What is a Launch Monitor?
Technology in golf continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Today, golfers have so much at their disposal to help them improve their handicaps. Drivers with 460cc heads, large sweet spots, thin faces, you name it, golf clubs have it. But how do you know which golf club is the best fit for you?
You can go to your favorite retailer and demo virtually any club you desire. Again, however, how do you know if it's the right club for you? It might feel good, it might look good, but the fact is, you might be able to get more distance and better performance from a different club.
The real answer to finding out which club is the best for you is to be professionally fit by a qualified club fitter - and the best club fitters in the world will measure and analyze your swing by having you hit golf balls on a launch monitor. Now, launch monitors come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all need to accurately record data such as: swing speed, ball speed, carry distance, ball flight, and more. There are many companies with launch monitors and two, in paritcular, are leading the way - FlightScope and Trackman. The purpose of this site is to educate club fitters, golf professionals, and golfers about the best launch monitors in golf; and to explain why launch monitors can be such an invaluable tool when it comes to selecting a golf club, choosing which ball to play, and helping a golfer improve his/her ball-striking capabilities and knocking strokes off their scorecard.
FlightScope Launch Monitors:
FlightScope hit the market in the early 2000s with the FlightScope Kudu. The first to use 3D Doppler Tracking in golf, it can be used indoors and outdoors. The FlightScope Kudu tracks the entire trajectory of a ball in 3D until it lands; and indoors it tracks the ball until it hits the net. For more information on the FlightScope Kudu visit: http://www.flightscope.com/index.php/FlightScope-Kudu/flightscope-kudu.html
In 2010, FlightScope introduced the first-ever wireless launch monitor - the FlightScope Prime. This is pretty cool. Virtually every launch monitor ever created requires a nearby power outlet. That means, when an instructor wants to put you on a Launch Monitor and analyze your swing, you are hitting the ball in a perfect setting (or near perfect setting). But what about when you hit the ball from un-even lies? Out of a bunker? Out of rough? In the heat of a highly-competitive match? Think about it! You very rarely can have your swing analyzed in REAL situations. With the FlightScope Prime you can take this Launch Monitor anywhere on the golf course you desire and have your swing analyzed and have the data made available to you instantly! The FlightScope Prime can be used indoors and outdoors, on the range, on the course, and is easy to set up. For more visit: http://www.flightscope.com/index.php/FlightScope-Prime/flightscope-prime.html
TrackMan Launch Monitors:
TrackMan offers two launch monitors - the TrackMan Pro and the TrackMan Launch. Both offer very similar features and benefits.
Like all launch monitors, TrackMan products offer invaluable data to club fitters, golf professionals, and golfers. With TrackMan you can follow the flight of the ball up to 400-yards away. Golfers love to see their swing analyzed on launch monitors so they can get an accurate read on such readouts as: ball speed, club speed, their angle of attack, how far the ball carried, how far the estimated roll was, ball spin (great for helping a folfer determine what type of ball they should play), and more.
For more information on TrackMan launch monitors: http://www.trackman.dk/