We live in the mountains of Western North Carolina where we have four seasons. Because it can be challenging to play golf year-round, in 2021, I invested in a golf simulator for our garage. It was during COVID when people weren’t going outside as much. I believe it was a good investment.
A myriad of parts comprise a golf simulator. Once the safety issues are factored in (a simulator allows you to hit real golf balls with your own clubs), perhaps the most important decision you’ll have to make is which launch monitor to buy. In this post, I’ll address a few of the things to take into consideration when contemplating purchasing one, regardless of whether you have a simulator or not.
A launch monitor functions as the brains of a simulator setup as well as a purveyor of golf swing analysis. As it turns out, there are thousands of launch monitors to choose from—and they’re all different. I’ll mention a few by name here, but I’ll caution you that it seems that you may need a Ph.D. in launch monitor technology to differentiate among them. Therefore, I’ll barely scratch the surface.
A High-Tech Toy
Are there two kinds—or three? Well, a write-up when I was initially exploring launch monitors said there were three variations: Photometric, Radar and Infrared. Now, I’m reading that there are two: camera-based and doppler-radar based (the information out there now seems to make more sense than it did a few years ago, although it’s still confusing).
As I understand it, camera-based launch monitors work by taking pictures of the ball as it moves through the launch window. It takes multiple images of the ball and the images are then compared to measure how the ball is moving immediately after impact.
Doppler radar-based launch monitors work the opposite way. They send out a radio frequency from its transmitter. This frequency reflects off the ball and returns the information to the receiver. The time lapse between the signal leaving the transmitter and arriving at the receiver allows the radar to calculate how far away the object is—as well as how it is projecting through space.
As you might imagine, one (radar) is good for outdoor use and the other (camera) lends itself better to indoor use. As previously mentioned, I was looking to set up a simulator in our garage. Thankfully that narrowed down the options for me.
Brand Names
Many recreational golfers have heard the name Trackman. It is the market leader for radar-based launch monitors. But perhaps just as ubiquitous (among pros, that is) is the GC Quad, which I’m told is camera-based. The GC Quad unit uses four ultra-high-speed cameras to take over 200 images of the ball within the first foot of when the ball leaves the club face. It measures how the ball’s dimple pattern rotates through the image set.
In addition to the Trackman, other doppler radar-based monitors include the Flightscope X3 and MEVO+ as well as the Garmin R10. Besides the GC Quad, other camera-based units include the GC3 (three cameras), the Bushnell Launch Pro and the Skytrak+.
One can easily spend thousands of dollars on a launch monitor. In fact, one could just as readily spend over $10k for one. I have found that sometimes a limited budget can be a good thing. It allows you to eliminate certain options and enables you to use objective (numerical) data when comparing apples to oranges.
Here are a few good things I’ve learned about Flightscope and Garmin devices: Flightscope’s MEVO+ 2023 edition was voted the best outdoor launch monitor. It’s more budget friendly, but it doesn’t work as well indoors as some other units. And the Garmin Approach R10 appears to be extremely popular. It’s very portable and supposedly super easy to use. Listing for $599 on Amazon, it’s worth considering.
Beyond the doppler-based vs. camera-based issue, here are a few other things to ponder:
Space: how high is your ceiling? How tall are you? How steep is your swing? All these things should be considered. But, in addition to height, there’s also length. The doppler radar-based systems generally need at least 16 feet (8’ behind and 8’ in front of the ball). This can be detrimental in a small area. The camera-based systems need only about eight feet in front of the ball—and the monitor sits beside the ball.
Because I couldn’t justify spending $12k for a GC Quad (I didn’t even have to consider Trackman because of my space limitation—not to mention the price), I opted for the Skytrak launch monitor. It retailed for about $2k. Last year they introduced Skytrak+ which sells for about $3k. The all new Skytrak+, I’m told, has an improved photometric camera—as well as proprietary machine-learning software for better accuracy vs. their previous model. It boasts 5GHz Wi-Fi vs. 2.4 GHz with the old one. The new one measures club path and face angle and has slightly longer battery life (4.5 vs. 4 hrs). It can be used indoors as well as outdoors. On their website (www.skygolf.com), it gets 4.7 stars (out of 5) with 771 reviews.
Skytrak is now owned by Golftec. They, along with an organization called 2nd Swing Golf, take trade-ins of old launch monitors and other golf equipment for credit towards the purchase of the new model Skytrak+. For more information, click here .
Here’s an interesting link to a review of Skytrak+. And a second one. And yet, one more—this one from a guy who runs a website called Breaking Eighty. If you’re vacillating between the MEVO+ and the Skytrak+ (two of the most popular consumer launch monitors), here’s a video which discusses the pros and cons of both.
Other Considerations
Some launch monitors are affixed to your ceiling while most of them are portable and come with an associated app. They’re used to measure swing speed, ball speed, and a multitude other metrics. Some can be connected to your iPad, iPhone, Apple watch and AirPods, while others need a full-blown gaming computer. Some could be used as the centerpiece of your golf simulator while others could be taken to the range or your backyard.
Some allow you to play courses, while others simply measure smash factor and other nerdy golf metrics. Many of them have annual fees for the software that goes with it. Some even have a 30-day return policy. Ultimately, it comes down to your needs, resources, and practice tendencies.
Truth be told, there’s an endless amount of data available these days—most of which the average golfer has no business knowing. After all, he’s not going to the moon! And, in case you’re wondering, Bryson DeChambeau (aka “The Mad Scientist” as well as “Rain Man”) has been known to use a GC Quad, Flightscope, and Trackman, but he’s not your average golfer. Recreational golfers, on the other hand—assuming they have the space and the wherewithal to obtain one—would be wise to consider adding one to their golf gear.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Frank Felsburg is looking to gain another five MPH of clubhead speed.
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