Swinging Into The Future: Golf’s Trackman Revolution
For centuries, golf has captivated people worldwide, blending simplicity and complexity into a realm of personal challenges, social cohesion, mental strength, and foundational values of etiquette and integrity. However, in an era where tradition converges with transformative technology, the game undergoes a profound shift in how players engage and how courses adapt. The balance between maintaining tradition and embracing progress defines a dynamic transformation where players are now entering an era where golf’s essence is being reinvented. Swing analysis systems, specifically Trackman have redefined the way players traditionally approach golf, offering new unprecedented precision, insightful data, and virtual capabilities that surpass human perception. As a result, age-old courses are forced to evolve, accommodating innovation while trying to preserve their unique heritage.
Simply put, the Trackman is a radar system used to record statistical data about a sports ball in motion. Although its greatest business segment is in the golf industry, its presence has expanded to baseball, soccer, and even American football over the years. The first version of Trackman was launched in 2003, which initially tracked only the height and distance of a golf ball — which wasn’t very accurate.
Since then the Trackman has gone through tremendous advancement and upgrades over the years, the most recent/biggest one being only a few years ago in Trackman Version 4. This version “capture[s] about 45,000 samples per second, which allows [it] to see exactly what the club’s doing from waist-high through impact to waist-high on the exit, and then the high-frequency radar tracks the flight of the ball” (Creed). At about the size of a laptop, the Trackman is placed directly behind the player, only a few feet away. Once a player hits a ball, the system will instantly list 51 different data points ranging from club speed, attack angle, club path, spin rate, and ball speed to name a few.
The Trackman system extends its use beyond just mere data analysis by providing unparalleled simulation capabilities. This feature enables players to experience a wide array of golf courses from across the globe. Whether it’s your dream local course or the iconic Augusta National, where the prestigious Masters Major is held, the Trackman simulation can essentially transport you there. This was especially helpful during the recent COVID-19 pandemic when all golf courses and ranges were closed down. Regardless of the conditions whether rain, shine, snow, or even a tornado — the Trackman ensures that players can provide themselves with a realistic and challenging golfing environment whenever.
By engaging with these simulations, players not only enjoy an immersive experience but also have a revolutionary tool at their disposal to adjust their swing mechanics and ultimately improve their overall game. It’s no surprise that the Trackman has “boomed among golf retailers, pro shops and instructors, as the same technology helps players dial in equipment, and allows instructors to give invaluable golf lessons…” (Heidelberger). By providing precise and unbiased statistical data, players are moving away from outdated teaching methods that solely depend on human observation. Even those with average/below average skills can now benefit from feedback comparable to what professional tour players receive, enabling them to make substantial adjustments to their swings. It’s not surprising that golfers at all levels have witnessed an increase in their driving distances/accuracy over the last two decades. Ongoing technological advancements are truly narrowing the gap between average players and tour professionals in the golf industry, and with continued progress, this trend will continue.
The advent of these revolutionary technological tools and their positive impact on players raises a burning question: How do golf associations and clubs adapt? Fortunately for amateurs and other recreational players, there isn’t really any regulation being enforced/set for a casual round at a local golf course.
As for professional golfers, there are starting to be regulations to specific driving distances because, unlike average players, their room for growth is minimal. The Professional Golf Association (PGA) and United States Golf Association (USGA) have been recently proposing rules to limit distances so that “the ball could only travel 317 yards with 3 yards of tolerance at 127 miles per hour of clubhead speed” (Porter). The challenge with implementing and solidifying these distance regulation rules is that they’re extremely controversial. Players tend to see these as an act against their hard work, especially those whose strength lies in their ability to absolutely obliterate the ball.
Another challenge with establishing regulations is due to one of golf’s most coveted features. Hitting the ball for distance. As a golfer myself, even among my friends who have little to no interest in the sport always have a burning desire to tee off with a driver to watch the ball skyrocket into the distance. This same fascination applies to the PGA, which draws in substantial viewership due largely to elite players like Rory Mcilroy or Dustin Johnson showcasing their long-hitting capabilities.
The desire to hit the ball far has become so ingrained in golf culture to the point where there are dedicated competitions like Long Drive events and even inspired movies like Happy Gilmore which centers around a player that is capable of hitting the ball seemingly miles away. With the help of technological advancements like the Trackman, it’s evident that even golf courses are now forced to adapt to the increase in hitting distance.
Take the annual Masters Championship for example, the prestigious tournament that’s been played at Augusta National Golf Course since 1934, and stands as a battlefield where the most elite golfers in the world compete for the coveted green jacket. For almost a century Augusta National remained unchanged for competition purposes up until the recent modification this year to the 13th hole’s tee box that was moved back 35 yards.
Hole 13 was known for its difficult shape and threats offered at the tee-off, unfortunately “as players grew in strength and length, the 13th became less of a threat. If [the players] can simply blast [their] ball into the stratosphere, most course threats become irrelevant. The 13th has played to an average of 4.77 over its history, with the lowest year — 4.474 — coming in 2019. (The highest: 5.042 in 1976.)” (Busbee). If iconic golf courses such as Augusta National, which has been a part of the golfing landscape for nearly a century, are now embracing change, it prompts people to think about the future of all golf courses. How will these golf courses and associations navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the sport, triggered by advancements in player skills thanks to technological advancement?
I vividly recall the moment of sheer astonishment when I hit a ball with Trackman for the very first time, and suddenly, an array of unfamiliar terms popped up on the screen, notably “club path” and “attack angle.” My first encounter with the system left me in awe of its ability to generate vast amounts of statistical data in such a short period of time. Sure other advancements like Taylormade’s twist face or Callaway’s jailbreak technology have slightly influenced players’ skill set, but the Trackman highlighted the profound influence, power, and evolution of pure technology in practical use. The Trackman system helped me recognize how technology could reshape the way people engage in even the most traditional and seemingly straightforward sports.
Balancing the preservation of tradition with the embrace of technological advancement will continue to remain a complex and controversial topic, particularly within the golf industry. I personally believe that technology is great for the sport, but ultimately establishing regulations needs to have a higher priority.
Having experienced personal success in the realm of competitive golf, including winning junior tournaments, high school playoffs, and even the So Cal Championship, I can attest that Trackman became an irreplaceable tool for my self-improvement, as it had for my fellow competitors. However, the traditional aspect of golf has always been about facing decades-old courses that offer difficult challenges presented on whether a renowned bunker, water hazard, or tree. If players can simply hit past/over it, it takes that traditional part out. Now there’s no doubt that technology has become an integral element of golf culture, and although it may change the way we play, there has to be a level of respect maintained for tradition that will ensure the legacy of golf remains for generations to come.
Works Cited:
Busbee, Jay. “Masters 2023: How Augusta’s 13th Hole Became a Challenge Again.” Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo!, 5 Apr. 2023, sports.yahoo.com/masters-2023-how-augustas-13th-hole-became-a-challenge-again-011804639.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAhSre2blmloPZkIJIdWR_BvHdEv9Ye9j7Z6LCrz5O_VoZX2e7BwfYqXPVxDJ1imRPVizT_HIx7Nl-zJNF-ZUNblQ_EFiXLxTC7YWWZ96TB3tf_k9KNGNlETKwgOMwevDoazoyZFgzW3Ru3WQU3vYn5 — ZOgp0KsTxfEJCJFqmCO.
Creed, Zack. “How Does Trackman Work? Is It Accurate?” PARfect Swing Golf Academy Oakville, 7 June 2020, www.parfectswing.com/blog/how-does-trackman-work/.
Heidelberger, Nick. “How Trackman Golf Systems Are Changing the Game.” How Trackman Golf Systems Are Changing the Game Golflink.Com, GolfLink, 2022, www.golflink.com/lifestyle/how-trackman-golf-systems-are-changing-game.
Porter, Kyle “USGA, R&A Propose Rule to Limit Distance Golf Balls Can Travel in Professional Events.” CBSSports.Com, 14 Mar. 2023, www.cbssports.com/golf/news/usga-r-a-propose-rule-to-limit-distance-golf-balls-can-travel-in-professional-events/.
Shackelford, Geoff. “Trackman: Tool Time.” Golf Digest, 2014, www.golfdigest.com/story/gwar-trackman-0310.
