The main difference is positioning. Overhead launch monitors sit above the hitting area and track the ball and clubhead from directly over the ball. Floor-based units sit at ground level, usually just behind or beside the ball. That single difference changes what equipment you need and how reliable the data is.
How Overhead Systems Work
An overhead system, like the ProTee VX used at The Perch, uses high-speed cameras mounted above the hitting zone to capture the full picture of impact and initial ball flight from directly over the ball. Because the view is unobstructed from above, it works with any ball and any club, no stickers or markers needed to help the system "see" what it's tracking.
How Floor-Based Systems Work
Floor-based or radar-style units sit near the ball at ground level and track flight as the ball moves away from the sensor. Depending on the system, this can require more setup, specific ball types, or a longer flight path behind the hitting area to get a clean read, which is harder to manage in a smaller indoor bay.
Why It Matters Indoors
Indoor bays are a fixed size. An overhead system only needs clearance above the ball, not a long runway behind it, which makes it a better fit for a standard bay depth. It also means less sensitivity to where exactly you set up, since the camera's view doesn't depend on the ball's flight path staying in a narrow lane.
What The Perch Uses and Why
Every bay runs the ProTee VX, an overhead dual-camera system at 1800 frames per second. It works with any ball or club straight out of your bag, which keeps setup simple and keeps the data consistent with how you'd actually play outdoors.
See it in action by booking a bay, or pair it with instruction through lessons and fittings.