Golf Launch Monitor Comparison
Below is a side-by-side comparison of some of the high-end golf launch monitors available today. The best of the best are the GC Quad and the TrackMan 4. These are the the launch monitors used by pro golfers, club fitters, and professional coaches. They are incredibly accurate, trusted, and feature rich. They are also very expensive.
The GC3 and the Bushnell Golf Launch Pro are obviously much less expensive, and at first glance, the Bushnell looks to be the better option with all of the same features as the GC3 but at a significantly reduced price. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. You need to purchase an annual software subscription to get all of those features.
Why Get a Golf Launch Monitor?
Why not!! If you want to improve your golf game, I think data is a critical component to that. Aside from all of the awesome feedback you get in how well, or poorly, you are striking the ball, there are a few other benefits. Club fitting and selection are top of mind. Let’s say you have not actually had a professional fitting for your driver. What is your loft set at? How do you know it is the right loft for you? With a golf launch monitor, you can test that for yourself and adjust over time as your game and data change.
How about ball selection? Club head speed, spin rate, and your personal preference for feel are really important. You could use my swing speed calculator, or my driver selector tool, both will give you some good recommendations. But those tools are built on estimates in swing speed, and those estimates are coming from user inputs that are not always accurate. Bottom line – knowing your data will help you make better decisions in your equipment selection.
What about club distances? Now, I don’t know about you, but I know my exact distance for every club in my bag and never come up short or overshoot – Hopefully you sensed the sarcasm there. What I mean is – get to know your true distances, not the distances that you estimate by choosing to remember your best shots with a particular club.
Or maybe you simply want to have a simulator so you can play in the comfort of your home. No matter your reason, there are plenty of high quality golf launch monitors to choose from.
Device Similarity
Before I go into price and add-ons, the Bushnell Golf Launch Pro and the Foresight Sports GC3 are the same device!!
Yes, you read that correctly! Vista Outdoor Inc, the parent company of Bushnell Golf acquired Foresight Sports in September, 2021. In October – the new Bushnell Launch Pro was available for pre-order. The hardware specs for the two devices are the exact same. And they use the same software. The two companies have simply slapped a Bushnell logo on the device and its user manuals – Well, I’ll give them a lot more credit than that – they brought the entry price point down significantly.
If you really just compare the GC3 to the Pro Plus, and the TrackMan 4 to the GCQUAD, you’ll see there are tons of similarities in capability. And that makes sense given their price range.
Software & Subscription Costs
The GCQUAD requires an additional software purchase. You can add everything and the price goes up to $21,000. You can stick to the basic required software bringing you in at $14,000, or pick something in the middle.
Bushnell gives you the option of making a one-time software purchase to unlock the device for $3,995. This brings the total device cost up to $6,994. This option unlocks the entire set of features listed below. Alternatively, you can pay annual subscription fees to get those features. Their basic plan starts at $99/year, Silver at $399/year, and Gold at $799/year.
Now, I’m personally not a fan of annual subscription fees, but I really like what they have done with the Launch Pro. You can purchase their high-end option for 5 years and still have a lower overall cost for the Launch Pro. You can also adjust your subscription from year-to-year.
Let’s be honest, how many people have put a golf simulator in their basement or garage and use it daily? Or use it on such a regular basis that it never goes a couple of months without being used? The Launch Pro gives you the option to account for that. Maybe you’re coming up for renewal, but you are ready for a break…take your break and renew when you are ready to start using it again.
If you are fortunate enough to read this and are sitting there thinking price doesn’t matter – Buy the GCQuad or TrackMan! For the rest of us, the Launch Pro seems to be the best option.
TrackMan4 |
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$21,495 |
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Launch Angle
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Side Angle
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Ball Speed
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Total Spin
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Carry Distance
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Side Spin Axis
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Club Head Speed
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Smash Factor
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Club Path
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Attack Angle
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Loft/Lie
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Face Angle
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Impact Location
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Closure Rate
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Low Point
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Impact Offset
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Use for Putting
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Barometric Sensor
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Wifi
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Foresight SportsGCQUAD |
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$11,000 |
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Launch Angle
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Side Angle
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Ball Speed
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Total Spin
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Carry Distance
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Side Spin Axis
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Club Head Speed
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Smash Factor
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Club Path
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Attack Angle
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Loft/Lie
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Face Angle
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Impact Location
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Closure Rate
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Low Point
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Impact Offset
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Use for Putting
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Barometric Sensor
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Wifi
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Foresight SportsGC3 |
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$6,999 |
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Launch Angle
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Side Angle
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Ball Speed
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Total Spin
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Carry Distance
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Side Spin Axis
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Club Head Speed
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Smash Factor
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Club Path
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Attack Angle
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Loft/Lie
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Face Angle
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Impact Location
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Closure Rate
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Low Point
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Impact Offset
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Use for Putting
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Barometric Sensor
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Wifi
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Bushnell GolfLaunch Pro |
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$2,999.99 |
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Launch Angle
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Side Angle
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Ball Speed
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Total Spin
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Carry Distance
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Side Spin Axis
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Club Head Speed
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Smash Factor
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Club Path
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Attack Angle
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Loft/Lie
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Face Angle
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Impact Location
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Closure Rate
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Low Point
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Impact Offset
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Use for Putting
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Barometric Sensor
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Wifi
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That’s a Lot of Green!
First, let’s address the single red X for TrackMan. TrackMan does not have a barometric sensor because it simply does not need one. It is a radar based system and it is tracking your entire ball flight. The other golf launch monitors highlighted above are camera based systems and they can only follow your ball for a short distance. Because of this, they need to do some math to calculate distance and need to account for temperature, barometric pressure, and elevation when doing so.
Speaking of barometric sensor, TrackMan has a pretty cool feature that will allow you to normalize the unit to settings you desire. Let’s say you live in Florida and are headed to Denver for a weekend of golf, you can set it as if you were practicing in Denver…it will help you get used to the distances you’ll experience in that atmosphere before you actually go. Pretty cool feature!!
When looking at the GC Quad and TrackMan 4 – you see GC Quad does not measure impact offset or low point. Personally, impact offset is not that important considering the unit provides impact location. The offset is simply the distance between impact point and club center, you can pretty much figure that out on your own just by glancing at the impact location data. And for the GC3 and Launch Pro, although they don’t measure impact location, you can easily get a good indicator with some impact tape. Or simply use some foot powder spray.
Low point is another metric that only TrackMan has. Low Point can be viewed as another way to understand your attack angle.
No matter which of these golf launch monitors you choose, I think you’ll be happy with the quality. These are the best on the market and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.
Additional Details
TrackMan 4
$21,495
Features
Additional software required – Included
154 Courses, including 43 Tour Venues. New courses are added regularly. Simulator software for practice, and games. Golf app.
Add-on’s available – $1,000 For continuous updates and new courses
Specs
Dimensions – 11.8″(w) x 11.8″ (h) x 1.8″(d)
Weight – 6.2lbs
Battery – Lithium-Ion Rechargable
Compatibility – USB, Wifi, Ethernet, iOS, Android
Foresight Sports GCQUAD
$11,000
Features
Additional software required – FSX 2020 License – $3000
2-Year Warranty, Power adapter & cable, USB-C cable, Alignment stick, Club Markers
Add-on’s available – Clubhead measurement – $4000., Essential Putting Analysis – $2500.
Specs
Dimensions – 7″(w) x 4″(d) x 12.5″(h)
Weight – 7.5lbs
Battery – Removable Lithium-Ion Rechargeable
Compatibility – iOS, Android
Foresight Sports GC3
$6,999
Features
Additional software required – Included
FSX Play Software including the all-new La Jolla Pines golf course, FSX 2020 Software License with 10 courses, FSX Pro Performance Software, Foresight Sports Performance App, 1-Year Warranty, Power adapter & cable, USB-C cable, Alignment Stick, Club Markers
Add-on’s available – Additional Courses available
Specs
Dimensions – 6″(w) x 5″(d) x 12″(h)
Weight – 5lbs
Battery – Lithium-Ion Rechargeable
Compatibility – USB, Wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
Bushnell Golf Launch Pro
$2,999.99
Features
Additional software required – Options from Basic ($99) per year to Gold ($799) per year. Unlocked device with full software package can be purchased for a one-time-fee of $3995.
Alignment stick, Club Marker Pack, USB-C cable, Power Cord
Add-on’s available – Optional Software Upgrades.
Specs
Dimensions – 6″(w) x 5″(d) x 12″(h)
Weight – 5lbs
Battery – Lithium-Ion Rechargeable
Compatibility – USB, Wifi, Ethernet