Why I'm keeping the R10

The R10 has generated a huge amount of discussion, and for good reason - the numbers it generates for many users are considerably short and/or unreliable. I'm having these issues as well. Regardless of unit height and alignment, I'm losing 1-2 clubs of distance. This is very frustrating

However, I still finding the R10 was worth my money. Why? Because the R10 has improved my game more and faster than any other training aid or club purchase. Ultimately, that's what I bought it for.

Using Home Tee Hero, I can now play numerous practice rounds in between my "real" ones. Even though the absolute distances are off, they're off consistently so I can substitute the club required for the distance in HTH. If I hit the ball poorly or in the wrong direction, the R10 detects that and penalizes me. This includes the occasional shanks, slices and hooks. It's helping me dial in my grip, swing plane and ball striking, all of which is making me more consistent on course.

I'm playing at about an 11 handicap index. Within the first couple weeks of practicing with the R10, I had a 37 opening 9, my best ever 9 holes. Unfortunately, a couple blow-ups marred the back 9 that day. Another day on the same course, I had a 38 on the back 9. I shot an 83 on a difficult course where my course average is 90.

Hopefully, Garmin will be able to remedy the problems so that the unit will track more accurately. I'm counting on that in a future firmware update. But, in spite of its shortcomings, the R10 has proven to be invaluable, and HTH has made training much more fun and productive and I have little doubt that it will help me score more rounds in the 70's soon.

0 KC_703 over 3 years ago

I agree with your statement about consistency of the unit. Mine seems fairly consistent with the results… shot shape seems pretty good, and distances may be a little short, but consistent. Club speed is fairly consistent. Wrong or right, I can track improvements in speed. I’ve using mine at the club with range balls… so I’m sure that affects distances on longer clubs.

Haven't played any simulated rounds. It I would think course management doesn’t change much, still need to pick the right clubs based on distances.

0 Godspell over 3 years ago

I've played a lot of HTH and, as a new golfer, my scores have been dropping dramatically on sim and on the course.

I've adapted to the fact that I hit 135 on a simulator (also Trackman, not just R10) and 150 in live golf with a 7i. I end up using wedges and short irons dramatically more than I did at the range hitting one club several times after another.

I gapped the clubs on the R10 and play HTH accordingly. When I go to play live golf, I know what my real distances are, not unlike somebody who goes to a driving range.

Ball spin numbers appear to be nonsense, smash factor is off, club speed is not right, but I'm getting the right kind of practice, and for the price, it's awesome. Yes, I'd rather not have to worry about my shots into a net, but for actual value on a $600 unit and a golfer at my level I've been shocked at the drop in scores.

I do sympathize for the people who are single-digit and really want something akin to a Skytrak, or even an R10 that measures distances and clubhead speed like the new PRGR. And it isn't working well in ways I expected it to be perfect. That said, it is definitely good enough to keep IMO.

0 edogaktop over 3 years ago

If the distance is consistently short, is there anyway to tweak/calibrate the baseline distance in HTH?

0 nbargolf over 3 years ago in reply to edogaktop

That would seem to be a solution. If they penalize 10% if your in the rough then why not let us boost the distance by 10, 20 whatever.

0 JEFF-BLUR over 1 year ago

I just got mine 7 days ago. I have been hitting it in my downstairs swing area. At first I thought this is short but the other telemetry is excellent. After swinging and fine tuning my golf swing I think it is pretty accurate when you hitting a good shot. The thin shots I feel the distance is not correct.

0 odd tore over 1 year ago

Good points, and here are my experiences:

I use it in the garage, and except for the longer clubs the distances appears "fair". Of course distances for longer clubs can be met by adjusting the altitude and temperature, but then the shorter clubs will be wrong.

Playing hth on my home course, in sim I play average mid 60 (par 60), and on course I end up around 80. Course opened today, and cold and windy, so still have a lot of rounds to complete before making more accurate comparisment.

So what is the difference? Mainly puts. In Hth, I normally have around 30 puts, on course today, 40. So the diameter of the 1 and 2 putts should be user settable to better reflect Your putting.

Rough in hth has too much penalty. On my course I can hardly see the difference between fairway and rough, and 10% is way too harsh compared to many courses. Should also be user settable.

No ob or less penalty in hth when hitting into a penalty area. I hit 2 balls ob today, in hth they would be in the rough and I could play on. 4 strokes difference. This is probably due to the details on course in hth, and could maybe be improved.

Wrong data in hth. On hole 4 on my local course it seems like there is a steep uphill, and I cannot get the driver more than 130-140 yards. In real life I hit the driver 170-180 yds on this hole. If this is related to the "zoom" in landscape mode, or wrong altitude data in the course mapping, I don't know.

The hth is not so bad, but unfortunately I cannot match the scores in real life. Even though most are related to putting and penalties, other things are actually easier in real life compared to hth. But I still think it would be possible to make it even more realistic. And since we are different, more user options like gimme distances and rough penalties. Rest I think is related to course accuracy when mapping altitudes, and penalty areas.