You are in that somewhat vague, borderline, twighlight zone region between where paper wads are frowned upon and where they are needed to make them work for blanks.
Finer grainulations may be possible for blanks as well. If it was a 1 incher, 2F and paper would be pretty much the norm for blanks. If it was a 2 incher, 1F and no paper would be the general rule.
Maybe wait a couple days to see if any words of wisdom from the golf ball bore experts appears before going further.
You should expect little or no recoil with no projectile, so don't let that be the judge of things.