Bushnell Launch Pro – Is It Worth It?
Bushnell has been on the radar of golf launch monitors and GPS devices for quite some time but they seemed to always occupy the fringe of this market. With the Bushnell Launch Pro the company is seeking to change all that.
The Bushnell Launch Pro is an upper mid-level launch monitor and golf simulator. At $3,000 it is significantly cheaper than some commercial-grade setups but still much more expensive than lower end models.
As it occupies this middle ground, it begs the question for a wide array of casual, amateur and course pro golfers, ‘is the Bushnell Launch Pro worth it?’ This is the question we will help you figure out in today’s article.
Bushnell Launch Pro Overview
The Bushnell Launch Pro system relies on a unique combination of technologies to yield it’s readings.
It’s rare that you come across a launch monitor that uses both high-speed cameras and infrared sensors but that’s exactly what the Bushnell Launch Pro brings to the table. The result is a launch monitor that can be used indoors and outdoors.
One of the things we liked the most about this launch monitor is that it could be easily moved from your indoor practice setup to the range. At just 12” tall, 6” wide and only 5 pounds, this launch monitor can go virtually anywhere.
Of course it should be noted that if you intend to use the golf simulator software you will need to connect the Bushnell Launch Pro to your PC. But as purely a launch monitor, the Bushnell Launch Pro is nicely mobile.
We also liked that the onboard display tilts upwards a bit to give you immediate shot data after your swing. Of course, the display only shows a few metrics like distance and deviation. But it’s still nice to not have to stoop down or pull out your phone at the range when you want to see the essential shot data.
While the simulations powered by Foresight Sports are beautiful and engaging, we really liked how this device performed as a pure launch monitor more than anything else – mainly because the accuracy is consistent indoors and outdoors.
Bushnell Launch Pro
In 20 Words or Less
The Bushnell Launch Pro provides a wealth of shot and ball metrics that can truly help improve your game.
Bushnell Launch Pro First Impressions
We were first taken with how easy it is to set up right out of the box.
While it’s good to go right away, we gave it a full charge before taking it out onto the range. Fully charging the Bushnell Launch Pro took about an hour and a half and it lasted for about 3 hours.
We also really liked that the heads-up display is touch enabled so you can easily scroll through different modes and see different metrics. It is only a foot tall though, so taller players may have to stoop down uncomfortably low to operate the screen.
Key Features
The Bushnell Launch Pro comes with a free month of the Gold Package and there are a number of different annual software subscriptions to choose from.
Just keep in mind that all of these software packages are paid. With the most expensive package (a one-time fee of $4,000) you get 10 simulated courses (Butterfield, Tall Pines, Beaver Hills, Willow Crest, Teton Pines and more), online play capability, access to online competitions and tournaments, simulated driving range, access for 8 users and data archiving.
The device itself uses 3 high-speed cameras and an infrared sensor to capture your shot at point of launch and estimate a variety of ball and shot metrics. It also has a 3 inch by 2 inch touchscreen LCD display.
Some of the metrics that you get with the Bushnell Launch Pro include carry distance, ball speed, total spin, vertical launch angle, horizontal launch angle, club head speed and smash factor.
And while the Bushnell Launch Pro does a good job of accurately tracking these metrics, the depth of data on other devices we have tested was greater. Quite frankly, we were expecting many more tracking metrics for a device this expensive.
The fact that it uses cameras and infrared instead of radar means that it is very accurate both indoors and outdoors. It can be set up with a prepackaged or custom net system, simulation system (with impact projector) or simply used with your PC or TV.
The Bushnell Launch Pro comes with 28 club markers that you have to put on the face of your clubs in order for it to track accurate club data. You can also connect to the internet via an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.
Some of the features like club tags and the non-colored LCD screen seem a bit archaic but if you’re looking for accuracy, the Bushnell Launch Pro is one of the most accurate upper mid-level launch monitors on the market.
Bushnell Launch Pro Selling Points
- It’s easy to set up
- Includes one free year of the basic software package
- In-depth shot and club data
- Wireless internet enabled
- Up to 10 simulated courses
Who is the Bushnell Launch Pro for?
The great thing about the Bushnell Launch Pro is that it occupies that middle ground of upper mid-level launch monitors that would be helpful for casual golfers and course pros alike.
Having said that, you should not spend the money for this launch monitor unless you are very serious about improving your game. Like we mentioned near the top of the article, the Bushnell Launch Pro is nice as a golf simulator; but it’s true value is as a launch monitor.
The simulations are fun and you can even enter in online tournaments; but after testing the Bushnell Launch Pro, the simulation features almost seem like an afterthought
It’s obvious that the bulk of the Research & Development for this device went into its launch monitor capabilities.
We found that the Bushnell Launch Pro was accurate to within 2 yards on drive distance, fairway wood distance readings and accurate to within 3 yards with our irons and wedges. And these numbers apply to both indoor and outdoor settings.
Where it struggled a bit was ball speed. When tested against another launch monitor, there was a 5MPH variance which we couldn’t quite figure out. All other readings were very accurate.
Pros:
- It maintains its accuracy both indoors and outdoors
- It comes with its own alignment stick and is very easy to set up
- You set it up right on front of you so it’s very easy to see your swing/ball data right on the screen in front of you
- It provides easy to understand graphs that give you great insight into your swing
- It can connect wirelessly to your internet
- The Foresight Sports simulation packages are some of the best in the industry
Cons:
- Almost all of the software packages are very expensive
- Even with the most expensive software packages, you only get 10 simulated courses
- The battery life isn’t great
- You have to pay extra to get advanced shot/ball metrics like side spin, back spin, spin tilt axis, club path and angle of attack
Overall Score: 92/100
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