The Top Launch Monitors in Golf

SkyTrak is the best value indoor launch monitor & golf simulator at $2,000

SkyTrak wins this one in a close one over it’s closest competitor, Mevo+. SkyTrak has been voted the Best Value Golf Launch Monitor and Simulator by Golf Digest four years running and at this price point, we cannot argue. SkyTrak’s indoor performance is proven, is very portable, and integrates with the top simulation softwares.

We gave SkyTrak the nod indoors over Mevo+ due to its smaller space requirement (Mevo+ requires at least 16’ of depth), it’s overall slightly better reliability with reading chips and putts (something FlightScope is still working to improve with the Mevo+), and Mevo+ requires a metallic dot to be placed on top of the ball indoors for accurate tracking while SkyTrak does not.

With that being said, we cannot say that SkyTrak wins in all situations over Mevo+. If you have at least 16’ of depth in your space, and have both righties and lefties in your house, you will likely want to go with Mevo+. With Mevo+, you don’t have to move the unit or change settings when switching between righties and lefties. You will also benefit from a shorter shot delay (only ~0.5 second versus SkyTrak’s 2 to 4 seconds) providing an overall more realistic experience.

Regardless, both SkyTrak and Mevo+ are the top two selling launch monitors on the market and provide incredible value for the money. Luckily both have distinct benefits that should help you decide the best one for your particular situation.

The FlightScope Mevo+ Launch Monitor is truly a game-changer at this price point.

Until Mevo+, you could not find a launch monitor that works as well as it does outdoors with golf simulation for under $3,000. Outdoors, Mevo+ blows SkyTrak out of the water as its radar technology has proven to outperform SkyTrak’s photometric technology in sunlight. The Mevo+ features a sleek thin design allowing you to easily pack it in your golf bag and take it to the driving range. Also, while you do need to put a metallic sticker on your golf balls indoors with the Mevo+, this is not the case outdoors.

 

Along with its superior performance outdoors, if you have a room with 16’ of depth, you still get all the benefits of its indoor performance too. This includes the ability to switch seamlessly between right and left handed golfers, shorter (~0.5 second) shot delay than competing SkyTrak, and integration with top golf course software such as The Golf Club 2019.

If you are looking for strictly indoor use, the Uneekor QED is a no-brainer at this price point over its competitors.

The QED was the first product brought to North America by Uneekor back in 2019. Ever since, Uneekor has been the talk of golf launch monitor groups and forums for its precision ball data accuracy and performance at an incredible value for the price point. The QED measures both ball and club data, has zero shot delay providing a realistic experience, and provides real video footage of club path, club face at impact, and ball spin (probably our favorite feature of QED).

The QED also integrates with our favorite golf simulation software, The Golf Club 2019 for an additional $995. This lethal combo brings together the precision accuracy of the QED with the endless world-class course list, 4K graphics, and incredible golf simulator experience of The Golf Club 2019. Our team at Rain or Shine Golf has spent more hours than we’d like to admit playing around on The Golf Club 2019 with our Uneekor QED.

One important consideration before purchasing the QED is that it is an overhead unit that must be mounted to your ceiling. We personally love that it is ceiling mounted as it helps to declutter your simulator room and it also helps protect your investment from the inevitable shank. This also means that the QED cannot be used outside and cannot be taken out to the range. One other small drawback is that your golf balls must be marked. The QED comes with a box of 24 premarked balls and are available for re-order if you ever need more.

The GC3 is our new go-to personal launch monitor when we want to head out for a serious range session outside

While the Uneekor QED gets the nod indoors at this price point, the new Foresight GC3 Launch Monitor is our go-to when we want to head out for a serious range session outside. The GC2 has been around for years and you’ve likely used one before at your local golf shop for club fitting. It's successor, the GC3, is even better!

Starting at $7,499, we love the GC3 because it’s extremely reliable in the elements outdoors. Other systems can have trouble in sunlight or have misreads due to grass or dirt caused by your divot. Based on our testing, the GC3 has excellent accuracy, has no shot delay displaying your ball data instantly, and almost never misreads. The GC3 is also super easy to pack in your golf bag.

Aside from all the benefits of its outdoor performance, the GC3 is also an excellent indoor launch monitor as well. The biggest drawback of the GC3 is that you are somewhat locked into Foresight’s FSX software. SkyTrak, Mevo+, and Uneekor all have easy integrations with top golf simulator course softwares such as our favorite, The Golf Club 2019 while GC3 does not offer that integration at this point.

A launch monitor comparable to premium systems but at a more reasonable price.

For professionals and low handicap golfers with a budget of $10,000 or more, we recommend the Uneekor EYEXO without hesitation. It's the launch monitor we choose to use most often in our office showroom for serious practice sessions and it's the unit we most recommend to professional indoor training facilities and high-end indoor golf simulator rooms.

The EYE XO has all of the key features of the QED including both ball and club data, real video footage of club path, clubface at impact, and ball spin, as well as an impressive data suite for club fitting. The major additions to the EYE XO over QED include higher resolution club path video, actual ball impact spot on the clubface, and further club data such as attack angle, club loft and lie angles, as well as vertical and horizontal impact points. Another key differentiator of Uneekor’s EYE XO over the QED is that the balls do not need to be marked.

For years many would have considered Foresight Sports Launch Monitors to be the best of the best for indoor launch monitor technology. A key reason why we are crowning Uneekor over Foresight Sports is their ability to integrate with major course softwares such as our favorite, The Golf Club 2019. With Foresight GC3 and GCQuad, you are stuck with their FSX software for simulator course play which has proven to not provide the level of experience you come to expect from The Golf Club 2019. Uneekor’s integration with The Golf Club 2019 is an essential combination to get the ultimate indoor golf simulation experience.

Like the Uneekor QED, the EYE XO is also an overhead unit that needs to be mounted to the ceiling. While the EYE XO technically does work in sunlight, it is rather difficult to impossible to conveniently take it to the range. That is irrelevant to the discussion of which is the best indoor unit at this price point, but felt like we should at least briefly mention its outdoor functionality.

If you are a serious golfer looking for the best of the best technology on the market for indoors combined with the ability to integrate with the best golf simulator course play, look no further than the Uneekor EYE XO.

The most accurate, dependable outdoor premium golf launch monitor on the market.

For professionals and low handicap golfers with a budget of $14,000 or more, we recommend the GCQuad without hesitation. It's our clear choice for best premium outdoor portable launch monitor for outdoor practice sessions.

As the only launch monitor in the industry to utilize Quadrascopic imaging, the GCQuad delivers a detailed picture of ball and club head performance analysis. GCQuad's four high-resolution, high-speed optical sensors work together to deliver unrivaled quadrascopic image clarity. This impressive camera array is used to measure ball and clubhead data at the moment of impact, including: ball speed, horizontal & vertical launch angles, spin, side spin and carry distance. With the optional club data add-on, GCQuad can measure club data depending on whether or not one or four club markers are being used. One marker data includes: club head speed, smash factor, angle of attack and club path. Four markers will also add face angle, loft & lie at impact and impact location on club face.

A key reason why the GCQuad is crowned our pick for best premium outdoor portable golf lauch monitor is, as you guessed, its portability. GCQuad's ergonmic design makes it easy to move with just one hand. All of this packed into one unit that can easily be carried around the course is what really sets the GCQuad apart from the competition. Don't let the rain stop you either, GCQuad is built to be weather-resistant - so you really can tee it up anytime.

It is worth noting that you are required to buy FSX 2020 to unlock more than just viewing your numbers. This is built into the pricing of the GCQuad, totaling at $14,000 ($3000 for FSX 2020 with 5 courses). Additional add-ons are also available, unlocking Club Data and Putting Analysis which will cost $4000 and $2500 respectively. Most golfers will opt for the Club Data add-on in addition to the FSX 2020 license, however if you want access to putting analysis your total cost will be around $20,500.

While we've recommended GCQuad as our pick for best premium outdoor portable golf launch monitor, make no mistake, this is a truly versatile launch monitor with unparalled accuracy you can truly rely on indoors and outdoors. If your budget allows, GCQuad + additional add-ons provides golfers with an entire suite of practice making it well worth the investment.

The FlightScope Mevo is our choice for the best affordable launch monitor under $500.

After our testing of the budget launch monitors from Ernest Sports, Rapsodo, Approach R10, and FlightScope, the FlightScope Mevo came out as our best budget golf launch monitor. Out of the products in this tier, the Mevo was the most reliable for both indoors and outdoor use and provided the most consistently accurate readings with all clubs in your bag from wedges to driver.

At roughly the half the size of a smartphone, the Mevo fits perfectly in your bag or pocket for easy mobility. The Mevo also has a voice feature that will read out your results so you don’t have to keep looking at the display to know your stats.

The Mevo is an excellent bang for your buck at the $499 price point. Golfwrx wrote a great review that is worth checking out if interested in the Mevo.