Golf enthusiasts, rejoice! The new Rapsodo MLM2 PRO Launch Monitor has hit the market, and it's a game-changer.For those who are unfamiliar, a launch monitor is a device that measures key metrics of your golf swing, such as clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate. These metrics can be incredibly helpful in improving your game, as they provide valuable insights into your swing and help you identify areas where you can make adjustments.The Rapsodo MLM2 PRO takes things to the next level with its advanced technology and user-friendly interface. Here are just a few of the features that make this launch monitor stand out: Enhanced Accuracy: The MLM2 PRO uses advanced radar technology to accurately measure every aspect of your swing, giving you precise data to work with.   Instant Feedback: With real-time data and instant video replay, you can see exactly what's happening with your swing and make adjustments on the fly.   User-Friendly Interface: The MLM2 PRO is incredibly easy to use, with a simple interface that makes it easy to navigate and understand your data.   Portable Design: The compact, lightweight design makes it easy to take the MLM2 PRO with you wherever you go, whether you're practicing at the driving range or playing a round on the course. But perhaps the best thing about the Rapsodo MLM2 PRO is that it's not just for professionals. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this launch monitor can help you improve your game and take your skills to the next level.So if you're looking to up your golf game and take your swing to new heights, the Rapsodo MLM2 PRO Launch Monitor is definitely worth checking out. With its advanced technology and user-friendly interface, it's the perfect tool to help you achieve your goals on the course. GolfBays will be stocking the new Rapsodo MLM2 Pro for dispatch mid April.

If you are fortunate enough to have used a golf simulator Golf Simulator Enclosures - Golf Bays home practice golf bays – GolfBays, you’ll appreciate how incredible the technology can be. The graphics and data that’s available with today’s launch monitors are amazing – to say the least. Why would you ever need to step out onto a real-life golf course, you might well argue?  Nevertheless, however life-like you make things, the stark fact is that a golf simulator is exactly that – simulation. It might be better, it might be worse, but it is never going to replicate the experience of playing golf outdoors on a golf course proper.   So, what is the difference between the two formats? After all, whether you’re standing in a home golf studio or out on the grassy expanse of a fairway, you’re still hitting an actual golf ball with real clubs, over the same perceived distance. 1. Feel Perhaps the biggest difference between using a golf simulator Must Have Golf Simulator Accessories – GolfBays and playing real golf is the ‘feel’ you get.  As a beginner, it might be hard to appreciate exactly what this means but, if you have been playing the game for any length of time, you’ll understand. Feel can’t really be taught, it can only be acquired or appreciated by playing shots over a prolonged period.   The more often you stand over the ball, looking towards where you are aiming, assessing the lie of the course, the contours, what the wind is doing, you develop an instinctive feel for how you are going to take on that particular shot and how you are going to swing the club. It’s not as easy to create that feel for the shot when you are playing in a golf studio Custom Simulator Setups – GolfBays, hitting from a flat mat towards a screen Golf Enclosure Impact Screens by GolfBays - Golf Practice Screens. Technology can definitely come to your aid, however. The quality of your simulation equipment will go a long way to helping you replicate the feel for the shot. Indeed, many of our home golf clients report how authentic the indoor golf experience really is.     2. Lie Unless you live in the United States, in places like Florida, where golf courses are renowned for their flatness, real life golf courses are rarely flat – in fact they are forever undulating and are often extremely hilly.   With a golf simulator, you’ll always be hitting your shots off a pan flat lie. Nevertheless, most simulators do enable you to make allowances for playing out of the rough, normally a calculated percentage for how much distance should be knocked off your shot. Another option when using a golf simulator, is to invest in a mat with different grass lengths Golf Practice Hitting Mats - GolfBays Golf Training Aids. This is a good way to bring an extra challenge or more authenticity to your shot.  3. Chipping and Putting Chipping and putting can be difficult on a golf simulator. This is where other specific training aids may be handy. Having said that, launch monitors Golf Simulator Launch Monitors - GolfBays Golf Training Aids do come in for unfair criticism when it comes to the short game. Whilst they can have a harder time picking up lower speed shots, this isn’t because the simulator provides inaccurate readings, it’s more the case that for you, the player, it can be tricky to get a feel for how hard you need to strike the ball, when you are focussing on virtual depth perception. It can be akin to reading a putt when daylight has all but disappeared towards the end of your round. From experience, what we can say with confidence, is that judging distances when you are chipping and putting on a golf simulator is something that you should be able to master in a relatively short period of time. 4. The Weather Come rain, shine or blustery winds, if you are using a golf simulator indoors Custom Simulator Setups – GolfBays, you don’t get to experience any of these weather vagaries.   Whenever you play outdoors, more often than not you will definitely have to contend with variable wind speeds and changes in wind direction. Certainly, it will be of sufficient strength to have an effect on the ball’s flight and distance. Although you can adjust most simulators to take account of the meteorological conditions, you won’t get that feel of wind, rain or the chill factor when playing in a home golf studio Home Practice Golf Sets - GolfBays golf game improvement tools.   5. Bunkers For anyone who hates playing out of sand, you can avoid bunkers altogether when you are playing virtual golf. If your ball finishes up in a bunker on the course you are playing on the screen, unless you dump a pile of sand onto the mat in front of you, in a simulated environment, you’ll be playing a normal chip shot to hit back onto the green or fairway.  Where Golf Simulators have a big advantage 1.                Choosing when you play Playing golf can be a time-consuming business, if you are playing for real. It can take hours out of your day, which is fine if you are retired and have time on your hands but, for many people, spare time and golf don’t always work well together. If you lead a hectic life, but still want to be able to enjoy our great game, this is where golf simulators offer a tremendous advantage How much is a Golf Simulator? – GolfBays. You get to play around your diary. No queueing, no waiting around on congested par 3s with three other groups, no need to settle for tee times that aren’t ideal. Play on your own and it’s quite possible to play a full round, on one of the world’s most iconic courses, in around one hour. You won’t even lose any golf balls in the process! And if you are a fair weather golfer, with a golf simulator, you can prevent your game going rusty during the winter months. Watch the rain pouring down outside, whilst you tackle Augusta inside.    2.                 Shot Data We’ve mentioned this subject in previous blogs, but it’s important to remember. If you play golf out on the course, other than guesswork and a sympathetic word from a playing partner, you have no access to any data which will tell you why you’ve just hit consecutive shots into the water. With a golf simulator, you have the perfect opportunity to fine tune your game because you can analyse every shot, every swing, every wayward drive Collections – GolfBays - with instantly available info. There is no better way to make fast improvements to your game. In Conclusion It’s said that playing on a simulator makes the game of golf easier, compared to playing for real. True, you don’t experience the weather conditions, the bunkers, the slopes and the various cuts of rough Artificial Grass - GolfBays Practice Astro Turf & Putting Mats. This makes simulator golf a little more straightforward. Chipping and putting can be trickier indoors, however – certainly until you get “the feel” for it.  Overall, then, your scoring should end up being pretty comparable between simulator golf and real golf.   BUT, when it comes to convenience and making improvements to your game in a fun and relaxed environment, a simulator gets the green jacket every time. And today, with so many golf simulator packages available Simulator Room Bundles – GolfBays, there has never been a more cost effective and opportunistic way to enjoy playing the wonderful game of golf. If you would like further information about the best type of golf simulators for your requirements, call Golf Bays UK on 0800 288 8805 or contact us by email: sales@golfbays.co.uk      

What’s the Best Food and Drink to take out on the Golf Course?    Nutrition is an essential part of our everyday lives. And when it comes to playing golf, the food we put into our bodies – before and during a round - can have a big impact on how well we perform out on the course. There’s a strong connection between eating well and scoring well.  Obviously, you don’t want to arrive on the first tee having gorged yourself on a six-course banquet. Equally, you don’t want to be weak-kneed and suffering hunger pangs by the time you reach the 12th , when there’s still a third of your round to go before sustenance arrives in the clubhouse. Every time you set out on an 18-hole adventure Travel Accessories – GolfBays, which is likely to last for four or more hours and involve four to five miles of walking (carts can alleviate some of the strain), the food and drink you put into your bag How many clubs are you allowed in your golf bag? – GolfBays will be just as important as any of the clubs. Golf uses up plenty of calories You might be surprised to learn that you can burn around 2000 calories during some rounds of golf – that’s only 500 calories short of the daily consumption recommendation for men. This is why you get hungry during a game. And if you’ve had a lack of calorie intake ahead of your round, this could easily lead to physical and mental fatigue catching up with you on the course. Whether you play competitively or not, this ‘fuel starvation’ could make all the difference between winning and losing.  Recommended food to eat before you play golf   Don’t play golf on an empty stomach. It’s best to have had a decent protein-rich meal beforehand, to provide you with a sufficient level of nourishment to give you a head start. If you have a very early tee time, like around 7am, it might not be practical to have eaten a huge amount before you play. If possible, however, at least have bowl of cereal or an egg on toast before the off.       What type of food should you carry in your golf bag? Preferably, eat food that is convenient to snack on, that you can munch on the move, which will maintain and stabilise your energy levels – but preferably not chocolate. What you should be focussing on is food that isn’t full of carbohydrates. Carbs tend to produce peaks and troughs of energy, rather than a steady level and this isn’t what you require to play your best golf Breaking 90 - it can be tough to do. And plenty don’t. – GolfBays.   Protein bars are excellent as they contain a balance of protein and, to a lesser extent, sugars. As for drinks, whilst many players carry energy, sugar filled varieties, by far the best thing for hydration, get-up-and-go and clarity of thought is to drink water. So have plenty of it at the ready – a litre’s worth, if possible – especially if the weather is warm.  The best time to eat during a round of golf You don’t need to fill your face but certainly spread eating throughout the round Top 15 London Golf Courses – GolfBays. It needn’t be between every hole, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have something half-way round the front nine holes, then a further snack around the turn and follow up with a final intake of nourishment after about the 15th or 16th holes.   After half a dozen holes, we might suggest the protein/cereal bar. These do contain some carbohydrates but nothing that’s over the top. Fruit and nuts offer a decent balance of slowly digesting fibre and fat. This will ensure you maintain consistent sprightliness and ward off feelings of hunger. This will avoid those harmful blood sugar spikes, which can leave you feeling “space-out”. Around the midpoint of the round, have something like a chicken or tuna sandwich at the ready, ideally on brown or wholemeal. If there is a food cart, as tempting as it may be, avoid bacon sarnies on white bread. It might taste delicious at the time, but within 30 minutes you could find yourself getting that pesky sugar crash (white bread is full of carbs) and salty bacon is extremely dehydrating. On the home stretch, if you find that you need to eat something for that final boost of energy, go for a banana.   Stay-at-home golf - food for thought? Of course, if you are playing at home with a simulator in your own golf studio Simulator Enclosures – GolfBays, anytime you feel peckish, you can just slip out to the fridge and make a sandwich. Just one of the reasons why indoor golf is so popular. GolfBays Indoor Centre   Out on the wide-open expanse of a golf course proper, however, you don’t have the luxury of sneaking out to the kitchen. So, you need to go equipped and to be disciplined about what you eat or drink. Don’t just put a small bottle of water in the bag and leave it at that – hoping to get by on zero food until you get back to the clubhouse. You’d be putting yourself at a huge disadvantage if you allowed this to happen. The old saying, “we are what we eat” is one of the wisest sayings known to man. Whilst we aren’t suggesting that sensible nutrition alone will turn you into a top pro, by being smart about what you eat and drink out on the golf course Top 10 Manchester Golf Courses – GolfBays, will certainly play a big part in creating an enjoyable round – and, maybe, a really impressive score.    

Trackman 4 vs GCQuad Review   The Trackman 4 and GCQuad are priced in a similar range and are commonly compared to each other. This is due to that similar high price but also because they both are out to be the leader in the same space. They are not after mass adoption like some other cheaper launch monitors but they are after the true professional golfers who want to focus on fine tuning their swing and those who get into the data of their club swings and ball flight. Right now it seems that the consensus is that the Trackman is the leader in this space. It is essentially used by every single pro right now while the GCQuad is used by some of the pros but doesn't have the full trust of the majority like the Trackman does.   Accuracy Both of these manufacturers claim that they have the most accurate launch monitors in the industry. While one can’t be telling the truth it is really hard to say which one is actually more accurate. These launch monitors both use cameras to get the most accuracy possible but the Trackman uses doppler radar technology as well. Some people feel that lasers give more accuracy than radar but the Trackman has found a way to make theirs exceptionally well, using radar technology. It could come down to a personal preference of what technology you find is more accurate to decide if you want to use the Trackman or GCQuad.   Features These both have essentially the same features. If there was a tie it would be in the features that they offer. Where the real tie breaker may come in is in the technology that they each use to get their data and the price. The GCQuad is a bit more affordable and does offer a similar product. If you are interested in a simulator that is this expensive it won’t matter as much to you probably to save a few thousand going for one or another tough. What matters is the accuracy and what you are comfortable with.   Data Both of these will provide real time data after every swing. There are also logs of data that can be reviewed after the fact. It is not without reason that professionals use the Trackman and even some have begun to use the GCQuad now as well. They both give exceptional data that can’t be found with other golf simulators.   Conclusion When it comes down to it the price, technology, and comfortability between the two models are really the only differences. If one of those or two of those matter more to you than the other, that one could be a good fit for you. Experiment playing on these simulators to see which one you think tracks your specific swing and shot the best before making a choice.

Can you improve your game using a golf simulator?   The question of if you can improve your game from a golf simulator really comes down to how good you think golf simulators really are. This means how accurate and consistent these golf simulators are at tracking your shots. A lot of this comes down to having the proper set up and using the equipment properly. If you can do that and hit the same golf shots from the simulator launch pad that you do out on the course, then it is definitely a great way to improve your golf game.   The first thing to think about when playing on a golf simulator is the set up. This doesn’t just mean which system you buy or how good it looks, but it means more of how you have it all setup to play so the system can work properly and track your shots accurately. If your systems aren’t set up properly it may be hard to get an accurate reading and truly improve on your game.   Golf simulators have come such a long way in just the past few years. These systems are so advanced and use some of the top tracking technology in the world that are used for military equipment and radar that it makes them super accurate. Because these simulators are so accurate it makes them essentially like playing a real round of golf.   For those who have their simulators set up perfectly, you can expect to get big improvements to your game from a golf simulator. While it takes about two hours to play nine holes on a real course, players on golf simulators can play nine holes in about 30 minutes. So if you are playing for two hours you can play 36 holes instead of just nine. This gives you a ton of additional practice which should improve your game.   Golf simulator users rave about how they can play a ton of holes and get in so much more actual play time with them. For those who believe that playing more equals improving your golf game, then the answer should be 100% yes that you can improve your game from a golf simulator.   The last thing to think about to improve your game from a simulator is getting the top of the line system. There are golf simulator systems priced in all different ranges. Essentially paying more for better technology that tracks balls better will give you a more accurate experience and better practice. The Optishot 2 is a great option in the lower-priced range and has great reviews. Skytrak is a little bit more expensive simulator but it also can track your ball just a little bit better that makes it better to play on and gives a better golf experience than a lot of the others.  

Golfer and social media sensation Lucy Robson has taken to Instagram to reveal her brand new GolfBays sim to help her practice her golf game during the coronavirus lockdown.

Trackman is a dual radar-based system to track both the golf club and ball, before, during and after impact. One of the radars is a short range, ultra high-resolution system.

Here at GolfBays there isn’t an “average day” as it goes. Whether we are out on a site visit measuring up a new room, on the phone to customers helping them design their dream simulator, hosting a corporate event at a super car dealership or teaching all day at our own studio. No day is the same and we love that.

Garmin R10: Best Bang For Your Buck?  The Garmin R10 is one of the most exciting launch monitors currently on the market. Why is that you ask? The answer is, it has a great blend of high-quality data and accuracy, coupled with a price that can not be grumbled at. It is one of our most popular launch monitors here at GolfBays, I am here to tell you why.  How does it work?  The Garmin R10 is a radar-based system that tracks the golf ball for a limited distance at the start of its flight and the golf club through the hitting area. It then uses specific algorithms to calculate and measure the golf club and golf ball data that you see on your screen. A great point about the Garmin R10 is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors, so you aren’t limited to improving your golf in one setting. You could also use it on the golf course to see how your swing changes when you are reacting to different targets and shots.  How do I set it up? I would say this is the easiest of all launch monitors to set up. It really is plug and play. The first thing you will need to do is download the Garmin Golf App. This is compatible with both iOS and android devices, meaning you can use it on your mobile phone or tablet. The next step is to put a golf ball down from where you intend to hit from. Now find a target you want to hit too. You then need to place the device one driver length behind the golf ball, keeping inline with your intended target. Now open the Garmin Golf App and pair your device to your mobile phone or tablet. You are now ready to play, simple as that.  What does it measure? The Garmin R10 offers a huge set of data parameters for such a small device which will give you a great insight into your game. Here is what it offers.  • CLUB HEAD SPEED​ • CLUB FACE ANGLE​ • CLUB PATH ANGLE​ • ANGLE OF ATTACK​ • BALL SPEED​ • LAUNCH ANGLE​ • LAUNCH DIRECTION​ • SPIN AXIS​ • SPIN RATE​ • APEX HEIGHT​ • SMASH FACTOR​ • CARRY DISTANCE​ • TOTAL DISTANCE​ • DEVIATION DISTANCE​   With all this data at your fingertips, it will allow you to pinpoint the specific area of your game you need to work on most. It is also great to have some data and feedback for your coach when you go for your next lesson.   Where can I use it? As I touched on previously, one benefit of the Garmin R10 is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors. We find that it is one of the best routes for people who are thinking about venturing into the world of home golf simulators. The reason is that you don’t need lots of space to operate it. This is a huge benefit when it comes to playing golf at home. The Garmin R10 is also included in our comprehensive SimBoxpackages. This would give you our full SimBoxhitting enclosure, hitting mat and the launch monitor in one bundle making it the easiest way to have your own golf studio at home.  Another positive of using your device at home for simulation is the gaming aspect. On the Garmin Golf App there are over 42,000 virtual golf courses you can play. This means you can practice and improve on the virtual range. Then see yourself improve on the course, all from the comfort of your own home.  Possibly the best aspect of using the Garmin R10 at home, is that the device is compatible with the fantastic E6 Golf Connect software. This gaming software is one of the highest qualities out there. Offering, 17 different driving range views from a full range to practicing short game shots. As well as 100 golf courses with many in the top 100 in the world. Meaning you can play your favourite courses from the PGA and DP World Tours at home.  When you decide to venture out onto the driving range with your device, you’ll never go back to hitting balls without it. Practicing with live data is one of the best ways to improve your golf. You will see what makes your golf ball fly the way it does. Using this data, you can improve your distance and direction each time you practice. You can also use your smartphone camera to include integrated video playback of your golf swing. With this you can analyse your golf swing with data overlay to really get the most out of your practice session. Furthermore, with its 10-hour battery life, it’s never going to let you down in the middle of a session.  Pricing: Garmin R10 -  £499 E6 Golf Connect - $300 per year  SimBox Package - £1999.00    Final Thoughts: The Garmin R10 really is all things to all people. It’s the most competitively priced launch monitor currently on the market. It has a great variety of data parameters. It is also very accurate. The fact that it can be used at home and on the range is a huge bonus. The size of the device means that it will easily fit inside any golf bag or backpack making it uber portable. For the price of the device, I would say it is the best entry level launch monitor on the market.  If you are still undecided or are wondering if it will work for you, please get in contact with our sales team through our website. They will guide and advise you on what will be the best launch monitor for you. Also check out our website for all the latest pricing and deals we have on offer.   Harrison Peck PGA Professional