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What are your thoughts on used launch monitors. I see a lot of used ones, people upgrading, the space not working out, etc. Seems like used might be good, but I wanted to run it past this group. I see a lot of Mevo + out there.
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Radar units like Mevo+ aren't as good as Camera LMs for inddor use. The best value to me is a used GC2. It will give you very accurate ball data, and good for chipping and putting too. -
An accurate LM is even more important for a poor golfer because the strike location will be all over the face. Radar LMs can't measure sidespin of the ball, so they rely on club path and face angle to predict the sidespin of the ball. This can be quite accurate if you hit the middle of the face, but becomes inaccurate the further aeay from center you get. So some LMs can give you a false sense of how you are as a golfer. It's hard to get better if you have bad data. I've seen a lot of people go from a Garmin R10 to a camera LM, and a common comment is that the ball curves a lot more with the camera LM as the Garmin was underestimating the sidespin. Don't get me wrong, a Mevo+ is better than the Garmin, but this is a downside of all radar LMs, even Trackman. Even a used Skytrak would be better than a Mevo+. I've seen used GC2s for 1800-2500 and these are/were used by many professional coaches and fitters.Comment
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@rossross
A used GC2 with extra flash for $1800 listed here.
Also a used Skytrak plus gaming laptop plus TGC software for $2k.Last edited by COgolfengineer; 07-18-2023, 04:57 AM. -
rossross I hear ya. No warranty on used units. GC2 is built like a tank with reliable hardware but the flash does need to be replaced after so many shots.
If a ST+ is in the budget, you should look at the Bushnell Launch Pro instead. It's basically the replacement to the GC2. Accurate data, bigger hitting window, and no shot delay, compared to ST+. There is a subscription just like ST+. The Basic sub on BLP can get it to work with golf sim software, even though Bushnell website says you need Gold. Bushnell does have certified refurbished units for cheaper and still has some warranty. They come and go on the website.
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The Rapsodo MLM2PRO might be a good option, although no putting. But i's radar and camera mixed. The camera in combination with the marked balls allows it to measure the sidespin. So not a bad option. But you need a yearly subscription just to get the sidespin data and need the special marked balls, so those are extra expenses. No subscription for the GC2 itself and no need for special balls. The flash module would need to replaced every once in a while though.Comment
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I agree with COgolfenginer. An accurate launch monitor is very important for all levels of golf. You don't want something that will give you a perfect shot everytime. I would say get a used GC2 as the best option but a radar based like Mevo plus or MLM2 Pro are options but require some space and have the issues he has stated. Just beware with any used item that there will likely be no warranty and your at the mercy of the previous owners usage. Ask the standard questions like how long they have owned it, any problems with the unit, included software or add one, battery life, any repairs in the past etc. If the unit has been registered and you can get the serial/product number you can check with the manufacture to see if it had any technical problems or repairs in the past. Just be careful as you don't want a dud.
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Do you mean the Skytrak not the Skytrak plus? You asked about used launch monitors. Skytrack plus is a newer version of the original Skytrak but at a higher price followed by subscription costs. Being a new model (released just a month ago) I don’t suspect there will be many used ones out there. In my opinion the GC2 will be a more accurate and consistent launch monitor than the Skytrak plus but I haven’t tested it yet so base this on reviews. I had an original Skytrak and loved it but it was no match to my GC2. The plus has added club data that is most likely indirectly calculated so does have that benefit. The cameras and computing is also upgraded but the big question is price point. I will hopefully be testing a unit soon as all this is based on what I have seen in the original Skytrak and online reviews of the newer plus.
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Agree with the GC2 recommendations. For indoor or net use the GC2 honestly wipes the floor with any radar unit. It is also significantly more reliable, robust and less finnicky than a Skytrak.
Believe me, missed shots and questionable data gets annoying very quickly, as does the faff of setting the unit up, minuscule hitting area or using the correct balls. GC2 is practically drop and go, with digital readout if you don’t want to connect it.
Make sure you ask for the serial number of the unit (which indicates its age), previous use and when flash and battery were last replaced. Factor in the cost of replacing both unless it’s a recent model or hasn’t been registering 000s of shots daily.
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