Trying to learn the basics of launch monitor comparisons

[chenryjr]

I'm starting to put together a hitting bay in my garage. I'd like to learn more about which launch monitor would be right for me. Which ones provide club data (specifically club face and path, and speed, and contact) as well as ball tracking data. There seems to be a wide variation. Will forego a projector and screen, rather mount a flat screen monitor and show the simulation and data on that. Might use the launch monitor on the range on occasion so portability would be nice. Doesn't need to be the most, nor the least expensive. I don't need lots of courses on it to play, for now anyway. This will primarily be a practice tool to improve my swing and consistency of contact. I'll also probably try to record the swing from 2 camera angles, alsom projected on a flat screen to review and critique. Suggestions on all fronts apprecited.
CLHjr

[Dax]

I would suggest reading as much as you can on here in terms of launch monitors that will give you both club and ball data. Also, budget is very important as it may help narrow down your search. There are so many variables to consider and so narrowing your search is important. In terms of ones you can look at, I can think of the following off the top of my head that give both club and ball data (please note that I am just listing very high level comments and not getting into any specifics of any unit as you should really research and form your own opinion, but note that I am happy to answer any specific questions you may have as would just about all on this forum):

Flightscope - Full range of radar based launch monitors at varying price points.
Uneekor - pretty new camera based tech from the past year, but lots of information and they are coming out with a new unit (and potential update to existing unit) that will give you what you are looking for (I think - not sure about impact location, but thought I read the new unit they are coming out with might be able to do this).
Foresight - Again a camera based solution that has been very popular for indoor use. Note in your research that GC2 will require HMT (head measurement tech) in order to provide you what you are looking for. Their other two options give you what you are looking for provided you get the software license.
Trackman - radar based launch monitor. This was the solution that I chose.

Please note that there are others, but I have listed above the ones that I feel have been more popular and invite others to list those as well as their experiences. It is more that I just don't have the experience with their ability on club data and ball data in order to include in my list (excluded others as I am not sure about point their ability to read impact location). if impact location was not key, then I believe there would be others that could be listed as well.

Another important thing to keep in mind that sometimes can help narrow the decision making process is that a radar based unit will typically require a bit more room in order to work properly in an indoor simulator environment. From my perspective, the ideal would be no less than approximately 19 feet and preferably 20 or more. This would accommodate approx. 1 foot wall to net and a half a foot or so from back wall to the front of your radar, and then 7 to 9 feet front of radar to tee and finally 10+ feet of ball flight (some units will call for less, but my suggestion has always been 10+).

Good luck with your search!

[chenryjr]

Thank you very much for taking the time for a detailed response to my rather vague/general questions. Is there a separate software that is needed to display the data, or is that only necessary for playing different courses, or playing others online?
CLHjr

[Dax]

Each will come with their own software for displaying data. There can be charges for these licenses on either an annual or one time basis. In terms of playing others online, I believe you will be restricted at the moment to either TGC2019 or e6Connect which each of the platforms I have listed above can connect to (note I believe Flightscope might still be in beta testing for TGC and Foresight is supposed to be bringing out connectivity with e6). Trackman has its own software for courses and online play is coming, but TM is also compatible with e6 and TGC. Uneekor has its own courses as well, I just don't know if you can play others online with this (I don't think you can at the moment).

Suggest you do your reading on the software options as there are pluses and minuses of each. Cost and minimal system requirements might also be something to consider.

[tron]

chenryjr I’ll just add that I have a GC2 and HMT with the FSX2020 software. This setup should check all your boxes because it let’s you get all the ball and club data, practice on a range, play sim courses, and have up to two swing cameras. Although the GC2 and HMT are portable and I’ve taken them to ranges, the GC Quad is more portable because it is a single integrated unit. I hope this info helps.

[chenryjr]

Thanks. My limited experience is with Trackman at a golf club, and Foresight GC2 at Golftec so those two (TM4, GCQ) are the main ones I'm considering.

[mthunt]

Thanks. My limited experience is with Trackman at a golf club, and Foresight GC2 at Golftec so those two (TM4, GCQ) are the main ones I'm considering.

The limits on both are simple. TM4 works better and better the longer the ball is being tracked so it is less accurate in a small room. The GCQ is perfect in a small room but sucks when you have opposite handed people playing together. If I were buying today I’d look real hard at TM4. If i zero Left and Right play I might not bother.

[Stetson]

Is this true even on the TM4? The Dual radar would indicate that they have spot on club head data and also ball data so it should be able to aggregate the info extremely well and not require the long carry distances of the past. Perhaps someone can correct me if this is not true on the newest model (Trackman 4)

[mthunt]

The best answer to this is Bryson Dechambeau uses a quad and a TM4 at the same time. Overkill but it’s not like he’s broke. The quad is better at Club Data as it sees the face and Trackman doesn't. I’ve seen it explained but he’s strange.

Any radar device tracks the ball as long as it’s in the air and a quad tracks it for a few Feet no matter what. For that reason the more the ball is in the air the better Trackman works. With 10 feet to the screen the Trackman doesn't have as much room. It needs the ball to rotate a certain amount to get a reading. The quad doesn’t.

I play on a Trackman 4 sometimes. It’s accurate but the place we use it has 14 feet to the screen. The less the worse it gets.

[Stetson]

I do wish there was a place, and perhaps it is someone on this site and I have yet to discover it, in which there were comparison tables for both hardware and software. A table that listed all the elements of TGC2019, FSX, E6, TM simulator, etc so you could make comparisons.

I doubt I will get a TM4 but if price were not a factor I would highly consider it. Then when I think about the range software and courses you can play I am unsure how it stacks up.

[Dax]

If you are thinking of TM and you have the space, I would definitely put it on the list. I think there software is second to none and while its course list is currently only 65ish, they are adding more courses each year and word has it that they may be in talks now with Pebble. In any event, I am very happy with the courses that they do have and the quality of the courses and the way the ball acts in its environment are very good from my experience.

In terms of the chart you are looking for comparing software, go to LEO MODE 's website as he has a comparison chart in there. Note it is a little dated as the Jack sim info is now owned by TM and has been through one major update.