Of all the recently announced launch monitors, the new Rainmaker from Blue Tees Golf might be the most intriguing to me.
At $599, it’s aimed directly at some of the biggest names in the ~$500 radar space: the Voice Caddie SC4 Pro, and the Garmin Approach R10.
And this is one of those products that could go either way.
It could be a total category killer.
Or it could be DOA.
I don’t think there’s going to be much middle ground here.
So what will make it go one way or another? Here are my thoughts.
The Screen Might Be a Bigger Deal Than People Realize
From what I’ve seen so far, the built-in screen looks really good, and I love that it’s configurable.
It actually reminds me of the flexibility you get with the screen on the Full Swing Kit, just at nearly one-tenth the price.
That matters more than people think. Being able to customize what data you see, how it’s laid out, and glance down without needing your phone every time is a huge usability upgrade in this price range.
Most $600 devices feel like they’re built around the app first and the screen is an afterthought.
This doesn’t look like that.
If this lives up to it's potential it will absolutely be one of the best launch monitors you'll find for under $1,000.
The App Looks… Surprisingly Polished
This is where I was pleasantly surprised.
The Blue Tees app looks modern. Clean. Thoughtful.
It actually feels more in line with something like Full Swing or the new app from Foresight Sports than what we’ve traditionally seen at this price point.
But this is only based on screenshots, so who knows how it will actually perform in the real world. Looking good and functioning well are two different things. But if the experience matches the design, that’s a big step forward for the entry-level category.
Because let’s be honest: software is where most of these $500–$700 devices fall apart.
E6 Integration is Nice, but Table Stakes at This Point
I’m really curious how many E6 courses it comes with out of the box.
If it’s the standard 5, that’s fine.
If it’s more than that? That’s where it starts separating itself from the pack.
In this price range, bundled sim content matters. Most buyers aren’t looking to stack multiple subscriptions. They want something playable immediately.
If Blue Tees is aggressive here, it could absolutely stand out.
The Real Play: Ecosystem
Here’s what I think is actually most compelling.
This isn’t just about the launch monitor, but rather it’s about the ecosystem.
What Blue Tees is building feels like a blend of what Garmin has done — but maybe closer philosophically to what we’ve seen from Bushnell and Foresight.
You use the Rainmaker to dial in your real carry distances.
Then, on the course, either through the app or with their new Captain series rangefinders, you get smart club recommendations based on your actual data.
The fact Blue Tees can capture so much data all in one app, and then use that data to enhance you’re experience across both practice and play is really compelling.
And here’s where it gets really interesting:
The Price Changes the Conversation
For under $1,000 all in — including a rangefinder and their smart data system — you’ve got:
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A launch monitor
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A connected rangefinder
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Smart club recommendations
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And a subscription that’s basically $33/year if you go with the $99/3-year option
Compare that to what you’re spending if you go the route of something like a Bushnell Pro X3 Link-style setup or an Arccos Smart Laser equivalent.
You’re getting similar “smart caddie” functionality… for a fraction of the cost.
If it works, it has the potential to be pretty disruptive. Even if I’m not totally sold on the real-world usefulness of in-round club recommendations.
At $599, I wonder if the Hardware Will Actually be Accurate.
At $599, accuracy doesn’t have to match a $3,000 unit.
But it does have to be consistent, and in the right ballpark.
If spin numbers are all over the place, or short wedge data gets weird, or it struggles indoors, none of the ecosystem stuff matters.
But if the hardware is solid?
Blue Tees has a real chance to separate itself in this entry-level space.
Because right now, most $500ish launch monitors are just devices.
This feels like a system.
And that’s why I think the Rainmaker might be one of the most important launches in this category in a long time.
Now I’m very curious to see if it lives up to it.
You can pre-order the Rainmaker from Blue Tees now.
If this lives up to it's potential it will absolutely be one of the best launch monitors you'll find for under $1,000.
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