Learning by the numbers at Sigmoid Golf
They say knowledge is power, and that certainly applies when it comes to golf.
While too many swing thoughts can clutter your brain and make it difficult to take the club away smoothly, knowing how far you hit each club is key to scoring well.
Many amateur golfers have a good idea how far they can hit the ball with their favourite iron, but knowing exactly how far they hit each club in their bag can save vital shots.
As an amateur who has little time to practice or play, it was refreshing to drop into Sigmoid Golf’s new Charlemont Square location to try out one of their Trackman simulators and play a few holes on one of the thousands of courses in the system.
Sigmoid has a huge outlet at Sandyford, handily situated on the Luas line. But the new city centre offering at Charlemont Square, which is also on the Luas, is perfect for those working in town who want to do some practice, take a lesson or simply have a fun hour or two with work colleagues or friends.
While I’d tried Trackman technology once before on a driving range, it was refreshing to know how far I hit the ball with their brand-new rental clubs.
The simulator tells you how fast you swing the club, your ball speed, path and dozens of other things that explain exactly why you hit that hook or slice.
It’s hardly Rory McIlroy territory, but it was useful to know that one of my Sunday best drives carries around 235 yards, and by using the bag profile option, I was able to measure how far I hit every club in the bag.
This might be golfing 101 for serious players but for those of us who often jump out of the car and onto the first tee to play one of just 10 or 12 rounds a year, it’s key information.
Sigmoid Charlemont Square has two Trackman bays where you can choose from over 400 courses from Oakmont to Carton House, play a round, or one of many mini games, or enjoy a team building night out with the folks from work or a stag night with friends.
Club fitting takes place at Sigmoid’s Sandyford HQ, which is just a 20-minute Luas ride from the new Charlemont Square location.
There are thousands of options when it comes to shafts, heads and grips, as well as a full putting lab service and even a 90-minute putting masterclass option with coach David Kearney.
There’s a coffee bar at each venue, which is ideal for those popping in before work and a collaboration with catering for all their events provided by Krewe, which has a restaurant 100 yards from the Charlemont Square location.
Nothing can substitute a round of golf on a real golf course but Trackman golf at a high-class facility has many pros.
There are many Sigmoid Golf membership options — monthly (€199), quarterly (€499) and annual (€1,399). But you can also rent a simulator for 30 minutes (€40), 60 minutes (€60), 90 minutes (€90) or 120 minutes
(€120) and save yourself a pretty penny in lost golf balls simply by learning exactly how far you hit the ball or what’s causing that destructive slice.
