Portable Launch Monitors: ES12, SC100, etc.

Underdog1924 · March 6, 2016

I've been doing some research on these and haven't had much luck finding definitive reviews. I'm interested in the ES12, SC100 type launch monitors for range work. It would be interesting to learn yardages on different shots, don't care about swing speed and smash factors. What's the word on these items?

joechang · March 13, 2016

To get a full picture of distance, you do need to get spin numbers in addition to ball speed and launch angle.

I may be mistaken, but the cheaper units never really "see" the spin and launch of the ball -- just the speed. From measured speed, and selected club within the software, it then _estimates_ the launch angle and spin. I think the SC100 does it for the club and ball. The ES12 does this trick with just one speed radar (for the ball), and the ES14 (I think) then has two speed guns, one measure the club and one measuring the ball.

This video goes through it a bit vs a GC2:

I think the units that ACTUALLY measure the spinrate, angle, speed of the ball as it leaves the clubface are still pretty pricey. For measuring quality of strike, the cheaper units can probably tell you if ball speed is where it should be. But if you're looking to see how much spin you're getting off your wedges, for example (thereby reducing rollout), or optimizing Driver launch/spin, these won't do it.

pgetzen · March 13, 2016

I bought an SC200 a couple of months ago just for fun, didn't want to spend too much money, and got it for about $200 new. Just like you, thought it would be good for half wedge shots, punches, etc...I hit into a net in my garage, so it's kind of fun with full swings too. I don't think it is nearly as accurate as a high end unit that measures spin, launch, etc...but it's not bad, and it's pretty fun.

wundej · March 20, 2016

If you search a bit (try at the root of the forums) for es12 and the like, you'll see a lot of similar threads. If you really want accurate, distances you will need something more. Spin, launch and ball speed are a must for accuracy, anything else is just an approximation calculated off the minimal parameters they measure.

ParHunter · March 23, 2016

I thought I give the SC200 a go. Ordered it from Amazon knowing I could return it within 30 days if I don't like it. Well what should I say, I am returning it after just one day!

I knew it wasn't going to be absolute accurate and I knew it wasn't measuring the distance but estimating it based on ball speed and loft of the selected club. On my 7 iron the distances it gave me were 'believable' but on my wedges (for which I mainly bought it) it was completely off. I hit a ball about 65-70 yards with my SW (9 o'clock swing) and the device kept telling me it was somewhere around 95 to 100 yards. That's more than just a bit off!

I am hitting my ball quite high, so I guess that could be the reason for it. I've tried to adjust the loft in order to adjust for it but even with 60 degrees for my 56 SW I was still hitting it towards 95 yards.

Before I bought it I though, okay distance may be off but the smash factor is quite useful to know and it certainly is but if the device is giving you completely wrong distance numbers then you are not going to trust the other numbers much either. If they would have decided to just show club head speed, ball speed and smash factor I probably would have kept it - although the nice feature of the SC200, the target and random mode would have been useless without the distance.

Really disappointed, I wanted to like it. I guess I have to wait a few more years until a decent launch monitor is affordable.