[Gxgolfer]

http://www.news.com/...2-7.html?tag=bl

Quote

Posted by Candace Lombardi

The Golf Channel plans to offer high-tech data to its viewers in the form of 3D representations beginning in January.

A Doppler radar system made by the Denmark-based software developer Interactive Sports Games will begin to be used to convey club movement, ball trajectory, and other statistics to viewers, according to the company. The Golf Channel's first use of the TrackMan system will be at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii on January 3, according to reports. TrackMan can also measure things like ball-landing coordinates and spin rates, according to ISG.

The Golf Channel, which is the exclusive cable channel for the PGA tour, the LPGA tour, the USGA, and PGA of America, plans to use the system to show its viewers visual analyses of a golfer's tendencies, ball flight, and side-by-side looks at how different players approach the same hole. It will include multiple views of swings and ball movement.

The channel said it will be the first American broadcaster to use such technology for PGA events.

[Konrad]

YES! Am I the only one who is pumped about this? This is awesome, much better than the WinZone!

[LONG&STR8]

It'll be exciting to see the different swing speeds of players as it was on the 3 tour challenge.

[AirTime23]

And this time no showing off for TV, as some have alluded to. This will be surely interesting. Too bad Tiger ain't around....but hopefully they'll continue this feature for the season.

[chipper3344]

This is awesome! Made the skins game much more interesting to watch. I'm always fascinated by the "numbers" aspect of golf and this is going to be great if they do it for the majority of tourneys.

[Hifade]

Enough Tiger already...there are 124 other exempt players (oh by the way, can play too). Good move by TGC...nice addition.

[swanry30]

I am looking forward to seeing more innovation like Trackman in televised golf.

[beachgrovejunior]

Good news about watching golf this year, the golf channel is using trackman!
Chopra Just hit one with 119 Clubhead speed 172 ballspeed, guess he needs to work on that smash factor. Carried somewhere in the 290s, but it is pretty windy there

[iyan7]

It was neat.

Like Weir hit a low trajectory drive (only 50ish feet high) and yet traveled farther than Cabrera's drive.
And Funk's SS was just 103 off the tee on one hole.
And Faldo's smash factor was 1.5!

[TRC79]

Does anyone know if these stats are going to be made available online?

[TRAV1]

TRC79, on Jan 4 2008, 12:45 AM, said:

Does anyone know if these stats are going to be made available online?

THAT would be awesome!

[NPVWhiz]

I think it's a great stat tool that makes it a lot more interesting.

I saw Funk's 103mph as well and it really hit home.

The most interesting aspect I saw was that it looked like most players were averaging more than 30 yards of roll, in some cases more than 40. Granted, some of the holes at Kapalua have a lot of elevation advantage, but I NEVER see 40 yards of roll.

I think a lot of really good players just don't realize how much the conditioning of the fairways on tour affect the total yardage that the tour professional gets from the driver.

I can carry a tee ball 245 to 255 max with a max ss of 105, but the ball rarely gets that type of roll on soft/overwatered/uncut midwestern fairways.

[drpino]

they need to include the spin rates.

[MTM]

drpino, on Jan 4 2008, 03:00 PM, said:

they need to include the spin rates.

I recorded it and here is what Ames did on 18

Club Speed 118
Ball Speed 168
Launch Angle 8*
Spin 2478 RPM
Carry 259
Total 330

[Everardo]

TRC79, on Jan 3 2008, 10:45 PM, said:

Does anyone know if these stats are going to be made available online?

Not all but here are some http://www.thegolfch...com/21108/5027/

[TRC79]

Very Cool. Thanks.

[jon2]

It looks like they'll keep this around (hopefully). They seem to be really pushing it on the air (as they should).

[rosskoss]

It was interesting watching Nick Faldo take on the Trackman robot. That dude had all the personality of a paper cup.

BTW, it was interesting noting Faldo's smash factor. He's still got it.

[NPVWhiz]

Some of the data from the first two rounds, esp the first, was influenced by the wind. There were plenty of carry/ball speed number that just didn't seem to match up...most likely due to wind. Overall, I thought it was great to see how many tour players are hitting "sub optimal" launches, then more than making up for the shorter carry with longer roll, Weir as a good example. He pounds it for his size.

[kozfitter]

But Trackman claims to track the ball until it lands so therefore the carry distance should be 100% and the wind shouldn't matter. Maybe it doesn't track the whole way? Also, I've seen the Trackman used and no way can they get club speed way off to the side like on 18. But, all in all its cool to see radar technology numbers displayed.

[jeremyblre21]

It is interesting to see how players drives equal their total yards.

Some of the guys who swing 115 plus hit it far regardless.

The guys who swing below this number count on the firm fairways. I'm seeing the shorter (not short) hitters carry the ball 250-265 and get anywhere from 30-60 yards of roll. These players really benefit from a proper fitted driver. The new phrase in with LM technology is "the balls angle of descent".

Example: I believe it was the par 5 9th Kevin Na drive into the wind carried 258 and went a total of 309. Thus giving him the opportunity to reach the green in two. Apex 54.

[HEMIPHIL]

It will be interesting to see the Trackman numbers (for awhile anyway) of the celebrities at the "Bob Hope" tomorrow.

[TRC79]

I haven't had a chance to see any of the broadcast, have they been using trackman on the celebs?