Basic Launch Monitor

[Sclaffer]

I would like to buy a basic launch monitor for 2 main reasons:

1.        Tell me how far I am hitting my drives at the range (I can no longer see the ball past 160 metres)

2.        Measure my work on increasing ball speed/distance via swing speed and smash factor

My short list is the PRGR launch monitor or Swing Caddie SC100 (each about US$200 on Amazon).

By the time I get it landed in South Africa it will be almost 30% more.

The Sports Sensors swing speed radar is real cheap +US$120 but seems it only does swing speed.

I sort of hope that monitoring smash factor will nudge me towards efficiently producing ball speed and away from just swinging as fast as possible.

Specific questions:

1.        Which of these 2 would you choose and why?

2.        Is there anything else up to US$300 you would buy and why?

3.        Does seeing smash factor on the screen really help you work on a more efficient swing?

Thanks 

[Zippo]

I can't speak to the PRGR but I do have the Swing Caddie 200. It's supposed to be an improvement over the SC100 and should be in the price range you're talking about. They now have an SC300 with some new features but it, of course, is more money.

I can't tell you how accurate my SC200 is as I've never run it against Trackman or the like but, for what you say you want, it would be suitable. It has club selection (you enter the lofts for each of your clubs), distance, swing speed, ball speed and Smash Factor. For me, the distance accuracy is less important than the consistency of measurements - this is what allows me to see if I'm improving while practicing. I'd manually record the data into Excel after each practice session so I'd have a longer term record and could see my trends.

Good luck whatever you choose.

[Sclaffer]

Tks Zippo. I am now leaning towards the SC200. May I ask:

Does the smash factor reading help you to work on swing and strike efficiency?

From experience, I am aware that a well timed swing gives as much, or more, distance then an all out effort.

But my muscles frequently forget this. 

I wonder if you have found the numerical feedback has helpful in this regard.

           

What does it output audibly? Club head speed? Smash factor? Distance?

 

Do you feel a mid handicapper (say 12) is consistent enough to use it to compare drivers?

To put it differently how many shots do you need to hit to form a reliable impression that 1 club is longer than another?

[Zippo]

On 11/15/2020 at 2:47 AM, Sclaffer said:

Tks Zippo. I am now leaning towards the SC200. May I ask:

Does the smash factor reading help you to work on swing and strike efficiency?

From experience, I am aware that a well timed swing gives as much, or more, distance then an all out effort.

But my muscles frequently forget this. 

I wonder if you have found the numerical feedback has helpful in this regard.

           

What does it output audibly? Club head speed? Smash factor? Distance?

 

Do you feel a mid handicapper (say 12) is consistent enough to use it to compare drivers?

To put it differently how many shots do you need to hit to form a reliable impression that 1 club is longer than another?

Sorry, @Sclaffer. I thought I'd posted a reply yesterday but I probably forgot to hit the submit button...

Anyway, I don't pay much attention to the smash factor. I haven't found it too relevant at this stage and at my handicap level. Others probably find it more useful.

The feedback I use the most (other than the actual ball flight, of course) is the yardage and swing speed. I work on trying to increase my swing speed with better technique - for what it's worth.

My SC 200 outputs only the yardage audibly.

I don't know enough to answer your question about a mid-handicapper comparing drivers with the Swing Caddy. I, when testing new or different drivers, do it in the store in front of a GC Quad or Trackman launch monitor.

I tried some different drivers earlier this year and it didn't take me too many shots with any of them to determine that none of them improved me enough to justify the expense over my current driver. But I'm an old geezer with various health issues so I'm sure my experiences do not apply generally. Most of the reviews I've seen on the Swing Caddy 200 indicate that yardage accuracy goes down a bit as distance goes up for drivers. I don't hit it far enough with a driver for there to be any issues with the yardage accuracy so I don't know if that's true or not..

[Sclaffer]

Thanks Zippo.

None of us are getting any younger.

I find it helpful to hear from guys who do not claim to hit their 5 iron 220 yards. 

[Guy In Lyon]

On 11/17/2020 at 7:59 AM, Sclaffer said:

I find it helpful to hear from guys who do not claim to hit their 5 iron 220 yards. 

I can hit a 5 iron 220 yards.

110 yards at a time.

[Yossarian]

speaking of SC100 and SC200: does anyone have issues with battery charge? I got a new one on ebay years ago, when I replace the batteries with new ones, they lasts 1 or max 2 hours of total active time (aggregated, not in one session), then it starts shutting down.

I kept replacing batteries, then one day I measured the ones I was throwing away and they were still more than 1.4V.

It seems to have a flawed battery discharge algorithm

[ncates00]

On 7/24/2020 at 4:01 PM, Sclaffer said:

1.        Which of these 2 would you choose and why?

2.        Is there anything else up to US$300 you would buy and why?

3.        Does seeing smash factor on the screen really help you work on a more efficient swing?

1) neither.

2) No.  Save your money and get something worth getting.  I probably wouldn't buy anything less than a skytrak or a used gc2.  I've heard decent things about the mevo though.

3) It's a useful metric, but not necessary.  You can probably feel whether you hit it solid or not.  Data points I find very helpful are: ball speed, start line, spin axis, and club head speed.  I didn't list launch angle, backspin, or carry as I find that when I have ball speed, spin axis, and start line in order, everything else seems to fall in place.  Club head speed is useful if you want to keep track what what you're putting into it and if you're seeing any gains.

[TourSpoon]

I just picked up a Mevo with their Black Friday deal. I researched the hell out of it before I bought it. Andrew Jensen (You Tube pro golfer) has some good content around it. I am mainly interested in flighting my wedges and really dialing in the distances. 

 

 

[iacas]

18 minutes ago, ncates00 said:

2) No.  Save your money and get something worth getting.  I probably wouldn't buy anything less than a skytrak or a used gc2.  I've heard decent things about the mevo though.

Mevo or Mevo+ (the former $450 or so, the latter >> SkyTrak).

7 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

I just picked up a Mevo with their Black Friday deal. I researched the hell out of it before I bought it. Andrew Jensen (You Tube pro golfer) has some good content around it. I am mainly interested in flighting my wedges and really dialing in the distances.

Did you get it through my link? 🙂

[TourSpoon]

3 minutes ago, iacas said:

Mevo or Mevo+ (the former $450 or so, the latter >> SkyTrak).

Did you get it through my link? 🙂

I bought the Mevo and I didn't know you had a link. I saw it on the thread for Black Friday specials. The Mevo+ was just a little more than I wanted to bite off but if I get crazy I will use your link no questions asked! 

[iacas]

6 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

I bought the Mevo and I didn't know you had a link. I saw it on the thread for Black Friday specials. The Mevo+ was just a little more than I wanted to bite off but if I get crazy I will use your link no questions asked! 

Sidebar, yeah. And here:

[TourSpoon]

@iacas it's hard to beat that 75 off and free shipping for Black Friday. 

[iacas]

19 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

@iacas it's hard to beat that 75 off and free shipping for Black Friday. 

You'd have gotten the same deal just clicking the link in the sidebar, but then it would have tracked as coming from here.