Buying guide
How to choose a launch monitor
Everything that actually matters when you're buying a launch monitor for a home practice space or simulator — in the order you should think about it.
Radar vs camera
Radar (Doppler) units sit behind the golfer and track the ball through the air. They excel outdoors and measure ball speed very well, but indoors they need enough flight distance — typically 15–18 ft of total depth.
Camera (photometric) units sit beside or above the ball and photograph impact at thousands of frames per second. They measure spin directly and work in short rooms, but have a small hitting zone and depend on good lighting.
Hybrid units combine both to cover each method's weak spots.
Accuracy tolerances
Manufacturers rarely publish like-for-like numbers. As a rule of thumb for home use:
- Ball speed: within ±1 mph is good, ±0.5 mph is excellent.
- Launch angle: within ±0.5° is good.
- Spin: measured spin within ±100–200 rpm beats any estimate.
- Carry: within ±3 yd on a 7-iron makes sim golf feel real.
Watch for estimated vs measured metrics — cheaper units often calculate spin from other values.
Indoor vs outdoor use
Measure your room before anything else: at least 9 ft ceiling, 10–18 ft depth depending on tracking method, and 12+ ft width. If you'll also use the device at the range, favour radar or a hybrid that works outdoors.
Simulator software
Check compatibility with GSPro, E6 Connect and Awesome Golf, and whether a subscription is required on top. See our software comparison.
Buying checklist
- Room depth and ceiling height measured
- Tracking method fits your room
- Measured (not estimated) spin if you care about short game
- Works with your chosen sim software
- Total cost including subscriptions over 3 years