perforated plastic balls question

[chreeg11]

First off, I know this is ridiculous because I could just hit these outside. However, I don't have a net or screen yet and just got my SkyTrak and was too excited to try it out. I also wanted to test that I have it configured correctly with my phone/etc before my net shows up. So only option really, unless I want to injure myself or destroy something is to use some plastic balls I have lying around. So I gave these a try and the SkyTrak thinks I'm hitting these things 100 yards carry. There's no way I assume that plastic perforated balls are in no way supposed to work with any type of accuracy on the SkyTrak correct? Again, I know it's ridiculous, but just curious.

[UlrikStreetPoulsen]

You are right, you won’t get accurate readings with these. Basically SkyTrak works on the assumption that you are hitting a real golf ball and uses the start velocity and spin to calculate distance and trajectory. The perforated ball you are hitting simply have a start velocity that, if it was a real golf ball, would send it 100 yards out. SkyTrak doesn’t know that your ball is full of holes that in reality would slow it down much quicker.

This is similar to the “Almost Golf Balls” (yes, that’s the actual product name) that some people use with their SkyTrak. They come off the club face with a start velocity and spin that is close to that of a real golf ball, so their distance and trajectory (especially on wedges and shorter irons) is almost the same as if hitting a real one. But they are made of a foam like material so they are safer and quieter to hit (I use them when the kids are asleep). They are absolutely fine for working on shot shaping, but you get little to no feel for where on the face you’re striking the ball and I definitely wouldn’t use them to gap my bag.

Hope this all makes sense.

Congratulations on your purchase - you’ll love it!

[chreeg11]

Thanks so much for the response, I appreciate the explanation. I should be getting my net by end of day today and so will hopefully have a chance to try with real balls tonight.

[Dave Lee]

I only used plastic qolf balls indoors. They actually aren't too unrealistic if you pick the correct color. Blue didn't read. Red was a little hotter. For some reason yellow actually worked well. Spin will be lower and the balls get chewed up...but distances and shot shape weren't ridiculously off. Just be careful...they are hard plastic....so they will sent your wall at full speed.