Garmin R10 Vs Swing Caddie SC4 – Which One Is Better?
The personal Launch Monitor space has been moving at an incredible pace over recent times. Only 5 years ago, it would have been impossible to get the devices we are looking at today without spending $20k on a Trackman.
Here we are today, looking at 2 relatively accurate devices at around the $500 mark which is amazing. The next question becomes, which one is the right choice for you.
Garmin R10 First Impressions
It’s hard to imagine the R10 is almost 2 years old at the time of writing. It made a serious splash when first released.
The first thing to notice is how compact and easy to use the device is. You just open it up, stick the head into the stand, turn it on, pair it with the Garmin Golf App and you are good to go.
The Accuracy of the Carry Distances have always been good but Garmin have also now brought accurate spin numbers into the picture.
Swing Caddie SC4 First Impressions
The SC4 is the newest of the personal launch monitors sitting around the $500 mark.
They looked to upgrade every aspect of the SC300 and that is evident as soon as you unbox the product, it looks amazing.
The display is clean and intuitive and this one is also really easy to set up and use. It has a handy holder for the remote control at the back of the device as well.
What we like about this one, straight off the bat is that it calls out your carry distances, so you don’t have to be looking at any screens as you play.
What The R10 Does Better
Spin Rates
Once you learn to get the alignment right, use the RCT balls recommended by Garmin and use the Awesome Golf software, you can get pretty close to accurate spin numbers. This is huge for a device that is so affordable.
We consistently saw shots within 1 yard of carry from the Trackman and within 100 RPMs of the spin. It increases to 2 or 3 yards with the Driver but still awesome figures for an indoor Dopplar Monitor
Golf Simulation
The Graphics on the simulators of the cheaper devices are a bit cartoony compares to the more expensive devices but don’t let that deter you.
The R10 offers a range of golf software to use from Home Tee Heroes to Golf Awesome to E6.
We recommend to use Golf Awesome as we are getting the most accurate stats when using this device.
What Does The SC4 Do Better
Design And Ease Of Use
The R10 is very easy to use and the SC4 still manages to edge it out in this one.
The display is crystal clear and calling out the shots is very handy, so you don’t need to look at a screen after every shot.
The remote is also super handy for changing clubs in between shots.
The fact that it comes with one course on E6 and practice mode allows it to stand out from the MLM2 Pro in terms of value proposition.
Doesn’t Need An External Device
The SC4 is the only one of the personal launch monitor/simulators that doesn’t need an external device to use.
It is a self-contained unit so you can show up to the range and hit balls easily or just break it out at home, start hitting, and hear your numbers called out excellently.
Not having to worry about battery levels and ensuring you have your tablet/phone at the range is a big win for the SC4.
Overall
The SC4 is a massive step up from the SC300i which came before. It literally has improved on every metric that we can measure.
The biggest issue we have is that the spin rates are off by about 2000 RPMS with the irons and it is slightly less accurate in terms of carry than the R10.
We are giving the overall victory to the R10. Once you get the right set up, the accuracy for a device at this price range is second to none.
All the different game modes and software make sure you will never get bored of the R10. This one is a real bargain, get out and get it!
Garmin Approach R10
In 20 Words Or Less
The Approach R10 is easy to set up and it gives you a lot of fun/helpful options.
Skycaddie SC4 in 20 Words or Less
In 20 Words Or Less
A personal Dopplar Launch Monitor/Simulator that has improved in every department and gives accurate carry distances consistently.
Garmin Approach R10 First Impressions
We were first taken by how sleek and compact the Garmin Approach R10 looks.
It was even better when we realized that we could set up the Garmin Approach R10 in less than 5 minutes. It isn’t as clumsy or difficult as other launch monitors we have tested which is a huge bonus.
Key Features
One of the coolest features was the video recording of your swing that overlays your shot data right onto the footage.
This allows you to see your swing and mechanic data over and over again so you can analyze your shot and even tweak your swing. The R10 also gives you data on club head speed, club path angle, apex height, spin rate, deviation distance, carry distance, smash factor, total distance, angle of attack, launch angle and much more.
You also get virtual course simulation and game modes to hone your skills.
The Garmin Approach R10 is fun, reliable and gives you the shot data you need to improve your game.
Skycaddie SC4 First Impressions
The product looks like a $1,000 due to the packaging, uboxing and set up experience. This looks like a professional product from the word go.
Synching up the SC4 with your phone and is super easy and this one is really a plug and play device, that is simple to use.
The design has also been improved with the remote fitting nicely at the back of the device in a magnetic port.
Once you start hitting and hear your carry distance being called out by the device, you will be hooked.
Once you get the E6 simulator going, you are in for hours and hours of home golf entertainment.
You can bring this to the range and easily connect it to your phone to see your distances at a glance and change clubs easily with the remote.
The spin distances did look high by 2000 RPMs but the carry distances were spot on compared with the trackman at the range.
The Swing Caddy app has also gotten extensive improvement. It’s easier to set up and it gives beautiful display of your data.
This is an excellent value device and it is great to see the launch monitor technology becoming more accessible to the public as time goes by.
Key Features
Then Skycaddie SC4 is a dopplar launch monitor. It take pictures of the ball as it is hit and uses the differences between the pictures to estimate the total ball flight.
The SC4 also has a Barometric pressure sensor which helps to give even more accurate readings.
The screen display is clean and crisp, another big upgrade. The digits can be a little small to see but you can easily pair with the Swing Caddy app.
The remote is also very useful, it allows you to change clubs without bending down and it fits right in the back of the design in your pocket during use.
Garmin Approach R10 Selling Points
- Archives club stats
- Driving range simulator
- Smartphone compatible
- 10-hour battery life
- Waterproof
- Rechargeable battery
Sky Caddie SC4 Selling Points
- Big Improvement On The SC 300
- Simulator/Launch Monitor
- Accurate Carry Distances
- Leader At The $500 Mark
- Easy Set Up
- Beautiful Design
- Calls Out Distances
- Works With Or Without External Device
- Much Improved Swing Caddie App
Who is the Garmin Approach R10 for?
The R10 would be a great choice for anyone looking for a solid launch monitor at an affordable price.
While certainly not the most robust launch monitor in terms of advanced metrics, it certainly holds its own against more expensive models.
Pros:
- The Garmin Approach R10 is very easy to set up
- The carry distance is accurate to within 5 yards
- Automatic video recording feature is very helpful for analyzing your swing
- Ball speed accuracy was also very acute
Cons:
- The launch direction accuracy was consistently of by at least 4 degrees
- You need to pay for a subscription to use the Home Tee Hero mode
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Who is Skycaddie SC4 for?
The SC4 is the perfect toy for Teach Savvy Golfers. You will need about 14 feet of space in your house to use it properly but it only needs to sit 5 feet behind the ball, shorter than its competitors.
This will be great for any golfer looking for their first personal product and wants the best value device available.
This is great for golfers who want to both use the sim at home and the data tracking at the range.
For any golfer who doesn’t have access to a commercial device like the Trackman.
Also a great option for coaches who want a portable device that will easily work on the range or on the course.
Overall this is an excellent device that will suit many golfers of all levels and abilities.
Pros:
- Professional Look And Feel
- Accuracy is on the level of $1000 launch Monitors
- Only needs 5 feet of space behind and 8 feet ahead.
- Use with or without an external device.
- Connects to E6 and stays connected for a full round
- App is also much and displays data in a visually appealing way
Cons:
- Spin Rates are reporting a little
- The display can be a little hard to see
Overall Score: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Aidan Lehane here, I’m a Mid-low handicap golfer who has made tremendous progress in breaking 90 in just over 1 year of playing golf seriously.
I get out to the course or range as often as possible and review all the equipment I’ve come across on this blog.
