Does anyone else use a launch monitor and, if so, what brand and what are your thoughts?
I’ve tried out 3. I had a significant shoulder injury that required surgery, so I ended up sending them all back, as they came with 30 and 60 day trial periods. I’m 9 months post surgery now and finally able to play without pain, so I’m sure I’ll be re-evaluating and purchasing again soon.
My setup is outdoors hitting into a net. My net is a cheap 10x7 setup, but is easy to use and has held up for more than 3 years now. I store it when not in use.
My first LM was SkyTrak, which I loved. There are no issues with space requirements, as it is camera-based and sits next to the ball instead of behind. I had concerns about hitting over my net with the Doppler units, as they require a minimum distance of 8-10’ between ball and net. Even though there were many reviews that said SkyTrak didn’t work well outdoors, it rarely missed a shot, was very accurate, and I was using it in full sunlight. Price, with the necessary metal case, was $2300, which I could tolerate, but in order to use a simulator, annual subscription fees of $400+ applied. For the price, I would have thought that SkyTrak could include at least a few courses for free.
I next tried the Swing Caddie SC300i. It provides swing stats, including swing speed and distance, but not ball ball flight. While I can usually tell if my ball is left, right or center, I can’t tell to what degree. I liked that it would audibly tell you the distance, so you didn’t even have to look at the screen. Since it is Doppler-based and needs 8-10’ of space between ball and net, I really couldn’t use it with wedges because of my setup. Short game improvement is one of the main reasons I want a LM, so this was an issue unless I wanted to buy a taller net. Cost was around $500, I think.
Last, I tried the Garmin Approach R10, which had been out of stock for a year. For $600, it is a complete LM and simulator. I use the Garmin S62 GPS watch and like that this unit uses the same ecosystem. The R10 is also Doppler-based, so I had the same space issues, but it’s hard to beat the value. While probably not as accurate as the SkyTrak, it worked well for me. Shot shape and distance were what I expected based on the feel of the shot. The subscription fee was only $99/year and included 42,000 courses! Yes, they’re kind of cartoonish, but were still fun. I could play Pebble Beach or my local course. An E6 limited subscription of 5 courses with better graphics is also included.
I’ll probably end up with the Garmin, but will need a new net - more than likely the Spornia SPG-7. I also need a MUCH better hitting mat.