Bushnell Launch Pro Review: Wow, Things Have Changed…

This post was updated March of 2024 to provide an update about the FSX software package that is currently being offered with the Launch Pro.

The Bushnell Launch Pro came out late in 2021, and it took the golf tech world by storm.

After Bushnell acquired Foresight Sports in the Summer of 2021, a lot of people were left wondering: what are they going to do with it?

The first big product to be released came in the form of the Bushnell Launch Pro launch monitor.

And ever since I first heard that Bushnell had a launch monitor coming out, I’ve been very excited to get my hands on one.

And now, I finally have.

It’s essentially the exact same product as the Foresight GC3 launch monitor, but instead of starting at $5,999 it starts at $1,999*.

*Too good to be true? Maybe. We’ll cover that below.

I’ve spent the last two years putting the Launch Pro through its paces, exploring all the features it has to offer, and using it as my reference launch monitor for all of my launch monitor reviews – not to spoil too much, but it’s the most accurate one I’ve got.

What you’re going to find in this Bushnell Launch Pro review is an honest take on my experience with it, and more importantly, feedback to help you decide if you should buy one or not.

I think you might be surprised with what I found, because to be honest? I’m surprised with what I found.

March 2023 Update: One Year of FSX for Free

Real quick before we jump into the full Launch Pro review, I wanted to fill you in on a quick update.

Bushnell just recently announced that if you buy a Launch Pro, you’ll get 1 year of the FSX Golf subscription for FREE.

This is a pretty huge deal.

This means you can use FSX Play (my favorite simulator software), FSX 2020, and FSX Pro mobile app for free for a year.

On top of that, the Gold Package allows you to use 3rd party apps like GS Pro. So if you want to use GS Pro, Awesome Golf, or other compatible simulator software, you won’t have to pay that extra $500 up front for the first year.

This is a temporary deal and I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but if I had to guess it’ll be through the Masters.

And if you’re just now discovering the Bushnell Launch Pro, then this may not mean anything to you. Watch the video above or read the rest of this review and it will all make more sense!

You can get the $500 Gold Package here.

And with that, on to the full review!

First Impressions of the Bushnell Launch Pro

Most of the devices I review on Breaking Eighty are consumer-level launch monitors. Products like the Rapsodo MLM, Garmin Approach R10, and even the more prosumer FlightScope Mevo+ are small, light, and portable.

I knew the Launch Pro would be bigger than those devices, but when the package showed up in the mail, I was still a little caught off guard by just how heavy it was.

Taking the Launch Pro out of the box, it’s clear this thing means business.

The Launch Pro truly is a professional launch monitor. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as from a hardware standpoint it’s a GC3. Straight up. Exact same thing.

And after testing the two side by side, I can confirm this is true: nearly identical numbers on every shot.

Related: GC3 vs. Launch Pro vs. GCQuad

The package comes with the device, a power adapter, an alignment stick, and a small quick-start instruction book.

We’ll get to that “quick start” in a minute.

One of the things I immediately appreciate about the Launch Pro is the fact there’s a built-in screen, that’s situated in the perfect position to actually be useful.

One of the major differences between the Launch Pro and most launch monitors out there is how it captures your data.

Rather than using Doppler radar, it uses a series of 3 precision cameras to track your ball and club data.

Because of this, instead of being placed behind the ball like most launch monitors, it’s placed just a couple of feet to the side of where you’ll hit.

This means that when you want to look down to see your stats, it’s right there in front of you. It also means it takes up far less space if you’re using it as a simulator setup at home where you don’t have a ton of room.

Other devices force you to turn around, or look at an iPad or computer to get your data. So this quick, perfectly positioned visual is a really nice feature.

I can’t imagine anyone’s first impression of the Launch Pro being anything other than: “wow, this is absolutely everything I expected it to be.”

It looks high-end, it feels high-end, and it truly is a professional launch monitor.

But…

What does that mean if you’re an average consumer who is thinking about picking one up?

There’s some stuff you need to know.

The Launch Pro may be the launch monitor of your dreams and everything you’ve been waiting for.

But there’s a good chance that it’s also….not.

Setting Up the Bushnell Launch Pro (Don’t Let This Scare You…Too Much)

It doesn’t seem like the Bushnell Launch Pro should be difficult to setup.

After all the quick-start instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

But my setup process was less than smooth.

I’d like to think I’m a pretty tech-savvy person. I mean, I literally review golf technology products for a living – so using and setting up products should be pretty straightforward.

But I had a very tough time getting the Launch Pro set up properly.

Most of the major problems I think stemmed from wifi connection issues.

Initially, everything seemed straightforward and good to go.

I used the QR code provided on the device to register my product and to setup a Foresight account to get access to the app and features.

We’ll talk more in-depth about subscription features later on, but when you buy the Launch Pro you get a 1 year “Basic” subscription for free which comes with limited data and features. After the first year it’s $249.

With that you also get a 30-day trial to their $699 “Gold” subscription to try out everything.

When you login to the Bushnell Launch Pro and the app on the same wifi network, the app should tell the Launch Pro you have the trial, and unlock everything.

It wasn’t doing that for me.

No matter what I did I couldn’t get it to register.

To make things worse, my first time out with the device, I couldn’t get it to register a ball at all. I restarted it three times, and nothing. 

I gave up after an hour.

The next time out, I fared a bit better.

I set it up, and it immediately was tracking my shots. App connections and the Gold trial were still a work in progress, however.

Let’s cut to the chase: when setting up and pairing, the wifi can be problematic.

I needed to have my iPad and Launch Pro on the same WiFi network to get it to register the Gold package. At my club, they only have an open WiFi network that doesn’t have a password. With the Launch Pro, you have to use it on a network with a password. I called support, and they verified this.

Apparently, this is a thing with some of these wifi-enabled devices. We ran into a similar problem trying to use a Nanit baby monitor at the Four Seasons Punta Mita awhile back.

The Launch Pro also wouldn’t recognize my phone hotspot.

If you can connect the Launch Pro via ethernet, or have it be on the same Wifi network as your iPad or computer, it’s a much smoother experience.

While on the range I connected the app using the WiFi network the Launch Pro puts out, which worked fine. But also since I don’t have a cellular plan on my iPad, it kept me from accessing the internet while I was connected. This was part of the setup frustration with getting the device paired and registered with my Foresight account.

The Launch Pro also doesn’t have Bluetooth built-in, which I feel like could have solved some of these setup issues. For such an expensive device, it would have been nice to see this as an option.

All that to say, it was a multi-hour process to get it setup for me, and even once it was setup, I’ve had some occasional issues with app connectivity. But generally speaking, we’re in much better shape now.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get back to talking about how good this device is once you actually get it setup!

Using the Bushnell Launch Pro for Practice

One of my requirements when buying a new house last year was (half-jokingly) it needed space for a golf simulator.

We made multiple offers on houses with space for one.

But one of the only downsides to the house we did get, was that there really isn’t enough space to swing a golf club indoors. Both my office and garage ceilings are just a little bit too low.

I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal until I started reviewing so many launch monitors!

That said, when I first got it setup, I was at home in my office.

One of the great things about the Launch Pro is just how quickly you can start using it.

With the Mevo+, you really need to spend a few minutes calibrating and checking the settings before each session.

With the Launch Pro, you literally turn it on, give it 30 seconds to get going, and you’re ready to rock.

Sure you can adjust the particulars in the Foresight FSX Pro app, or use the included alignment stick to make sure it’s properly aligned, but I’ve found it to have very accurate results with little to no tweaking.

I started by placing a ball and putting it in my office.

Immediately got results.

Hit one harder? Softer? The speed adjusted perfectly.

I was actually pretty shocked by how well it worked.

On the range? 

Distances seem damn near perfect when compared with my rangefinder. This has been confirmed numerous times over the past year with all my additional testing.

Despite being much larger and heavier than anything else I’ve used, I’ve enjoyed using it on the range without the app.

Like I said, in 30 seconds you can be immediately getting pinpoint accurate distances and stats displayed directly on the device.

Very simple. 

Getting Club Data on the Bushnell Launch Pro

One thing worth noting is that the display on the Launch Pro has 3 screens that rotate through. One is for registering your ball and hitting. The next has metrics included in the basic package like carry distance, ball speed, total spin rate, and a few others.

But the third screen includes all of your club statistics like Angle of Attack, Club Path and others.

You only have access to the club data statistics if you bought the “Ball and Club Data” version of the Launch Pro.

After each shot it rotates back and forth between these two screens. If you only have the “Ball Data” package it will just show you  “—“.

You can go into the settings and turn off “club data” but that didn’t used to be an option. So if you don’t have that data package, be aware of it, and turn it off if things get too annoying.

We’re going to talk about this a lot more in pricing below, because the way Bushnell is doing this now is totally different than how they did it when the Launch Pro first came out.

Using the Foresight Sports FSX Pro App

One of the things I’ve loved about both the FlightScope Mevo+ and SkyTrak+ is the way they blend the consumer and professional experience so well.

When you want them to be an easy, consumer-level experience? You can do that. 

The FSX Pro app definitely leans towards the professional side of things. 

It’s not trying to dumb anything down for the casual golfer.

This is meant for people who need accurate data on their golf swing and their clubs, and most importantly, know what to do with that data.

So if you’re a total data nerd and you’re trying to compare two different 7 irons, or want to compare results as you make little tweaks to your driver?

The Launch Pro is a fantastic device for that, as it will give you the accuracy and data tools you need to be able to rely on the information you get.

The Mevo+ data is very good when it’s setup properly, but I don’t trust it nearly as much as the information I get from the Launch Pro. 

Quite simply the Bushnell Launch Pro is the most accurate launch monitor on the market for under $3,000. 

Using the Bushnell Launch Pro as a Simulator with FSX Play

When I initially did my Bushnell Launch Pro review, I didn’t have a gaming PC to be able to use FSX 2020 or FSX Play – the two first-party simulator solutions for the Launch Pro.

I didn’t realize just how much I was missing out and how incomplete this review would be without it.

FSX Play is the newest simulator software from Foresight, and it’s basically FSX 2020 with far better graphics, and a few less features as it gets built out.

You can get access to these if you spend $499 on the Gold subscription.

Using FSX Play is quite simply the very best simulator experience I’ve had on a consumer-level device.

Playing Pebble Beach on it, the graphics are stunning, and the usability is so seamless and easy to setup.

It takes the headaches out of simulator golf (I’m looking at you, e6 Connect), and simply makes it fun to play.

Downside? You need a fairly beefy gaming PC. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t come with any mobile simulator options, and to use any simulator options (even 3rd party ones), you’ll need to either get the Gold subscription or unlock the device.

When you compare industry-leading software, industry-leading accuracy, and now an admittedly very surprising price point – this is hands down one of the very best golf simulator options currently on the market.

Bushnell Launch Pro Subscriptions and Pricing

Pricing with the Launch Pro has been….confusing, so let’s lay out everything as it sits right now.

Since the release of the Launch Pro it feels like Bushnell has changed its pricing structure nearly every other month.

Whether it’s the price of the unit itself, the subscription packages, or add-ons to the device.

When the Launch Pro first came out there was one price: $3,999 and it included both ball and club data.

As of right now in October 2023, they’ve changed again.

There are now two models of the Launch Pro: “Ball Data” only and “Ball and Club” data.

You can get the “ball only” Launch Pro for the shockingly low price of $1,999.

If you want Ball and Club Data, the unit is currently $3,499.

For comparison purposes, the Foresight GC3 equivalent comes in at $5,999 and $7,499 respectively.

So what’s different? Why wouldn’t you just get the Launch Pro?

Subscriptions.

The GC3 is fully unlocked. This means you get access to the full software suite of FSX Play, FSX 2020, FSX Pro, Awesome Golf, and the ability to sync up with other 3rd party simulator solutions like GSPro and e6 Connect.

With the Launch Pro in order to get all of this you have to pay for the Gold Package which is $499/year.

Still not a terrible deal when you consider you can pay for 5 years of that and it’ll still be less than the GC3.

Here’s Why You Should Consider the Launch Pro Over the GC3

Even with the subscription in terms of short-run cost, the Launch Pro feels like it’s the better deal.

You used to be able to unlock the Launch Pro for a one-time fee. This essentially made the Bushnell the exact same as the Foresight GC3 – but in doing it, the cost ended up being about $500 less.

Now, Bushnell has completely removed that option, and also done away with the confusing Basic, Silver, and Gold tier subscriptions.

The only subscription there is now is the “Gold” Tier which costs $499 a year.

With this, you get: 

• FSX Play
• FSX 2020
• FSX Pro for iOS
• 25 Simulator Courses
• Ability to save sessions, create players, record unlimited clubs, and more

The Gold Package also unlocks the ability to use 3rd party simulator software. 

This is a sticking point for a lot of people, as previously, you didn’t need this package to use products like GSPro. The much less expensive “Basic” tier would give you this access.

Now you’ll have to pay your  $499 annual Bushnell subscription, on top of many other third-party annual fees.

But there’s good news. 

When you join Gold, you do get included access to Awesome Golf for no extra charge. While the graphics may not be on the same level as other software options, it’s undoubtedly one of the most fun ways to use a golf simulator.

Here are the compatible software options and costs:

• Awesome Golf (Included with Gold, but NOT included with the Gold Trial. You only get access once you full purchase the membership).
• GSPro ($250/year add on)
• E6 Connect (Not yet available, but coming soon)
• Creative Golf ($1,200 add on)
• Swing Catalyst ($149 add on)
• The Golf Club 2019 (Purchase separately)

So the question remains GC3 or Launch Pro?

Well for the Ball Only models it’s $1,999 for the Bushnell and $5,999 for the GC3 – a $4,000 difference.

I love the idea of the “Season Pass” mindset.

Meaning, as a someone who skis (stick with me here), I’d rather pay a one time fee for a season pass, than pay the daily fee every time I go up to the mountain.

Even if I don’t ski enough to actually make the more expensive season pass “worth it,” it’s worth it to me to pay it once, not have to think about it, and ski as much or as little as I want.

I’d love to do this for the GC3/Launch Pro.

I’d much prefer to pay a one-time fee and not think about it again.

BUT, when you consider that it will take 8 years of ownership before the Launch Pro hits the same price as the GC3 – I think it makes sense for most people to go with the Launch Pro.

And to be honest, pricing has changed so often at this point, that it wouldn’t surprise me if this changes again in the not-so-distant future.

After fully testing the Foresight GC3, I generally prefer it over the Launch Pro. But most of this just comes down to some annoying setup issues and the subscription model of the Launch Pro.

If it were a $2k difference between the two devices? I’d probably just pay the extra money for the GC3 and call it good.

But at $4k? That’s a ton of extra money for essentially the same product.

So take that for what it’s worth.

If you’re also considering going for the big dog and getting a GCQuad, then check out our Launch Pro vs. GC3 vs GCQuad comparison.

Bushnell Launch Pro vs. FlightScope Mevo+ vs. SkyTrak +

When the Launch Pro came out it was one category above the Mevo Plus in price, and the SkyTrak + didn’t exist.

But now at the end of 2023, all 3 of these are very competitive products, and each bring their own benefits to the table.

So which one is right for you?

Let’s take a look:

Buy the Bushnell Launch Pro if:

• Accuracy matters more than anything else
• Space is a concern
• You’re planning to use it predominantly in a permanent at-home simulator or practice setup
• You’re a golf-teaching professional
• You’re a club-fitter
• It fits within your budget
• It’s important to have visual data on the launch monitor itself, so you don’t always have to use an app
• You don’t mind paying a significant premium for software and Club data

Buy the FlightScope Mevo+ if:

• Portability is a big priority for you and you’ll be moving your unit around a lot.
• You want the cheapest option that includes accurate club data. Depending on sales, the Mevo Plus with Pro Package can often be found for around $2600. Compared to $2,995 for SkyTrak, and $3,499 for Launch Pro.
• You’d like to have simulator compatibility without having to shell out for a gaming PC.
• You’re looking for an easier-to-use, more consumer-friendly experience that still offers professional features
• You want to pay one price and have as many features as possible with no subscription
• You take a “close counts” approach to device accuracy
• You live outside USA, as the Launch Pro is for US residents only

Buy the SkyTrak+ if:

• Ease of use is most important. Of the 3 I’ve found it to be the most-user friendly
• You want the most modern mobile interface. This is the best of the bunch when just getting your data and numbers using their driving range app.
• You want ball and club data for one price. Unlike FlightScope and Bushnell you’re not paying more for club data. 
• Space is a concern and you want something that doesn’t have to sit 8 feet behind the ball. 
• You live outside USA, as the Launch Pro is for US residents only

This isn’t to say a teaching professional can’t absolutely use a Mevo+ or that you can’t absolutely take the Launch Pro out to the range every day.

All of these launch monitors are excellent at what they do.

The Launch Pro is clearly geared more towards professionals, or professional setups. And while the Mevo+ can be used in a professional-ish environment, it’s consumer-friendly enough for the average golfer to use on a regular basis. The same goes for the SkyTrak+

If features, cost, and portability are more important than anything? Buy the Mevo+

If accuracy and the very best simulator experience is more important than anything? Buy the Bushnell Launch Pro.

If you want something that is in between and provides the best of both worlds? Buy the SkyTrak+

Final Thoughts on the Bushnell Launch Pro

The original title of this review was “Bushnell Launch Pro: It’s Fantastic…But…”

Right now, there are far fewer “buts” than there were when the Launch Pro first came out.

To get the absolute best experience, yes, it’s still expensive. But with club data now available ala carte, you’re now able to get most of the way there for a starting price significantly less than where it has been.

The Launch Pro is now in direct competition with the Mevo Plus and SkyTrak+ – and there’s a more compelling reason than ever to go with the Bushnell.

Sure there are still plenty of “plus, plus” items when you add in a gaming PC, and simulator studio. But you’d have that with other products as well if you’re truly doing a build-out at home.

At its current pricing, the Launch Pro is one of the most compelling golf simulators on the market.

Just don’t be fooled by the rock-bottom $1,999 starting price.

At that point, you might be comparing it to the Mevo Plus, but while the unit itself may be a bit more accurate, you don’t get club data and you’re going to have to still splash out for the $499 annual subscription.

 If your budget is firmly in the $2k range, I’d get the Mevo Plus over the Launch Pro.

But all that to say, Bushnell is doing everything it can to make a good case for investing in the Launch Pro. 

And for the first time since its release, I can safely say it’s a very good case, with very few “buts” to go along with it

This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn’t affect our opinions or our reviews. Everything we do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of our reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible.

If you do decide to buy a Launch Pro, I recommend you pick one up from PlayBetter.com. I’ve had a fantastic experience with them, customer service is great, and there’s free two-day shipping.

 

One of the very best golf launch monitors for most people

9.3 Awesome

Now that Bushnell has updated their pricing, the fact you can get a ball-data enabled Launch Pro for under $2k makes this a serious contender. But an expensive $500/year subscription will definitely make some golfers look elsewhere.

The Good

1. New pricing options make upfront cost more wallet-friendly
2. As accurate as it gets for the price
3. FSX Play is excellent

The Bad

1. Subscription fee is very high
2. Minor display annoyances
3. Constant changes to subscription makes me wary long term

• Presentation 10
• Performance 9
• Price 9
• Personal Affinity 9