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Golf Launchpad™ Frequently asked questions

General
How many models of Golf Launchpad™ are there?
  Two. They are:
  • Golf Launchpad™PC/Mac Model-(LPU47P)
  • Golf Launchpad™Station2 Model-(LPCPS2)
What is the selling price of the Golf Launchpad™?
  The suggested retail price in Australia for both models is A$399.00, including 10% GST.
Where can I buy a Golf Launchpad™ unit?
  Golf Launchpad™can be purchased from our online store right here and it is available through selected retail outlets. Please contact customer service for a reseller near you.
What is included in the box with Golf Launchpad™?
  Golf Launchpad™ PC/Mac Model---(LPU47P) includes:
  • Complete Golf Launchpad™ assembly
  • EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 Game (Windows Version)
  • LPDR—Proprietary swing analysis software available as a download using the serial number on the box
Golf Launchpad™ PlayStation2 Model—(LPCPS2) includes:
  • Complete Golf Launchpad™ assembly
  • Golf Controller for your PlayStation2 - just plug and play
  • Incredible realism with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 and Sony’s Hot Shots Golf Fore (both sold separately)
What games are compatible with Golf Launchpad™?
  Golf Launchpad™ PC/Mac Model---(LPU47P)
  • EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour (2003—2007)
  • Microsoft Links
Golf Launchpad™ PlayStation2 Model—(LPCPS2)
  • EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour (2003—2007)
  • Hot Shots Fore (in Easy mode)
What are the system requirements for the PC/Mac Model of Golf Launchpad™?
  Golf Launchpad™is a USB device compatible with Windows XP/2000/ME/98 and with Mac OX platforms.
Can I use the PC/Mac Model with a PlayStation2?
  Yes! Electric~Spin has developed a PC to PlayStation2 Adaptor (LPX) which allows PC/Mac users to play the game on Tiger Woods series of games on Sony’s PlayStation2 Consoles.
Can I use the PlayStation2 Model on a PC or Mac?
  No. Not at this time. However, the reverse is possible with the PlayStation Adaptor (LPX). See above.

Are the Golf Launchpad™ documents and manuals available online?
  Yes. Electronic documentation and manuals can be found at the bottom of this page.
Do I need extra high ceilings or a large room to swing?
  No. Most people can swing a 6 iron safely in their home if they have standard 2.5 metre ceilings. You can still get the pleasure of playing ultra-realistic golf with an 2.5 metre ceiling by substituting an iron for a driver and just turning on Power Shot in Tiger Woods to compensate for the lower clubhead speed of an iron and still get 275 metres off the tee!

Can any wear-and-tear items be replaced?
 

Yes. Golf Launchpad™ is specifically designed to allow replacement of only the wear-components making your Launchpad factory fresh with little cost. Replaceable items are:The tethered ball assembly, the turf, the net, and the rubber Tee. These items will be available on the site shortly.
Why a tethered ball?
  Golf Launchpad™'s tethered ball is removable and can be substituted with a regular free ball. But a tethered ball is more practical for indoor play, and since playing isn’t the same unless the feel and sound are true, our advanced tethering system is so accurate you won’t believe you’re hitting a tethered ball. That’s because we have designed the tethering system so that the dynamic mass of the tethered ball (think of dynamic mass like the swing weight of a club, which is different from the static weight of the club) matches the mass of a free ball.

Combined with a strong, light-weight, and flexible tether that allows for a spin, a lay-flat design that does not interfere with your sight-line, and real Surlyn construction—the sound and feel of the ball are indistinguishable from your experience on the course. And, should you want to practice at the range or hit into a net with Launchpad, simply remove the tethered ball (no tools required) and tee up a regular ball.
What is the net for?
  Even though it appears to do nothing, it actually stops the ball!
Here is how it works. The net functions via a scientific phenomenon called the Bernoulli Effect: as the ball passes by the net at high speeds it creates a vacuum that draws the net towards the ball. The resulting friction stops the ball noiselessly. The whole thing happens in a split second so it can’t be seen with the naked eye. However, if you view any of the videos on our website frame-by-frame (try it!) you will be able to see the net in action!

In short, the net is like an air-bag that’s designed to stop the ball soundlessly, so your ear-brain system only registers the all-important sound of the impact of your club on the ball. Unlike other simulators where the noise of the ball hitting a screen masks the sound of the club-ball impact, with Golf Launchpad™ you actually hear the sound of the impact, the way it's meant to be!
Can I putt with Golf Launchpad™?
  You most certainly can! With the custom engineered turf and sensor design, the putting feel is pure, yet you can still hit irons and woods with confidence and comfort.
 



Assembly
What is the best way to install the Crossbar and screw it in?
  Ensure the left and right Frame Uprights are installed into the Launchpad Base first, before installing the Crossbar.
How do I install the Ball and Tether unit?
  The small dot on the yellow end of the ball-and-tether unit should line-up with the dot on the yellow pivot base when inserting, after which it should freely swivel around 360 degrees.
Where should the attached rubber tee be placed? Can I use my own tee?
  The black rubber tee should sit in the center of all the sensors, supporting the ball from beneath during a drive swing. The black elastic tether attached to the tee should be long enough to rest in between all of the sensors, but not so long as to be able to cover up the far sensors (it is ok if it covers the top center sensor; U-Sensor). You can also use your own tees if you want, although don’t use any type of penetrating tees, like a Reddy, and do not put anything into the sensor holes! Because your own Tee would not be tethered, it will go flying off during a swing. Be aware!
How do I use the PS2 Adapter to connect the PC Model of Golf Launchpad™ into the PlayStation2 Console?
 

The correct sequence is:

  1. Plug the PS2 controller into the Adapter;
  2. Plug the Adapter into the PS2 controller port;
  3. Plug the Adapter’s USB cable into the second USB port on the PS2 console; and finally
  4. Plug the Launchpad’s USB cable into the adapter
Can I use 3rd Party controllers with the Golf Launchpad™?
  No. The Golf Launchpad™ is designed for use with a standard Sony DualShock2 controller.



Start Up
Nothing seems to happen when I plug in my Golf Launchpad™.
  When your Golf Launchpad™ is connected, the status LED will turn solid red after a few seconds to indicate that it is powered up and working correctly, and is waiting to be activated. If you are not receiving this red light, ensure your PlayStation2 or Computer is powered on, and that the Launchpad is correctly connected, as per the instructions on page 4 of your User’s Manual.
The LED does not go to solid red "Ready" light within ten seconds of powering on.
  Disconnect the Launchpad and ensure that the ball, tether, or any loose dirt or debris is not covering any sensors before reconnecting. If your status LED is green, it means that either the ball, the tee, or something else was covering one of the activation sensors on power up. Simply center the ball on the grid and remove the tee and anything else on the grid and wait for about ten seconds. The Golf Launchpad™ status LED should go solid red.
I’ve done that, and the LED still stays off, or turns a solid amber.
  Disconnect the Launchpad, wait ten seconds, and then reconnect it. Repeat this as many as three times. If you are using the Launchpad for PC, ensure the USB port you are plugging into is active. You can check this by checking whether or not your computer recognizes something being plugged into the USB port the first time you plug in the Launchpad – Windows users will hear a noise, and see a notification pop-up in the Notification Area of the Start Bar. Another quick way to check if a port is working is to plug a USB mouse (or other compatible USB mouse) into the port and see if the computer responds to it.

If you have access to another PlayStation2 or Computer, connect it to that one to see if it works there. There are many different models of PS2s and Computer power supplies, and a small percentage of them are not able to deliver the power needed by the Launchpad – especially when running the Launchpad on a laptop computer. Computer users may need to buy a Powered USB Hub to provide the Launchpad with the current it needs. PS2 users can use an auxiliary power cable supplied from The Cube.



Activation and Swinging
Which sensors do I use to activate the Golf Launchpad™ for which shots?
  Use the Left or Right sensors for irons and drives, and the Putting sensor (front-bottom sensor) for putting and chipping. If you are playing the Links 2003 game, use the Left or Right sensor for chipping and longer putts, as well. The Launchpad can only be activated if the status LED is a solid red. A solid green means it has been activated, and is waiting for a shot. A blinking red means that something is covering one of the sensors.
I’m not getting a solid red "Ready" light on my LED.
  Ensure the ball, tether, and tee are not directly blocking any of the sensors (although the tether attached to the golf ball will, by design, cover the U sensor (top-center sensor); this is intentional, and is accounted for. If you still do not get a solid red “Ready” light, disconnect the Launchpad, ensure all sensors are clean, and reconnect the Launchpad. Make sure that the eight sensor holes are all clean and free of dirt, dust, and debris – use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum over top of the eight holes, or use compressed air to clean inside of the holes. Never insert anything in the holes!

If you still do not receive a sold red “Ready” light, call 1300 783 855.

What if I'm a left-handed golfer?
  Golf Launchpad can used by both right and left-handed golfers. The unit is simply turned around so you can play in a 'mixed four' with ease? Your profile within the game will ensure your action is accurately measured.
What will the LED do during a proper shot?
  After your swing, the status LED will blink green indicating that the shot was properly detected and then will be off for a couple of seconds as it calculates. If you do not receive this blinking green LED, ensure that you are swinging directly over all the sensors. Check that the soles of your clubs are clean.
I take a swing but the golfer on screen does not seem to do anything (PS2 version only).
  For the PS2 version, the Golf Launchpad™ needs to be configured to work properly with different games. So far, there are three configuration modes: one for use with Tiger Woods 2003--2005 and 2007; one for use with Tiger Woods 2006, and one for use with Hot Shots Golf Fore! Ensure your Launchpad is configured for use with the correct game (as per the instructions on pg. 8 of your User’s Manual.) This is done by covering up a specific combination of sensors before connecting your Golf Launchpad™ to the PS2 and keeping them covered until you see a blinking red light. For Tiger Woods 2003 - 2005 and 2007, cover the Putting and top-most sensors. For Tiger Woods 2006, cover the Putting and Right sensors. For Hot Shots Golf Fore cover the Putting and Left sensors.
I take a swing and the mouse cursor sometimes moves but the golfer on screen does not seem to do anything (Computer version only)
  In order for the on-screen player to take a shot, you must position the mouse cursor on the player’s hands where he holds the club until the cursor looks like a curved arrow. This is your indication that the game is ready to take a shot. Now activate Golf Launchpad™ sensor and take your swing.
Should I ever update my game software on my PC/Mac?
  Absolutely! Not having the most up-to-date version of the gaming software can adversely affect the precision of your Launchpad leading to erratic or erroneous shots, and lessen the gaming experience as a whole! See EA Sport’s website at www.easports.com to find the most recent patches for the Tiger Woods series, or check the manufacturer’s website for other games.

Shot Accuracy
My shots aren’t translating onto the screen. Or they curve in a strange way, and the distance appears low (PS2 version only).
  Ensure your Launchpad is configured correctly for use with the right game – see "I take a swing, but the golfer on screen does not do anything (PS2 version only)" above. Next, ensure that you are using the right sensor to activate the Launchpad. Use the Left or Right sensors for regular swings and drives, and the Putting sensor for putting and chipping. Finally, by changing the game’s difficulty setting, you can make your shots go farther, and fly straighter. Ensure that the difficulty is not set too high for your skill level. Intermediate is used for the most common play.
My shots aren’t translating onto the screen. Or they curve in a strange way, and the distance appears low (Computer version only)
 

Close any applications that may be running in the background, such as anti-virus software. Some applications use a lot of your system’s resources, especially on older computers. Also, ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements of the game. These can generally be found printed on the game’s box, usually on the bottom. If you are using a very slow or old PC, the Launchpad will not perform properly, and may misread shots. Additionally, changing the difficulty setting of your game can help you shoot farther.

Since the Launchpad uses the same True Swing method as the gaming software, your computer’s mouse sensitivity can affect the force of your swing. By decreasing your mouse sensitivity settings, you can decrease the distance you shoot, and vice versa, until your in-game shots are calibrated to the same distance as your real shots. To change your mouse sensitivity in Windows, go to Start, Control Panel, Mouse, and then to the Pointer Options tab. The “Pointer Speed” scale is the mouse sensitivity setting. Also, see updating game software, above.

If the problem still persists, please contact Technical Support 1300 783 855 and the firmware can be changed over the phone to correct the problem.

Is there any way I can test that all my Golf Launchpad™ optical sensors are functioning properly?
  Yes, you can verify that all the Launchpad’s optical sensors are accurately working by entering "Test Mode." Cover up the Left and Right sensors while connecting your Launchpad, and keep them covered as the LED blinks green, until it turns to either a solid or a blinking red. Once in Test Mode, if you cover up any single sensor, the LED will turn green. If you cover more than one, it will blink red. Ensure all sensors are working by testing each one at a time, and verifying that the LED turns green. Exit Test Mode by disconnecting and reconnecting the Launchpad.
Can I use my own controller layout?
  You can change your controller layout, yes, but it still must be set up such that you swing using the Left joystick of your controller. Other controller options can be changed.
My problem still hasn’t been solved.
  Contact us. Our technical support staff will be more than happy to help you. They can be reached at either 1300 783 855, between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Monday to Friday.