every opportunity ! I have to use SwingProfile on my iphone (feeding a local monitor) as for some reason SwingProfile is not recognising my swing on the iPad.
Great advice!!
What net is this
Yup, Net-Playz net, 3x5 mat on the lawn overlooking the river. Get hot? Jump in the pool. Florida.
Wouldnt it be best to also know the yardage your hitting?
If you are outside and have the required distances you can use a Mevo+ to show you all the numbers and shot shape, but when you are trying to make physical movement changes to your swing (to become more rotational, for example) then you don't want to see that, only what your swing is looking like - the SwingProfile app in replay mode is good for this.
Yardage is an important stat to know, but you can figure that out in a few shots. Making a meaningful and lasting change to one's swing necessitates focus on a single component at a time and, most importantly: repetition.
Knowing your maximum yardage means very little if your swing is inconsistent because you'll be working with a wide range of yardages from single digit yards if you chunk it badly to maximum yardage.
Yes but, often I find it’s best to focus on strike and form. Sometimes, If the ball doesn’t go as far as I expect then I swing faster/harder - this never works. Personally, I improve more when I forget about distance. Occasionally I’ll go to check my gapping at the range using their monitor.
I just close the curtains & use foam balls
you can't tell if you hit a good compression shot with foam balls. They all feel the same
😁👍