by Ajay Manhas
I was fortunate enough to have an aboutGOLF flatscreen simulator installed in my basement in 2021. I had a little experience with game of golf in the past, but never took it seriously and certainly wasn’t good enough to play on the course. After the installers left and the simulator was all ours, I said to myself that it was “time to become a two-sport athlete.”
I was in high school at the time but taking all of my classes from home due to COVID. Instead of sitting down all day as I went through classes, I propped my computer up in the basement and started to work on my golf game. For about 6 months, I hit golf balls every day. I watched YouTube to teach myself how to hit iron shots, chipped the ball until I gained some feel, and used my tennis background to develop a draw with my driver. Or as I like to call it, my “topspin forehand.”
Unlike a driving range where you might be aimlessly hitting balls, an aG simulator offers numerous statistics and insights based on your swing, such as club head speed, ball speed and attack angle. These statistics helped me find weaknesses in my game and focus my practice on improving those areas. One example was a miss with my irons where I would push shots way right. The attack angle diagrams helped me see how open my club was at contact.
I’ve always had a big basement, but it was never properly utilized until we got our aG simulator. This room is now the perfect place for me and my buddies to hang out, play golf, play poker, and enjoy college football Saturdays or NFL Sundays. I never expected my house to become the “spot”, but after getting the simulator, you can’t blame my friends for always wanting to come over to hit balls and play iconic courses like Pebble Beach.
In my opinion, the most underrated part of the aG simulator is how it appeals to golfers and non-golfers alike. If I have friends over that don’t play golf, we can adjust their accuracy/power/putting settings so they can keep up. If young kids are over, we can play putt-putt. If it is a large group of golfers, we can play FORE, which is similar to the game HORSE in basketball.
Three years ago, I had no idea how to play golf. Today, after numerous hours working on my game in my aboutGOLF simulator, I fluctuate between a 10 to 15 handicap. My game is now good enough to compete with my peers that grew up playing golf. I believe the hardest parts of improving your golf game are getting proper coaching and getting out on the range regularly to practice. The aG simulator solves both of those problems – it serves as my range and the simulator's software is my coach.
