The world of golf has been evolving. The emergence of YouTubers in popular culture has reshaped the landscape of the sport, redefining who the prominent figures are. While established professionals like Rory and Tiger remain the faces of golf, they face competition from YouTubers such as Rick Shiels. With a staggering 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.2 million on Facebook, Shiels’ videos garner as much viewership as the top tournaments on the Tour.
To cater to this vast audience’s demands, a new channel was necessary. Rick needed a filming studio equipped with ample space for a complete film crew, in-depth golfing analysis, and the leading golf club review channel on YouTube. Introducing the H.I.T. Golf studio.
The Build
The project commenced with an empty studio space. With a clean slate, Rick let his imagination soar, envisioning a super-wide screen simulator, touch screen monitors, and a Zen Putting Stage. A substantial amount of filming equipment was also required, including Canon Automatic Cameras seamlessly integrated into the walls to ensure a wide field of view. The first step involved preparing the studio by installing insulation and plastering the entire space to achieve a polished and refined finish, ready for painting. Once sloping the room was prepared, the installation team proceeded to set up the Zen Putting Stage.
The Zen Putting Platform is a tilting platform that allows users to replicate any makeable putt in the world, even those with double-breaks. When combined with a hitting area, golfers can even take full shots from lies. The latest Zen Green Stage introduced in 2023 can be paired with Putt View, a camera-based projection system that projects the lines and breaks of any putt the Zen Green can create.
The next step involved installing large 55″ Touchscreen monitors. These monitors enable Rick to highlight specific data points during reviews, interact with the simulator software, and annotate golf swings. To simulate natural light in the windowless studio, the screens were mounted on backlit panels alongside digital window monitors that provide views from renowned golf courses worldwide.
The final element of the puzzle was a massive VISTA HD screen. Paired with a 6000 lumens projector from Golf Swing Systems, the VISTA material offers an ultra HD picture with vibrant colours, sharp contrast, and, most importantly, durability to withstand the impact of professional-level golf shots. Extensive testing has demonstrated that this screen can withstand ball speeds exceeding 200 mph without any issues, providing Rick the freedom to swing without compromising the integrity of his simulator.
The Launch Monitor
The GCQuad, the world’s most accurate, versatile, and comprehensive photometric launch monitor, took centre stage. As the industry’s first launch monitor to utilize quadra-scopic imaging, the GCQuad delivers unrivalled analysis of ball and club head performance. Its accuracy and reliability make it an ideal tool for Rick’s new review channel, H.I.T. Golf, which requires precise and controlled data that overcomes the limitations imposed by weather and playing conditions. Utilizing the GCQuad, Rick will have an exact understanding of how the products he tests perform.
If Rick’s new studio has inspired you to build your own golf simulator, feel free to contact the Golf Swing Systems team at 01483 266679 or fill out the contact form on their website to embark on your journey. They can offer advice on selecting the best golf simulator for your needs and provide a range of golf studios tailored to your preferences.