How accurate are simulators really compared to outdoor play?
I've been using my sim for about 4 months now. When I go to the range or course, my distances feel different.
On the sim, my 7 iron goes about 165 yards. On the course, it feels more like 150-155.
Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong or is this just a limitation of sim golf?
For context:
- Using SkyTrak
- Premium golf balls (ProV1)
- Hitting into a net about 8 feet away
Starting to wonder if my sim practice is actually helping or creating bad habits.
3 Replies
The distance difference is totally normal and actually makes sense when you think about it:
On sim:
- Perfect lie every time
- No wind resistance modeled (or minimal)
- Temperature often warmer indoors
- Perfect strike with good feedback
On course:
- Variable lies
- Real wind
- Cold air is denser (balls don't fly as far)
- Pressure might tighten your swing
I add about 5-7% to my sim distances to match course play. My 7 iron is 165 on sim and about 155-158 on course.
Also check your launch monitor settings. Some have "normalize" or "altitude" settings that might be inflating your numbers. Make sure you're set to sea level and your actual temperature.
The 10-yard difference is within normal range. Don't stress about absolute distances - focus on relative distances. If your sim 7 iron goes 165 and your 8 iron goes 153, use those gaps on the course.