A golf launch monitor is one of the most valuable assets any data-driven golfer can have.
It is the core of most golf simulators and allows you to measure the ball’s flight data and track your shots so you can understand where your game is and where you need to go.
If you’re serious about your game of golf, you’ve likely been thinking about buying a reliable pitch monitor.
These are our thoughts on the best golf launch monitors on the market. It’s amazing how affordable these useful devices have become!
If your goal is to lower your handicap and see a significant improvement in your game, then a golf throwing monitor will likely be something you buy this year.
Prices for a personal throwing monitor have dropped significantly in recent years and, in addition to being affordable, they will really give you immediate insight into your game, your distances, the flight of the ball, and where you can improve.
In a hurry? Here are quick links to our top 7 recommendations for the best golf launch monitors:
- FlightScope Mevo Launch Monitor
- Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor
- Garmin Approach G80
- Swing Caddie SC300 Portable Launch Monito
- Ernest ES12 Portable Launch Monitor
- Voice Caddie SC300 Golf Launch Monitor
- Ernest Sports ES14 Pro Launch Monitor
Comparison of the best golf launch monitors:
Whatever your budget, here you can find an ideal choice of the best golf launch monitors that can help your indoor practice.
Detailed Review of Best Golf Launch Monitors
This section will find reviews of the best golf launch monitors that you can buy on the market. Reviews based on our own testing, research, and experience.
We spent a lot of time and effort in compiling this guide. We spent 88 hours searching for the best golf launch monitors on the market and have used various sources, such as reviews and reviews from professional golfers, to bring you the information you need.
You can blindly trust us because the more research you do, the more knowledge you get. We research for our beloved launch monitors as the best.
Therefore, a beginner may find that a particular ball gives him better performance, accuracy, or distance than another, so naturally, he will want to play with the launch monitor that suits for best!
The Flightscope Mevo stands out as the best overall golf launch monitor for a golfer.
The FlightScope Mevo is one of the best values when it comes to golf launch monitors, as it tracks and stores the most important swing data and records your swing at an affordable price in a portable design.
This is a portable unit that will help you get performance and precision as you work to improve your golf game.
If you’re like me and have been in the game for several decades, you know how difficult it was at one point to get this kind of data about your golf game.
We are very impressed with the accuracy and depth of information you can get with the Flightscope Mevo. One of our favorite features is that you can use these golf pitch monitors both indoors and outdoors.
The Mevo allows you to capture video with your phone or computer and then compare the data you collected with video clips. Your videos can be saved and you can easily track your progress.
Sometimes seeing where you started and where you are now is all the motivation a player needs.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Dedicated smartphone app
Automatically record, clip, and save the videos of your swing with data
Video and statistic memory storage
Indoor/outdoor and multi-purpose
Tracks a decent range of data[/i2pros][i2cons]No virtual course mode[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor is a great option because it is one of the most complete solutions for the lowest prices.
Rapsodo is a new single launch monitor that runs through your mobile device. It is the first monitor to launch on the market that takes advantage of your phone’s camera.
The Rapsodo Mobile used to have a big drawback, and that was that it couldn’t be used indoors.
The Rapsodo is one of the closest alternatives to Trackman for the average golfer. Distance accuracy is within 2.5 percent of the Trackman.
The Rapsodo is easy to set up and will be up and running in a matter of a minute. Features like shot tracking and data overlay help people understand what it takes to hit a golf ball well and what ball flight does in their golf game.
With the historical data that Rapsodo maintains, you can check the averages and see how your golf game is really improving.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Works with your phone
Video feedback with stats
Portable launch monitor
GPS shot tracking
Very accurate data[/i2pros][i2cons]Must check your phone compatibility[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Garmin Approach G80 is an all-in-one handheld device, featuring a launch monitor and a GPS system.
Reviewing this technology, it became clear that this is one you want to use on the course and not so much for your indoor practice training sessions.
Garmin products are well known for being easy to use and work with. This Garmin Approach G80 has a 3.5-inch screen that can read even in bright light on the golf course.
The screen is a touch screen, and you can navigate back and forth and in and out of the launch monitor with ease.
The launch monitor will track club head speed, ball speed, swing speed, impact factor, and estimated distance.
Truth be told, this is all the information an average golfer needs. The GPS side of this pitch monitor will come with 41,000 preloaded golf courses for you to play.
When it comes to launching monitors, this may not be the most accurate, but for the price and the availability of the other features, this is the best option for an all-in-one unit.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]All in one
No hardware dependencies
Easy to read touch screen
High-quality GPS, radar, and virtual course play
Fair price for the number of features[/i2pros][i2cons]No video recording mode
Doesn’t track spin rates[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Swing Caddy SC300 is a portable launch monitor that has its own display. This is not a model that you will need to pair with your phone as it will display the data directly on your home monitor screen.
The good news is that you can still get all the data you want on your phone. Everything will be accessible through the app, but you won’t have to look at several different devices as you work on your golf swing and determine your strengths and weaknesses during practice sessions.
As a lower handicap player, sometimes I don’t want to play on my phone or have to wait for the results to load into an app.
Looking back and getting the instant information I need to work on my game in real-time is a much better solution. This is something to keep in mind when looking for the perfect golf pitch monitor.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Great way to check the spin rate
Accurate with multiple shot and club modes
Comes with a hard case and portable charger
Easy to read screen
Voice output[/i2pros][i2cons]Doesn’t track launch angles[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Ernest ES12 Portable Launch Monitor is quite inexpensive. It pairs with your smartphone to save your sessions and makes it easy to compare with previous sessions.
This model is priced considerably lower than many other options on the market, and while it may not have most of the features, it certainly has enough to make it a great golf swing analyzer.
You will use the Ernest Sports mobile app to get any of your data from ES12.
If you’re satisfied with just looking at ball speed and distance numbers, then Ernest Sports’ ES12 Player is an excellent model to consider. It’s the favorite pitch monitor of world-famous golf coach Butch Harmon.
The ES12 is extremely easy to set up, and at about the size of a smartphone, it can fit in pockets and easily fit in your golf bag. It has a durable rubber housing with a stand and a clear LCD screen.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Smartphone app integration
Compact and easy to use
Pairs well with the app
Great for seeing how your practice sessions are going
Voice feature calls outdistance[/i2pros][i2cons]Requires 9V battery[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Voice Caddy SC300 Golf Launch Monitor is an amazing launch monitor for the money!
This model allows you to keep track of the statistics for each club, including swing speed, ball speed, lean angle, and “hit factor.”
It also includes a remote voice output to announce your yards.
The Swing Caddy SC300 is one of Voice Caddy’s newest portable launch monitors. It is a bit too large to fit in most pockets but can be easily carried in a golf bag.
The SC300 has a black back with a stand, silver edges, and an orange backlit LCD. It has excellent precision and a very high average customer rating.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Smartphone compatible
Full range of statistics
Spin data and long-term stats
Easy to read screen[/i2pros][i2cons]Doesn’t track hooks and slices[/i2cons][/i2pc]
The Ernest Sports ES14 is a high-end launch monitor that integrates with Android/IOS apps for real-time feedback and provides access to all the analytics you need on the course.
The Ernest Sports ES14 can measure total distance, ball speed, club speed, squish factor, and even vertical launch angle and spin speed.
Ernest is back on our list, this time with a premium model designed for the serious golfer.
This is going to be a much more expensive unit and will be more geared towards those who need a pitch monitor for their golf business or are pursuing a professional career in the game.
The ES14 can function as a standalone hardware application without phone applications. All your critical data will be delivered in real-time, and the voice response feature makes it easy to get your data in real-time without using the device or your phone.
Once you set up your account, the ES14 can deliver all your data in digital readings, via smartphone apps and voice integration, this is the ES14 one of the most versatile and technologically advanced monitors to date.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Urethane cover helping distance and control
It is a ball that offers a good swing experience by providing softness
Feel and spin in your short game
Excellent control makes it great for a short game around the green
Real value[/i2pros][i2cons]Better for mid-handicap golfers and better with medium to fast swing speeds[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Buying Guide for Golf Launch Monitors
There are many portable launch monitors on the market, some cheap and some more expensive, and we understand that making a good purchase decision can be difficult.
Now that you are an expert on all things launch monitors, how will you decide which one will best fit your game?
Overall, you should invest in a launch monitor that is lightweight, easy to carry, easy to use, and still measures all the data points that interest you.
Here are the most important factors to consider when determining which portable launch monitor is best for your needs:
Parameters
What flight parameters of the ball do the launch monitor track and what parameters do you want to see?
One of the things you sacrifice with less expensive, portable launch monitors is the number of parameters that are measured.
Most golfers want key metrics like ball distance and speed, and almost all throwing monitors offer this at a minimum. If you are looking for a more detailed analysis with information such as the angle of attack and impact factor, your choice of launch monitors will narrow down a bit.
Not surprisingly, the more expensive and advanced the launch monitor, the more parameters it will tend to measure. Make sure the launch monitor you are buying has all the data points you are looking for.
Features
When you’re considering a launch monitor, take a look at the features. How does Launch Monitor display your data, and how can you store and organize it?
Some portable launch monitors such as the FlightScope Mevo and SC300 come with a corresponding mobile app, while others, such as the SC200 PLUS, do not. These apps generally give you the flexibility to view your data, data trends, and data for each club on the exchange.
Launch monitors can come with other unique features that are helpful. Consider the features you need, want, and could do without, and factor that into your decision.
Usage Type
Planning to use your portable launch monitor indoors, outdoors, or both? Some pitch monitors, like the Rapsodo MLM, reviewed above, work best outdoors, where the ball can take its full flight.
If you are interested in a pitch monitor that can be used while hitting a net, you need to check that it can be used for this purpose and how much free ball flight and clearance it needs to function properly.
You don’t want to hear the bad news later that it can’t fit for its intended use.
Size & Weight
Portable launch monitors are so named because of their small size and lightweight.
Do you want to be able to carry one in your pocket or just easily store it in your purse? Some of the launch monitors on this page are too large to fit in a full-size pocket, but all can be quickly and easily stowed in a golf bag.
If you want a very small and lightweight launch monitor, your options will be limited.
Accuracy
Portable launch monitors are generally less accurate than more expensive models like SkyTrak or GC2. Even within the notebook class, accuracy can vary.
For example, if a portable launch monitor measures many parameters, some of them may not be very reliable. At the same time, models like the ES12 that only measure essential parameters can be very accurate.
If you’re looking at a launch monitor that costs less than $400 or so, you should look at customer reviews to assess whether or not the accuracy is acceptable.
Price
Some cost $200, others $2,000. Obviously, you want to find one that is within your price range but still has all the features you are looking for.
Personally, I’d rather wait a few months to budget for a $ 500 than buy a $ 200 model and feel like I bought it too quickly.
How much does a good portable golf launch monitor cost?
A golfer can get a good portable golf launch monitor for under $500 with the Flightscope Mevo, as well as the Ernest Sports and Voice Caddy models.
The Mevo is the junk pick at that price point, offering a great free app, a battery of solid data points to help golfers, and the ability to track turn numbers with metallic stickers.
However, if a golfer wants more data points, they will likely jump from $500 to $2,000 with the Skytrak or Flightscope Mevo +, which offers more data and more accurate measurement, as well as the ability to function as a simulator. golf. for indoor golf.
What data do these portable golf launch monitors track?
Each level of golf release monitor offers more data, better measurements, and more refinement.
At the entry-level $ 500, the Flightscope Mevo will track club head speed, ball speed, impact factor, trajectory, total distance, carry distance, and, with metal stickers, spin.
With SkyTrak or Mevo +, more data points are tracked to help you mark better. Both also offer more refinement.
Are Golf Launch Monitors Accurate?
Golf launch monitors have a wide range of precision. Generally speaking, the more expensive a launch monitor becomes, the more accurate it is too.
Although this is not always the case, if you buy a cheap startup monitor, you should be prepared for some inaccuracies.
One thing you need to ask yourself is how important precision really is. Even the lowest-priced models are usually accurate to within a few meters.
This kind of precision should be more than enough for the average golfer. If you are looking to become a professional or open a club mounting business, then of course the highest levels of precision are more important and are worth paying for.
Final Word
Hopefully, our list of the best golf throwing monitors has helped you narrow down your options.
This type of technology is still something new to the average golfer, but it can give him a huge advantage if he is working to improve his game.
You can keep your golf swing data and use it to see how his game is progressing. Certainly, this is the technology that all golfers can benefit from.
