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Pros and Cons of Each Golf Launch Monitor

If you're looking to get an idea of how accurate your golf swing is, then a golf launch monitor is definitely one thing you should consider. There are several models and features to look at when deciding on what's right for your golfing needs. We've done the work for you, so here we offer reviews of golf launch monitor products so you can make a better informed decision. With so many different models available it's easy to become confused, so hopefully these reviews will help you out.


The first type of golf launch monitor, you might consider is a distance monitor. These are great if you want to measure the distance of your swing and if you have a good set of clubs you will definitely want to take note of how far they go. How accurate are these devices? Well, some models offer some measure of accuracy, though most rely on the club length being measured and used. Some of these models also allow for the club head speed to be measured, which can come in very handy if you don't have a measuring device nearby.

An indoor practice device may be another option you want to consider. While these can measure your club length and the distance to the ball, most offer no more than an estimated ball flight distance. They use the club face speed and your ball flight distance in measuring the distance. This can give you a good idea of whether your setup or swing is correct, but to get an accurate ball flight distance, you'll still need to use the club face speed.

Spin rate golf launch monitors are the next option to choose. These offer more than spin measurement. They also offer estimated spin rates for you to determine what your ideal ball flight will be. These spin rates give you a great estimate of the speed of the ball as it is released from your hands and can help give you an idea of what you need to work on in improving your golf game. Just like the spin rate, spin readings can also be helpful to determine what you need to work on in improving your game.

One other option you may want to explore is an electronic device that will measure your swing speed and the distance to the ball during your pre-shot routine. With this information, you'll have a better idea of what you need to improve upon in order to become a better golfer. Just like with using a golf launch monitor, it's possible these electronic tools will offer you a measure of estimated ball flight, which can come in very helpful for pre-game practice sessions. If not, they make great tools to use in helping you focus on your technique.


Another golf launch monitor, you might want to explore is the pros and cons of using a DPE or Doppler radar sensor. These two tools are often used by professionals to determine where any flaws in their swing could be so they can work on them. Some of the pros and cons of these tools include their ease of use and their accuracy. Many people find it difficult to use radar sensors because of their erratic movement. While the pros of these tools say they're fairly accurate, the cons of them say otherwise. The pros of these tools may tell you they're easy to use, while the cons of them might tell you otherwise.

Another golf launch monitor, you may want to look into is the Garmin Approach G80. This tool features an indoor/outdoor model with a built-in radar detector. This tool will allow you to measure the distance of all your balls during your indoor practice sessions as well as your estimated distance for your outdoors shots.

If you're still not convinced about whether or not you should get a golf launch monitor, then here's one more pro and con comparison that might convince you. The most obvious pro is that you'll know exactly how far your ball went in the air once you've hit it. A Doppler radar uses a Doppler radar detector to determine the velocity and direction of your golf ball in the air. Indoor gps, like the Approach G80, uses an indoor band to determine the distance and direction of your shot. So if you don't have a GPS for whatever reason, then you can rely on your Doppler radar.