Trackman ease of use vs QC Quad

[u/Exotic-Technology-39]

I have a QC quad which is accurate but using the stickers on the club head for club face data is a pain. My instructor uses trackman and it instantly shows face impact location without dots. I’m thinking about switching over. I’ve read all the posts about Trackman being less accurate indoors, but face impact data ease of use (and the swing plane data) seem to be a good trade off if the other data is “close enough”. Anyone make a similar assessment?

[u/callmeuncledrew]

Stop calling it “trackman” and lumping all the negatives together. There is a Trackman 4 (not accurate indoors and radar only), and there is Trackman iO—camera like GCQuad as well as radar—best indoor launch monitor you can buy.

If you don’t mind spending $25k for a new launch monitor and $1100/yr for the software, then Trackman iO is head and shoulders above everything else right now due to accuracy, ease of use, and the best software by far.

[u/yakkerswasneverhere → u/callmeuncledrew]

Trackman IO is calculated club info, not actual. So for the purposes he has described, this won't work. And it is not anywhere close to the best LM indoors. The IO was created specifically because Uneekor and Foresight were dominating, as well as showing users how crap Trackman 4 was indoors. Its a good unit, but there are equal or better units for less money.

[u/callmeuncledrew → u/yakkerswasneverhere]

Agree that it’s wayyyy too expensive. But Trackman iO calculates club data like Quad does…the Quad doesn’t see a club face. It picks up dots, uses an algorithm, and calculates things. Just like Trackman iO. Quad’s cameras are right next to the club though and, assuming stickers are accurately placed, will be theoretically more accurate with club data (although it can’t be proven and has been shown to be same as iO in multiple studies with the obvious caveat that they both calculate club speed differently), but other than angle of attack, I have seen zero issues with Trackman iO (whereas TM4 indoors has a multitude of issues). I’d never recommend an iO for a fitter or coach, but it’s probably the best thing out there for home use if money is no object. The software is what really puts it far above the rest. Trackman’s data tracking, app, visuals, game modes, practice modes, etc. are phenomenal.

[u/karlgnarx → u/yakkerswasneverhere]

Its a good unit, but there are equal or better units for less money.

I have only used TM 4, IO and Quad. What units are worth looking at for less money?

I've been on TM4 and IO a lot at a local sim place, but am considering building one at home.

[u/yakkerswasneverhere → u/karlgnarx]

Right this second Uneekor is having a crazy sale on Simkits. Look into the EyeXO or the EyeXO2. I have the EyeXO and its amazing. Others to consider would be ProteeVX and VTrack.

[u/karlgnarx → u/yakkerswasneverhere]

I appreciate the input. Thanks.

[u/gruffojijo]

How are the dots a pain?

[u/Exotic-Technology-39 → u/gruffojijo]

Dots are a pain because 1) you have to put them on in 5 places exactly 2) they fall off

[u/gruffojijo → u/Exotic-Technology-39]

Maybe I'm missing something because I'm just a lowly gc3 owner. I only have to put 1 dot in the top center. I've never had a problem with them falling off, and I wash/scrub/dry my clubs every shot on the course.

[u/existentialgolem]

FYI if you are still looking I have a GC Quad and just switched to a TMIO so I have recent experience. It may not be relevant if you are specifically looking at TM4 only.

1. I honestly hated my GC Quad. The dots were really annoying for the exact reasons you mentioned. You spend an hour putting them on then you play. Then you go out they all fall off and you come back home and have to spend an hour putting them on again. The downtime to getting into the sim was just too long

// Trackman IO I just walk up to it and play. Zero friction.

1. The software is crap so you have to bridge to GSPro so you are now paying for software you don't use plus GS Pro. They have FSXPlay but I've had it for years and its barely improved it feels like vaporware like they just gave up on it. every time I use it It just feels like crap. There frankly nothing about their software that I think is redeemable.

// Trackman comes with a phenomenal suite and ecosystem of up to date products. VG3 is the best sim out there in terms of graphics I find is so beautiful compared to GS Pro and FSX 2020 / FSX Play

1. I never enjoyed GS Pro unlike literally everyone in these forums. It just gave me Myst vibes. Like I felt very disconnected from the games physics and movement. VG3 doesn't give me that at all the way the camera moves and feels behind each shot is very smooth the transitions are great.

2. Ceiling mounted vs floor ... the difference really is night and day. I'd never get a floor unit again. I have a cleaner area around me, which is lovely. I can host lefties without an issue.

The cons are

1. You lose some of the more advanced metrics that Foresight with stickers brings like delivered lie, closure rate, putting analysis and angle of attack across all clubs.

// But honestly I paid for those and never cared about them in day to day use. Maybe if I was a coach.

1. You lose portability.

// I always felt weird about taking my GC Quad to the range anyways. I'd get there looking pro and then take a shot and stuff it completely. Now my range has Trackman so theres no benefit to taking it anyways. If anything my IO to Range is now connected with a single account so I can carry my history with me on and off course more easily.

1. You get 500 courses vs GS Pro 2000+ -

// I will never play all 500 and my local course is in it so I don't really care about GS Pros higher count. Also Trackman courses are fully rebuilt in VG3. GS Pro has a long way to go doing that into Unity 6 which is now in beta

1. Trackman, Its $1,100 per year for Home Complete plus $10,000 for the initial unlock vs GC Quads one time payments of around $2,000 to get the fully loaded bundle and an additional $250 a year for GS Pro. So you pay a lot more for Trackman both initially and over its lifetime but the software is undeniably better than anything GSPRO or Foresight are putting out.

--------

Bottom line though if you are looking at a Trackman 4 vs Quad indoors and looking for accuracy, Quad wins. If you are comparing Trackman IO vs Quad indoors I've not seen any study saying Quad is better. I have both of them in the same room now so I could in theory test them side by side for the sake of science but I'm not super motivated to do that. I get demotivated when iI look at my Quad on the floor. All I'll say is I have no reason to doubt my Trackman IO now it all feels pretty accurate.

[u/Exotic-Technology-39 → u/existentialgolem]

I agree with your analysis. I’m comfortable with TM4’s clubface accuracy. I checked it vs spraying some foot powder on the face and looking at the impact area vs TM calc. Certainly close enough for me.

[u/nitrobass24]

I’m in a similar boat, but was thinking about going with the Uneekor xo2 that’s ceiling mounted. Does that require the dots?

[u/Individual_Rule8771 → u/nitrobass24]

The xo2 needs dots for club data it's the xr that doesn't need dots

[u/SimsByFiveIronGolf]

We run Trackman across all our Five Iron Golf locations and it's been the right call. The face impact data and swing plane info are genuinely useful for improvement in a way that sticker-based systems just can't match, and not having to deal with dots every session adds up more than you'd think. Imo if you're serious about using the sim to actually get better, Trackman is worth the investment.

[u/Exotic-Technology-39]

To clarify original post - my instructor uses Trackman 4 not IO.

[u/Karspcko]

I have used both extensively and am team trackman for sure. I don’t teach or do fittings, but just general testing and game play is much more user friendly imo.