Anyone researching launch monitors to elevate their golfing experience will hear about the Bushnell Launch Pro at some point. This launch monitor has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years and for good reason. It is extremely accurate for the price and has one of the most immersive and detailed simulation programs available.
While this product is excellent, it does come with some pros and cons. We’ll break everything down in this article, including:
There’s a lot to unpack here, so be sure to stick around until the end for all the details.
The Bushnell Launch Pro is the most accurate launch monitor at the price range of $5,000 or less—when compared against all available technology including simulators like Trackman, Golfzon and Foresight. There are more accurate launch monitors on the market if you pay more. However, that involves investing in a setup that costs $20,000 or more. Since most people don’t have that kind of money lying around, the Bushnell Launch Pro is an excellent option for a fraction of the cost.
That said, some other options on the market, like the FlightScope Mevo+, Garmin Approach R10, and Rapsodo MLM 2 Pro, are pretty close in accuracy at a fraction of the cost of the Launch Pro. These options may be a better bet for those on a budget. We’ll compare the Launch Pro to these products in depth later in this article.
First, let’s look at the features and benefits of Bushnell’s product.
The Bushnell Launch Pro has several benefits. Let’s review the 4 main advantages that make it stand out.
The Launch Pro is an extremely versatile option for those who want a virtual golf setup that can do it all. Whether you want to take this product to the course and get accurate data on your swing or use it as a full virtual golf setup with the additional software you can buy, you have plenty of options. Plus, it’s a very immersive and fun experience using it.
When you buy the Gold Subscription with the Launch Pro, you get access to the FSX Play software. The scenery is beautiful and the experience is immersive, but it's worth noting that you will need a Gaming PC to run this software smoothly. Gaming PC's range in price from $1,000 and up, which is a notable investment when you're spending $3,500 on the Garmin Launch Pro alone.
The Launch Pro is also very accurate. It is probably the most accurate of any launch monitor near its price point. Specifically, its accuracy in tracking distance on your shots is within +/- 2 yards. It’s close to the accuracy of a pro-level setup, or high-cost simulators like the Trackman Simulator.
To top things off, the Launch Pro can track tons of data from your swings. That includes:
Overall, this product will offer you a lot of benefits. It’s why many in the golf community are raving about it.
Bushnell’s product has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. Let’s take a look at the two key factors.
As we mentioned, one of the cons can be the price. The launch monitor itself costs $3,499.99.
On top of that, if you want all the features, you’ll want to buy a Gold Subscription that costs $699 per year. The Gold Subscription is amazing and well worth it, but costly nonetheless.
Plus, you need a high-quality gaming PC to run the software for the virtual golfing experience. An appropriate gaming PC for this system will run somewhere in the range of $1,000.
To round things out, your initial investment in all this may be around $5,200+ in the first year. It’s a hefty price tag and unfeasible for some.
When you initially start with the Launch Pro, it’s not the easiest setup compared to other options. You have to dial in several settings to get the most accurate experience, and the app itself can be a bit harder to understand if you don’t know much about all the data it’s capable of tracking.
Overall, there can be a learning curve with this one you should be prepared for during setup. However, Bushnell does have excellent customer support if you need any help along the way.
As mentioned, the Launch Pro may not be great for some who don’t have $3,500+ to invest in their launch monitor setup. Fortunately, there are other options available that perform quite well in comparison. Let’s look at the accuracy metrics of other launch monitors at different price points.
As you can see, the difference in accuracy when tracking distance on your shots between all the options is a matter of a few yards. Honestly, being a few extra yards off on the data isn’t the biggest deal for the average golfer trying to improve their game or have fun with a virtual golfing experience. All of these options provide you with exactly that.
If you want more details on choosing the best launch monitor for your needs, check out our article on the best launch monitors of 2023.
Another consideration some shoppers in the market for a launch monitor may want to make is how the Bushnell Launch Pro stacks up to the Foresight Sports GC3.
A while back, Vista Outdoor (the company behind the Bushnell products) acquired Foresight Sports. These two launch monitors, being associated with the same company, have very similar hardware and levels of accuracy.
The main difference between the two is pricing strategies.
The Bushnell Launch Pro comes at a price of $3,499.99, with the option to buy the Gold Subscription with the FSX Play software sold separately.
On the other hand, the Foresight Sports GC3 Plus is priced at $7,499.99, with the FSX Play software included for a one-time, flat fee.
While some who envision using their launch monitor for more than 5 years may see the Foresight GC3 as the better option, Bushnell has a better deal.
With the Launch Pro, you can permanently unlock the full Gold Subscription for a flat fee of $3,499. So you save $500 compared to Foresight if you buy the Bushnell Launch Pro and full gold access upfront for a total purchase price of $7,000.
The Bushnell Launch Pro is a very accurate launch monitor, especially in its price range. Its features stand up to pro-level options for a fraction of the cost.
However, there are pros and cons, and amateur golfers who simply want a fun virtual golfing experience that helps improve their game may be better suited to other options at lower prices.
Whatever option you choose, all the products discussed in this article are great. So the good news is, you can’t go wrong with any of them! It’s simply a matter of which one fits your needs best.
