As golfers, we’re getting spoiled for choice as technology trickles down to make launch monitors and simulators more affordable than they’ve ever been.
In the last couple of years we’ve seen some wonderful products under $1,000. The Rapsodo MLM2PRo, the Garmin Approach R10, and the FlightScope Mevo. All of them are accurate enough to be useful tools and make your practice sessions more fun.
Recently, Swing Caddie released their new entry to the market: the SC4 launch monitor and simulator.
On paper? It might represent the best bang for the buck out of anything under $1,000.
It has a built-in screen, a remote, the ability to use it both indoors and outdoors, and connects with e6 Connect to make it into a true golf simulator. Oh, and it does all this while costing only $549.
But how does it work in practice?
Is it accurate? How does it work as a simulator? Is it easy to setup?
We’re going to answer all of these questions and more in this Swing Caddie SC4 review.
UPDATE September 2024: A Huge Price Reduction
Before I get into the full review, I wanted to give a quick update.
The price of the SC4 has officially dropped from $549 to $449, which on it’s own represents the best value of any launch monitor under $500.
But to go even further, they offered Breaking Eighty readers special pricing of $389.
This is nuts.
While accuracy isn’t quite on the level of some other devices in this range, it’s good enough to be useful.
And when you consider there’s no subscription fee like you’ll find on the Rapsodo MLM2PRO, it really makes for a compelling package.
I’ve continued to find the built-in screen useful, and while the app is still far from my favorite, they have made improvements to usability and design since this initial review.
For the price, the Swing Caddie SC4 is probably the best value on the market right now. And the fact that you can get it for $389? It makes it kind of a no-brainer in the under $500 market.
First Impressions of the Swing Caddie SC4
The previous generation of the SC4, the Swing Caddie SC300i was a unique device in the world of budget rangefinders. Specifically, it’s one of the only units to have a built-in screen.
Unfortunately, the app experience wasn’t great and it lacked some of the features that competitors provided at a similar price.
But for just getting basic numbers on the range? It was (and is) one of the easiest to use and more underrated launch monitors on the market.
With the SC4, Swing Caddie set out to improve upon every aspect of the previous generation, while leaning into the things that made it successful.
Swing Caddie has been doing a very good job with their packaging lately. Whether it’s the Voice Caddie T9 watch or the SL3 GPS rangefinder, everything I’ve reviewed has felt high-end and worthy of its price point (and then some).
The SC4 is no different.
The packaging is very thoughtful, and when you open it up it feels like an occasion. At $549, the SC4 is on the lower end of the launch monitor spectrum, but when you take it out of the box it feels like it’s on the same level as more expensive offerings from Rapsodo and FlightScope.
The unit itself is actually a bit smaller than I expected it to be, which is a good thing.
Despite its small size, the build quality is excellent. It doesn’t feel like a flimsy piece of plastic. The SC300i feels kind of cheap – this does not.
The exception to this is the glass covering the screen. While it’s fine, it does feel prone to fingerprints and scratches, so you’ll want to be careful when handling it.
The included remote tucks underneath the stand and is a very well-thought-out design.
Not only is this one of the only products in its class to have a built-in screen, but it’s also one of the only ones with a remote. This makes using it on the range so much more convenient.
One downside you’ll notice upon taking it out of the box, is that the Swing Caddie SC4 doesn’t come with any kind of a case. You can buy a portable case along with an alignment plate and portable battery for an extra $60, but this is definitely a bit of a bummer. Even a small nylon bag would have been welcome to help avoid scratching during transport.
And considering you can save $50 buying the SC4 using our code from Play Better, buying the $60 case is something I’d recommend. It’s a very well-built case, and it’s great for using as a stand if you’re trying to use at a range with uneven terrain.
But despite that one downside, everything about the SC4 feels like a product very worth of its price.
Setting up the Swing Caddie SC4
One of my favorite features of the Swing Caddie SC4 is the fact that it allows you to make your practice as simple or complex as you want it to be.
If you don’t want to deal with an app and just want to get some general distances? You literally turn it on, put it 5 feet behind you, and away you go.
But if you want to track distances, compare shots, or use simulator features then you can pair it to the MySwingCaddie app to have an experience similar to the Rapsodo, FlightScope and Garmin devices.
As far as setting up the SC4 on the range or at home, it’s a breeze. You only need to place it 5 feet behind you, which is the shortest distance I’ve seen for Doppler Radar-based units. Both the Rapsodo MLM2PRO and Garmin Approach R10 recommend 7 feet, and the FlightScope Mevo Plus is ideally 8.
So this gives you more flexibility, and it also helps make alignment easier.
Setting up the app is a little more involved, but is still a pretty simple and intuitive process.
In the MySwingCaddie app there’s a Bluetooth symbol in the top right. You select that, turn on the SC4, and it should pop up as an option. Select it, and you’re paired and good to go.
It’s worth noting if you already have a Voice Caddie device like the T9 watch – there are two different apps. I made the mistake of opening up the Voice Caddie app first and got confused when it wasn’t recognizing the SC4.
It’d be nice if the brand selected one common name (Voice Caddie and Swing Caddie are the same company), and also just used a single app similar to how Garmin has approached their golf app.