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Are some drivers prone to more inaccuracy in readings with R50?

jknoepke11
1 month ago

Absolutely love this unit but only "complaint" or head scratcher (if you wish to even call it that) is with the driver. I do not believe any of this is indoor swing syndrome at all as I formerly had a doppler based unit I hit indoors and it was always pretty much same indoors as outdoors. I am getting a very mixed bag of shots from shape, height, speed, and data readings with my driver (Taylor Made Sim2) in comparison to my friends who have say Titleist drivers or insert other brand who doesn't have the graphite carbon back of head or multiple colors with the silver and blue in it. When hitting their drivers those problems seem to disappear for me and data and shot shows what I would expect.

Long winded way to ask if my theory holds any water, that as an optical based LM, if it perhaps struggles picking up exclusively the reflective marker for certain head styles/builds that could also be reflective? I have found that even when I take sticker off and have it on club/ball data setting that it often will still give me club data with my driver and why I am thinking there is something to it. After messing around with this last night, I found it to be much more consistent for me when I turned off club/ball data and moved it to ball only.

I am a low single digit and know my numbers feels/shapes pretty darn well. With club speeds I am seeing ranges in excess of 10 mph one swing to the next, smash factors on perfectly struck shots register as low as 1.3, and carry numbers all over the map. Perhaps though most frustrating when practicing driver is the shapes. Getting unit aligned and doing impact video for confirmation and exaggerating path or face and many times I am seeing the exact opposite. Example low hook is a high push fade, big open face slice is a low hook.

If there is something to this, any advice on what I can do to mitigate it? Lighting issue? have overhead lighting that shines down from behind me down the line toward the ball.

If this is a known issue, any updates in the works to help fix this to dial in identification of the reflective sticker? Really like capturing my club data as I practice and would like to not exclusively use ball data only for driver if I can help it.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Picture added to provide some illustration of what unit would be seeing.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to jknoepke11

    Id suggest swinging the sim2 five times and then putting black electrical tape over the toe end of the markings and swinging it 5 more times and see what the results say. 

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 2095905

    Honestly not a bad idea. I might give it a try. Last couple nights I have done just ball data and its been great. Truly just seems to be when I have ball/club data and its only that club. It's super weird.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 2095905

    I also did some research and sounds like putting some markers on the ball can be helpful to better identify and separate ball from club. Might put a lot of sharpie dots on a couple balls this weekend and test that theory.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to jknoepke11

    i use Taylormade Pix balls.. seem to work very well

  • 0 21 days ago in reply to Dave

    I recently purchased the R50 and am really trying to love it!  I've been running into similar discrepancies. In addition to great tips mentioned, you may also consider trying Titleist RCT balls. A few videos out there validate their accuracy for launch monitors. I've been having similar inaccuracies using my Bridgestone balls.  Have ordered RCTs and will let you know how it goes. 

  • 0 16 days ago in reply to 9849589

    RCT Balls would not help with an optical launch monitor. They have Metal inside them to help a radar based launch monitor pick up spin. The cameras on the R50 will not pick this up. 

  • +1 13 days ago in reply to 9849589

    Regarding the golf balls being used, please keep in mind the intended useful life of the ball per what the manufacturer of the golf ball you are using is stating...as it is very easy when using the Approach R50 to have a ball that his been 100+ or much more. 

    Golf balls are not really designed to be hit hundreds of times...and if you feel like they are, I encourage you to contact support for the manufacturer of the golf balls you use to get more info directly from them. 

    1. The first factor is wear and tear on the golf balls used in the setup, and their performance decreases as they are used more an more. 
    2. As the dimples on the balls become worn, the exterior shell becoming no longer as shiny, and then if the graphic print is gone or heavily wearing off...it is time to consider switching them so the ball features are highly visible once again to the R50 when capturing the shot. 
  • 0 11 days ago in reply to Garmin-Cody

    Appreciate that Cody and perhaps that has something to do with some of the driver reading issues, but still hopeful to know from Garmin if design of driver heads can hinder club data readings? I have not taped my club as another person suggested but have continued to hit with ball data only setting and that seems to solve the problem for flight and ball data I would expect based off the swing and strike. This issue only occurs for me exclusively with driver with ball and club data setting.

  • 0 10 days ago in reply to jknoepke11

    Ensure the location of the single sticker is adhered to the top middle section of the club face on the driver, and make sure the sticker is still highly reflective on the surface...not worn looking or discolored. 

    Other than that, if there is a concern with a metric error occurring...check the metrics provided on the unit after a shot with an error to make sure the face of the club allowed capture and that the larger shape and size of the driver did not prevent the camera from seeing the sticker due to the angle of the face at impact with the ball. 

    There is not any specific type of brand driver or color combo that we have noted as working less better with the capture of the shot from the Approach R50.