Best Golf Launch Monitors 2023 | Buyers Guide

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The Top Launch Monitors in Golf

 

1,000+Hours of Testing and Research
800+Customer Reviews
11,000+Launch Monitors Sold
30+Launch Monitors Tried & Tested

The launch monitor: they are the sexiest part of a golf simulator, your best friend at the driving range, and the holy grail of golf technology today. The accuracy and technology behind the top launch monitors on the market today are nothing short of jaw dropping and pack all the data you’d ever need to knock strokes off your handicap.

As the top golf launch monitor reseller on the market, we have gotten our hands on over 30 different units for our own in-house testing and have gotten unbiased feedback from hundreds of customers. We are almost embarrassed to admit how many combined hours our team has spent trying these products out in our office showroom and out on the range. We are confident that you won’t find better launch monitor advice than in this Best Golf Launch Monitor guide.



Best Golf Launch Monitors

Tried & Tested by the Rain or Shine Golf Team



Top Picks at A Glance

SkyTrak


Practice and Play anytime with SkyTrak, a 2021 Golf Digest Editor's Choice for Best Launch Monitor under $2,000.

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FlightScope Mevo+


From industry-leading game-improvement features to accurate golf simulation, Mevo+ is an excellent value option for both indoor and outdoor use

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Uneekor EYE XO


Super-speed cameras provide instant shot feedback and some of the most accurate, in-depth data on the market.

Learn More




Best Launch Monitors for Simulation

Side by Side Comparison

Scroll left and right

Depth Indoors Required
Indoor Performance
Outdoor Performance
Shot Delay Time it takes to register a shot
Left/Right Handed Use
Portability
Club Data
Swing Motion and Ball Spin Video Playback
Need for marked golf balls?
Simulation Software Options
SkyTrak
Mevo+
Uneekor QED
Uneekor EYE XO
Foresight Sports GC3
Full Swing KIT
GCQuad
FlightScope X3
Enough room to swing a club
16' Minimum
(8' from ball to screen + 8' from ball to unit)
15' Minimum
(12' from ball to screen + 3' for backswing)
15' Minimum
(12' from ball to screen + 3' for backswing)
Enough room to swing a club
18' Minimum
Enough room to swing a club
16' Minimum
(8' from ball to screen + 8' from ball to unit)
Very Good
Very Good
Excellent
Best-in-class
Excellent
Very Good
Excellent
Excellent
Possible but not recommended
Excellent
Limited but not portable
Yes but not portable
Excellent
Excellent
Best-in-class
Excellent
2-4 seconds
0-1 seconds
None
None
None
0-1 seconds
None
None
Need to move unit and change settings
(20-30 seconds)
Very easy - no need to move unit or change settings
Very easy - no need to move unit, change settings before your session
Very easy - no need to move unit, change settings before your session
Need to move unit
Very easy - no need to move unit or change settings
Need to move unit
Very easy - no need to move unit, change settings before your session
Very portable
(optional metal case makes SkyTrak less portable)
Very portable
Not portable - mounted overhead
Not portable - mounted overhead
Very portable
Very portable
Very portable
Very portable
Limited
(estimates club speed but is fairly unreliable)
Good
(club data is measured making it more reliable)
Very Good
Excellent
Very Good
Very Good
Very Good/Excellent
Excellent
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes, Swing Motion
No
Only Indoors
Yes
(purchase includes 24 marked balls)
No
Yes
(for club data only)
No
No
Only Indoors
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Limited
Good
Limited
Excellent


  • Best Indoor Launch Monitor under $2,000

    SkyTrak

    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.

    • Requires very little space indoors
    • Proven and trusted indoor performance
    • Tons of features for the price
    • Excellent integration with top course softwares such as The Golf Club 2019
    • Outdoor Accuracy - less accurate in direct sunlight or on real grass
    • Less club data than premium units
    • Need to move unit and change settings to switch from right and left-handed golfers
  • Best Outdoor Portable Launch Monitor under $3,000

    FlightScope Mevo+

    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.
    • Price
    • Indoor/Outdoor
    • Superior outdoor accuracy for units at this price
    • Portable
    • Basic Simulation Software Included
    • 16ft of space required indoors
  • Best Golf Launch Monitor under $10,000

    Uneekor QED

    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.

    • Extensive Ball and Club Data
    • Real video footage of club path
    • Great simulation software options
    • Extremely accurate
    • Indoor Only
    • Golf balls must be marked (24 premarked balls included with purchase)
  • Best Outdoor Portable Launch Monitor under $10,000

    Foresight Sports GC3

    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.

    • Indoor/Outdoor
    • Professional level accuracy
    • Simulation and Club Data come out of the box
    • Simulation software limited to FSX 2020
    • Cost
  • Best Premium Indoor Launch Monitor

    Uneekor EYE XO

    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.

    • Extensive Ball and Club Data
    • High-resolution club path video
    • Club impact location data
    • Great simulation software options
    • Extremely accurate
    • Creeps into the premium cost category
    • Is not portable (overhead mounted)
  • Best Premium Outdoor Portable Launch Monitor

    Foresight GCQuad

    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.

    • Unmatched Ball and Club Data
    • World class accuracy
    • Easy to carry
    • Must move the unit to swap between left and right handed golfers
    • Required to purchase FSX Software


Best Launch Monitors for Practice on a Budget

If you just want to shave a few strokes off your handicap, you can still get a quality golf launch monitor without breaking the bank. For this guide, we tested some of the top “budget” launch monitors on the market including the FlightScope Mevo, Rapsodo MLM, the Approach R10 from Garmin both indoors and outdoors and compared data points versus the Foresight GC2 or GC3.


Side By Side Comparison

(Scroll left and right)

Learn More
Price
Depth Indoors Required
Indoor Performance
Outdoor Performance
Ball Data
Club Data
Need for Marked Golf Balls
Device Compatibility
Ball Flight Display
Voice Distance Playback
Video swing Analysis
Ease of Use
Has Shot Tracer
Mevo
Rapsodo MLM
Garmin Approach R10
$499
$499
$599
15' of Depth
15' of Depth
15' of Depth
Great
Great
Good
Great
Great
Great
Distances, Club/Ball Speed, Launch Angle, Backspin
Distances, Club/Ball Speed, Launch Angle
Distances, Club/Ball Speed, Launch Angle, Backspin and more
Club Speed, Smash Factor
Club Speed
Club Speed, Smash Factor, Club Path, Club Face Angle and more
Indoors Only
No
No
iOS/Android
iOS
iOS/Android, PC for E6 Connect
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Good
Good
Good
No
Yes
Yes



  • Top Affordable Launch Monitor

    FlightScope Mevo

    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.

    • Price
    • Portability
    • Video overlay feature
    • Less Data than More Expensive Units
    • 15ft of space required indoors

Honorable Mentions

Rapsodo Mobile Golf Launch Monitor (MLM)

When it launched, the Rapsodo MLM could only be used outdoors. However, with an update, it can now be used both indoors and outdoors. In fact, we found the MLM to be slightly more accurate with irons and wedges than the Mevo. The biggest performance issue we had with the MLM was with drivers and woods and this was ultimately the reason why we chose the FlightScope Mevo over the MLM as the all-around winner. The Mevo also provides backspin data while the Rapsodo MLM does not.

Learn More About Rapsodo MLM
Rapsodo MLM



Garmin Approach R10

The Garmin R10 has quickly become one of the hottest launch monitors on the market. Largely due to two things it offers that no other launch monitor under $1,500 has been able to provide up to this point. Golf simulation and club data. The R10 offers these two valuable items and costs just $599. We found it to be slightly less accurate than the more expensive systems but at this price point, the R10 will be a helpful tool to most golfers.

Learn More About Garmin Approach R10
Voice Caddy SC200 PLUS



What is the Best Golf Launch Monitor for you?

Choosing your launch monitor is likely the most important decision you can make for your golf game over the next few years. We don’t take that decision lightly and neither should you. That’s why we have put together this guide to help you zero in on the key decision points when deciding on your golf launch monitor such as:

  • Price
  • Indoor & Outdoor Performance
  • Simulation Capability
  • Data Points & Features Provided
  • Accuracy of the Units

After hours and hours of testing in our office showroom in Charlotte, collecting hundreds of customer reviews, and meeting with all of these companies in-person at the PGA Merchandise Show on an annual basis, we feel confident that you will not find better, unbiased launch monitor advice anywhere else.

What is the Best Launch Monitor for You



Which Launch Monitors Have a Shot Tracer?

The following launch monitors have a built in driving range with shot tracer:

  • SkyTrak
  • FlightScope Mevo+ and X3
  • Uneekor QED
  • Uneekor EYE XO
  • Garmin R10
  • Foresight Sports GC2, GC3, and GCQuad (*with FSX software)

The following launch monitors have manual shot tracers. This means that it will give you a shot tracer view, but you need to input the shot shape manually:

  • Rapsodo MLM
  • Ernest Sports ESB1

How a Launch Monitor can Improve your Game

Too many players guess when it comes to what they are doing wrong in their swing. A launch monitor provides the cold hard truth about your flaws. With units such as the Uneekor QED and EYE XO, you can see your exact swing path and club angle through the ball. And by knowing some golf basics such as that an out to in club path combined with an open clubface causes a slice, you'll be able to easily diagnose problems in your swing.

Launch monitors can provide insights into all types of ball flight issues such as hitting it too high or low, pulls and pushes, slices and hooks, or finding the optimal spin rate to hit the ball further.

Uneekor Club Data

Aside from helping to diagnose problems in your swing, launch monitors do a lot more to help your golf game. They help you to know your exact carry and total distance numbers with each club. And can tell you miss tendencies allowing you to make better decisions on the course.

They can help you decide your optimal bag make-up and are great if you like to tinker with different clubs. A launch monitor will also do a great job of helping you to benchmark your progress. Are your shot dispersions getting tighter? Is your ball flight more consistent across a range session? They provide concrete goals that you can work towards and make practice sessions a lot more productive.


Radar vs Photometric Technology - Which is better?

The two most common technologies in launch monitors are radar and photometric. Radar units use doppler radar to track the ball as it flies through the air. While photometric systems use high-speed cameras that analyze the ball at impact. In general, both are extremely well tested and reliable. But there are some slight advantages to each. Which are:

Photometric is often best suited indoors

Radar is often best suited outdoors

Photometric launch monitors are usually better for indoor use for two reasons. One, they are placed directly in front of the ball perpendicular to the target line. Radar launch monitors are usually placed between 6'-8' behind you in-line with your target. Because of this, you need more space to use a radar-based launch monitor. Which you simply don't always have indoors.

Secondly, radar is just better suited in general at tracking the ball outdoors. Since photometric launch monitors are literally taking photos of the ball at impact, things such as direct sunlight can impede the photos and cause less consistent readings. This is not the case with every photometric launch monitor. But in general, if you are going to be using a unit exclusively outdoors then a radar-based unit is a safe bet.



What are the best launch monitors for golf?


Best Launch Monitors List




We hope that this guide has helped you find the right launch monitor for your use-case. If you still find yourself needing help after reading this guide, our friendly support staff at Rain or Shine Golf is available to answer any of your questions. We will be there to ensure you find the right launch monitor for your needs, get the best deal you can, and will be there for you after purchase to ensure you are completely satisfied.



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