Best Golf Launch Monitors – (Reviews & Guide 2020)

Final Verdict:

There’s a lot to love about this monitor. Despite its small footprint, the device packs a powerful punch. It offers a reasonable amount of metrics and can be used virtually anywhere.

Final Verdict:

All in all, this is a great MLM option for any golfer. Thanks to its low price tag, you can start improving your game without spending a fortune.

Final Verdict:

Thanks to its tiny footprint, this monitor can be tossed into any golf bag and taken to the course. It’s a flexible unit that’s easy to use whenever you want to work on your drive.

Final Verdict:

With its affordable price, this monitor is worth considering. While it’s not the most accurate or feature-rich option out there, it certainly gets the job done and covers the basics.

Final Verdict:

The Garmin Approach G80 is a jack of all trades. With its many useful features, the monitor is a must-have accessory for your golf bag.

Final Verdict:

Because it only picks up two metrics, we don’t recommend this for golfers who are looking to seriously improve their game. However, it can serve casual players well who are looking for a fun device to enhance the way they play.

What Key Features to Consider When Buying a Golf Launch Monitor

Radar

The first thing you should consider is how you want your golf launch monitor to work. There are two different times of launch monitors on the market. The first utilizes radar technology.

More specifically, they use Doppler radar. High-end launch monitors typically use radar technology because it provides very accurate information. Not only can Doppler radar tell you about the mechanics of your swing, but some can even follow the ball as it flies through the course for more in-depth data.

The process of collecting information can be quite complicated. To put it simply, the device takes advantage of the Doppler effect. When turned on, it generates microwaves. Any moving object in the path of those waves will interfere with the signal. In the case of golf, this would be your ball. The ball reflects some of those waves back to the launch monitor where sensors can interpret its movements.

Fun fact: this is the same type of technology that’s used by meteorologists to study weather patterns. The military utilizes it as well for missile detection and defense.

Camera

If you’d rather go with something a bit simpler, there’s always camera technology. Camera-powered launch monitors tend to be more compact and easier to understand. The downsides? Well, they aren’t as powerful as radar. Radar systems can track your ball mid-flight. The same can’t be said for cameras.

If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, camera golf monitors still have a lot to offer. They work using high-speed and high-definition cameras. As you launch the ball, the cameras can collect information about your swing and the first foot or two of the flight. This data is then presented in an easy-to-read format.

Best of all, most of these devices are very compact. All you have to do is point them at the ball and you’re good to go. This is a stark contrast to the somewhat bulky radar-based options. We’ll touch on portability in a bit.

Many of the camera systems out there rely heavily on photometry, which is a measurement of light. Thus, these devices can be a bit finicky under certain lighting conditions.

Metrics

What good is a launch monitor if it can’t show you the metrics you need? Truth is, the types of information that launch monitors provide vary quite a bit. That may seem counter-intuitive to the broader goal of improving the game of golfers everywhere. However, it’s actually beneficial. Let me explain…

Professional-grade monitors, which can set you back 20 grand, offer far more features than what most players need. Unless you’re in a PGA tour competing for millions of dollars, buying a device that provides an exorbitant number of metrics just isn’t feasible.

So, many golf launch monitor manufacturers will stick to the basics to make these devices as affordable and easy-to-use as possible. The trick to getting a monitor that will serve you well for years to come is to choose the metrics that are most important to you.

There are two basic categories of data you can look into. The first is data about the ball itself. Ball speed, launch angle, direction, and spin are essential. If you want to get a bit more advanced, you can also go with a monitor that measures smash factor, height, carry, and more. Golf monitors can be as simple or complex as you choose.

The second category of metrics involves your swing. This includes things like attack angle, swing speed, and more.

Accuracy

Despite all of the great technology that goes into golf launch monitors, they are not going to provide you with 100 percent accuracy. As with anything regarding data collection, there’s always going to be some margin of error.

Manufacturers will often provide that information to be upfront about what you can expect, which is a nice touch. You can use that transparency to your advantage and choose a device that offers high levels of accuracy. The good news is that the margin of error is very minimal. In most cases, those tiny discrepancies aren’t going to affect the way you improve moving forward.

Keep in mind that the margin of error will usually be more significant the greater the measurement. For example, if you are analyzing a 300-yard drive, you will experience a bigger decrease in accuracy compared to a 100-yard drive.

Ease of Use

If you’re not a particularly tech-savvy person, golf monitors can be daunting. They’re highly advanced pieces of equipment. Not only do you need to learn how to set the device up and take advantage of all its features, but you also need to learn how to interpret the data.

That can be a tall order if you’re not familiar with the mechanics and physics behind golf.

Luckily, some of the best golf launch monitors are designed to make things as easy as possible. Detailed user-guides, graphic-based information, and built-in improvement tips are common. User-friendly readouts can help you make the most out of the data provided and push you to take your skills to the next level.

Value-Added Functionality

While the core purpose of a launch monitor is to analyze the movement of the ball after a swing, you can easily find devices that do double-duty. Extra features can add tons of value and save you from lugging around several standalone devices.

One of the most useful features you can have is built-in swing analysis. Your swing and the movement of the ball go hand-in-hand, so it only makes sense that a monitor will provide you with details of how the golf club is moving.

Some monitors also have GPS features, which can provide you with some great information about the course you’re on. Depending on the model, you may even be able to see a map with a top-down view.

Portability

Have you ever taken a minute to look at all the gear you have to carry to the course? Chances are, there’s a lot of it. Beyond the basic equipment, you have to worry about finding a spot for all the extra equipment that’s going to improve your game.

Golf launch monitors come in a wide range of sizes. If you’re already having difficulties carrying your bag to the course, you might want to stick with a pocket-sized model. Smaller monitors can be tucked into a bag with ease. On the other side of the spectrum, there are high-end models with massive radar units or cameras. While these options do have their benefits, they aren’t great if priority is a concern.

Smartphone/Tablet Apps

Speaking of portability, you can always get a model that utilizes your smartphone or tablet. Not only can you decrease your carrying load, but the power of your mobile device can enhance the user experience.

Remember how we said that many devices provide user-friendly readouts? Oftentimes, this is done through a dedicated mobile app. The bright and responsive screen is great for graphical representations and in-depth analysis.

You can monitor the movements in real-time, view simulations, and more. Some even use the cameras of your smartphone to record your actual swing, which can then be used alongside an overlay to help you make improvements.

Budget

Golf launch monitors don’t come cheap. You should expect to spend a few hundred dollars minimum. Enterprise-level monitors can have a five-figure price tag, so you’ll find a lot of variety on the market.

It’s important to set a budget first. Then, you can start looking within your price range and find the features you need most.

Indoors, Outdoors, or Both?

Where do you plan on using your new monitor? This is something that many golfers fail to think about. Because of the technology used to gather data, not all devices will work in every practice situation.

For example, Doppler radar systems require a lot of space to monitor your shot. They’re best for outdoors. If you do want to use it inside with a golf training net, you need to make sure that you have at least 8 feet of space for the radar to work its magic.

Typically, camera-based systems work well indoors and out. They only require a couple of feet of shooting distance, so you shouldn’t have a problem implementing them into a basement simulator space. Keep in mind that lighting might affect the camera’s ability to detect the ball. Just make sure to keep your space well-lit!

Also read about: Handpicked List of 9 Best Golf Swing Analyzers & Shot Trackers

Business, Practice, or Fun?

Think about your goals for the monitor. Do you want to improve your own game so that you can become a PGA player? Or, is it more for casual fun and beating your buds on the course?

The answer to that question is important. Remember, price points and available metrics are all across the board. You don’t need to have all the fancy features of a high-end model if the goal is to just improve your game for fun.

On the other hand, a cheaper device won’t cut it if you’re a seasoned player looking to overcome a plateau. The same goes for golf trainers wanting to use data to help clients.

Range Balls or Real Balls?

This often comes as a surprise to non-players, but there are several types of golf balls that you can use. They all differ when it comes to construction, density, and overall feel. Before you purchase a golf launch monitor, you need to make sure that it works for the ball you play with!

Some are only going to pick up range balls that you use for practice. Others might only use real balls, limiting where you can use the device. The last thing you want to deal with when you’re trying to improve your game is having to adapt to a brand-new ball. Check with the monitor’s specs before you jump the gun.

Read more about: How to Improve Your Game with 5 Best Golf RangeFinders

 Buyer’s Most Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What’s the difference between a personal launch monitor and what my fitter or coach uses?

The main differences between what your coach is using are price, accuracy, and metrics. Professional-level monitors cost several thousand dollars because they use more advanced technology. Thus, you can see a wide range of data pertaining to your shot. The internal components capturing that data, such as the radar sensors and camera, are also top-notch, ensuring pinpoint accuracy.

Q; What data can I get from a personal launch monitor?

This all depends on the brand. Typically, you can expect to see information about your speed and a rough estimate of potential carry. Spin and launch angle are also pretty common. As you go higher up in price, more metrics are added. These include things like landing angle, hang time, height, and more.

Q: What is smash factor?

To put it simply, smash factor is a way to determine potential energy transfer. It’s an important metric that golfers spend years maximizing. To determine the smash factor, the monitor will divide your ball speed by your club speed. The goal is to get as close to a 1.5 smash factor as possible. It’s the theoretical upper limit.

Q: Are all personal launch monitors accurate?

As we mentioned earlier, all monitors have some degree of error. Personal units tend to have lower accuracy than professional-level ones. Other factors, such as the quality of the technology used, play a role as well.