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Be Tiger Woods for less than $300

Steve Conaway Labs Manager / Senior Technical Project Manager
I am the Labs Manager for CNET's Home Division based in Louisville, KY. My interest in technology began in the early '90s, and soon after I began my double major in computer science and computer engineering. I've worked in many areas, including computer hardware, software, technology, networking, graphic design, instruction, construction, music and even ballroom dancing! 65% Ron Swanson, 25% Ben Wyatt, 10% Andy Dwyer.
Expertise I've been an outdoor enthusiast my entire life. I also renovate, flip and build houses in my 'spare' time. Paired with our test lab facilities, I write about lots of outdoor related things - portable power stations, tools, etc.
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Steve Conaway
2 min read

Cabin fever gets bad in the north. Five months of snow and road construction pass before there's even a hint of flowers or freshly hewn golf courses. Football fans have the luxury of spending the low-light hours indoors with friends--good friends if they brought the beer. Until now, golfers didn't have anything to fill the void except for the occasional televised PGA tour. Five months without being formally reintroduced to the sun will lead to cabin fever, bad mood swings and bad golf swings.

Swing pad
Credit: DancinDogg Golf

DancinDogg Golf has filled the void with the DancinDogg Personal Golf Simulator, which it says is the first golf simulation system available for less than $300. The simulator uses optical sensors to capture club movement, then translates the movement into meaningful information such as club head speed, face angle, club path and ball distance. Golfers of any skill level can see, track and improve the accuracy of their swings and incorporate those swings into EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour Game. The simulator will let bad golfers practice so they can be good enough to lose to the boss by only a few strokes.

A standard golf simulator at the corner bar uses a tethered golf ball. The DancinDogg Personal Golf Simulator allows golfers to use their own equipment to hit their own untethered golf balls. Golfers itching to get some swing time in can set up the simulator in the basement or outside on the frozen tundra.

Golf practice
Credit: DancinDogg Golf

DancinDogg offers the the Game Edition, which integrates a golfers swing data directly into EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 game. The Coach Edition upgrade will be available in late spring 2006, just in time for Father's Day. The upgrade will include the professional coaching and Practice Zone, which helps golfers understand the cause and effect of swing to ball-flight. The upgrade also features an interactive practice plan.

The Game Edition retails for $289.99. The retail upgrade will be available for $129.99 in the spring.