Are golf radar systems like Trackman and FlightScope just for club fitting and working on swing mechanics?

To me, they’re much more than that. They’re amazing tools for developing players.

There’s a belief that Trackman and FlightScope can make the game too technical, and that a golfer has to be a scientist to understand all of the data the system calculates. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Earlier this year, TrackMan released its new Test Center. FlightScope has similar software called FlightScope Skills, but because I have a Trackman I will focus on Trackman’s system.

The Test Center allows golf coaches to help develop golfers into players, giving them the ability to create a series of test and game-like situations to help golfers perform better. That means coaches can go through playing lessons and skill challenges right on the range with their students.

As a coach, I have to know my players’ strengths and weaknesses to truly make them better golfers. Through the Test Center, I have created a 25-shot evaluation that covers 60-to-160-yard shots and the driver. Once the test is completed and a score is given for overall performance and individual yardages, my students and I will focus on a few key yardages to develop on course performance.

For example, if 100-yard shots are a weakness, then we will first work on distance control. We work to develop a swing and understanding club selection and shot trajectory to hit that shot.

Then we will move into clubface control to get direction down. Retesting that yardage and making improvements shows that a weakness has now been developed into a skill.

The last test we will do is a random one that includes that yardage along with a range of different yardages to see if the player can execute the shot in tournament-like conditions with one chance to do it. This type of test will determine if the newly developed skill is ready for the course.

Creating a playing lesson on the range gives golfers the opportunity to develop his or her course management skills and understand club selection and dispersion rate. Creating a golf course that places an emphasis on driving and iron play that only allows the player to only have one chance to hit the shot will give them the feel of actually playing a round. Once the test is completed and a score is given, we will repeat and try to beat the score. Always measuring and improving is what turns golfers into great players.

Lastly, there is a test I use called the “TrackMan Combine.” This 60-shot test has golfers his shots that range from 60 to 180 yards, as well driving yardages. Six shots are hit to each distance and a score is provided at the end. This is a worldwide standardized test that is posted to www.mytrackman.com for people to measure themselves against other players in their category or to see what the best players in the world are scoring.

As you can see, systems like TrackMan and FlightScope are more than teaching tools — they are coaching tools. Not only will they give you facts about what your club is doing through impact, they give you measurable improvement data of your golf skills.

Tour professionals and golfers all over the world are improving their skills with technologies that aren’t placing as much emphasis on technique as they are performance. I know that not everyone has access to a TrackMan or FlightScope, but anyone can create their own test and a point system to measure their skills.

Make the goal of your practice to become a better all-around player, not just to hit a lot of range balls. I bet you will see your scores lower in the end.