RFID golf ball testing apparatus and systems

A system comprising:

• a golf range comprising targets for golf balls and one or more ball collection structures, wherein each of the golf balls includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, and each of the targets has at least one associated RFID reader;
• and
• a golf ball testing apparatus arranged to receive the golf balls, the golf ball testing apparatus comprising
• one or more RFID readers having associated read zones for the golf balls,
• a star wheel unit defining cavities to receive the golf balls, the star wheel unit being positioned to drop the golf balls into respective paths through the read zones with alternating timing to reduce cross-talk, interference or both,
• golf ball sensors comprising at least one sensor for each respective path through the read zones,
• kickers comprising at least one kicker positioned after each respective path through the read zones and arranged to change a golf ball's direction of travel when the at least one kicker is activated, and
• a controller coupled with the kickers, the golf ball sensors, and the one or more RFID readers, wherein the controller is configured to activate any of the kickers responsive to the one or more RFID readers inadequately reading an RFID tag in a golf ball detected by the at least one sensor for an activated kicker's associated path through the activated kicker's read zone.