The Ultimate (and Realistic) Guide to Saving Money When Shopping for a Golf Launch Monitor in 2025

Alright, let’s cut through all the marketing noise and get down to what is real.

If you’re shopping for a golf launch monitor in 2025, chances are, you’re very confused. It’s crazy out there. So many bold claims. And, honestly, so much amazing innovation that we’ve all of the sudden got a ton of legitimately very cool products available to us.

But it’s really tough to know which one to buy. And it’s also really easy to fall into the trap of buying the wrong one and spending way more than you should have.

So, I want to keep it direct in this video. These are the 12 golf launch monitors that I’d buy in 2025.

I’m going to skip a lot of the usual marketing talk that you hear everywhere and just try to tell you why I think these products belong on this list. You can use that information however you’d like.

Ultimately, I think this information can help you save money by not overspending on the wrong launch monitor.

The highest-end products on this list are awesome, no question. But there are incredible options available for realistic budgets. And those are here, too. So let’s get into our list.

We’ve got to start our list with the absolute one-of-a-kind Garmin Approach R50. There’s never been anything quite like it.

This is the world’s first truly all-in-one launch monitor and simulator. It’s got a built-in 10-inch color touchscreen that lets you launch a full SIM round in under a minute, with no connected device required.

You don’t need a phone, tablet, computer, or even Wi-Fi. Just power it on, pick your course or practice mode, and start swinging.

It even connects directly to a TV or projector via HDMI, giving you a seamless big-screen experience with zero setup headaches.

You get both ball and club data right out of the box, with no expensive software add-ons or subscription tiers required to unlock full shot metrics. Spin, path, launch, attack angle, it’s all here and impressively accurate.

Garmin’s upgraded Home Tee Hero sim experience is built right into the unit and includes more than 43,000 virtual courses. The R50 also supports third-party simulator software like GSPro, E6, and Awesome Golf if you want even more realism.

In terms of pure usability, guys, it’s hard to overstate how simple and frictionless the R50 makes the sim golf experience. Setup takes seconds, and the side-mounted photometric design means no radar alignment or tricky positioning.

Even the data readout is customizable. Full screen, split screen, map view, video replay, data titles, however you want to interact with the information, the R50 delivers. You also get an automatic impact video with every shot.

There are a couple of drawbacks. The R50 is really big (17 inches tall and 12 inches wide), and the club stickers are oversized compared to other launch monitor brands. Still, if you can live with that, what you’re getting is next-level performance in a standalone package. And at $4,999, it’s priced well below top-tier competitors.

The SkyTrak+ is a huge leap forward from the original SkyTrak. Not only is it the best sub-$2,500 launch monitor, but it’s one of the best overall options in 2025.

It combines photometric and dual-Doppler radar technology to deliver significantly improved accuracy and expanded data metrics. You’ll get essentials like ball and club speed, spin rates, carry distance, and launch angle, plus premium-level club data like face angle, club path, and smash factor.

I will say that the club path data can occasionally be a little bit erratic, but for most players’ needs, accuracy is going to be more than adequate.

The other big selling point with the SkyTrak+ is that the app and software experience is outstanding. These guys really get it when it comes to developing a really fun platform with tons of interesting game-improvement challenges and features.

And then when you get into the simulated golf experience, their new GameDay software is first-rate. You can choose from one of two packages of 30 sim courses that include some of the biggest tracks in the world.

For less than $2,500, the SkyTrak+ delivers a big-time sim experience. And that’s why this one has been such a hit for a couple of years now.

Speaking of products that over-deliver… If you want serious bang for your buck, I’m talking a launch monitor accurate enough for even the top players, but one that you can find on sale for less than 2 grand, the FlightScope Mevo+ is an incredible value.

This device sits in that sweet spot between affordability and advanced performance. At just under $2,000, it gives you a serious taste of the big time without the out-of-control price.

The Mevo+ uses a combination of Doppler radar and high-speed image processing to deliver a surprisingly accurate read on nearly every shot. You’ll get everything from ball speed and carry distance to club path, attack angle, spin axis, and a lot more. Add the optional Pro Package and Face Impact add-ons, and the data set becomes ridiculously complete.

It’s not perfect. Setup can be a little finicky. But there are no annual subscription fees, it’s highly portable, the amount of information that you get is insane, and for less than $2,000, it’s going to be really tough to beat.

The Rapsodo MLM2PRO isn’t just “good for the price”; it’s a genuinely impressive launch monitor. It’s simple, portable, and delivers shot data with the kind of consistency that makes you forget you're using a sub-$1,000 device.

Radar and dual cameras team up to give you 13 key metrics. Setup is fast, just pair with your phone or tablet, align using the live video feed, and you’re swinging in minutes.

The built-in swing video with shot tracer adds real value, especially for visual learners. You’ll also get a replay of the impact using the “Impact Vision” camera.

Indoors or out, the accuracy is incredibly strong, comparing well to premium launch monitors that cost several times more. Outdoors, it reads shots hit off grass without issue, which gives it a leg up over some mat-only competitors.

That said, in my experience, chip shots under 15 yards tend to go unread. Also, during sessions, you’re limited to viewing only a few data points at a time, unless you review everything post-round. It’s a frustrating quirk, especially for serious players who want instant, comprehensive feedback. The device also lacks a way to flag key shots mid-session, which hurts data review and organization.

Still, this is one of the easiest-to-use launch monitors out there, and the dual-camera video system adds a level of feedback most competitors can’t match. Bottom line: If you want fast setup, reliable accuracy, meaningful feedback, and video-rich practice, all in a compact, affordable package, the MLM2PRO absolutely delivers.

Alright, next we’re going with the big time. If you want the most accurate launch monitor in golf, the one the pros are using on the range before they compete in major championships, the QuadMAX is it. No question about it.

This is the updated version of the legendary GCQuad, and it sets a new standard by combining best-in-class photometric accuracy with smart new features like internal shot storage, a fully customizable touchscreen display, and swing speed training without a ball.

It captures all of the GCQuad’s club and ball data, plus new metrics like ball apex, descent angle, and offline distance. And it’s all delivered with the unmatched precision trusted by tour pros and top instructors.

A standout feature is the internal memory, which lets you store up to a billion shots even when not connected to software. And the new MyTiles system allows you to tailor which data is shown on the screen.

The QuadMAX is fully compatible with FSX Play and third-party sim software and comes with 25 Foresight courses out of the box. At $22,499 fully loaded with putting analysis, it’s a serious investment. But for a serious golfer, there’s no better launch monitor on the planet.

For golfers who want solid performance, ease of use, and exceptional value, the Garmin Approach R10 remains one of the smartest buys in 2025. It’s a radar-based launch monitor that continues to be the best choice for the most number of golfers. Especially, if you can find it for under $500. That’s insane!

The R10 was really the first great launch monitor that wasn’t crazy expensive. And even though it’s now a few years old, it’s still totally holding its own.

You get 20 data metrics and full simulator compatibility. Setup is remarkably simple. And it’s just a really fun product to use.

It’s super small, which makes it very portable. And it feels much more premium than the price would suggest. When you consider that it was Garmin that brought us the R10 and then also the R50, you gotta hand it to them for definitely pushing the envelope.

This one’s very accurate for the price, it works with a bunch of third-party simulator software packages, and it comes with five free E6 iOS courses right out of the box.

You’re getting a hell of a lot for not a lot of money with the R10.

Speaking of launch monitors that changed the game… The Square rewrote what is possible in a camera-based or photometric golf launch monitor, at least in terms of price. It’s the first sub-$1,000 camera system that is also accurate. Before this, you had to pay a bunch to get quality with a photometric launch monitor.

Is the Square perfect? Of course not. You can’t expect that, not for the price. But, man, it gets awfully close.

No, it doesn’t include metrics that might be key to some people, like smash factor and clubhead speed, but it does have an impressive array of both ball and club data.

And, yes, the Square only works indoors. But, honestly, I think that’s where most people are going to use their launch monitors most of the time.

Another big plus with the Square is that it actually does a really good job of tracking putting. That’s not something you can say for a lot of launch monitors.

And Square does have native simulator software. The courses aren’t the greatest, but the graphics are actually pretty nice. And you only pay for what you use with their pay-per-hole pricing model. So that’s another cool plus.

This one’s been very popular for good reason.

You’ve watched TGL, right? Tiger and Rory’s indoor golf league that’s on ESPN and has a bunch of the top tour players playing simulator golf?

Well, this is the launch monitor they’re using in that crazy sim studio they built down there in Florida.

This is a cool device. First of all, you’ve got a really nice built-in display that makes it super easy to see your data at a glance. And you get 16 data points included - all without any subscription. You also get a built-in camera with the best-looking shot video replays of any launch monitor on the market.

One thing to note is this is a launch monitor for iOS users, but if that’s you - you could have the same launch monitor that Tiger Woods uses. I mean… that’s pretty cool.

All right, so this next one, the Garmin Approach G80, might not pop to mind right away. In fact, a lot of people miss it altogether.

That’s because the G80 is positioned mostly as a hand-held GPS. But it’s got a hidden feature. And that is that you can also record your shot data via the built-in radar in the G80.

Now, listen, if you’re expecting this to be a QuadMAX or anything close, you’re out of your mind. You’re not getting that in a device that you can now find for $300. In fact, this launch monitor would be the least accurate and the least overall impressive of anything on this list.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn't have its place. First of all, because of its full-color hole maps and larger 3.5-inch screen, a lot of people consider this Garmin’s best handheld GPS, including the new G20 Solar.

But the fact that you can also have something this small to take out to the range before a round to grab numbers like ball speed and carry distance is pretty awesome, I think.

Do I recommend this as your serious training tool to really grind on your game? No. But I think it’s totally worth owning, especially for 300 bucks.

Next, we’ve got the OG Rapsodo.

I’ll just say right off the bat that the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is light years better than this original Rapsodo. But now that you can pick this thing up for $249.99, I mean, it’s all of the sudden pretty intriguing for all that it really can do well

First of all, it’s really easy to use this device with your phone out on the range. And it’s another one of those tiny models that makes portability a nonissue.

The Rapsodo delivers some really key data. You get some of the most important information, like carry and total distance, ball speed, clubhead speed, smash factor, and launch angle.

And, while this is an iOS-only device, if you’ve got an iPhone it works really well in tandem with the Rapsodo. You get incredible shot videos, and Rapsodo gives you full access to your complete session history. So you can go back and review all of your data.

Really, for the price that you can now find one of these, it really is a great value. This is another one that I like for mobile or portable use. Great for warmup range sessions. It’s kind of like in the middle ground between the basic launch monitors and the more serious stuff we’ve been talking about.

For our next launch monitor, we’re going basic. But, you know what? Basic isn’t bad. And I don’t think everyone needs to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a launch monitor.

For many golfers, something that gives you the basics and does it reliably enough that you can trust the information is really all you need. And that’s what this product delivers.

It actually goes a little further. It’s crazy that for like $230, you can get this kind of data. I mean, we’re talking things like clubhead speed, ball speed, club indicator, smash factor, total and carry distance. That’s pretty nice for the price.

Last on our list, this is where I would stop. This is the least-expensive launch monitor that I think is still worth buying for someone. After this, I’d recommend you save up until you can get something better rather than cheaping out.

The SwingLogic SLX Hybrid Mini actually has some nice things going for it. First of all, it’s another one of those products that’s both a GPS and a launch monitor. Hence, the “Hybrid” title.

On the launch monitor side, you get things like ball speed, club speed, and carry distance. But it’s the cool built-in LCD screen that I think makes this one a winner.

Another win is that it doesn’t require any phone or app connection.

So, I’m not saying this is the best launch monitor to buy. But for under $200, it ain’t bad.