Launch Monitor. Do they really work?

bigearnucsd · September 5, 2008

I'm a bit skeptical about the launch monitors. First of all i feel like unless you are a low handicapper who has a pretty consistent swing, it's hard to come up with an accurate results through the monitor. i'm a 14-handicapper and when i do the launch monitor, i'm all over the place in terms of swing speed and launch angle. For instance, when i went to golfsmith, i was hitting in the low 90s but when i went over to the roger dunn, i was hitting in the high 90s and occasional low 90s and low 100s.

i feel like the fitting systems that the companies offer are more effective for low handicap consistent players and it's just a marketing gimmick for the rest of the general average golfers.

**TinCupTampa** · September 5, 2008

For spin and swing speed I think they are accurate. They do not account for ball or driver conditions.

**firstcut** · September 5, 2008

I'm a bit skeptical about the launch monitors. First of all i feel like unless you are a low handicapper who has a pretty consistent swing, it's hard to come up with an accurate results through the monitor. i'm a 14-handicapper and when i do the launch monitor, i'm all over the place in terms of swing speed and launch angle. For instance, when i went to golfsmith, i was hitting in the low 90s but when i went over to the roger dunn, i was hitting in the high 90s and occasional low 90s and low 100s.

Some good points...

As a 20+ HCp I'm even worse than you. That said, a buddy and I took over a the launch monitor at a local store for an hour one day. He wrote down EVERY single swing that looked decent. i.e. he threw out the bad ones. We used the good ones to make a determination on what would work for me. SO, the good news is that the driver I have because of that day hits better than any driver I've ever hit. The bad news is that "stock", I could only get the weight and kickpoint the monitor told me I needed in a stock stiff shaft. So, when I hit the ball and hit it correctly, the path is now AMAZING. When I hit it wrong, because it's a stiff shaft, the path is still amazing, but 60 yards to the right. So, I learned what weight stick I need and what kickpoint and face degree I need as well as what shaft. What I couldn't do was put it all together without ordering a club (which is what I should have done and am now paying extra to re-shaft the club). And the store guys don't always encourage you to order if they can get you in a club right then. So, in short.. Yes, I think they work if (a You spend enough time with it (b The guy with you knows what he is doing and cares and (c you use the information to get the exact stick the info tells you to and not the stick that has most of what you need. As always, YMMV. Good luck!

bigearnucsd · September 5, 2008

Great point firstcut. I guess if you spend fair amount of time on the launch monitor, you can analyze your swing better even if your inconsistent.

i guess the difficulty is
1. stores don't want to spend a long time to analyze your swing and collect data.
2. hard to find guys who really knows what he's doing and cares.
3. they genrally try to recommend the general that they have it in their stock.

may be i'll just have a thick skin and spend hours on the monitor and see what numbers i get...

paulthewitt · September 5, 2008

i tend to agree with you. If you have a day where you swing fast and they then "fit" you with a stiffer shaft to complement this, it is going to be useless/not beneficial if you go away and return to your normal slower swing.

Unless you can be consistent 90% or more of the time, it could in my opinion actually produce a negative result.

*edit: good point made by firstcut above. However, in the UK at least i wish you good luck to finding anyone who will let you near a monitor for a decent length of time without wanting to charge you an arm and a leg for the privilage.

sct12 · September 5, 2008

Launch monitors are accurate in that they will give you accurate readings with ball speed swingspeed and launch angle but if you can go to a semi private club and get fit by a pro outdoors that is the most accurate results you could get. The distances are all bs b/c they can add yards or turn on power boosts which ive seen happen while waiting to get into a launch monitor.

**Harry Longshanks** · September 5, 2008

I SOOOOOOOOO want one of these for my house:

Anyone want to give me $5000 (Vector - $3200 + flat screen + software)

**joshtpa** · September 5, 2008

I have been eyeing one of those for months.

bigearnucsd · September 5, 2008

you should buy it, charge people $10 per use and after 500 people, you can make your money back. Shoot, i'll pay $10 to use it if i can use it freely without feeling pressure to buy anything else.

**CarlJr** · September 6, 2008

So, I learned what weight stick I need and what kickpoint and face degree I need as well as what shaft.

I've never used a launch monitor, so I don't understand exactly what they do...

But what information did you get from the launch monitor that led you to know all of that?

**golf_junkie27** · September 6, 2008

I've never used a launch monitor, so I don't understand exactly what they do...

The machine gives you that information. Most fitters will also give you a print out. It will list Spin Rate, Sidespin, Launch Angle, Swing Speed, Distance, Carry Distance, Ball Speed and Trajectory Pattern.

Some of these machines are more elaborate and can take pics of your swing at impact. By doing so, they can provide you with your "smash factor."

**CarlJr** · September 6, 2008

The machine gives you that information. Most fitters will also give you a print out. It will list Spin Rate, Sidespin, Launch Angle, Swing Speed, Distance, Carry Distance, Ball Speed and Trajectory Pattern.

Meaning the launch monitor will tell you the optimal shaft weight for you, high/low/med kickpoint, etc? Or you input the spin rate, sidespin, launch angle, etc into some sort of computer program and it suggests various clubs and shafts?

**Cesar** · September 6, 2008

I'm a bit skeptical about the launch monitors. First of all i feel like unless you are a low handicapper who has a pretty consistent swing, it's hard to come up with an accurate results through the monitor. i'm a 14-handicapper and when i do the launch monitor, i'm all over the place in terms of swing speed and launch angle. For instance, when i went to golfsmith, i was hitting in the low 90s but when i went over to the roger dunn, i was hitting in the high 90s and occasional low 90s and low 100s.

Unless I can see the ball fly, I have a hard time believing a launch monitor. I just can't see how anyone can really make a determination by hitting it into a net 10 feet in front of them.

When I got fitted for my driver, I went to a local pro/clubfitter that has a setup on the driving range. I could compare what I was seeing/feeling every shot to what the launch monitor said. The guy also knew his stuff. If you're lucky enough to have anyone around that can do that for you, it would definitely be worthwhile.

**joshtpa** · September 6, 2008

Unless I can see the ball fly, I have a hard time believing a launch monitor. I just can't see how anyone can really make a determination by hitting it into a net 10 feet in front of them.

Do you believe it is all a conspiracy theory? Physics and math are the same and what makes the ball travel.

**Cesar** · September 6, 2008

Do you believe it is all a conspiracy theory? Physics and math are the same and what makes the ball travel.

I don't believe it's a conspiracy, I just don't trust that every single launch monitor in existence is accurate. I've hit on some at golf shops that the numbers being produced just didn't seem right to me.

If I can't see the ball flight and be able to validate it, I just don't have the peace of mind that I made the right decision until I go out on the course. I dunno, maybe I'm just old school, but if I'm making a decision to drop a few hundred $$$ on a club, I want to make sure I have all the information available to me before I do it and I think seeing the ball flight is important information.

**Harry Longshanks** · September 6, 2008

I don't believe it's a conspiracy, I just don't trust that every single launch monitor in existence is accurate. I've hit on some at golf shops that the numbers being produced just didn't seem right to me.

I agree with both you and The Birdieman. In a perfect world, you would be using a LM on a grass range so you could get both actual ballflight and things you can't see with the naked eye like backspin, sidespin, launch angle, etc.

But if you hit indoors, I think that a LM is the only way to get a benefit out of it. Sadly, I don't have $4,000+ for that kind of luxury.

**golf_junkie27** · September 7, 2008

Meaning the launch monitor will tell you the optimal shaft weight for you, high/low/med kickpoint, etc? Or you input the spin rate, sidespin, launch angle, etc into some sort of computer program and it suggests various clubs and shafts?

Based on spin rate, trajectory (launch angle), sidespin, yes, your fitter can make recommendations. From personal experience, a proper fitting would involve hitting multiple shafts of the same flex. Not all shafts are created equally and not all flexes are the same. Only by measuring CPM can you come to an exact flex and by puring it, will you be able to lock in.

It is my personal belief that it is cheaper and more beneficial to have a personal fitter customize a shaft and combine it with a proper head than it is to purchase a driver off the shelf.

**Armonster20** · September 8, 2008

As a high handicapper with a wicked slice, I can tell you that launch monitors do not accurately measure ball spin. All of my drives were magically somewhat straight. The ones that weren't straight down the middle started to the right or left and flew straight in that direction. In real life, my ball starts straight down the middle and then takes a 90 degree turn to the right. I've spent some time with a LM and never saw that happen once.

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Launch Monitor. Do they really work?

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