Launch monitors have changed how golf can be practiced at home, letting you practice your shots on a virtual field. Launch monitors gather a wide range of data from your golf swing by tracking the ball as it is hit. It then extrapolates where it would land and simulates it on a virtual course or driving range. So not only can most launch monitors show you how your shot will land, but they also store a vast range of data that can help you improve your swing. Data includes clubhead distance (which can be tracked over multiple shots), carry distance, spin, and lots more. It can help you see if you have a propensity to slice or hook shots, when you under or overshoot, and generally help with overall swing paths. Almost all professional golfers use launch monitors to improve their game. They can be as simple and easy as just using the device at a driving range with your phone to see the data, or as robust as a full at-home set-up, complete with a projector showing your ball’s flight path in a virtual golf course.

Accuracy, price, portability, and compatibility are just some of the differences you’ll want to look at between launch monitors. Most reviews will mention accuracy and price, but there are some other factors to watch out for:

Screens

We should distinguish between a launch monitor and a golf simulator. Most launch monitors come with a way to transfer the data they collect into a golf simulator app, allowing you to see not just the data but to see the shot rendered in a golf simulation.

Some launch monitors come with a screen directly, but most don’t because they expect you to link the data to a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Mobile and PC Compatibility

Most launch monitors are compatible with all mobile devices and PCs, although some are made to link to Apple devices first and foremost. For these, you’ll sometimes need an adaptor to link them to a PC or android device.

Software

Most launch monitors have built-in golf simulator packages, such as the SkyTrak SIG10 Golf Simulator Package or the FlightScope Mevo Plus PerfectBay Golf Simulator Package. Often these require an annual subscription, typically $100-$200, to access all their courses and features.

Portability

Most launch monitors can be used both indoors and outdoors, portable enough to bring to a driving range. However, for the sake of increased accuracy, some monitors, such as the Uneekor QED can only be setup indoors.

Most portable launch monitors are small enough to bring anywhere, but may not be the best experience with just a smartphone. That’s why making an at-home setup is worth it for many people.

Uneekor QED

For a strictly indoor set-up, the Uneekor QED is an excellent choice for its price point. Uneekor has recently become the talk of the town in launch monitor groups, but their original offering in North America is the QED from 2019.

It provides terrific price point, high precision, measuring ball and club data with zero delay. In addition, the real video footage it provides is some of the most immersive on the market.

It integrates with the Golf Club 2019 software, one of the best, sporting 4K graphics and a near-perfect golf simulation experience.

The overhead unit must be mounted to your ceiling, meaning it is entirely non-portable. You also have to mark your golf balls to use it. But, if you’re ready to make these commitments, it’s one of the best on the market.

Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor

Rapsodo’s MLM is explicitly designed for outdoor use, watching for a ball taking full flight. It runs through your mobile and uses its camera to collect more data. Currently, it’s only available with iOS.

It records all sorts of data, including ball speed, distance, launch angle, and launch direction, while recording your shot for future playback. It’s easy to set-up, but more limited in scope than many other launch monitors on our list.

SkyTrak Launch Monitor

The SkyTrak Launch Monitor is a holistic, complete home setup for a mid-tier price. It delivers on most of the features of the pro models at half the price.

Highly portable, this easy-to-use monitor uses photometric tech, delivering real-time 3D shot analysis and ball-flight data with an HD simulation package.

It’s compatible with an extensive range of different at-home setups, including just a smartphone or a complete rig with net and projector. In addition, the built-in software comes with many different golf courses to play on and an extensive range of mini-games to practice with, including Closest to the Pin, Targets, and Longest Drive.

Flightscope Mevo

The Flightscope Mevo is one of the best launch monitors for under $500. Where a few years ago, almost no monitors under $500 were worth it, they’ve come a long way in recent years.

However, the original Flightscope Mevo is still one of the best. It offers solid accuracy with high ease of use for the perfect match for a budget setup.

It is either the most accurate or close to the most precise launch monitor out there in this price range. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have lateral shot data, which you’ll have to go for the Mevo+ for.

Swing Caddie SC300I

A small, portable, and versatile radar-based launch monitor can be used indoor and out. It has a large display with good accuracy and provides everything you need for a basic setup.

For its price, its an excellent starting setup golf launch monitor, it even includes video playback and a battery life of up to 20 hours.

Bushnell Launch Pro

The Bushnell Launch Pro is one of the market’s most overall accurate launch monitors. It’s high-end, professional, and can be used to create some of the most robust full-rig systems.

It’s built on the GC3 platform, but is half the price. In addition, it uses a high-end camera rather than just radar doppler effect for more accurate readings.

The Bushnell is perfect for a high-end set-up that is still within the realm of a budget. Keep in mind, that it’s not as easy to set up as other monitors, and you’ll probably want a full simulator setup, which requires a strong PC, projector, and more.

Trackman 4 Launch Monitor

A favorite of Tour pros, the Trackman is one of the most discussed ‘launch monitors,’ being used often. It’s been used by many of the world’s best players and has created a gold standard of all launch monitors.

Its patented multi-sensor technology uses both an inbuilt camera and two ultra-accurate radars. By using both, it offers some of the most accurate readings possible.

It feeds all its data to an app, and has over 100 virtual courses with lots of other software features. For example, putting analysis, swing video software, on course practice, and much more.

The SkyTrak and Garmin Approach each require somewhat less depth than launch monitors such as the Mevo+ to function. That being said, all launch monitors will require enough ceiling height to make a full swing and at least some space in front and behind.

Most launch monitors need the same amount of ceiling height, as it all comes down to your swing.

Generally speaking, 8 ½ feet is the absolute minimum ceiling height you’ll need. But realistically, it’s better to have 9 or 10 feet to ensure no accidents occur.

Basements and garages are good places to set up your golf simulator. To check if your ceiling is high enough, you can follow through with a full swing in the area at a slow speed. If it looks like anything will cause interference, then you’ll need to find another space.

SkyTrak

SkyTrak is one of the consistently highest-rated launch monitors across the board. It’s a combination of value, accuracy, and portability just can’t be beaten. The fact that it integrates with some of the best golf simulation software is the icing on the cake.

Its space requirement is also nice, being slightly smaller than many others. Its readings are quite reliable, with more accurate chips and putts than most other monitors.

One small difference is that if you have a right-handed and left-handed player playing simultaneously, you have to move the unit or change settings every time. It also has a 2 to 4 second shot delay, which can be reason enough to upgrade for some.

FlightScope Mevo+

If there’s any other game-changer beyond the SkyTrak, the Mevo+ is it. Some devices are more accurate, and some are more affordable, but for its combination of its, the Mevo+ is one of the most balanced.

It is highly portable, accurate, and comes with solid simulator services, it has a huge range of features and data metrics. Until Flightscope came out with this, you could not find an outdoor launch monitor under $2,000 with anything like these capabilities. Compared with the SkyTrak, it’s more accurate when used outdoors.

One difficulty with it might be that you need 16 feet of depth total for it to work. However, considering its almost instantaneous shot delay, there’s much on offer.

Garmin Approach R10

With most of the features of the Mevo+ at a third of the price, the Garmin is a great choice for overall greatness on a budget.

It’s easy to set up, measures many different data points, and is fairly accurate. It’s compatible with the E6 simulator software, Awesome Golf, and more.

Here are each of the major brands of launch monitor makers with an example of one of their best products and why you might go for them.

Flightscope

FlightScope makes the fantastic Mevo and Mevo+, two of the best budget-friendly launch simulators on the market. Prized for their high accuracy and thoughtful upgrades from the $500 Mevo to the $2000 Mevo+, the company is at the forefront of launch monitor design.

Bushnell

Bushnell makes Pro Tour level launch monitors, decked out with the highest end features and well-respected by pros. The Bushnell Launch Pro, for example, uses a high-end camera and two separate radar sensors for highly accurate shots.

SkyTrak

SkyTrak is one of the most respected, balanced launch monitors in the field. It’s the perfect combination of value and accuracy, with very few flaws.

Garmin

Garmin makes the Approach R10, which is one of the best budget models on the market. You get fairly accurate performance for a third of the cost of most mid-tier launch monitors. Garmin is known to be one of the best budget brands, so you can’t go wrong if you have a budget cap.

Foresight

Foresight is one of the top professional brands in the business, making the GC2 Launch Monitor that is used by many top pros. Its high accuracy and ability to capture even the finest points of your swing and shot have made it a bestseller.

Uneekor

Uneekor’s QED is already legendary in the launch monitor field for its pioneering vision. With two-high speed cameras and infrared tracking, this indoor-only launch monitor became the flagpole all others were measured under.

Since QED’s launch, Uneekor has not slowed down, continuing to innovate with more launch monitors and ever-increasing options and features.

Trackman

Trackman makes some of the most professional and expensive launch monitors on the market. They are the absolute highest standard for Pros. They use the most cutting-edge technology in the TrackMan 4, which has proven to be one of the most accurate and feature-rich launch monitors.

TruGolf

TruGolf makes some of the most respected golf simulations in the world. Made primarily for golf professionals, their simulation rigs can get quite expensive. However, they have some of the highest accuracy and sheer volume of data and features available.

Swing Caddie

Swing Caddie makes some of the great launch monitors for affordable prices. They have been continuously releasing updated models and upgrades. Their accuracy has only been increasing over recent years. They offer a lot of value for the price, with some of the best budget models on the market.

Optishot 2

Optishot 2 is one of the most popular golf sims out there as it is both quite affordable and yet quite good. It’s enjoyable and easy to use at home, allowing you to get in practice whenever you want it. The software has 15 courses, and an excellent driving range.

Rapsodo

Rapsodo’s Mobile Launch Monitor is a great use of mobile tech to make a portable launch monitor. The built-in app uses your phone’s camera to work with the monitor for recording and adding a shot tracer to every shot.

With the absolute explosion of gold launch monitors in the market over the last few years, it can be hard to tell the wheat from the chaff. Some budget models work great, and many pro models are too complicated for the everyday user.

We hope this article has given you a kind of “ground zero” on which you can read our in-depth reviews or find out more through further research of each model. Good luck out there on the green!