Best Golf Simulator Balls – Which Give The Most Accurate Data?

Picking the best golf simulator balls is not easy. With many different brands, premium balls vs., budget balls, RCT balls, and RPT balls there is a lot to digest into what makes the best golf simulator balls. Determining which is the best will come down to various factors such as what type of launch monitor you are using, and what qualities in a ball you value most.

Let’s have a deeper look into which golf simulator balls are best for you.

Premium Golf Ball – Does It Make a Difference?

The first question when considering the best golf simulator balls is does a premium ball make a difference, and the answer is yes. How much it makes a difference will depend on the golfer. More advanced golfers and those with higher swing speeds are going to see a greater difference in their numbers with a premium ball compared to budget balls. The lower the swing speed the less noticeable the gap in numbers will be. 

Pro Tip: I would suggest using the same ball you on the course, and with your home golf simulator. Getting the same numbers on the simulator, as you do on a real course is more important than using a premium ball, and pushing out extra carry distance or creating more spin. If you use a premium ball on the course always, then I would suggest using it on the simulator, if you don’t then there is not a reason to buy ProV1 for your home simulator.

Best Golf Simulator Ball For Optimal Launch Monitor Numbers

What Type of Launch Monitor Are You Using?

The type of launch monitor you own also plays a big factor in what will be the best-performing golf ball for your golf simulator. Radar-based, and Camera-Based launch monitors will read golf balls differently, and some launch monitors can only read spin with a certain type of ball. Let’s look at this topic more in-depth.

Radar-Based Launch Monitors

Many of the popular budget portable launch monitors use radar-based technology to capture ball flight. Launch Monitors like the Garmin R10, Rapsodo MLM2PRO, and Flightscope Mevo+, are all radar-based launch monitors.

Radar-based golf launch monitors use Doppler radar to measure the golf ball’s velocity, launch angle, and spin rates. These launch monitors can struggle with picking up data with regular golf balls and often must use RCT (Radar Capture Technology) or RPT (Rapsodo Precision Technology) golf balls to obtain the most accurate data.

What Are RCT Golf Simulator Balls?

RCT (Radar Capture Technology) golf balls are a line of golf balls developed by Titleist that are designed to provide enhanced data capture and accuracy when used with radar-based launch monitors.

RCT golf balls have embedded radar reflective technology to allow for more accurate measurement of launch data like speed, spin, and trajectory. The question is how much of a difference does this technology make with launch monitors, and does it justify the premium price you have to pay for them?

Carl’s Place conducted a test to compare Pro V1 RCT balls, against standard Pro V1, to determine how much of a difference there was in the data. They tested the balls on two popular radar-based launch monitors, the Garmin R10, and Flightscope Mevo+. The data captured on these launch monitors were compared with a Uneekor Eye XO launch monitor simultaneously, to see how much gap there was. Here is a summary of the findings.

• The Flightscope Mevo+ saw 6% more accurate spin data with the RCT golf balls. Using the aluminum stickers from Flightscope actually produced the most accurate data with only .25% difference.
• The standard Pro V1 ball, the RCT version, and balls with aluminum stickers all struggle to produce accurate carry distance. The standard Pro V1 was the best at 10.1 yards difference, and the aluminum stickers were the worst at 11.6 yard difference.
• In the test conducted by Carl’s Golf, they mentioned that the Garmin R10 algorithm does not recognize RCT balls. Garmin R10 has since updated its software to recognize these balls. If you are looking for a test specifically related to the Garmin R10, you can check a test done by David Maxfield Golf 

In summary, RCT balls offer a slight improvement in the accuracy of data captured by radar-based launch monitors. Determining if that small increase in accuracy is worth paying the premium for these balls is a personal choice.

Best Golf Balls For Radar-Based Launch Monitors

What Are RPT Golf Simulator Balls?

The RPT (Rapsodo Precision Technology) golf balls are a specialized type of golf ball designed for use with the Rapsodo MLM2PRO launch monitor. The RPT golf balls have a custom-designed print pattern that allows the MLM2PRO’s high-speed cameras to track the spin rate and spin axis of the ball. Without the use of these specific balls, the Rapsodo MLM2Pro cannot track spin data.

When you purchase the Rapsodo MLM2Pro the launch monitor comes with a pack of 3 RPT golf balls. The balls used for RPT are the Callaway Chrome Soft X balls. If you wondering how this ball stacks up to other balls, David Maxfield does a direct comparison to the new RPT Titleist Pro V1 ball. His results are that the Chrome Soft X is a higher-spinning ball, as the Pro V1 is known to be a low-spin golf ball. The Titleist RPT Pro V1 should be available to the public later this year.

There are some ball marking templates for RPT balls that allow you to mark any ball yourself, but this should only be used for outdoor use, or with golf nets. They should not be used with an Impact screen as the markers will rub off on your screen, creating marks.

Best RPT Golf Ball For Golf Simulator

Camera Based Launch Monitors

Camera-based golf simulators use image processing technology to track the ball’s flight and deliver ball data. Camera based-launch monitors include SkyTrak/SkyTrak+, Foresight GC3/GCQ Quad, Bushnell Launch Pro, and Uneekor Eye Mini.

The golf balls that work best with these launch monitors are high-contrast balls. This contrast on the ball makes it easier for the camera to capture the ball. These balls have resulted in the most consistent numbers, as the ball is easiest for the launch monitor to track.

Best Golf Simulator Balls For Camera-Based Golf Simulator

Best Golf Simulator Balls For QED Launch Monitors

How Your Golf Ball Can Help Preserve Your Impact Screen

Change Your Golf Simulator Balls Often

The golf balls you use for a golf simulator are going to be prone to repeated strikes. They are going to be exposed to far more wear and tear, than your on-course balls. You will want to find quality durable golf balls that can stand up to the number of strikes you will be taking with them, but once the ball starts to deteriorate you have to change them out. 

The most important wear to be on the lookout for is any scuff on the golf ball. This is the most detrimental to your impact screen. The scuffs will act like sandpaper on your impact screen. With the high rate of spin, any rough blemish is going to cause burn marks on your screen. If you want to get the most out of your impact screen be sure to change your golf balls at the first sign of a scuff.

Other things to consider. Keep your outdoor balls, or course balls for those purposes. Don’t bring outdoor balls inside for your home golf simulator as they bring with them dirt that is more prone to dirtying your impact screen. At all times use brand new balls that are being used only for the golf simulator should be used.

Also, be on the lookout for cracks. These balls are going to be hit a lot, so they will be prone to cracks, or damage. Even the slightest blemish or damage to the ball will cause a reduction in the optimal numbers you can obtain from a launch monitor. So if you are seeing some drop in your standard numbers swap out the ball for a new one.

It is also recommended to rotate balls, rather than hitting a singular ball repeatedly. Try to have at least 3 balls of the same make in play, and try to rotate between them so that core of the balls don’t heat up making them prone to cracking.

Low Spin Rate Balls

Golf balls that have a high rate of spin are going to wear the screen at a faster rate. This is not a mandatory requirement, but if you really want to get the most life out of your impact screen low spin golf balls should be considered over high-spin rate balls.

Do Not Mark Your Golf Simulator Balls

That is a quick way to ruin a brand-new premium impact screen. It might be tempting to recreate some of these golf balls with special designs by using a marking template, if you are planning to use the balls on an impact screen do not do it. Using a marketing template can be effective if you are solely using the balls outdoors, or with a net, but with an impact screen, any kind of marking on your ball will transfer onto your screen.

If you want to avoid the hassle of cleaning these marks off your screen, just avoid marking your ball altogether. This also includes using any ball you might have in your bag that you have marked up. Just grab a brand new box of balls, rather than trying to re-use any ball. You can find brand-new balls that are durable and cheap, and your impact screen will thank you.

Best Budget Golf Simulator Balls

Conclusion

The best golf simulator balls for you will start with your launch monitor, Camera and radar-based launch monitors read ball data differently, and as such different balls are more accurate on each. If your goal is to get the most accurate data on your launch monitor then pick up the ball your launch monitor reads best.

You should try to use the same ball you do on the course with your golf simulator so that the numbers you achieve on your simulator can be brought to the real course. If you use a premium ball on the course, then it makes sense to use one on your simulator, but if you only hit budget balls on the course, then stick to those. Having continuity at home, and on the course is best achieved when the same balls are used in each environment.

Don’t be afraid to test out different golf balls to see which performs the best for you, and your launch monitor. Good luck 🍀