Toptracer at Halpenny Dublin Airport Range

billy3sheets · 11-12-2022 11:29am #1

I'm a regular user of the Halpenny range beside Dublin Airport. Dropped in yesterday as courses all closed with the frost. New price list up which I enquired about to be told all the bays are fitted with Toptracer! Sure enough all 20 or so indoor bays fitted with touch screens and Toptracer Range software.

Various programs available and you can login and download an app to see your stats, compete with pals etc.

Will take time to get used to it but seems great fun.

CSWS101 · 11-12-2022 12:24pm

Would take the readings with a pinch of salt though, have found them to be inaccurate at best.

redhill · 11-12-2022 1:52pm

Are you sure it’s not Toptracer driving range software and not Trackman?

walterking · 11-12-2022 1:57pm

I've tried it at Palmerstown Estate and its quite good. Makes you take your time instead of just whacking the ball.

What I do want to try soon is the KClub Golf World https://www.kclub.ie/k-golf-world.html

billy3sheets · 11-12-2022 3:12pm

You're right @redhill . I've corrected the post and topic. Thanks.

redhill · 11-12-2022 3:41pm

How much extra are the ball prices?

billy3sheets · 12-12-2022 10:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119983718#Comment_119983718

I think e12 for 100 balls. Was e9 for 100 previously.

El Guapo! · 12-12-2022 10:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986234#Comment_119986234

That's not too bad at all. Last time I checked Palmerstown I think it was €18 for 90 balls which seemed a little on the steep side. I'd expect to pay a bit extra for the use of the technology but that just seemed a bit much.

blue note · 12-12-2022 12:16pm

I'm looking forward to trying this! What would be most useful to me would be data on my swing path - am I coming up / down on the ball and am I coming from out to in. I don't need a machine to tell me I'm not coming from in to out.

I fear though it will just encourage me to swing harder.

billy3sheets · 12-12-2022 2:15pm

It's not as complex as and doesn't have the same level of data as the Trackman systems you get fitted on.

Ball speed, distance and a trace of the shot path.

Can't really comment on accuracy but it seemed reasonable for the one session I had.

willabur · 12-12-2022 2:44pm

given its range balls you are hitting also, taking the numbers to the course would be highly questionable

It would be useful for dialing in consistency with your scoring clubs. I use a rapsodo purely for this purpose, haven't accurately been able to bring those numbers to the course.

benny79 · 13-12-2022 10:12am

What I found - Toptracer in the spawell I hit a lot further than I would do on course. Like nearly 2 clubs if Im swinging well.. Never seen these numbers on the course even in height of summer. 7i was going 170 yards on some hits.

Trackman in Palmerstown GC I hit my irons way less than normal like I was only hitting my 7i 125/130 yards

I have the PRGR monitor and these seems to be really close to my on the course numbers 7I being 145/150 yards.

Take from that what you want.

blue note · 13-12-2022 12:15pm

I think they add on 10% or something to mitigate the effects of the range balls.

copacetic · 14-12-2022 11:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119990661#Comment_119990661

They don’t add on anything in top tracer, it’s a camera system tracking the exact path of the balls against the calibrated distances from the bay mat into the range. Very good value compared to the bays at spa well, just a couple of euro extra. It’s exactly right also, as in the exact distance the range ball goes is what it reports. Very easy to check that with a laser against the flag distances there, it can’t really be wrong except on how far the ball rolls after it hits the ground. Whether it’s how far you hit a premium ball in flat calm, summer warm conditions is a different thing altogether !

it’s causing the lads there a pain though with people claiming it’s wrong and they hit it a lot further than it’s saying etc. the other day it was 0C, into a stiff cold breeze probably knocking 15 to 20% off carries, just like it would on the course. The balls are quite good there so generally not making a major difference.

spacecoyote · 19-12-2022 10:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997948#Comment_119997948

I'm 99% sure that there is a setting in TopTracer to normalise distance, which adds 10% to your hit with a range ball.

You can switch it on and off from the display screen.

Certainly is the case in the spawell

copacetic · 19-12-2022 10:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013325#Comment_120013325

never seen that, not sure why they would set it so high either as generally range balls are pretty ok now distance wise, it’s spin they lack. Are you sure you aren’t getting the ‘flat carry’ v ‘total distance’ setting mixed up?

blue note · 20-12-2022 1:15am

I'm pretty sure Peter lawrie said they do it on the newstalk podcast. Because they don't go as far by about that much.

spacecoyote · 20-12-2022 7:16am

Can't find a definitive answer, but a bit of googling seems to suggest 20% adjustment for normalisation of distance is applied by the toptracer system

benny79 · 20-12-2022 10:06am

I find my distances in Spawell are much further than in real life and thats with the 10% button for normalisation switched off

Golfgraffix · 21-12-2022 8:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016994#Comment_120016994

Aren’t the TopTracer bays on the second level there ? That alone will give you extra carry distance.

spacecoyote · 21-12-2022 9:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020627#Comment_120020627

Yes, all are upstairs

benny79 · 21-12-2022 10:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020627#Comment_120020627

Yeah. would it though? Like Im nearly hitting 2 clubs further on a good day.

spacecoyote · 21-12-2022 12:52pm

Would definitely make a difference Benny, also, hard to feel what wind may be blowing when in the bays.

You should be able to get reasonable gauge from the distance markers anyway, there are plenty of them out in the spawell

benny79 · 22-12-2022 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021417#Comment_120021417

Yeah but when I was using them I had my PRGR as well an that was give me distances closer to what I hit on course. Suppose that doesn't probably that in height and wind. Interesting one.

spacecoyote · 22-12-2022 3:43pm

Yeah, the PRGR is really a predicted value based on the strike alone, the toptracer is based on cameras tracking the ball as far as I know

willabur · 05-01-2023 11:16am

Went to Halpenny last night, its great... really enjoyed the session and playing the games.

The numbers on mid to short irons seemed pretty accurate but the driver was way off. I nailed a couple of drives which were at least 230 or so in the air and the computer was telling me it was topping out at 180 or 190. All other clubs seemed bang on

RoadRunner · 05-01-2023 11:23am

I went over xmas and really liked playing the mini game. top tracer 30 or something like that. 30 shots and the computer set out the shots.

One thing I noticed is that when it give you pitches in of say 60-70ish yards. it's hard to get the distance control right without a visual. (But this practice can only help with that range!)

FixdePitchmark · 12-01-2023 4:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986305#Comment_119986305

18 euro for 90 balls ......jaysus , golf and the world has gone mad....

El Guapo! · 12-01-2023 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120098938#Comment_120098938

Yep. I thought it was a bit on the pricey side myself.

Here it is from the website....

Screenshot_20230112-192642_Samsung Internet.jpg

benny79 · 13-01-2023 12:41pm

If thats with the top tracer its actually good valve as its €20 in Spawell for large bucket an hr on Toptracer

willabur · 13-01-2023 4:45pm

halpenny was just 12 euro for a large basket and no time limit... folks lining up outside just to get down

FixdePitchmark · 13-01-2023 6:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102505#Comment_120102505

20 euro to go to the range - ---- lol.

spacecoyote · 13-01-2023 8:24pm

Yeah, they basically split the fee there I think. You pay for the toptracer bays and then you pay for balls separately, adds up to the 20 mark for an hour and a large bucket

blue note · 13-01-2023 8:57pm

I went to halpenny during the week for the first time. Queues for bays on a weekday afternoon. Mad stuff. It's cool technology though.

The one worry I'd have though is I'd start trying to get the vest numbers possible as opposed to working on something. I wonder would you be better off practicing without the numbers sometimes.

FixdePitchmark · 18-01-2023 2:44pm

Was up today ...I think there was some sort of problem today ...but never seen a range that full seems a game changer .

Definitely improves the range experience and makes it more fun...but interesting point from bluenote, takes a bit of discipline to go back to working on whatever you are working on....

A funny process lads walking up and down and waiting for bays ...nobody wants anyone watching them at a range ...lol

Anyway..mid Jan a full range...the covid golf growth seems to be sticking ..."working from home too"

token56 · 18-01-2023 3:23pm

I think at this stage they should implementing a booking system, particularly at peak hours. I haven't been since before the Toptracer was installed and even then it was pure luck whether a bay would be free in the evening or not, I can only imagine what it must be like now. I'm sure Halpenny don't really mind because people are buying balls before checking if bay's are free but as customer experience I think it's quite poor. But until I can go at an off peak time or during the summer when the grass is more usable in the evening's I'll probably be staying away.

FixdePitchmark · 18-01-2023 3:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120124852#Comment_120124852

Off peak is full too..

token56 · 18-01-2023 3:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120124899#Comment_120124899

Even more of a reason to implement booking then.

BigChap1759 · 18-01-2023 3:35pm

Yeah I think they need to implement some type of queuing system at the airport as it's so busy - would make much more sense than randomly picking a person to wait to finish as most are using the automatic tees so you can't tell how many balls people have left :-(

FixdePitchmark · 18-01-2023 3:40pm

Another issue they have is ...it takes way longer .

A good thing ...but a problem for them

blue note · 18-01-2023 4:10pm

I was there this morning too. They had some sort of maintenance on so opened late - I'm sure this made the queues much worse. Actually, my friend mentioned he was over with them last week to upgrade their broadband, so I'd say there's a chance that's what they were doing.

The way they have it now they're just permanently at full capacity in their bays, so it's perfect for them. A queuing system would be good though for the golfers. If you bring in a booking system you'll end up with empty bays when someone finishes but the next person isn't there yet.

What I liked looking at today when hitting balls was where my consistency was with each club - you get a percentage for it. getting that number up is the holy grail.

willabur · 19-01-2023 2:06pm

Great to see the appetite for hitting golf balls is there. Wonder what the impact on kinseally driving range has been. Will they and rhe other one in swords look to invest in tech to gain back their market

Overall id say it's a step towards us/Korean style top golf experiences.

artanevilla · 19-01-2023 2:09pm

Kinsealy is like a teenage disco some evenings, I've stopped using it.

mjsc1970 · 20-01-2023 1:00am

Tried Halpenny last week. Lucky to get the last bay it seems, middle afternoon of a school day too. Yeah it was very enjoyable using the tech.

But I wouldn't be arsed with it again if it's gonna be busier all the time. Maybe next year. It is cool though.

benny79 · 20-01-2023 10:37am

I'm Surprised because the Spawell & Palmerstown have a booking system

FixdePitchmark · 20-01-2023 12:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129110#Comment_120129110

I do like Kinsealy - was top of the "range" - but got a bit tired over the years. Simple things like poor mats in some bays - lack of tees - putting area needed an upgrade.

Doors hardly opening , balls not working upstairs - even something like new flags and targets

I guess Irish golfers are going to want higher standards going forward and to be honest, about time. It isn't a cheap hobby.

El Guapo! · 20-01-2023 4:20pm

I gave Halpenny a go today.

It's a good setup and good value at €12 for a large bucket. But, as previously mentioned, it was packed when I got there at 12 o'clock. I had to stand around and wait for a bay for about 25 minutes. There's no queuing system either and it seems to be a bit of a free for all so I could imagine there's bound to be arguments about who's next etc.

Overall I enjoyed it but took it for what it was..... a bit of fun. I couldn't imagine practicing like that every week. I don't know what it's like for anyone else but I found myself obsessing over the numbers on the screen and my swing was suffering as a result.

willabur · 24-01-2023 10:58pm

Went to Kinsealy driving range tonight, the place was very quiet. Only one other person on my side of the teaching area.

My guess is that people are flocking to Halpenny, the likes of kinseally will need to invest quick

RoadRunner · 25-01-2023 10:31am

Spoke to the auld lad about driving ranges last night. Interestingly he said he tries go at night when floodlights are on because with only one working eye it's easier for him to see the ball. I told him about halpenny and he sounded interested in being able to see where he's hit the ball on the screen.

swededmonkey · 25-01-2023 3:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120153443#Comment_120153443

Kinsealy range put up a post mentioning delayed opening times for 2 days next week due to upgrades. They haven't said what that is, but you can hope its something significant

token56 · 25-01-2023 8:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156296#Comment_120156296

I was there this evening and looks like they are putting in something into the bays, not sure if it is Toptracer or Trackman or something else but they have the poles for the electrics going in and the mounts for screens up in some of the bays. Looks like they are upping their game. Now the question will be how much are they going to put up prices.

Toptracer at Halpenny Dublin Airport Range

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