Golf has always brought us some exciting collaborations, some of them we long desired, a few that fell flat, and others are ones we didn’t know we needed until after they happened. This collab between Titleist and Trackman Golf will surely end up in the latter. Introducing the Titleist RCT available in both Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
Today, Titleist is announcing the release of a two-year R&D process in which they and Trackman have created what they believe to be the solution to the biggest shortcoming of radar-based launch monitors that are used indoors. Since radar-based units like Trackman actually track the ball in flight, using them within indoor settings means that the distance is limited, and thus from time to time you will get mis-reads, specifically in terms of spin. If you have been on a Trackman indoors at Club Champion or any other indoor fitting facility, then you have undoubtedly seen the italicizedspin numbers.
So, this announcement of the Titleist RCT might be aimed at a smaller segment of golfers and fitters, but it is still potentially a very big deal.
RCT stands for “Radar Capture Technology” which is an embedded radar reflective patent pending technology that helps to create a strong “signal” which enables accurate spin capture on 99% of recorded shots. More consistent and accurate spin recording also impacts a plethora of other data points like peak height, angle of descent, carry, roll, and total distance. Not to mention, according to both companies it means there will be no requirement of reflective spin markers or precision orientation and Trackman has now been able to improve their spin detection algorithm to require even less distance to measure data.
The fact that Titleist and Trackman have gotten together to potentially remedy the biggest shortcoming of radar-based detection (indoor tracking) may not impact everyone, but where it does, the impact will be quite significant. The new ProV1 and ProV1x RCT will offer all the same performance as the standard ball, so that too should put some minds at ease.
The new golf balls will be available through Titleist trade partners and www.titleist.com on November 3, 2021 with global distribution beginning April 2022. Price will come in at $64.95 per dozen, but in an indoor setting longevity is obviously much different than outdoors.
I think it was mentioned but I am curious how effective this is with other doppler based launch monitors. Your Mevo’s etc..
Seems like most around here use Trackman. Local shops, CC, local fitters, etc…
I think even Golf Galaxy transitioned into them but I am probably wrong.
Definitely not my choice, but at least in this area from a fitting and indoor perspective, trackman very much dominates.
It’s a GREAT question, but one I’m sure Trackman and Titleist won’t talk about
But, there’s still a minority going and using those overall, I think that’s his point, and I know it was mine in the article. It’s a huge deal, but it doesn’t impact a huge amount of golfers imo
That’s totally fair. I was reading it more in line with those who are in the fitting atmosphere.
Obviously a 65 dollar fitting ball fits a small window, but for Trackman fitters I feel like it’s absolutely critical.
Yeah it will be a small bunch that really bark about it over the value of more accurate data. Those ones can get a little crazy about their ball though. Even the Titleist they maybe shouldn’t be playing to begin with.
I’m assuming Titleist has some sole rights to the applied tech in these?
As mentioned above. The greater impact will be felt if these have a positive reaction to personal launch monitors. That could BIG and maybe it will be the next version. The collaboration with trackman being the nudge off the top of the hill.
This has been one of the biggest issues with me and personal launch monitors. If this adds accuracy and I can maybe take this out on the course to practice or play and have a ball that tracks. That could make things really really interesting.
Not always is the ice breaker the biggest issue. But now the ice is broken and it creates further opportunity.
How could it not help them be more accurate?
exactly.. It will not hurt them. Well maybe it will. I have no idea.
TOTALLY agree on that.
Patent pending. I see potential other ball manufacturers doing something similar or even licensing Titleists tech on this. that is, if they care. I don’t know. I think they do.:confused2:
yup, I think it’s a game-changer for those trackman fitting centers…
That’s a good way of looking at it. I didn’t think about it like that, that’s on me. I was thinking more of an individual user level and that in comparison with the total amount of golfers. While I still think it would be a smaller percentage of usage it is much more impactful than what I had first considered.
I’m still waiting for @Canadan to get Nick from Club Champion back on for answers as to why Trackman is better haha
I need about a month to research before that episode airs.
yeah now would definitely be the time right?
I’ll be getting a some when I can find them to see how they work with my Mevo+. That said, there’s a lot that goes into those spin numbers. I don’t know that there’s any hitting mat that simulates hitting off grass well…mine definitely doesn’t.
I’m eager to start hearing the real world feedback for sure
rather than extrapolate from clubhead path
Well, I just ordered a dozen off of Titleist.com!!!
Nice! Looking forward to thoughts. What are you going to use them on? Trackman?
I was going to add I am a FlightScope MEVO+ user. An early report from a user with samples said the new ball was rendering "clean spin reads" with MEVO+ with same setup that was showing spin estimates using balls with foil dots. That is promising, but not necessarily a guarantee of accurate reads.
Last week, FlightScope President announced they will be holding a joint press conference with Titleist on use of RCT with FlightScope equipment. I’m taking a flyer to see if this will be an improvement.
Nice!!!
– ProV1x
– ProV1x with foil dot
– RCT ProV1x
Henri Johnson, President of FlightScope, said they need more testing time because they want to create a specific ball choice for the RCT in their equipment. Right now, their ball choice is regular and range ball. Interesting that when asked, he said he could not advocate for FlightScope users to go buy the ball. He didn’t say "they didn’t work." (As my wife will tell you, I am not a great listener. LOL!)
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Ooooooohhhhhh…… ?
Testing on a Trackman? Vs. the Quad ?
We don’t do small ?
It’s been a while and I had an idea ?
We know they’re coming in the AVX and Left Dash now
which obviously expands the options for all of these things, and covers a broader range of player needs. And I don’t know the adoption numbers by fitters or anything, but I’ve seen them and hit them, and I’m wondering how many others have? Or have used them in a fit, or sim league, or in practice, or use them in their home setup, etc. ?
I belong to a Trackman sim by me called Golf Cave. The numbers improved greatly when I started using the ProV1 RCT. I play AVX, and more recently the Tour Speed, so the new addition of AVX RCT is huge for me.
With Titleist’s site being out of stock for the Left Dash, is it possible they’re coming out with an updated model with RCT?
Oh, so you’re going to be waaay better at this than me.
How lovely.
Well I still stink at golf, so there’s that.
To give background, I’ve hit thousands of shots with the first sleeve. The cover graphics have taken a beating, but there isn’t any cuts in the urethane.
About a week ago I started noticing strange spin readings with irons. Spin numbers with an 8 iron in the low 3000’s for example. This was from decent shots (not mishits). I ended up grabbing a new sleeve and haven’t seen the problem occur since. Something to keep in mind if you get weird reads I guess.
I did this the other day too, because I only had the V1s with me. Pretty noticeable differences. And not a single italic spin number.
I mentioned seeing weird spin number reads on the R10 with my first sleeve of V1x after extended use. I was doing some wedge testing yesterday and started to see the occasional weird reading. Again, 3000 rpm range, but with a 56 degree wedge on center contact. I mean, that’s just not possible ?
I realized it was only happening every three shots, so it didn’t take long to figure out which ball was causing the issue. I watched it happen, removed the ball, and the problem went away. Ball was cosmetically fine.
The question is whether it’s the ball or the R10, but it’s a bit annoying.
That is pretty interesting. Have you tested it with any other clubs to see if it continued to give errors? You know I had the same struggles as you with the R10, but that sounds like it is a ball issue.
Yea, it occurred with pretty much every iron and wedge in my bag when I first noticed it. This latest one was 8i, PW, and then three different wedges (two brands). I’m leaning towards it being a ball issue as well, since I isolated it to the one.
Im just curious exactly what could be happening over time. Not to be too self deprecating, but I’m not putting undue pressure on these golf balls with my swing during this rebuild phase.
Good question. Let me reach out to a friend that has done countless testing on them with Club Champion.