Launch monitor technology has come a long way in the past few years, and we’re finally in an era where they are affordable for the average golfer.
Buying a high-end launch monitor can burn a hole in our wallets. The good news is that there are several cheaper launch monitors that are just about as accurate as multi-thousand-dollar ones.
Before we dive into the list, let me clarify that when we say “affordable,” we mean it in comparison to the high-end models in the market. Therefore, some of the models we selected may still cost hundreds of dollars.
Nonetheless, the data provided by these launch monitors can be incredibly beneficial in helping us identify our strengths and weaknesses. We can get instant feedback on clubhead speed, carry distance, spin, and more with precise ball and club data. The data is invaluable for improving your golf game.
I have researched and tested all of these launch monitors in this list. Based on my testing, these are the best cheap launch monitors on the market.
If you’re looking for a high-end launch monitor, be sure to check out our guide on the best golf launch monitors here.
Best Affordable Launch Monitors: Our Top Picks
Garmin Approach R10 (Best Overall)
Rapsodo MLM (Runner-Up)
Swing Caddie SC200 PLUS
Swing Caddie SC300i
Garmin Approach G80
FlightScope Mevo
Ernest Sports ESB1
PRGR (Budget Pick)
Garmin Approach R10
SALE: SAVE $50, $549 (usually $599)
This ultra-portable and lightweight launch monitor gives you key metrics to improve your game. You can display data and record your swing on the Garmin Golf App. This launch monitor is great to use at home or on the range.
- Portable and easy to set up in various environments
- Provides valuable club and ball data for swing analysis
- Compatible with golf simulation software for virtual play
- Record swing and stats on the Garmin Golf App
- Slightly less accurate than more expensive launch monitors
- Requires subscription for premium features and some golf simulation software
Specs:
- Metrics: Ball speed, Club head speed, Smash factor, Launch angle, Launch direction, Spin rate, Spin axis, Carry distance, Total distance, Club path angle, Club face angle, Angle of attack, Apex height, Shot dispersion and deviation.
- Battery Life: 10 hours (rechargeable)
- Compatible Golf Simulators: Yes, Garmin Golf App, E6 Connect, Awesome Golf, The Golf Club 2019, Home Tee Hero
- Companion App: Yes
- Price: $599
The Garmin Approach R10 Launch Monitor is the most versatile, affordable golf launch monitor. Ultra-portable and lightweight, you can easily take it wherever you want to practice. This launch monitor is excellent for improving your consistency. It gives you 20 key metrics such as ball speed, distance, spin, launch angle, and, most importantly – lateral data.
What sets the R10 apart from the competition is that it’s the only launch monitor under $600 that can work as a complete golf simulator. So if you’re looking for a cheaper launch monitor that does it all, look no further.
My testing proved that the metrics are on par with multi-thousand-dollar launch monitors for a fraction of the price. That’s why it’s our best overall consumer-grade affordable launch monitor.
Read my full review here of the Garmin Approach R10.
Rapsodo MLM
The Rapsodo Mobile offers a bit of everything you need to analyze your golf game, launch monitor capability as well as analysis, and the accuracy is tough to beat.
- You can use it indoors or outdoors
- Connects right to your iPhone or iPad
- Quick feedback helps golfers make swing changes
- Data overlay feature
- Will set up and start recording within seconds
- Portable and easy to manage
- Apple devices only, no Android
- Alignment can be finicky
- Does not work in dark settings
- Uses your phone, drains battery
- Shot tracer only works outdoors
Specs:
- Metrics: Ball speed, Launch angle, Launch direction, Club head speed, Carry distance, Total distance, Smash factor, Apex height
- Battery Life: 8 hours (rechargeable)
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: Yes
- Price: $299
The Rapsodo MLM is portable, affordable, and offers many features to help golfers track their swing metrics and analyze their form.
One of the standout features of the Rapsodo MLM is the shot tracer functionality, which allows golfers to see a shot’s trajectory in real-time, just like watching the pros on TV. Additionally, the app is intuitive and easy to use, allowing golfers to access all their stats from various practice sessions in one place.
While the Rapsodo MLM may not be as accurate as some of the more expensive launch monitors, it’s still an excellent value for the price, and the portability makes it easy to take to the driving range or use at home. Overall, if you’re looking for a portable launch monitor that offers valuable data to help improve your golf game, the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor is worth considering.
Read my full review of the Rapsodo MLM here.
Swing Caddie SC200 PLUS
Simple and easy-to-use launch monitor. If all you want is carry distance, swing speed, and ball speed at an affordable price, this is a great unit.
- Affordable pricing compared to other launch monitors
- Portable and lightweight design for easy transport
- Voice output for hands-free practice sessions
- Three versatile modes for different practice goals
- Decent accuracy for the average golfer
- Not as accurate as some high-end launch monitors
- AAA batteries not included
- May not be suitable for highly advanced golfers seeking professional-level data
Specs:
- Metrics: Carry distance, Swing speed, Ball speed, Smash factor
- Battery Life: 15-20 hours. Takes four AAA batteries (non-rechargeable)
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: No
- Price: $349
The Swing Caddie SC200 PLUS is a portable and affordable launch monitor that provides accurate ball speed, carry distance, and smash factor data. It has a user-friendly interface and is easy to set up, requiring no calibration.
The SC200 PLUS also has a voice function that announces your shot data after each shot, allowing you to stay focused on your swing. However, it has limitations in measuring data for longer shots and may struggle to measure data in windy conditions accurately.
It also does not provide data on spin rate or lateral movement. But for its price point, it’s an excellent option for golfers who want a reliable and portable launch monitor.
Read my full review of the SC200 Plus here.
Swing Caddie SC300i
One of the best sub $400 golf launch monitors with a built-in screen.
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Great price
- Accurate, especially outdoors
- Connects to free app
- Voice output option for distance
- Video playback
- 20-hour battery life
- Indoor accuracy could be better
Specs:
- Metrics: Carry & total distance, Swing speed, Ball speed, Smash factor, Launch Angle, Apex (Height), Spin (available via App)
- Battery Life: 20 hours
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: Yes
- Price: $399
The Swing Caddie SC300i golf launch monitor is a top-notch device that impressed me with its build quality, performance, and accuracy. The device is portable and easy to carry, with a sleek, modern design that makes it stand out. One of the most significant improvements over the SC200 Plus is that the SC300i provides spin data, launch angle, and apex.
The device is packed with features, including voice output and remote control, which is incredibly helpful when you’re absorbed in your swing. The MySwingCaddie app is slick, intuitive, and easy to use, and it tracks and saves all of your data.
The SC300i delivers impressive results at its price point. While it may not offer the same level of precision as more expensive launch monitors, it is significantly more affordable and provides valuable data on your swing. In addition, the device is easy to set up and navigate, and the user interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
Overall, the Swing Caddie SC300i offers superb value for money, making it an excellent option for golfers of all levels who want a high-quality product without breaking the bank. I highly recommend trying it if you’re looking for a reliable and portable launch monitor to help you improve your golf game.
Read my full review of the SC300i here.
Garmin Approach G80
Combines GPS and launch monitor tech into one single unit. Take this on the course with you as a GPS handheld, or bring it to the range to use as a launch monitor.
- GPS & Launch Monitor in one unit
- Easy to read
- Lightweight and compact
- Hole mapping
- Practice and games modes
- Swing tempo and smash factor
- No spin or launch angle metrics
- No club suggestion like other Garmin devices
Specs:
- Metrics: Carry & total distance, club and ball speed, swing tempo, and smash factor.
- Battery Life: 15 hours
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: No (self-contained)
- Price: $499
The Garmin Approach G80 is a great product that doubles as a GPS handheld and a personal launch monitor. Great to keep in your golf bag to use on the range and out on the course.
The launch monitor gives you basic metrics, including distance, club and ball speed, swing tempo, and smash factor. It does not consider spin, launch angle, or lateral data.
I love this product for its simplicity. You turn it on, set it next to the ball, and start hitting shots. It’s very accurate, and if you only want to measure speed and distance without needing an app, consider this launch monitor.
FlightScope Mevo
This is one of the most trusted launch monitors on the market. It is used by pros like Bryson DeChambeau and Bubba Watson to track their data. You can capture videos of yourself and send all the data straight to your smartphone or tablet for further review. It’s easy to use this indoors or outdoors.
- Fantastic price
- Accurate data indoors and outdoors
- Automatically video clips your swing
- Eight metrics
- Real-time data straight to your phone
- Compact and portable
- Must apply stickers to balls for accurate data indoors
- Temperature can affect the accuracy
Specs:
- Metrics: Carry distance, Club head speed, Ball speed, Smash factor, Vertical launch angle, Spin rate, Apex height, Flight time.
- Battery Life: 4 hours (rechargeable)
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: Yes
- Price: $425
The FlightScope Mevo is a portable launch monitor that provides real-time data feedback on distance, ball speed, spin rate, launch angle, and other metrics for golf and other sports. It’s affordable and accurate, making it an excellent option for golfers who want to improve their game without spending thousands of dollars on a high-end launch monitor.
The device is highly portable and easy to set up, with app integration allowing users to view and analyze their data on their smartphone or tablet. It captures videos of swings and offers video analysis tools to help golfers make specific improvements to their swing mechanics.
While it may not provide the same level of accuracy as higher-end devices like the Trackman or SkyTrak, the FlightScope Mevo offers accurate and reliable data feedback on key metrics like ball speed, spin rate, and launch angle. It’s a valuable tool for golfers looking to improve their performance and track their progress over time.
Read my full review of the Flightscope Mevo here.
Ernest Sports ESB1
A great personal launch monitor for $500. Accurate, easy to use and gets the job done.
- Portable, solid data points, app, and device screen display
- Easy to set up and get practing right away.
- Data points are displayed directly on the screen.
- You don’t need the app to use it (however, I recommend it)
- App is not the best design and could use improvement
- Bigger than other launch monitors in its price range
- Does not measure lateral data.
- Priced a bit higher than other comparable launch monitors
Specs:
- Metrics: Ball Speed, Club Speed, Distance (Total/Carry), Smash Factor, Spin Rate, Launch Angle.
- Battery Life: 20 hours
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: Yes
- Price: $499
The Ernest Sports ESB1 golf launch monitor is a device that measures ball speed, club speed, distance, smash factor, spin rate, and launch angle, which can help golfers identify areas where they can improve their swing and make better equipment choices.
The device connects to an app on your phone via Bluetooth and has a decent battery life that lasts for 20 hours of usage. The device is compatible with iOS and Android and has a protective bag and a one-year warranty.
It is a bit larger and bulkier than other launch monitors in the $300-600 space, measuring 5 x 8 inches, but it is lightweight. Setting up the device is straightforward and works well indoors and outdoors.
The app needs improvement in design and UX, but it is functional, with a standard practice mode, capture the flag, five-shot, and skills challenges. Overall, the ESB1 holds its own in terms of features, accuracy, and overall performance compared to other launch monitors in the $300-600 price range.
Read my full review of the ESB1 here.
PRGR
The PRGR launch monitor allows you to get the data right on the device, so you don’t need your phone or Wi-Fi to be available. It’ll track your info using Doppler radar and includes everything you need to get started. It can also be used for other sports to measure the speed of a baseball pitch or tennis shot.
- Excellent price
- Easy to use
- Accurate
- No need to connect to Wi-Fi
- Portable
- Good indoors and outdoors
- Data is limited compared to other options
Specs:
- Metrics: Ball speed, club speed, smash factor, carry distance and total distance.
- Battery Life: 15-20 hours. Takes four AAA batteries (non-rechargeable)
- Compatible Golf Simulators: No
- Companion App: No
- Price: $229
The PRGR Pocket Launch Monitor is the best budget golf launch monitor. You get everything you need at an incredible price to help improve your game.
This doppler radar option gives you key metrics such as swing speed, ball speed, carry distance, total distance, and smash factor. You can easily read all this information directly on the screen.
This launch monitor is super easy to use, and you don’t have to connect it to anything to get going. That lets you set it up anywhere and start working on your game.
Lightweight and slim, this launch monitor can be easily transported to the range. But it also works well indoors.
Cheap Launch Monitors: Compared
| Launch Monitor | Metrics | Battery Life | Compatible Golf Simulators | Companion App | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Approach R10 | Ball speed, Club head speed, Smash factor, Launch angle, Launch direction, Spin rate, Spin axis, Carry distance, Total distance, Club path angle, Club face angle, Angle of attack, Apex height, Shot dispersion and deviation | 10 hours (rechargeable) | Garmin Golf App, E6 Connect, Awesome Golf, The Golf Club 2019, Home Tee Hero | Yes | $599 |
| Rapsodo MLM | Ball speed, Launch angle, Launch direction, Club head speed, Carry distance, Total distance, Smash factor, Apex height | 8 hours (rechargeable) | No | Yes | $299 |
| Swing Caddie SC200 PLUS | Carry distance, Swing speed, Ball speed, Smash factor | 15-20 hours (takes four AAA batteries – non-rechargeable) | No | No | $349 |
| Swing Caddie SC300i | Carry & total distance, Swing speed, Ball speed, Smash factor, Launch Angle, Apex (Height), Spin (available via App) | 20 hours | No | Yes | $399 |
| Garmin Approach G80 | Carry & total distance, club and ball speed, swing tempo, and smash factor | 15 hours | No | No | $499 |
| FlightScope Mevo | Carry distance, Club head speed, Ball speed, Smash factor, Vertical launch angle, Spin rate, Apex height, Flight time | 4 hours (rechargeable) | No | Yes | $425 |
| Ernest Sports ESB1 | Ball Speed, Club Speed, Distance (Total/Carry), Smash Factor, Spin Rate, Launch Angle | 20 hours | No | Yes | $499 |
| PRGR Black Pocket Launch Monitor | Ball speed, club speed, smash factor, carry distance and total distance | 15-20 hours (takes four AAA batteries – non-rechargeable) | No | No | $229 |
What to Consider When Choosing a Cheap Launch Monitor
There are some essential factors to consider before making a decision. As someone who’s used different types of launch monitors, I can share my perspective on what to look for.
Accuracy
Accuracy is the most critical factor when choosing a golf launch monitor. If you’re investing in one to improve your game, you want to make sure you’re getting accurate data.
It’s not just about the device itself, though. You also need to set it up correctly and have enough space around you when using it indoors. Keep in mind that some launch monitors need more room than others, so make sure to check the requirements before buying one.
Metrics
Every launch monitor will track basic metrics like swing speed and carry distance, but some offer specific metrics to help you work on your weaknesses.
For example, a launch monitor that records attack angle would be ideal if you want to improve your driving distance. If you’re working to fix a slice, get a launch monitor that tracks lateral dispersion, like the Rapsodo MLM or Garmin R10.
Consider what specific data points you want to track before deciding.
Ease of Use & Portability
You want to take a golf launch monitor with you wherever you want to use it. Therefore, portability is something you’ll want to consider.
Every launch monitor on our list is portable, so you’ll have no problem taking any of them to the range. With some, you can even slip them into a pocket of your golf bag, and away you go.
A highly portable launch monitor is the best option if you like to do a lot of range work. But it’s always good to have some portability in a launch monitor.
Visual Feedback
Visual feedback is also something to consider when choosing a golf launch monitor. Some of the choices on our list connect to your device or an app, allowing you to track your shots.
Also, some launch monitors on our list offer video playback features for your swing. Recording and viewing your swing can be very beneficial to see any flaws you could work on.
Considering visual feedback is a must if you’re serious about improving your golf game.
Price
Golf launch monitors vary greatly in price, so it’s something to consider when choosing one. Of course, you’ll get much more from a premium launch monitor than a budget one.
Therefore, it’s essential to identify what you need from a launch monitor. If a cheaper model has everything you need, you don’t have to spend big to get the benefits.
However, serious golfers usually benefit more from launch models in the high-end price range.
FAQs
Do cheap launch monitors work?
Yes, cheap launch monitors can work well for beginners or casual golfers who want to track basic metrics like swing speed and distance. However, they may not be as accurate or offer as many advanced features as more expensive models.
How much is a good launch monitor?
The price of a good launch monitor can vary widely depending on the brand, features, and accuracy level. Generally, a high-quality launch monitor can cost several thousand dollars, while a more affordable option can range from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars.
What metrics can I expect to track with a cheap launch monitor?
With a cheap launch monitor, you can typically expect to track basic metrics like ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and carry distance. Some models may also offer additional metrics like swing speed, angle of attack, and shot shape.
How accurate are cheap launch monitors compared to higher-end models?
Cheap launch monitors may not be as accurate as higher-end models, especially when measuring spin rate and other more advanced metrics. However, they can still provide valuable data for beginners or casual golfers who want to improve their game.
What’s the difference between a cheap and an expensive launch monitor?
The main differences between cheap and expensive launch monitors are the accuracy level, range of metrics tracked, and additional features like video analysis and simulation. Expensive models offer more advanced features and higher accuracy, while cheaper models may only provide basic data.
Are launch monitors worth it?
Launch monitors can be worth it for serious golfers who want to improve their game and track their progress over time. They can provide valuable data on swing mechanics, ball flight, and club performance, which can help golfers make more informed decisions about equipment and training. However, a launch monitor may not be necessary or worth the investment for casual or occasional golfers.
