The Worst Product We’ve Ever Tried: One Year Later

It has been nearly a year since I first reviewed the Golf Daddy Simulator and, to be honest, it has been collecting dust since. I had nearly forgotten where it was until my wife reminded me it was on the front porch. The box had faded from being in the sun but inside everything was still there, ready for another round of testing. 

Unfortunately.

I originally gave this product a fair shot, hoping it could live up to the bold claims of being a portable, realistic, no-ball golf simulator. The results? Well, let’s just say it was a complete flop. 

But I did say I’d revisit it if there were updates so here we are.

The good news? They released an Android version and have pushed several patches to improve the app experience. 

The bad news? Keep reading and I’ll go into more detail.

What’s Changed?

Over the past year, I’ve been keeping an eye on their Discord updates. According to their Discord, they’ve added:

A fully released Android version More game modes and courses A few new avatars (which is something, I guess) Various patches and bug fixes

But the core complaints haven’t changed much. Essentially, all of the issues I previously found are still largely present. Users on their Discord still report:

Inconsistent shot tracking App crashes Shipping delays Questionable durability of the mat Limited club selection (still just 8-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge)

I’ve managed the MyGolfSpy Forum for several years so I know how online feedback tends to work. The loudest voices are usually at both extremes—people who love the product and those who are completely fed up. In the end, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

So I dusted off the unit, reinstalled the app and got to work.

App Experience

On the surface, the app has been improved. Navigation feels a bit smoother and they’ve added three core courses (all 10-hole layouts) for variety. That’s a nice touch.

But then I clicked on the “socials” tab and the app immediately crashed. Not a great start.

A side note that irked me was the requirement to input my phone number to access the app. I get it for safety permissions and such but given my past experience, I was very hesitant to do so and this follow-up test nearly ended right there.

That said, I was curious if there were improvements so I got over that and logged in.

The biggest reported problem is still accuracy. Many users on their Discord say that if your 9-iron only goes 60–70 yards, you should just switch to a pitching wedge for better numbers. That tells me the underlying distance calculation issues haven’t really been fixed.

Then I teed up my first shot on a 54-yard par-3 and immediately shook my head. A short par-3 should be manageable but, knowing how the system has struggled with distance in the past, I wasn’t optimistic.

The graphics are fine but let’s be honest, I’m not here for a visual masterpiece. The entire experience still feels like a Wii Sports golf game. That was where this first trial ended. In truth, I wasn’t in the proper mindset to go through the rest and decided to come back to it another day with a more optimistic or hopeful viewpoint.

The Experience One Year Later

I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but let’s get right to it. There is no way I can support or recommend this product. At all. Period.

With a better frame of mind the following day, I opened the app and jumped into a game with my 56-degree wedge as it apparently is the most accurate. The setup was fairly quick but I noted that you have to be much farther back from the phone than last time which caused its own issues. The good part is the outlining of where everything needs to be is very clear and makes for a simple setup.

However, here are the issues.

The distance means it’s harder to see the shots. Yes, you can connect to a TV but I imagine most people are just trying to use this on their phone.

The app gives you five seconds to get into position and swing in order to record the shot. Miss that timing window and you’re out of luck. Simply put: this isn’t enough time. It feels rushed. And because there’s no auto-detection (a feature they’ve said on multiple occasions is coming), you feel more like you’re racing against the clock to start the shot clock and race back to the mat to swing rather than putting together a good swing.

If you do manage to get your swing recorded properly, it takes what feels like forever for the shot to show up on the screen. This would be fine if the results were accurate. 

They’re not.

The core issue is still overwhelmingly present. The accuracy and yardages are wildly inconsistent and, frankly, laughable. 

Now, if I’m looking for a slight glimmer of hope, it’s the slow-motion view of the swing while it’s analyzing the result. You can see enough of your motion for it to be a helpful tool if you know what you’re looking for. But, honestly, your phone’s built-in camera in slow-mo does the same job without the app frustrations.

Please note the smile is due to yet another crash on what was as good of a swing as I can do.

So Where Do We Stand?

A year later, I wanted to see some glimmer of hope that progress had been made to at least make this a functional product.

Sadly, it just isn’t. The faults and flaws far outweigh any potential benefits. The issues I raised in my original review are still glaring and with so many better alternatives now available, I can’t see any reason for this product to be purchased in its current state.

For some, the idea of using your actual club might seem like a benefit. But I actually think it hurts this product’s overall functionality. Now you need space to swing a full club whereas other options like Square Golf, GOLF+ VR and PhiGolf allow you to practice comfortably indoors, even with standard ceiling heights.

The fact that you must swing down and create an impression on the mat is another sticking point. I understand why it needs to be done this way but I still think it negatively affects your swing. It trains you to hit down on the mat which isn’t necessarily a move you want to carry over to the course.

Durability is still a big concern. Yes, you can purchase additional mats but at $50 for two, I can’t recommend that investment.

If you’re looking for positives, I really can’t provide any. I expected much better a year later. Instead, I was met with the same frustrations—just now also available on Android in addition to iOS.

If you want a fun, game-like golf experience, check out this article (Best (And Worst) Golf Sims That Don’t Use A Golf Ball). It breaks down the best options for golfers looking to play and practice without using a ball.

Verdict

Avoid. Period. 

There are better options out there. This is my final update on this product as I have zero desire to go back to it.

Their community has expressed many frustrations similar to mine. While the creators continue to suggest there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, I just don’t see it.

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