Why Your Golf Launch Monitor Is Giving You Bad Numbers—And How To Fix It
If your launch monitor isn’t giving you the accurate data you expected, don’t panic—it might not be the device. Let PlayBetter golf writer Marc walk you through common setup mistakes and troubleshooting tips to help you get the best performance from your game-improving investment.
So, you bought a golf launch monitor. You were so psyched. You couldn’t wait for it to arrive. All of your dreams of playing golf at home or getting game-improvement feedback at the range were finally coming true.
And then…
Well, the data you were getting just didn’t seem at all realistic. Nothing like what you expected. The numbers weren’t even close to what you already knew about your golf swing.
Talk about frustrating! To finally get what you thought was going to be your favorite golf gadget only to realize it’s no better than a toy… Well, it’s the ultimate golf technology buzzkill.
If you’ve lived that nightmare, just know this: You’re not alone. A lot of golfers have experienced this letdown that leaves them somewhere on the spectrum between depressed and enraged.
But just hang on a minute. Before you return or sell (or kick or throw) or dismiss your golf launch monitor as garbage, realize that the device might be perfectly fine.
I hate to break this to you, but it might not be the golf launch monitor. It might be you. OK, relax. Not you, the person. What I mean is that you might not be setting up your golf launch monitor correctly.
It’s always possible that you got a defective unit. While that’s somewhat rare, it does happen. And, of course, it’s possible that you cheaped out and got exactly what you paid for. You can’t expect pro-level accuracy if you’re buying the most budget models.
But if you’ve bought one of the many high-quality golf launch monitors available today, you can and should expect at least reasonable accuracy and consistency.
Let’s talk about some of the common reasons you might not be getting the performance you deserve.
We can’t cover every single issue with every single product. Heck, we can’t claim to know every possible scenario that could go wrong. After all, it seems like new golf launch monitors are coming out almost weekly.
But we can cover some of the basic and most commonly overlooked setup issues. And we can touch on some of the common trouble spots with some of the most popular golf launch monitors of 2025.
So, take that chill pill and read on. We’re hopefully going to get you back on your golf dreams track.
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Table of Contents
For the Love of God, Read the Instructions!
I know. I know. You want to play with your new toy. Instructions are lame!
And, to be honest, getting started with most of the golf launch monitors that I’ve used is very intuitive.
But it’s the details, man. You can’t overlook the little things. You’d be surprised how often a new golf launch monitor user thinks they’ve bought a total piece of crap only to be led to the solution to their problems right in the instruction manual.
Most of today’s golf launch monitors keep the instructions short and sweet. All the more reason to read them!
Just read the instructions, please! That’s where you’re going to learn exactly how to align the device. Exactly how far behind the golf ball that radar golf launch monitor needs to be. Exactly how much space there needs to be in front of the golf ball. Exactly what sorts of things might interfere with a golf launch monitor’s accuracy.
It’s such an easy thing to overlook, and I know it’s not much fun. But just read the damn instructions. It might solve everything.
Check out these examples from SkyTrak to ensure proper setup, use, and care for the SkyTrak+:
Pay Attention to Software and Firmware Updates
Here’s another one that’s easy to overlook but can often be the simple solution to what feels like an unsolvable problem.
You’ve got to make sure you’re operating with the most up-to-date software and firmware. Manufacturers regularly push out updates. They often are in response to the kinds of problems you might be facing.
But too many times, people don’t bother to check for updates. Or, even when they see that they are available, they don’t install them.
Once again, this is a simple housekeeping chore that you should turn into a habit. When there’s an update, don’t ignore it.
Alignment Is Everything
The single biggest operator error that leads to golf launch monitor inaccuracy is improper alignment.
For the golf launch monitor to do its job of reading your golf shots, it has to be precisely aligned with where you’re hitting from and where you’re hitting to. And it has to be on a level surface. Otherwise, all bets are off.
This goes for any kind of golf launch monitor, whether it be radar or camera-based. If it’s not aligned correctly, the best you can hope for is data that’s “in the ballpark” of accurate. But you paid for better than that. So take the time to get the setup right.
Some golf launch monitors are easier and quicker to align than others.
Take, for example, the FlightScope Mevo+. It’s a fantastic product, capable of outstanding accuracy. But the tradeoff is that alignment can be a touch finicky. It’s not a huge deal. Anyone can get it right. But you’ve got to be willing to take the extra few minutes to pay close attention and get things dialed in precisely. That’s how you’re going to get that awesome performance that makes this machine so special.
And speaking of radar GLMs like the Mevo+, the distance between the launch monitor and the ball and between the ball and the impact screen or net (in the case of indoor use) is a critical part of proper alignment and setup. It’s not just a willy-nilly distance. It’s an exact distance. And it’s in the manual. Read the freaking instructions!
If you just can’t see yourself fussing with alignment, my recommendation is to buy a camera-based (or photometric) golf launch monitor. You do still have to align it, but it’s far simpler than with a radar device.
Each of today’s leading golf launch monitors are capable of excellent accuracy when aligned correctly. But no golf launch monitor is capable of dead-on perfection when the alignment is off. You’ve got to get it right if you want to trust the numbers. Don’t worry, you’ll get faster at doing it as you gain more experience.
Here are some examples of FlightScope Mevo+ alignment instructions:
Environmental Interference: I’m Looking At You, Garage Golfers
Signal interference is a real thing. Sucks, but it’s true.
Once again, it’s not an every-kind-of-device issue. Sorry to pick on radar golf launch monitors (they can be totally awesome), but one of the reasons they aren’t always the best choice for indoor use is that they are more prone to having problems with interference.
Air conditioners, fans, computers, fluorescent lights, refrigerators, other metal objects or electrical devices—all of those sorts of things can cause issues with Doppler radar golf launch monitors.
This, along with the need for radar to see the ball fly a long way to get great accuracy, is one of the reasons that, overall, camera-based golf launch monitors are better for indoor users.
The problem is that radar golf launch monitors are usually less expensive.
But if you’re building an indoor sim studio, especially in your garage where all of these interference issues tend to be common, I recommend going with a camera if you can swing it. You’ll save on space, and you’re more likely to avoid interference issues.
Ball and Club Preparation
To get the full suite of ball and club data, almost every single golf launch monitor is going to require you to use either special golf balls or club stickers (called fiducials).
That was why the unveiling at the 2025 PGA Show of Uneekor’s rear-mounted overhead XR golf launch monitor was such a big deal. It’s the first ever GLM that doesn’t require special golf balls or stickers.
But unless you have one of those, there’s no getting around the ball or sticker issue if you want all of the data.
The problem that some people run into is that they use the wrong kind of golf ball or the wrong types of fiducials. Or they don’t place those fiducials on the correct spots on their golf clubfaces.
When I was testing the Garmin Approach R50, I already had Foresight Sports fiducials on my golf clubs from some earlier testing with the GC3. I thought fiducials were fiducials and didn’t think I had to worry about replacing them.
Then I wondered why I was getting so many club data misreads with the R50. I finally realized that the R50 fiducials aren’t the same as the Foresight fiducials. Unfortunately, for R50 users, the Garmin stickers are much larger. In any case, I could have wrongly reported that the R50 wasn’t capable of consistent club data accuracy if I hadn’t corrected the issue.
The same thing goes with special golf balls. The RCT golf balls required for use with something like the Garmin Approach R10 aren’t the same as the RPT golf balls needed for use with the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.
See the difference between Garmin R50 and Foresight club stickers:
Know Your Golf Launch Monitor’s Limitations
Did you know that a SkyTrak+ can’t reliably read golf shots hit off of natural grass?
Or that the Square Golf Launch Monitor shouldn’t be used outdoors?
Or that the accuracy of a Mevo+ will be impacted if there is a valley or dip between the launch monitor and hitting space?
Or that camera-based units will spit out funny numbers if they are in direct sunlight?
Do your research. Read our reviews. Pay attention to the potential hangups with whatever golf launch monitor you’re considering and how they might affect your desired use cases. Not every golf launch monitor is right for every golfer.
Here's an example of tips for getting better accuracy on the Garmin Approach R50:
A Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
We want you to get the most out of your golf launch monitor. But, remember, it doesn’t have a brain of its own. It’s designed to be used in a specific way, and it’s up to you to adhere to those specifications.
Again, it’s always possible that you got a faulty machine. It doesn’t happen too often, but it can happen. And if you bought it from PlayBetter.com, we’ll do right by you.
But there’s a very high chance that whatever issues you’re experiencing are entirely solvable by you. And it’s likely that what’s plaguing you is something along the lines of what we’ve outlined in this post.
Before you blame your launch monitor, check these five things:
- Alignment. Is your unit level and pointed exactly at the target?
- Lighting and Environment. Are you avoiding direct sunlight, electrical interference, or uneven surfaces?
- Software and Firmware Updates. Have you checked for the latest updates?
- Correct Golf Balls and Club Stickers. Are you using RCT/RPT golf balls or fiducials if required?
- Proper Distances. Is the unit positioned at the proper distance from the ball and screen or net?
Take the time to check that you’ve addressed each of these common setup snafus before overreacting. Chances are, if you take good care of your machine, it’s going to take very good care of you.
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.
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