Unofficial Review: Bushnell Launch Pro

[DriverBreaker]

Hello fellow Spies.  

I had an opportunity to purchase a Bushnell Launch Pro with some extra monies that I had to spend.  I did lots of research and debating before landing on this unit and the ball only mode.

For background, I teach and coach using TrackMan 4 and GC Quad every week.  I know the ins and outs of Launch Monitors.  Camera based vs radar, all price points, etc.  I know what numbers to expect and when something is wonky. 

I’ve been using my Launch Pro since right around Christmas and have logged many practice sessions indoors.   Yesterday, I took it up to work and laid it down side by side with the TrackMan 4 (indoors, not outside).  I aligned both units and used a Titleist ProV1 ball with a metallic dot sticker to accurately capture spin on the TrackMan. 

I grabbed a random 7 iron that was laying around and hit a few balls and took picture of the results.  These are consecutive shots with no deletions.

As you can see in the images below, ball speed and launch angle are practically identical on each shot.  Spin axis is within a degree (and direction is the same) and backspin are often within under 100rpms.  Carry within a yard as well.

Shot 1:

Shot 2:

Shot 3:

 

Shot 4:

 

I will do more testing with wedges and driver as well when I next get a chance, but I have no reason to believe accuracy will be any different.  The only issue that might result is with driver and spin under 2,200 rpm, as Foresight’s algorithm is known to juice carry numbers at higher ball speeds and spin under 2,200.

The reason I went with ball only vs club plus ball was two fold.  First, having used TrackMan so much for club data, I find the Launch Pro and Quad to be a little different for my liking. Because of where Foresight measures club data (at first touch) compared to TrackMan (at maximum compression), the club path data can vary by as much as 2-3* (compared to TrackMan in my experience) for faster players.   For example, when I had the free trial of the fully unlocked Gold subscription model, my club path on the Launch Pro with irons was showing as 6* in to out.  I have never been that far in to out with any club on TrackMan.  When I’m playing draw, I’d be 1-3* in to out.  I asked our club fitter and another coach who works with Tour players and high level amateurs and they both confirmed that they also notice Foresight to be a few degrees more in-to-out biased than TrackMan.  You could argue that this doesn’t mean it is less accurate.  They just measure at different times.  It’s just my preference to use TrackMan for the club data. 

Further more, the cost savings was not justifiable to me just to get club speed, angle of attack, and path.  If I need to check swing data, I’ll just get on TrackMan.  I look at Swing Direction, Swing Plane, dynamic loft, etc.

Having said all of that, to get the accuracy of the ball data at under $2,000 compared to TrackMan or GC Quad (at over $14,000 each) is unbelievable. For 99% of people, this is all they’ll need. 

In my own game, I’ve worked really hard the past month indoors on the Launch Pro creating my wedge matrix options. I have had so many times where I shoot the flag stick in a round of golf, look at my matrix, pick the club and swing size, and the ball finishes pin high or within 6ft.  Knowing your carry numbers, especially inside of 120yds, is so valuable.  No guess work.  

I personally haven’t purchased a gaming computer or felt the need to buy the year long gold subscription.  I know how to look at the spin axis and launch direction data and create the shot in my head.  Maybe if I get a gaming computer I’ll get the gold package, but the iPad app isn’t worth it to me for $500/year.  If I go with the subscription, I’m getting the full experience with the new FSX Play and course simulation.  I do still have a bit of the money left over by not getting the club data version.  

If there is anything else that members would like to see or to have me test let me know.  Ask any questions as well!

Edited January 27 by DriverBreaker

[GolfSpy_APH]

Nice write-up so far Tony. 

So what you have right now has no sim options? Correct?

[DriverBreaker]

9 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Nice write-up so far Tony. 

So what you have right now has no sim options? Correct?

Not at the moment, no.  I would need to purchase a gaming computer to run FSX Play and purchase the Gold subscription. 

[Rob Person]

Nice review so far! Would you say for a newer player that this is easy to setup and use at an open range or backyard? Or would something with shot tracking be more suitable?

[DriverBreaker]

27 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

Nice review so far! Would you say for a newer player that this is easy to setup and use at an open range or backyard? Or would something with shot tracking be more suitable?

It is super easy to set up. Literally turn it on. Set it on the ground parallel to your target line. Usually the alignment stick that comes with it if you want to, and start smacking balls. If you can see the ball flight outdoors, the alignment stick probably isn’t even necessary. Because really all you would be looking for at that point is the launch, spin, ball speed, and total carry numbers since you can see the ball in real time for curvature.

For indoors, unless you have a ton of space, camera based units work the easiest.  I literally just have about 8 feet from my hitting mat to the net, but I could get away with even less than that. If you have a really tight space, as long as you can swing the club comfortably and safely you can get away with almost any amount of space.

[Nick_D]

Nice write up! I also have a BLP myself and think its a really solid unit. My only complaint is the whole subscription setup, but its hard to get away from that in any launch monitor/sim these days..

[vandyland]

On 1/27/2024 at 9:46 AM, DriverBreaker said:

The reason I went with ball only vs club plus ball was two fold.  First, having used TrackMan so much for club data, I find the Launch Pro and Quad to be a little different for my liking. Because of where Foresight measures club data (at first touch) compared to TrackMan (at maximum compression), the club path data can vary by as much as 2-3* (compared to TrackMan in my experience) for faster players.   For example, when I had the free trial of the fully unlocked Gold subscription model, my club path on the Launch Pro with irons was showing as 6* in to out.  I have never been that far in to out with any club on TrackMan.  When I’m playing draw, I’d be 1-3* in to out.  I asked our club fitter and another coach who works with Tour players and high level amateurs and they both confirmed that they also notice Foresight to be a few degrees more in-to-out biased than TrackMan.  You could argue that this doesn’t mean it is less accurate.  They just measure at different times.  It’s just my preference to use TrackMan for the club data. 

Interesting! I did not know that. I always assumed GC4 was more accurate/useful indoors since it doesn't use radar and Trackman would be superior outside for the same reason. Did not know they measured club head differently. 

[DriverBreaker]

1 hour ago, vandyland said:

Interesting! I did not know that. I always assumed GC4 was more accurate/useful indoors since it doesn't use radar and Trackman would be superior outside for the same reason. Did not know they measured club head differently. 

Yeah for the club data, TrackMan doesn’t need to be outside to measure accurately.  Ball data on the other hand….  If you see the spin rate italicized in TrackMan, it means it did not measure spin rate on the shot and hat do calculate/estimate it.  The new Titleist RTC balls are near perfect for TrackMan indoors.  I have good results with the metallic sticker as well indoors. 
 

And again, they just measure club data at two different points in time, so tough to say if one is more accurate than the other.  I know I just prefer and trust TrackMan for club data more. 

Edited January 29 by DriverBreaker

[JAYER38]

Recently purchased a Skytrak OG and was thinking of upgrading to the BLP not just for "more accurate" ball data but also club data. The subscription is what is stopping me but I also have the Game Improvement $130 plan already. I enjoy seeing ball flight so I would need atleast there minimum subscription to use the range. I can tell if it is going right or left but hard for me to tell if it will draw or fade back based on data alone... Again no pro here just learning as I go and gathering data points.

This was an interesting read and has me continuing to think about going to BLP

[JonMUSC08]

amazing how close in accuracy the BLP is to a trackman! And for a FRACTION of the price.

That $500/yr is a tough swing with other options like Rapsodo  MLM Pro out there for free. The BLP is more accurate but at what cost in comparison for the avg weekender.

[GolfSpy_APH]

5 minutes ago, JonMUSC08 said:

amazing how close in accuracy the BLP is to a trackman! And for a FRACTION of the price.

That $500/yr is a tough swing with other options like Rapsodo  MLM Pro out there for free. The BLP is more accurate but at what cost in comparison for the avg weekender.

Rapsodo is $200 a year after the first year. 

[JonMUSC08]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Rapsodo is $200 a year after the first year. 

ah good to know.

Is that for all the courses?

[GolfSpy_APH]

48 minutes ago, JonMUSC08 said:

ah good to know.

Is that for all the courses?

I would have to triple check but it's for most all the main features.

[DriverBreaker]

3 hours ago, JonMUSC08 said:

amazing how close in accuracy the BLP is to a trackman! And for a FRACTION of the price.

That $500/yr is a tough swing with other options like Rapsodo  MLM Pro out there for free. The BLP is more accurate but at what cost in comparison for the avg weekender.

Yeah, it’s stupid. Lol