Jump to content

Launch monitors under $500


Recommended Posts

Question about the sc200. If you're using it on a typical mat at a range (say 5'x5'), are you putting the monitor on the mat and setting up the required minimum amount from the device (assuming there is room) or are you putting it on the ground behind? If behind, what does the lip of the mat or the change in levels do to the readings? Thanks.

 

I only used it yesterday with the SC200 behind the mat on the concrete. You're right though, the manual (or Q&A i read) said that it should be on the same level as the unit. I'm just not sure how to do that with driver (or if it's as important) given the elevated tee height. I'll give it a whirl today with my irons and let you know if i see the readings being different/better

 

I think people save the box the SC200 came in and put it on that. Otherwise, a standard range mat is about 1.5" thick so you could look for a piece of wood or rubber or something that is 4"x6"x1.5" (or similar dimensions).

It's no fun when the rabbit's got the gun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think people save the box the SC200 came in and put it on that. Otherwise, a standard range mat is about 1.5" thick so you could look for a piece of wood or rubber or something that is 4"x6"x1.5" (or similar dimensions).

 

Oooh, good idea, but yeah, that would be too thick. Although....maybe opening the box and putting it on the foam could work. Good call mate, i'll give it a whirl shortly!!

 

Now if only i could figure out how to mute the thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Garmin looks interesting...

 

That's pretty interesting. They at least layout the +/- on the radar specs:

 

Radar Features

  • Integrated launch monitor tracks club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, swing tempo, estimated distance
  • Club head speed accuracy: +/- 5 mph
  • Ball speed accuracy: +/- 2 mph
  • Swing tempo accuracy: +/- 0.3
  • Carry distance accuracy: +/- 5 yards
  • Practice and game modes include warm-up, virtual round, target practice, tempo training
  • Can be used indoors and outdoors

It's no fun when the rabbit's got the gun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

That's a base quad. You then add club data, putting, software etc.

 

Yea we aren't going the Quad route for sure.

I'm happy with the GC2 (HMT on the way) with FR1 for practice mode. Son puts it in fitting mode and captures all of his data points.

 

We have TGC so I can play their courses. Protee has a great Online tour schedule as well.

They just released TGC 2019 Alpha for testing yesterday. I've been testing it and the graphics are unreal.

 

JNPG and OGT knock the protee tour's socks off. It's not even close.

 

Jealous you have an HMT, very cool.

 

Have you tried the Protee tour lately? Not sure what it was like before 2018. I've some playing partners that have both now and believe Protee. http://golfsimulatortours.com/home.php

Is much better. I like it that its free. I believe JNPG is 40 bucks I think right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Tested one today. Distance is laughably off. Clubhead speed, ballspeed and launch angle were reasonably close (within 3-4 mph and 2*) but I wouldn't choose to spend $550 on something that's only somewhat close

 

Thanks for the feedback. Bummer. Keeping my fingers crossed that technology continues to get better and drive the price down on launch monitors. Trackman's and GCQuad's are just out of my price range. I'd spend up to maybe $1,000 for a device if it was accurate (99% of the time?) and gave me clubhead speed, ball speed, distance and angle of attack.

It's no fun when the rabbit's got the gun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tested one today. Distance is laughably off. Clubhead speed, ballspeed and launch angle were reasonably close (within 3-4 mph and 2*) but I wouldn't choose to spend $550 on something that's only somewhat close

 

Im guessing this is the SC300? You found the Mevo to be pretty solid right?

 

Yes SC300. Mevo is solid as long as you set it up correctly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tested one today. Distance is laughably off. Clubhead speed, ballspeed and launch angle were reasonably close (within 3-4 mph and 2*) but I wouldn't choose to spend $550 on something that's only somewhat close

 

Thanks for the feedback. Bummer. Keeping my fingers crossed that technology continues to get better and drive the price down on launch monitors. Trackman's and GCQuad's are just out of my price range. I'd spend up to maybe $1,000 for a device if it was accurate (99% of the time?) and gave me clubhead speed, ball speed, distance and angle of attack.

 

What about a prior generation Flightscope? If you join some of the golf sim forums you can find ones reselling. IMHO save the 550 from SC300 or 500 from Mevo and invest it in a better unit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tested one today. Distance is laughably off. Clubhead speed, ballspeed and launch angle were reasonably close (within 3-4 mph and 2*) but I wouldn't choose to spend $550 on something that's only somewhat close

 

Thanks for the feedback. Bummer. Keeping my fingers crossed that technology continues to get better and drive the price down on launch monitors. Trackman's and GCQuad's are just out of my price range. I'd spend up to maybe $1,000 for a device if it was accurate (99% of the time?) and gave me clubhead speed, ball speed, distance and angle of attack.

 

What about a prior generation Flightscope? If you join some of the golf sim forums you can find ones reselling. IMHO save the 550 from SC300 or 500 from Mevo and invest it in a better unit.

 

I haven't done any research on prior units. I'm primarily looking for a unit I can take out to the range and/or on the course (for my kid).

It's no fun when the rabbit's got the gun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tested one today. Distance is laughably off. Clubhead speed, ballspeed and launch angle were reasonably close (within 3-4 mph and 2*) but I wouldn't choose to spend $550 on something that's only somewhat close

 

Thanks for the feedback. Bummer. Keeping my fingers crossed that technology continues to get better and drive the price down on launch monitors. Trackman's and GCQuad's are just out of my price range. I'd spend up to maybe $1,000 for a device if it was accurate (99% of the time?) and gave me clubhead speed, ball speed, distance and angle of attack.

 

What about a prior generation Flightscope? If you join some of the golf sim forums you can find ones reselling. IMHO save the 550 from SC300 or 500 from Mevo and invest it in a better unit.

 

I haven't done any research on prior units. I'm primarily looking for a unit I can take out to the range and/or on the course (for my kid).

 

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/classified-ads/commercial-golf-simulators/187959-flightscope-x2-for-sale

 

They pop up on the GSF from time to time. You dont need to build out anything in the house. These models you can carry out to the range for an hour (s).

 

Also, carry with you to a hole that your several holes in front of. I have a GC2/HMT. That is our 4th hole. We can see folks from the 4th fairway on the 1st green. Then we have about 30-45 minutes. He will hit 10 shots with a 50 then 54 and 60.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Reading some of the reviews about G80, I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, the distance seems to be way off. 

I know his driver was carrying 160~170 because all balls would plug during the wet winter season.  

Now that it's stopped raining, and the ground has dried up I measured his driver distance total at around 180~190yards with both neo ghost and the G80's shot tracking feature. 

However, at the range, the launch monitor was consistently underestimating the distance by at least 20 yards.    

Yes, we tried regular balls and not just range balls.  Same result.  

 

8xem0qeh9mzz.jpgrze5d2fzz3zw.jpg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mrshinsa said:
Reading some of the reviews about G80, I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, the distance seems to be way off. 

I know his driver was carrying 160~170 because all balls would plug during the wet winter season.  

Now that it's stopped raining, and the ground has dried up I measured his driver distance total at around 180~190yards with both neo ghost and the G80's shot tracking feature. 

However, at the range, the launch monitor was consistently underestimating the distance by at least 20 yards.    

Yes, we tried regular balls and not just range balls.  Same result.  

 

8xem0qeh9mzz.jpgrze5d2fzz3zw.jpg

 

You would probably get those numbers with a better smash factor.
There's definitely something more important that I should be doing.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

leezer99 said:
mrshinsa said:
Reading some of the reviews about G80, I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, the distance seems to be way off. 

I know his driver was carrying 160~170 because all balls would plug during the wet winter season.  

Now that it's stopped raining, and the ground has dried up I measured his driver distance total at around 180~190yards with both neo ghost and the G80's shot tracking feature. 

However, at the range, the launch monitor was consistently underestimating the distance by at least 20 yards.    

Yes, we tried regular balls and not just range balls.  Same result.  

 

8xem0qeh9mzz.jpgrze5d2fzz3zw.jpg

 

You would probably get those numbers with a better smash factor.  Bottom line, if a monitor isn't tracking the ball then the yardages are going to be off.

 

I asked the team at Garmin which metrics they directly measure versus what is estimated. They told me that ball speed, club speed, back swing time, and downswing time are measured directly. From those, swing tempo, smash factor, and yardages will be calculated.

 

I am GenX.  If you really think I care about what you have to say, I don't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @leezer99 said:

> mrshinsa said:

>

>

> Reading some of the reviews about G80, I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, the distance seems to be way off. 

> I know his driver was carrying 160~170 because all balls would plug during the wet winter season.  

> Now that it's stopped raining, and the ground has dried up I measured his driver distance total at around 180~190yards with both neo ghost and the G80's shot tracking feature. 

> However, at the range, the launch monitor was consistently underestimating the distance by at least 20 yards.    

> Yes, we tried regular balls and not just range balls.  Same result.  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> You would probably get those numbers with a better smash factor.

 

 

 

Wouldn’t trust any of those numbers. Laughable to even try to estimate distances without measuring spin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @leezer99 said:

> mrshinsa said:

>

>

> Reading some of the reviews about G80, I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, the distance seems to be way off. 

> I know his driver was carrying 160~170 because all balls would plug during the wet winter season.  

> Now that it's stopped raining, and the ground has dried up I measured his driver distance total at around 180~190yards with both neo ghost and the G80's shot tracking feature. 

> However, at the range, the launch monitor was consistently underestimating the distance by at least 20 yards.    

> Yes, we tried regular balls and not just range balls.  Same result.  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> You would probably get those numbers with a better smash factor.

 

He hit about 30~40 balls, and he was hitting them the same way as out on the course.

I came to an understanding that these things are nowhere as close to being accurate as advertised.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...

My nephew got this for Christmas. The distance and swing speed are both off. Put it side by side with the SC200 and the SC200 is more accurate according to my kids numbers compared to the Flight Scope. G80 was 3-5 mph high on the swing speed. Miraculously, the ball speed was almost identical to the SC200 every time.

I am GenX.  If you really think I care about what you have to say, I don't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All these cheap launch monitors are the same we have the mevo and used it for a while. I would almost bet they all use the same sensors and chips to make them and probably even the underlying code for the hardware is probably the same too. So I don't think it matters that much what one you buy.

 

It's actually okay as a starting point for distance and that is about it. It usually thinks you swing faster than a trackman. I would say with the trackman it's about 3-5mph off and you will see a few yards off for carry distance. Having said that it's still more accurate then hitting ball and guess how much it rolls. So based on that I would say these devices are worth it.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest you do some more research on FlightScope’s history and what they do and don’t do. Company was started in the 80s specializing in radar and tracking projectiles in defense applications, and still a large part of their business. If you think they just “program the user interface” you couldn’t be more wrong.

 

Heres some basic info you can read http://www.dataweek.co.za/regular.aspx?pklregularid=3986

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually the the DSP chip for the cheaper radar is probably from Texas Instruments or a similar competitor since they developed a cheaper chip a few years ago and is a leader in radar chips. It no coincidence that all these $500 devices started showing up at the same time. TXI usually offers a development and tool kit for these chips and that is what smaller companies use to develop apps.

flightscope and trackman probably couldn’t afford to actually develop the underlying technology because it would cost more then there worth. TXI was and still is a prime defense contractor and generally sells there chips worldwide to companies like EDH. StackPath

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies
    • 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put and questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Monday #1
      2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Monday #2
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Ben Taylor - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Garrick Higgo - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Billy Horschel - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Justin Lower - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Lanto Griffin - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Bud Cauley - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Corbin Burnes (2021 NL Cy Young) - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Greyson Sigg - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Charley Hoffman - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Nico Echavarria - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Victor Perez - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Sami Valimaki - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Ryo Hisatsune - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Jake Knapp's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      New Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Tyler Duncan's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Greyson Sigg's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Sunjae Im's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Ping's Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Vincent Whaley's custom Cameron - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Odyssey Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Super Stroke custom grips - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Zac Blair's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Bettinardi Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
       
       
       
       
       
       

       
      • 12 replies
    • 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put and questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Tuesday #1
       
       
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Justin Thomas - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Nick Hardy - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Seamus Power - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Adam Hadwin - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Kurt Kitayama - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Byeong Hun An - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Nicolai Hojgaard - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Sam Burns - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Brandon Wu - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      JT Poston - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Nick Dunlap - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Alex Smalley - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Pau Gasol WITB (2x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star) – 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Josh Allen WITB (NFL Quarterback, Buffalo Bills) – 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Matt Kuchar - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      JJ Spaun - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Jordan Spieth - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Adam Svensson - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Adam Scott (mini) - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Taylor Moore - WITB - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Ping putters - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      TaylorMade putters - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Pebble Beach Golf Links (holes 7 & 8) – 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Odyssey putters - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Lucas Glover going to test black Srixon ZX5 & ZX7 irons - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Justin Thomas wrist training aid - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Stephen Sweeney's Putting Ballistic putting training aid - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
      Chris Kirk club changes - 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
       
       
       
       
       
      • 2 replies

×
×
  • Create New...