If you have used a golf simulator, or you are thinking about it, one question comes up more than any other: can you actually trust the numbers? It is a fair question, because a simulator is only as useful as it is accurate. Here is a clear explanation of how Trackman works, why the best players in the world rely on it, and what its data actually tells you.
What Trackman is
Trackman is a launch monitor, a device that measures what the club and ball do at impact and just after. It began life in radar tracking and is now the industry standard for measuring golf shots, used on tour, in club fittings and in coaching around the world. When people talk about the gold standard of golf measurement, they usually mean Trackman.
Why it is trusted
Trackman is used by the majority of the world's top professional golfers and by leading coaches and club fitters. Professionals build their games around data that has to be right, and they choose Trackman, which tells you a lot about its accuracy. It is also used in club and ball fitting, where small measurement errors would lead to the wrong equipment, so precision matters.
How Trackman iO works indoors
Measuring shots outdoors, where the ball flies a long way, is one thing. Doing it accurately indoors, where the ball travels only a few feet before hitting a screen, is harder. Trackman iO is the version built specifically for indoor golf. It combines radar and camera technology in one unit, so it measures the club and the ball directly rather than guessing the rest of the flight. That dual approach is why an indoor result on Trackman iO reflects what you actually did, rather than an estimate.
This is the key difference between venues. Some use cheaper camera-only or radar-only systems that struggle indoors and can produce inconsistent numbers. At The City Golf Club, every bay runs Trackman iO, so the data you practise with is data you can trust.
What the numbers mean for your game
The value of accurate data is that it turns feel into fact. A few of the headline numbers:
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Carry distance tells you how far each club actually goes, so you can pick the right club on the course.
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Ball speed and smash factor show how efficiently you are striking it.
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Spin rate explains why shots balloon, fall short or run out.
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Club path and face angle reveal the real cause of a slice or hook, so you fix the cause rather than the symptom.
Used well, with a coach or on your own, these numbers shorten the path to improvement because you stop guessing.
FAQ
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Is Trackman accurate?
Yes. It is the industry standard launch monitor, used by most of the world's top professionals and by coaches and club fitters who depend on precise measurement. -
How does Trackman work indoors?
Trackman iO, the indoor-specific version, combines radar and camera technology to measure the club and ball directly, which keeps it accurate even when the ball only travels a few feet. -
Is Trackman iO different from other simulators?
Yes. Many venues use cheaper camera-only or radar-only systems. Trackman iO's dual technology is more accurate and consistent indoors. -
Where can I try Trackman in South East London?
At The City Golf Club in Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Book a lesson or a free trial.