Do launch monitors work with foam balls and nets?

Nets: usually fine with enough distance

Hitting into a net is how most home launch monitors are used, and makers design for it. The key is distance. A radar monitor measures the ball in flight, so it needs to see enough of the flight before the ball reaches the net. If the net is very close, the radar may miss the shot or estimate poorly. Camera units read the ball at impact, so they usually cope with a closer net.

Check the maker's minimum distance from the ball to the net and from the monitor to the ball. Our how to set up a launch monitor indoors guide covers room set-up.

Foam and limited flight balls

Foam, plastic and limited flight practice balls are much lighter or softer than a real ball. They leave the club at a different speed, launch and spin differently and slow down quickly. A launch monitor designed for real golf balls applies its models to that data and will usually give misleading carry and spin, or not register the shot at all.

Some monitors have modes for practice balls or for measuring swing speed without a ball. The Swing Caddie SC200 Plus listing, for example, describes a swing speed mode that measures without hitting a ball. That is useful for speed training but does not give ball data.

• Real golf balls: full data on most monitors.
• Limited flight balls: unreliable carry and spin.
• Foam balls: often not read, or very misleading.
• No ball: swing speed only, on models with that mode.

Radar and camera differences

Radar units track the ball as a moving object. Light foam balls slow so quickly that the radar sees little useful flight. Camera units photograph the ball at impact; some can read a foam ball's launch, but spin and speed will still not match a real ball, and any carry figure is a calculation based on a real ball's behaviour.

Club data, such as club speed from a radar, is less affected by the ball, which is why swing speed modes work. Our how golf launch monitors work explains the technology.

Marked balls and range balls

Some camera units need balls with special markings or a metallic dot to measure spin accurately. Check the maker's guidance. Worn range balls and balls designed to fly shorter also affect readings, so treat range ball data with care. Use the same type of ball each session if you want to compare numbers over time.

Getting the best results at home

If you hit into a net at home, a few habits help the monitor read every shot.

1. 1

   Use real golf balls of the same model each session.

2. 2

   Place the net at least the maker's minimum distance from the ball.

3. 3

   Align the monitor to the centre of the net.

4. 4

   Keep the hitting area well lit for camera units.

5. 5

   Hit a few wedges first to check readings look sensible.

Note:Real balls rebound hard from nets and walls. Check the net is in good condition, use side netting and keep people behind the hitter.

When foam balls make sense

Foam balls are useful where real balls are unsafe: a small garden, near windows or with children around. Use them for feel, contact and swing practice, and use the monitor's swing speed mode if it has one. Save full data sessions for a net with real balls or the range. How accurate are golf launch monitors explains which numbers are measured and which are calculated.

See home simulator launch monitors →

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a launch monitor into a net? Yes, most are designed for it. Check the maker's minimum distance to the net.

Do launch monitors read foam balls? Some register them, but the data is not reliable. Use real balls for distance and spin.

Can I measure swing speed without a ball? Some monitors have a swing speed mode for that. Check the model.