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Dancin Dogg OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator | 
| Brand: Dancin' Dogg Golf
Category: Sports
Buy New: $399.95
as of 9/9/2010 04:17 MDT details
New (4) from $399.95
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 35546
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 10
Dimensions (in): 14.9 x 10.2 x 4.1
MPN: 20080012
Model: 20080012
UPC: 894801001027
EAN: 0894801001027
ASIN: B001P829X2
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Club head speed, Face angle, Swing path | | • | Library of world class golf courses | | • | Easy three step setup, Software upgrades and new courses | | • | Supports left or right-handed players, and Standard or metric measurements | | • | Comes with a 180 day manufacturers limited warranty |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
DancinDogg OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator feature: Play replications of some of the world's most famous golf courses like Torrey Pines and Big Horn Golf 16 advanced infrared optical sensors accurately measure your club through the impact zone capturing shot impact conditions Gives you all the information you need, including distance to the pin, elevation details, wind speed and direction Includes overhead map, shot tracer, putting grid, flag marker, automatic flyby, keyboard shortcuts, multiple camera views Updated 3DD golf software will automatically add itself to your library of available places to play True Simulation technology uses highly scientific methods to capture impact data Results are relayed to the player in real-time in a visual display Play with up to four players and use your own clubs Hit all shots from the tee to the green Enjoy the option of putting yourself or choosing auto-putt Infrared sensors measure: club head speed, face angle, swing path, toe/center/heel face contact, and give feedback of each shot Settings accommodate right and left handed golfers
Minimu
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
Better than expectation July 22, 2010
Timothy M Tuohy
Rolled the dice and bought the Dancin Dogg Optishot over the P3Proswing. I liked that I didn't need to tape my clubs and that they included a bunch of "free" courses. I've used the Dancin Dogg about 5 times now and I have to say its pretty impressive for the cost. The unit wasn't perfect out of the box but after some tweaking to the club settings I feel that my iron and woods play is closely represent to my real life game. The 3DD golf is a lot of fun and the practice mode gives me enough feedback on my swing mechanics that it has already helped my game. I would recommend this product for any mid to high handicapper or to anyone who just wants to have some fun with their golf clubs when they can't make it to the course.
Not quite what expected, but good nonetheless. June 7, 2010
Adam J. Hand (Macon, GA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'd been thinking of getting a sim for some time and finally took the plunge on this one, which is certainly the least expensive one available. There's plenty of info on this on the internet so I won't go much into it, but I've been quite satisfied so far. Occasionally it won't pick up your swing (maybe once every 20-25 swings) and you have to reswing. Of course that only happens when you've really hit one flush. Distances with clubs weren't particularly accurate for me and this seems to be something that is fairly common, but you can adjust the distances (e.g. increase distance 10%, decrease distance 5%, etc.) to make the sim distances align with your real ones. I was consistently hitting drives of 320+ which felt good but wasn't going to do my real game any good. Incidentally, my average driving distance is more like 265, so I had to decrease driving distance about 17%. Programming in my clubs and setting distances took maybe 30 minutes and was sort of fun anyway.
There are several courses that come with the sim, as well as a driving range that you have to download as an update once everything's installed. There were several updates to download and while they're not necessary to start playing, if you want the newest courses and the range they are, and they take a couple of hours to download. You can play it right out of the box but download the updates overnight.
I was somewhat dismissive of the computing power recommended for this program. My computer is not quite 2 years old and certainly fits the minimum requirements for running the software, but running the program is not smooth. I've turned off everything in the program that takes processing power but it's still not great, though acceptable, and this isn't really DD's fault anyway, but just the way it is with software and computers. But the newer and more powerful your computer the better this will look, and it does make a difference.
Some people have complained that swings with their driver don't register well with the system. Can't say I've had that problem. So far all of my clubs have been picked up by the sensors just fine. One thing that DD has apparently changed though is the measurement of swing path. For example, after a swing you'll get a reading that says something like, "Clubface open 2 degrees, swing path inside out." Sometimes the swing path will be "very" inside out or outside in. Based on screen shots on the DD website, the reading used to give degrees of inside out or outside in. I've sent some emails to DD trying to find out how inside out "inside out" is, i.e. at what degree of inside out does a reading become "very inside out," but I've gotten no response. I suspect it's pretty significant however, based on some testing on my own, so this wasn't that big a deal. If you get "very outside in" it's either a dead pull or a banana into the next fairway. Any swing path less severe than that is likely to turn out okay based on my experience with "carryover" onto the real range after hitting on the sim.
I've also seen some complaints about lighting having to be perfect to get accurate readings. I haven't had that problem either. I have it in a large front room with just a lamp on and it works fine. No problems with shadows, needing overhead fluorescent light, etc. The foam balls they give you do bounce off stuff. I bought a $30 net from Izzo to catch them and it works great. Finally, the device itself sits 1.5 inches off the ground. They sell a mat on the DD site but it's as expensive as the device itself. I had some spare carpet that was 1/2 inch and just folded it over three times and it works fine. But be aware that you'll need something to stand on when you hit.
I really think this is an excellent product. I didn't give it five stars because it wasn't perfect, but for much of an improvement over it you have to spend $700 more, and for the best sims around you will drop tens of thousands of dollars. If money's no object get a custom job and drop the $50K. If you just want to be able to hit balls when it rains and have some idea what your swing is doing, this is your huckleberry.
Best Value February 18, 2010
R. Africa (chicago)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've had the product for a couple months now and I feel that it is a very good value. I've used the P3Pro and it is a better product, but it is also in another price tier.
I have the system set up in my basement driving range (thankfully I have high ceilings). I have only one window in the basement and the natural light does not interfere with the system. I use the recommended lighting and I use both real golf balls and the 'almost golf' foam ball. I've had five other golfers use the system in an effort to test it's accuracy. Here are our findings:
1. IRONS - Swing Path: The Optishot seems to be quite accurate with tracking the swing path, face (open/close) and impact (toe/center/heel) with irons. I even used impact tape on the club face to see if the toe/heel readings were correct and they were. One of the golfers who normally struggles with a hook was definitely still struggling with his hook and our test slicer was still slicing... pretty good. We used Callaway, Nickent, Ping and Cleveland irons on the system and they all worked well. Rating: 9/10
2. IRONS - Swing Speed: I believe this is pretty accurate. Based on what I've seen my swing speed at on the P3Pro, I think the Optishot is close. I would rate the Optishot an 8/10.
3. IRONS - Ball Distance: Not sure how accurate the distance estimation is. Some of the golfers felt that the distances estimated by the Optishot were well short of what they normally hit. I found it to be about 5-10 yards shorter that what I really hit, but I figure not all irons have the same lofts, so the Optishot just estimates based on the type of irons you tell it you're using (NOTE: b/c this thing does not have a ball sensor it cannot accurately track the ball if you hit thin or fat... however, you club head speed slows down when you hit fat, thus, limiting the distance). Rating: 7/10.
4. DRIVERS - Swing Path: The Optishot seems to be quite accurate with tracking the swing path, face angle and impact (toe/center/heel) with the driver as well. Again, we did the impact tape test and the Optishot was accurately reading toe/heel shots. I do feel that is slightly less accurate than the iron readings though. However, slicers were slicing and hookers were hooking. Rating: 8/10
5. DRIVER - Swing Speed/Ball Distance: Overall a mixed bag. It really depends on the driver you're using. I do think the Optishot does a good job with reading the swing path, but the swing speed and ball distance can very greatly depending on how reflective the club is (I guess). We've tried a Ping G10, Callaway FT-i, Nike Str8 Fit, Cleveland Launcher and Callaway Big Bertha 460. It seems like the Callaway clubs are read more accurately. I know they sell a driver that will work with the system, but who needs another driver just to use the Optishot? Rating: 6/10.
CONCLUSION: The Optishot works well with irons and not so great with the driver. We are using the Optishot mainly to give us feedback on the swing path and face at impact. It's a good tool for higher handicappers or if you're working through swing changes and want to see how the changes are affecting your swing path and impact. For me, the Optishot is almost always in practice mode using the 3DD mode (simulated courses). I've really enjoyed using it and would definitely recommend it if you can't afford the P3Pro... just make sure you have the right lighting conditions. Overall rating: 8/10
Btw, outside of all the serious stuff, it's just fun to get on this thing and whack away in winter time here in Chicago! At $26/hr at my indoor range, the Optishot will end up saving me some $$. Plus, it's nice to go and hit balls any time I want in my basement and get some feedback outside of just the feel at impact.
 an excellent product...provided you take the time to read and follow directions February 16, 2010
Om S (United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I live in montana and the winters are painfully long.
We are lucky if the course is open in mid-november and luckier still if it opens in mid-April.
As a 13hdcp who is aspiring to be single digit this season, I needed to keep my swing in shape during the winters.
Hitting balls into a net is ok but it doesn't give any feedback.
That is where the dancindogg or optishot comes in.
I got it from amazon because I find it easy to deal with them in case I didn't like the product and had to return it.
The product arrived nicely packed and was simple to open. The software installed easily and the unit was ready to go very quickly.
Finding the right lighting condition is critical if the unit is to operate effectively.
My tip is to keep a lamp lit in the room at a distance from the unit. The lamp must have a compact fluorescent bulb and not halogen. I cannot over emphasize the right lighting.
Next, make sure your feet are level with the unit because the unit's hitting pad sits an inch and a quarter above the floor. Build your stance and make sure you are square. If you compensate for a less-than-perfect stance, you will want to discredit the results and think that the unit is faulty. But the unit is a machine and it doesn't lie. Several people are disappointed because the unit tells them their swings are not as good as they believed. But I believe the unit and its feedback. It will take a little adjustment (swing speed and distance settings) to get the distance you get on the course. Once done, you can enjoy the unit and do some serious practice.
There are two modes for practice...practice zone and 3DD practice. Both have their value. The latter has on-course graphics and is a simulation. The former is geared only toward technical numbers like path angle, face angle, swing speed and tempo.
The sensors are indestructible unless you just pick up the club and bring it straight down like an axe to hit the sensors. The sensors are set deep enough in the turf to not get hit by a club moving along the turf.
Depending on the design of the sole of your driver, you may not have luck in registering driver swings. A common trick is to cover the sole with masking tape and then using a strip of reflective tape on the leading edge of the sole right along the club face. The tape will help the unit pick up the swing.
Irons are naturally reflective and should work without any tape at all even if they aren't very shiny.
Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase. It is the best value simulator out there...do your search and you won't find anything in this price range that offers so much.
Pros: good graphics, lots of personalization possible, easy setup, unit is well constructed, practice mode allows a good review of your swing
Cons: Printed matter doesn't give you tips and tricks to make the unit work...online forums have very little discussion except for ottawa golf. personalization (listed as pro above) is also a downside. Some people may not like tinkering so much to get good results. You'll need the lengths, lofts, and offsets of your irons because the unit has room for such details. Not everyone knows the exact specs of their clubs.
Recommendation: strongly recommended. can't go wrong if you take the time to set up.
 Not nearly as accurate as I had hoped. More like a toy than golf simulator. Not worth $400 January 20, 2010
Jason T. Sawyer
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I purchased this simulator over a year ago and returned it within the first two weeks of owning it. I have played on the large simulators at golf shops and the P3ProSwing simulator. This is by far cheaper than the other two ($30+k for professional and $800-900 for P3Pro) but I felt this device was not nearly accurate enough. I would purposely close by club face, or open, and swing inside out and outside in but the simulator would not consistently sense this. I even did it to the extreme and was not able to bend my shots on the simulator. I have seen similar results on the high end simulators, measuring 2-4' of the ball's flight is not enough to get an accurate measure of a ball's spin, but a device that measures club face angle and the swing path at contact should do a better job than what the Optishot does.
I liked the idea of not having to place a reflective strip on every club, P3Pro requires this and the strips get rubbed off after several swings of the club if you hit the sensor pad when swinging. One feature the Optishot lacks is attack angle which is important because you could be topping the ball or hitting it fat (although you can typically feel this when you hit the ball and correct on your own, but it would be nice if the game would pick up on it and simulate that shot).
The sensitivity to ambient light is way too high. It is not easy to find a room that has plenty of height and walls or objects you don't mind swinging a golf club around. So I used this in a garage at night. After trying to get the lighting just right (almost in total darkness) the sensors were still not consistent. I guess for $150-200 I would have kept the device but I was expecting more for $400. I would have been happy if it performed as well as the P3ProSwing device but it did not.
For me it did not make sense to keep the device. I liked the fact that I was swinging my own clubs but the reliability of the pad was too poor. I think I would get just as much information by hitting a ball into a net. Then there is the game factor, which is neat, but I found myself changing my swing to so the simulator would respond better, and that is not good for the golf swing. And I felt I might as well as be playing a Wii at that point.
I think DancinDogg needs to re-do their simulation pad to be more like P3ProSwing with more sensors which will make it more reliable. I would not recommend purchasing this product unless maybe you got it for $150-200.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
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