Buying guide
How to Choose a Golf Launch Monitor
Room size, tracking type, simulator software, and budget — the four decisions that matter before you buy a launch monitor.
Start with the room, not the unit
Every launch monitor has minimum space requirements: distance from the ball to the screen or net, and distance from the unit to the ball. Measure your room first — width, depth, and ceiling height — and check the product page's requirements before falling in love with a model. A unit that needs 10 feet of ball flight will not work in an 8-foot garage, no matter how good its data is.
Camera, radar, or both?
Camera-based units read the club and ball at impact and tend to work well indoors at short distances. Radar units track the full ball flight and generally need more depth, which suits outdoor ranges and larger indoor spaces. Some units combine both. Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your space and whether you mostly practice indoors or outdoors.
Simulator software is a separate decision
Many launch monitors can run simulator software for virtual courses, but software is often sold separately or by subscription. Before buying, confirm which software the unit supports, what it costs per year, and whether the courses you want are included. The unit's price alone is not the total cost of a simulator setup.
Data you will actually use
Ball speed, launch angle, spin, carry distance, and club path cover what most golfers need. Tour-level metrics (face angle to a tenth of a degree, for example) matter to coaches and fitters more than to weekend players. Buy for the data you will act on, not the longest spec sheet.
Budget honestly
Launch monitors range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. A mid-range unit in a well-set-up room beats a flagship unit crammed into a space that is too small. And remember the extras: a hitting mat, a net or enclosure, and software can add as much as the unit itself.