Imagine if you could play the finest golf courses in the world from the comfort of your own home! We don't mean sitting on the settee and pressing a few buttons on a control pad. Oh no! This is as near to proper golf as you can get without going onto a golf course.
"GOLF LAUNCHPAD is a fantastic, new golf driving pad where you hit the golf balls (on tether) with your own golf clubs... now THIS IS REAL SIMULATION!"
Sean Gibson, GamingIllustrated.com
It is perfect for everyone from golfing enthusiasts who want to practice their game through to people that just like computer games. It's the ultimate golfing gift. Plug it into your PC or laptop, pop in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 (included) and you're ready to go!
With British weather not being the most reliable and with ever-increasing working commitments, many players don't get much chance to play the sport they love. Well thankfully the Golf Launchpad puts an end to all of this, as you can play 'proper' golf from the comfort of your own home! Not only that, it will actually help your game.
"What I found most interesting is that like my real ball flight tendencies, I was hitting it right, which gave me an accurate reading of what I tend to do wrong in my swing. While another guy who tends to pull shots was doing just that. Overall, we found the product to be easy to set up and use. The sound is uncanny to how it sounds like a real golf shot."
Nick Ciattei, Golf Guide Magazine
So how does it work?
Think of Golf Launchpad as a high-quality golf pad or golf mat embedded with sensors and digital signal processing — effectively a specialised game controller for golf.
When you swing your clubs — wood, iron or putter — Golf Launchpad uses optical sensors to measure your golf swing thousands of times each second (clubhead speed, path, angle) and translates this into information that EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour software renders on-screen with breathtaking realism and accuracy. Suitable for left and right handed players, it also comes with a swing analyser so that you can modify your game accordingly!
"We've had HUNDREDS OF GADGETS on the air since we started this program. Of ALL of them, the golf simulator there, GOLF LAUNCHPAD, that's the COOLEST!"
ESPN2's Cold Pizza
Attached to the rugged, low-profile unit is a tethered, regulation golf ball attached to a silky-smooth double ball-bearing mount for a completely authentic golf experience. Should you want to hit normal balls into a net or into a field (safely!) simply remove the tether from the ball (no tools required).
The tethered balls are made from Dupont Surlyn, the same compound used in the best golf balls, so they sound and feel like the balls you hit off the fairway. Golf Launchpad's tethered ball has been designed to reproduce the impact-physics of a free ball to perfection. This means that you feel and hear the thwack of your irons and the ping of your woods just as you would on the fairway. This is called TruFeel and it is the subject of several patent applications.
This has been engineered and robot tested for accuracy. After all, Electric-Spin’s other business is building driving robots for the golf industry!
Use all the clubs in your bag, or if you’re restricted by ceiling height, substitute a shorter club for a longer one (most people can swing a 6-iron safely with 8 foot/2.3m ceilings), and enjoy the full-game from — driving to putting.
Technical info:
Q: What are the system requirements for Golf Launchpad (PC Version)?
A: Golf Launchpad is a USB device compatible with Windows XP/2000/ME/98 and with Mac OS X.
Q: Can I use Golf Launchpad with my laptop?
A: Yes, most laptops just plug-and-play; however you may need to use a powered USB hub with very few laptop models.
Q: Do I need a high ceiling to swing?
A: Most people can swing a 6 iron safely in their home if they have standard 8 foot ceilings. Always check before swinging properly. Of course, a higher ceiling means more room to swing, right up to a driver if you have 10 feet. With an 8 foot ceiling, you can still get the pleasure of playing realistic golf by substituting an iron for a driver: Just turn on Power Shot in Tiger Woods to compensate for the lower clubhead speed of an iron and still get 300 yards off the tee!
Q: Can I putt with Golf Launchpad?
A: You most certainly can! With our custom engineered turf, putting feel is pure, yet you can hit irons and woods with confidence and comfort.
The Result
Golf Launchpad is a world-class golf simulation system with inimitably authentic feel and accuracy, and superb shot precision. Play without compromise on the best courses, anywhere, anytime. Launch your game!