Test results for best dot sticker orientation + RCT with Mevo+ in Short Indoor mode

[aussiebenny]

Just as a simple test, I just hit 4 x 10 shots with my 3 wood (off the mat) using various dot sticker orientations and the Titleist RCT ball.
My setup is 7 feet Mevo+ to ball and 10 feet ball to screen. FS Golf app. Short indoor mode. No shots were deleted.

Pro V1 Dot Forward
9 measured spin (no abnormal spin reads)
1 estimated spin (I thin hooked this one)

Pro V1 Dot Bottom
9 measured spin (no abnormal spin reads)
1 estimated spin (I thinned this one)

Pro V1 Dot Top
7 measured spin (no abnormal spin reads)
3 estimated spin (2 were decent shots too)

Pro V1 RCT
4 measured spin (no abnormal spin reads)
6 estimated spin (4 of them were good shots too)

Takeaways
- RCT isn't as good as using a dot sticker. From using RCT balls for all of this year, I know this as fact.
- Dot bottom works as well as a dot forward. Maybe it's due to it spinning outwards first upon a hit.
- Hitting 40 wood shots in succession is tiring!

On a related note, I asked Flightscope yesterday on the ETA for official support of RCT balls and got this generic response. Takeaway is that it isn't cancelled at least. Once that comes, I can only assume that the RCT ball will be as good as a dot sticker facing forward or even better.

We have tested the Titleist RCT golf balls with our launch monitors and they do work for helping to read spin in short indoor settings. We have worked with similar technology in the past, and we are currently working on a firmware update that will optimize our radar's capability to interpret the way the RCT balls "look" to the radar. As of right now, using the metallic stickers that are included with the Mevo+ is still the best way to get spin readings indoors.

[bubbtubbs]

I also switched back to dots because of the double spin issue. It's been a while, but I think manual states you can face the dot forward or directly downward, though it's more difficult to place it when you can't see, so I generally use forward-facing.

Thanks for confirming both positions are relatively equal.

[aussiebenny]

Yeah. Problem with forward facing is that you end up really wearing out the cover on the other side quickly, and cracks the ball much quicker as a result. I think facing downward is best. Best to put the dot on the opposite side of the side marking (e.g. where it says <<Pro V1>>) so you know to easily have that side marking facing upwards. Then you end up hitting the ball 360 degrees around that axis and the ball lasts much longer.

[Dan13]

Thanks for doing this test. Confirms what I suspected - put the RCT balls away until they are officially recognized. Even with 8 irons I would get the occasional shot 20-30 yards too far or short due to missed spin reads - most times with an actual but incorrect read.

[boungolf]

That's a great test. thanks for that info. When I'm back in the simulator for the winter. I will make sure the dots are facing forward or down.

[aussiebenny]

I'm sure YMMV depending on your mevo to ball and ball to screen distances as well as any environmental interference.
Heck, maybe some Mevo+ units perform better than others. So if time allows, definitely try a small test yourself.

I still do range sessions with the RCT as it's very convenient. Most estimated reads are not too far off anyways.
Also, with slower iron shots, RCT measured read rate does improve a bit more. (e.g. 7 of 10 being good reads)
But I still do get the odd "double" spin reads once in a while with RCT. (e.g. 8 iron getting 13k+ rpm spin)

For SIM play, I prefer to use the dot sticker just to get that extra % of accurately measured spin reads.

[SPApex]

I am back to dots facing down. I had too many double spin reads with RCT. Noticed Garmin just put out a new firmware for RCT support. Lets go FlightScope!

[aussiebenny]

I got an update from FlightScope on the support for RCT balls last night.

We have been working on a few updates. Once we have the RCT Balls dialed in with our units we will have a setting in the Apps to select the RCT Balls this will be done in the near future

So yeah, it is coming still I guess. Hopefully they'll release it before this year's end...

[preludesam]

Thank you! I’m excited, I’m selling the Eye XO since the Mevo + and X3 are plenty accurate and this just makes it that much easier to throw down a ball.