If you have a launch monitor with radar capture technology, you need a special golf ball that is better for tracking key performance indicators and data captured during your swing. In this guide, I’ll show you the best golf balls for radar launch monitors!
Taylormade and Titleist, two of the biggest golf ball brands in the world, have released golf balls for radar-based launch monitors. These give you the best chance to capture accurate data and improve your game in your home golf simulator!
Keep reading for more key information.
What are Radar-Based Launch Monitors?
If you’ve spent time researching golf simulators, you’ve probably encountered radar-based launch monitors. These devices use Doppler radar to track your golf ball from impact to landing, measuring accurate ball data like:
- ball speed
- launch angle
- spin rate
- carry distance
Unlike camera-based systems, which capture only the first few feet of ball flight, radar monitors track the entire trajectory, helping provide accurate golf ball data for indoor and outdoor use.
With the rise of home golf simulators, more golfers use radar-based monitors to dial in their golf game. Systems like TrackMan and FlightScope have become staples in the golf simulator world, tour practice sessions, and even garages outfitted with nets and projector screens.
The ability to analyze your swing, optimize club distances, and see real-time shot feedback has made these devices more popular than ever. But if you want the best data, especially accurate spin data in an indoor environment, you need the right golf ball that gives accurate spin and launch readings.
Why Do Launch Monitors Need Special Golf Balls?
Not all golf balls work the same with radar-based launch monitors. Since these systems use Doppler radar capture technology to track ball flight, they rely on detecting the movement of the dimples as the ball spins.
A golf ball that doesn’t interact well with radar due to its cover material, dimple design, or lack of reflective properties can lead to inaccurate spin rates, launch angles, and distances.
Some radar-based monitors, like FlightScope, recommend using golf balls with metallic stickers to enhance spin readings, especially indoors where ball flight is limited. However, premium tour balls with high-quality urethane covers and distinct dimple patterns provide the most reliable data without additional modifications.
If you’re serious about getting the best results, choosing the right ball for your launch monitor setup is just as important as picking the right club.
What Features Do Golf Balls for Radar-Based Launch Monitors Have?
Golf balls designed for radar-based launch monitors have specific features to enhance tracking accuracy and ensure optimized signal capture. One of the biggest factors is the cover material, as premium urethane balls tend to produce the most consistent spin readings, while some two-piece ionomer balls may not reflect radar signals as well.
Dimple design also plays a role, as certain patterns interact better with Doppler radar, making it easier for the system to track ball flight.
Some manufacturers have even introduced golf balls with embedded tracking technology, such as metallic-infused covers or special markings that improve radar detection. If you’re in an indoor simulator environment, you may need balls with metallic stickers to get accurate spin rates since the radar doesn’t have the full flight to measure.
The best golf balls for launch monitors are designed to provide reliable spin, speed, and carry distance readings, ensuring you get precise feedback to fine-tune your game.
Best Radar Golf Balls For Indoor Golf Simulators
Titleist Pro V1 RCT Golf Balls
Titleist Golf Ball Marketing is always looking to offer premium golf balls for any situation. The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x RCT (Radar Capture Technology) golf balls are built specifically for use with radar-based launch monitors, making them one of the top choices for indoor golf simulators.
Unlike standard Pro V1 models, Titleist RCT golf balls feature embedded radar-reflective technology, allowing launch monitors like TrackMan to capture spin rates and ball flight data with pinpoint accuracy without needing metallic stickers.
These balls maintain the same premium performance as the traditional Pro V1, offering a soft urethane cover for excellent feel and spin control and a high-gradient core for maximum distance. The optimized dimple pattern ensures a consistent and reliable flight, even in limited indoor space.
If you’re looking for a golf ball that seamlessly integrates with radar-based simulators and provides tour-level performance, the Titleist Pro V1 RCT golf balls deliver.
Key Features
- Radar Capture Technology (RCT): Embedded reflective design enhances spin and launch data accuracy without metallic stickers.
- Optimized for Radar-Based Launch Monitors: Specifically designed for systems like TrackMan to deliver precise indoor readings.
- Premium Urethane Cover: Provides exceptional feel, control, and spin consistency for realistic on-course performance.
- High-Gradient Core: Maximizes ball speed and distance while maintaining a soft feel.
- Aerodynamic Dimple Pattern: Ensures a predictable ball flight for precision data capture.
Titleist AVX RCT Golf Balls
The Titleist AVX RCT (Radar Capture Technology) golf balls are designed to deliver exceptional accuracy when used with radar-based launch monitors, making them a great choice for indoor golf simulators.
Like the Pro V1 RCT, the AVX RCT features embedded radar-reflective technology, eliminating the need for metallic stickers while ensuring you capture precise data on your shots.
What sets the AVX apart is its low-spin, high-speed performance, which is ideal for golfers looking to maximize distance with a softer feel. The urethane cover and unique dimple design provide a penetrating ball flight, helping simulate accurate information in a confined indoor environment.
If you’re using radar-based launch monitor devices and want a ball that delivers accurate data with a lower flight and softer feel, the Titleist AVX RCT is a fantastic option.
TaylorMade TP5/TP5x TRK-R Golf Balls
The TaylorMade TP5/TP5x TRK-R golf balls are specifically designed to deliver the most accurate data possible on radar-based launch monitors, making them one of the best choices for indoor golf simulators.
Unlike standard golf balls, the TRK-R (Track Radar) versions feature enhanced reflective spin markers to ensure more precise spin and speed readings. This means you get a true representation of your launch conditions without additional modifications like metallic stickers.
One of the standout features of the TP5 and TP5x models is their five-layer construction, which provides excellent control over spin, launch, and speed. The urethane cover interacts well with radar, and the optimized dimple pattern helps improve tracking consistency. Whether dialing in your wedge game or analyzing driver numbers, these balls give you a realistic indoor golf experience.
If you want a golf ball that maximizes the accuracy of your indoor radar-based launch monitor without sacrificing real-course performance, the TP5/TP5x TRK-R is a top-tier option.
Key Features
- Radar-Optimized Design: Specifically engineered for radar-based launch monitors to improve tracking accuracy, especially indoors.
- Five-Layer Construction: Provides a balanced combination of speed, spin control, and feel for all shots.
- Urethane Cover: Ensures reliable spin readings and a premium soft feel, mimicking actual on-course performance.
- Enhanced Radar Reflectivity: Designed to work without metallic stickers, delivering precise spin and speed measurements.
- Optimized Dimple Pattern: Helps maintain accurate ball flight tracking, ensuring consistent launch monitor and premium performance benefits.
Can You Make Your Own Golf Balls for Radar-Based Launch Monitors?
Suppose you don’t want to invest in specially designed radar golf balls like the Titleist Pro V1 RCT series or TaylorMade TP5 TRK-R. In that case, you can modify regular golf balls to improve their performance with radar capture technology.
One of the most common DIY solutions is adding silver metallic dots (or reflective stickers) to a standard golf ball. These dots help the radar track spin more accurately, especially in indoor setups with launch monitor devices where the ball doesn’t fly far enough for the system to measure full flight dynamics.
Some golfers also experiment with metallic sharpies or reflective paint, though these methods can be inconsistent and may wear off after a few shots. While adding stickers or markings can improve your optimized signal capture, they don’t always capture precise data that factory-engineered radar golf balls do.
If you’re serious about getting the most accurate spin and launch data, investing in a purpose-built radar-friendly ball is usually the best option. However, DIY modifications can be a budget-friendly alternative if you’re testing or using a simulator for fun.
Last update on 2025-02-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API