2
Hole 2
Launch monitors
Launch monitors measure club and ball data. Radar units sit behind the ball and track the flight; camera units sit beside the ball and capture impact. Space and set-up decide which suits you.
- Radar
- About 2 to 2.5 m behind the ball
- Camera
- Beside the ball
Radar units watch the ball fly, so they suit the range or a long garage bay; indoors they need enough room behind the ball and some flight before the net. Camera units photograph the ball at impact and calculate the rest, which suits short indoor spaces.
Check which numbers are measured and which are calculated: ball speed, launch angle and spin are the key ones. Many units add simulator software or apps, some by subscription.
Smash factor is ball speed divided by club speed. The smash factor calculator works it out from mph, km/h or m/s.
Guides on this topic
- Do launch monitors work with foam balls and nets?Whether launch monitors work with foam balls, practice balls and short nets: how radar, camera and swing sensors respond and which numbers to trust.Guide
- Launch monitor vs golf simulator: what is the difference?The launch monitor measures, the simulator shows: what each part does, and what you need for range practice, a garage net or full virtual rounds at home.Comparison
- Launch monitor subscriptions explainedWhich launch monitor features work out of the box, which need a yearly plan, and what stops if a plan lapses, brand by brand from the listings.Guide
- Launch monitor numbers explainedClub speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin, apex and carry explained in plain English, with what changes each and how to use them in practice.Guide
- Launch monitor not picking up shots: what to checkLaunch monitor missing shots or giving odd numbers? Check distance from the ball, alignment, lighting, ball type, net distance and the app link, step by step.Fix
- Golf launch monitor apps explained: iPhone and AndroidWhich golf launch monitors need a phone or tablet, what the app does with your data, iPhone and Android support, and what to check before you buy.Guide
- Indoor vs outdoor launch monitor: what changesHow radar and camera launch monitors behave indoors and outdoors: space, ball flight, light and spin, with listing facts for four popular units.Comparison
- How to set up a launch monitor indoorsPlacement distances, net and mat, lighting for camera units, ball choice and alignment, step by step for setting up a launch monitor in a UK garage bay.How-to
- How to build a golf simulator at homeBuild a home golf simulator step by step: room check, launch monitor, hitting mat, net or impact screen, enclosure, projector, software and safety.How-to
- How do golf launch monitors work?Doppler radar against high speed cameras in golf launch monitors: how each measures a shot, which numbers are measured directly and which are calculated.Guide
- How accurate are golf launch monitors?How accurate home launch monitors are: measured against calculated numbers, the set-up errors that cause most bad data and which figures to trust.Guide
- How much space do you need for a golf simulator?Ceiling height, room width and depth for a home golf simulator in metres and feet, with radar and camera launch monitor placement for UK garages.Guide
- Golf simulator software explainedWhat golf simulator software does, how it links to a launch monitor, the main options, what needs a PC or tablet and how licences and subscriptions work.Guide
- Golf simulator screens and projectors explainedHow golf simulator impact screens and projectors work together: screen types, size and aspect ratio, short throw projectors, placement and screen care.Guide
- Garmin R10 vs Rapsodo MLM2PROGarmin Approach R10 and Rapsodo MLM2PRO compared on how they measure, spin data, indoor space, swing video, simulation and subscriptions, from listing facts.Comparison
- Are golf launch monitors worth it?Who gets real value from a personal launch monitor, what lower priced units leave out, and how to use the numbers so practice actually improves your golf.Guide
Buying guides on this topic
- Best golf launch monitors under £700Lower priced launch monitors from Voice Caddie, Rapsodo, Shot Scope and PRGR compared on technology, data shown, spin, indoor use and app or fees.Buying guide
- Best golf launch monitorsPersonal launch monitors from Rapsodo, SkyTrak, Voice Caddie, Shot Scope, Garmin and PRGR compared on technology, measured data, spin, indoor use and software.Buying guide
- Best launch monitors for a home golf simulatorLaunch monitors for a garage or spare room simulator compared on technology, indoor use, spin data, simulation software and what is included.Buying guide