Ball Lock issues occur when your Foresight Sports launch monitor struggles to correctly identify the golf ball inside the capture zone / hitting zone.
Your device must clearly see the entire circumference of the ball, with less than 1 mm of movement, in order to achieve Ball Lock.
Only after Ball Lock is confirmed will the device enter Ready to Hit mode.
If Ball Lock cannot be obtained, the device will not transition into Ready to Hit, and no swing should be taken; the system is not armed to capture data until Ball Lock is established.
Ball Lock failures are almost always caused by environmental factors, reflective materials, incorrect ball placement, device height variations, incorrect handedness selection, or ceiling-mounted setup considerations.
Quick Steps to Fix Ball Lock Issues
Remove reflective objects near the hitting area.
Use only one golf ball in the hitting zone.
Ensure the device is in the correct LH/RH mode (GC3, Launch Pro, GCQuad, QuadMAX).
Place the device on the same level as the ball, or raise it 1"–1.5".
Confirm the calibration wand is out of view (Falcon/GCHawk).
Place the ball in the correct Ball Lock/hitting zone for your device and handedness.
Disable Club Mode unless you are actively collecting club data.
Common Causes & How to Resolve Them
1. Incorrect Left-Handed / Right-Handed Mode (GC3, Launch Pro, GCQuad, QuadMAX)
If a ground-based device is set to the wrong handedness, the Ball Lock zone shifts to the incorrect side.
The device will not identify the ball because it’s looking for it in the wrong position.
Symptoms:
Device never enters Ready to Hit, even with perfect ball placement
Ball appears “out of zone”
Ball Lock flickers or never stabilizes
Fix:
On the device touchscreen, select the correct playing mode:
RH for right-handed hitters
LH for left-handed hitters
This is one of the most common and most easily overlooked causes of Ball Lock failure.
2. Reflective Shoes or Objects Causing IR Interference
Your device uses IR illumination to highlight the ball.
Reflective objects can bounce that IR back into the cameras and prevent the system from validating the ball’s shape.
Common culprits:
Reflective running or golf shoes
Alignment sticks
Shiny tees or metal accessories
Objects in the background of the hitting zone
Fix:
Remove or reposition reflective items and/or launch monitor
3. Multiple Balls in the Hitting Zone
If the device sees more than one ball, it cannot confirm full-circumference Ball Lock.
Fix:
Use only one ball at a time in the hitting zone.
4. Device Height & Level Problems (Ground-Based Launch Monitors)
Ball Lock fails when the optical angle is distorted; typically because the ball is on a hitting mat while the device is on the floor.
Fix:
Place the device on the same level as the ball
Raise the device 1"–1.5" to improve Ball Lock consistency
This often improves club capture as well.
5. Calibration Wand Visible (Ceiling-Mounted Launch Monitors)
Falcon and GCHawk may misinterpret the wand as a ball or blocking object if left in view.
Fix:
Remove the wand immediately after calibration.
6. Incorrect Ball Placement (Ceiling-Mounted Launch Monitors)
On Falcon and GCHawk, placing the ball in the center of the mat instead of the designated handedness-based zone can place the ball in a blind spot or confuse the device.
Fix:
Follow the device’s LH/RH placement indicators; not the geometric center of the mat.
7. Club Mode Narrowing the Ball Lock Window (Ceiling-Mounted Launch Monitors)
Club Mode tightens the optical focus area, requiring more precise ball placement.
Fix:
Disable Club Mode unless actively collecting club data.
FAQs
Why won’t my device say “Ready to Hit”?
Because Ball Lock has not been achieved. The device must verify a stable, fully visible ball before entering ready mode.
Does raising the device help?
Yes. Raising the device 1"–1.5" can significantly improve Ball Lock — especially on tee shots.
Is this usually a hardware issue?
Almost never. Ball Lock failures are overwhelmingly due to environment, setup, or incorrect handedness selection.
Can a tiny amount of ball movement affect Ball Lock?
Yes. Movement greater than 1 mm can interrupt Ball Lock.
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