Most launch monitor complaints from new venue operators trace back to the same four setup mistakes, not a hardware defect. Here’s what to check before you assume the unit is faulty.
The four settings to check first
Get these right before you troubleshoot anything else:
- Mounting height and angle relative to the hitting mat — even 2 degrees off skews spin data
- Ball type calibration — range balls and premium balls read differently on most sensors
- Mat surface consistency — worn spots change the club’s interaction with the turf
- Ambient lighting — some camera-based units are sensitive to harsh overhead light
“We spent two weeks thinking our unit was broken. It was mounted three degrees off level.”
A simple weekly check
A five-minute weekly routine catches drift before it becomes a member complaint: hit five shots with a known club, compare distance and spin to your baseline, and recalibrate if more than one number is meaningfully off.
Venues that build this into an opening checklist report far fewer “the numbers feel wrong” tickets from members.