A few weeks ago, I visited Chantilly, Va., to check out what might just be the best kept secret in the simulator space. So what is GOLFZON’s new GDR MAX all about and why should you care? I’m glad you asked.
The first thing I realized during my time at the GOLFZON U.S. headquarters is that the GDR MAX is an extremely well thought out simulator solution. It has everything: an easy-to-use touch screen, a display monitor, a pressure plate under your feet plus cameras galore. (Oh, and they’ll also include the projector and gaming computer as well.) You can also double up on the launch monitor, face-on camera and screens for less than the cost of what another launch monitor unit would be. It’s a value worth exploring.
Although one misconception I had walking in was that these were built for commercial purposes, meant to be installed in areas with multiple units inside a business, or for coaches and fitters. But I was wrong! These builds are ready to go for home-installs. Once you have the structure in place (screen, bay, hitting surface, etc.) they can come in and get you set up with the GDR MAX and you’re on your way.
Here are four more things I learned about the GOLFZON GDR MAX. (Click here to learn more or inquire about pricing options, which vary based on customizable options.)
1. GOLFZON Vertical Integration
The most underrated part of the entire GOLFZON experience is that they own, operate, manage and construct everything themselves. They own all of the hardware and all of the software so the experience is seamless across the board. Super low latency from impact to visual on screen. Seamless transitions in the software when changing screens. Responsive touchscreens. Very little delay in the menus or in the software when going between holes while playing golf. The experience never gets in the way. Everything belongs in the structure and everything works with one another. There isn’t a software issue being held up by a hardware issue or a hardware issue being held up by software.
They can also adapt the software as they please. More features are going to continue to be introduced, so there’s always tweaks to make in the software, courses to update and new coaching and fitting features that will be requested as the experience evolves.
2. I’d be comfortable fitting with GDR MAX
If you know me at all, you know that my world of golf revolves around club fitting, testing and data. If I am going to use a simulator system, or even just go play some indoor golf with my buddies, I get really bothered when I know the data isn’t providing me with accurate numbers. My standard is Foresight QuadMax, and I know the range that my numbers should fall in whether I am having an elite day or a rough day.
But I can confidently say I would be comfortable fitting a friend using the GDR MAX system for a couple of reasons. The first is that I tested it against my standard, and the numbers were about as similar as they could have been. The other reason is the data that they capture and what the fitter has access to, specifically in the dynamic data. I am a huge believer that dynamic club data (the data that measures the actual club in motion rather than the static measurements the clubs are taken at) are more important in a club fitting than anything. How the club is behaving is the north star for club fittings, and there was nothing missing from the GDR MAX experience that I would have with the more commonly accepted fitting technologies at a fitting bay.
The user interface is also next level. Using the touch screen feels like a natural progression in the current world of tech, and everything you want it to do it does without much “searching.” It’s really easy to switch in and out of the exact data you want to see and it’s seamless to navigate the software without feeling like you need a guide. The user experience is the quickest way to lose interest in a sim system — but that wasn’t the case here.
GOLFZON GDR MAX
3. Coaches and fitters both have a home
I’m not a very “coaching” focused golfer. I think coaching technology is amazing, but my philosophy is that a coach needs to have access to every tool possible because every golfer learns differently. Some golfers or learners in general want visuals, some want feels, some want it to be super techy, and some want to be left alone to their own devices to figure it out. And that’s the best part of the GDR MAX system. They have thought of everything. Pressure plate? Check. Cameras? Check. On-body joint position tracing and swing path tracing? Check. Change the entire screen into data tiles? Sure. Turn everything off and work with your coach while you play some sim golf? Done. Every student has the ability to learn the exact way they want to.
To me, this is the best approach on the coaching side. Give them all the tools and let them scale it back as much as they want. As the student evolves with the coach they can add in more tools, change the approach or unlock new goals without ever having to add in a new subscription, downloading a new software pack or going into a new portion of the software.
4. It’s incredibly simple
We’ve talked a ton about the data, hardware and software, but the good news is it’s all simple. Even if you didn’t have a demo (like I did) you could spend a couple of minutes pushing buttons and figure out how to navigate every part of the software, including playing sim golf, using the fitting tools and all of the coaching tools.
