Golf has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and there are so many ways that you can enjoy the game. Thanks to advances in technology, simulators and augmented provide players with a unique and interactive experience.
With this in mind, there are two businesses in the US that excel at providing such interactive experiences to golfers – BigShots and TopGolf. But which is better? And are there any differences between the two?
In this article, we take a closer look at both TopGolf and Bigshots Golf and help you decide which of these interactive golf businesses is best suited for you and your family.
To get you in the BigShots mood, watch this tour guide video and overview of BigShots golf:
Is BigShots Golf Like TopGolf?
There are lots of similarities between BigShots and TopGolf. Fundamentally, they both provide an opportunity for patrons to enjoy an interactive and fun golf experience while tucking into delicious food and beverage options.
Both use the latest technology to provide customers with a range of interactive golf games and allow you to take advantage of golf tracking stats like clubhead speed and ball tracers to enhance your experience of attending the driving range.
There’s a focus on the social side of golf at both venues, and the idea is to provide opportunities for families and friends to come together to have a lot of fun while trying out new and exciting golf games.
While TopGolf is more established and has more locations, BigShots is a very similar business model, and the two are certainly in competition with one another. In the following sections, we take a look at BigShots golf in more detail and help you decide if this innovative golf experience is a good choice for you and your family.
What Can You Do at BigShots?
There are lots of unique and exciting golf experiences for families at BigShots. Upon arrival at a BigShots location, you can decide on the type of experience you would like to have, choosing from the following:
- Games: You can play a multitude of high-tech games with great graphics. These interactive games provide you with virtual targets to hit out on the range, and you can even link up with other people playing at different BigShots locations.
- Courses: BigShots also has a library of prominent courses from different parts of the world that you can play virtually. Enjoy the likes of Killeen Castle and the Rookery Course from a BigShots location.
- Range: If you want to keep things simple, you can practice on the range at BigShots. You can access data including ball speed, club speed, spin rate, and launch angle, providing you with access to metrics that will improve your game.
In addition to these awesome interactive games, BigShots locations have a fully stocked bar and eatery where you can tuck into delicious cuisine before or after your game. Ultimately, it’s a great way to spend some social time with family and friends.
How Does BigShots Golf Work?
Although BigShots is an innovative concept, it’s based on a super simple process. When you’ve decided that you want to try out a BigShots location, search for the venue closest to you to make a booking. You can do this on the BigShots website.
You’re then given the opportunity to either book a tee box or book an event. A tee box is ideal for families or groups of friends, but if you want to reserve BigShots for a celebration or business function, you will need to make an event booking.
When reserving a tee box, you need to input how many guests are attending, at what time you’d like to play, and for how long you would like to be there. You then enter your details and confirm your booking.
Once your booking is confirmed, you should arrive at the BigShots location just before your time to get started. Once your game is over, you can chill out with your family and friends in the bar area and enjoy some delicious food and beverages.
How Much is BigShots?
To reserve a tee box at BigShots during the day currently costs $30 per reservation per hour. This is the price if you want to play during the week until 5 pm. After-work slots are regarded as premium spots and go for $40 per reservation per hour.
At the weekend, all tee boxes are charged at $40 per hour. Given the fact that you can play whatever games you like for the allotted time period, that’s pretty good value for money, particularly when you consider the cost of tee times at golf courses.
You’re essentially paying for the use of the latest technology, and given that we can’t all afford to have a golf simulator at home, this price is more than fair. And even though it’s more expensive than a standard trip to the range, you get so much more for your money.
Overall, BigShots represents excellent value for money and is a great option if you’re looking for a fun and innovative golf experience with your friends and family.
Can You Bring Your Own Clubs to BigShots?
You can take your own golf clubs to BigShots if you wish. So, if you’re an experienced golfer hoping to showcase your talents to your nearest and dearest, you don’t want to leave your driver behind!
However, BigShots is designed to be appealing to beginner golfers and those who have never played the game before. Therefore, you can also borrow golf clubs from your chosen location if you don’t have any of your own. Left-handed clubs are also available.
The cost of borrowing golf clubs is covered in the price you pay to reserve your tee box, so you can take advantage of this offer if you want to travel light and don’t want to carry your clubs with you.
While you can take your own clubs, you don’t need to take your own golf balls to BigShots, as they are provided when you’re there. After all, it wouldn’t be practical to go chasing your golf balls after hitting your shots!
BigShots Locations? (Is there one near me?)
In the United States, there are multiple BigShots locations for you to play at, including:
- Bryan, Texas
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Springfield, Missouri
- Vero Beach, Florida
- St George, Utah (opening later in 2022)
There is also a BigShots location in Northwick Park in the United Kingdom, highlighting the company’s international ambitions. BigShots is likely to open at several new locations in the United States in the coming years, as they have lofty aspirations for expansion.
You can keep up to date with the latest developments and hear the announcements of any new locations by following BigShots on social media.
Is BigShots a Franchise?
Yes, BigShots is a franchise. Currently, the BigShots franchise fee is $125,000, but an initial investment of between $8-$12million is required to launch your venue. In other words, it’s expensive to get started!
Jason Payne – the founder of BigShots – set the company up as a franchise as he immediately realized the potential for growth of his idea. It’s for this reason that BigShots has been established in multiple locations in the US already (and one in the UK).
It’s always interesting to bear witness to the growth of new franchises, and BigShots seems to be going places. It won’t be surprising to see new BigShots locations pop up in cities in different states throughout the United States in the coming years.
If you’re interested in launching a BigShots franchise in your state, you can get in touch with the team via the company’s main website.
Overall, is BigShots better than TopGolf?
One current distinction between the two is that TopGolf is much more established than BigShots, with many more locations throughout the United States. But as mentioned above, BigShots is a franchise with exciting plans for expansion.
It’s difficult to say whether BigShots is better than TopGolf, as both companies provide an exciting and interactive golf experience. The games and experiences at both BigShots and TopGolf are super similar and are extremely family-friendly.
The price and offer are also very similar at both businesses, as are the food and drink options that you can enjoy at the end of your game.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a fun and interactive golf experience with your family and friends, you can get it at either BigShots or TopGolf. You can make your own mind up about which you think is better after visiting them both!
Conclusion
At multiple locations throughout the United States, BigShots provides an innovative and interactive golfing experience. In this regard, it’s a very similar business to TopGolf, and it’s really difficult to choose between the two.
Therefore, to bring this article to a close, we have to admit that we’re sitting on the fence! We like TopGolf and BigShots and believe they’re doing great things to make golf more accessible to beginners.
So, if there’s a TopGolf or BigShots venue in your state, don’t hesitate to book a tee box and swing away with your family and friends.