What Is the Best Golf Launch Monitor Under $1,000?
Garmin Approach R10 vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO vs Swing Caddie SC4 Pro vs Square Golf— out of these best affordable golf launch monitors, which one is right for you? Our golf reviewer, Marc, goes deep into the details to help you decide!
Updated January 2025 to include Square Golf Launch Monitor and Swing Caddie SC4 Pro
Garmin Approach R10 vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO vs Swing Caddie SC4 Pro vs Square Golf Launch Monitor—out of these best affordable golf launch monitors, which one is right for you? Our golf reviewer, Marc, goes deep into the details to help you decide!
It was only a few years ago that “affordable” and “best golf launch monitor” didn’t belong in the same sentence.
See, if you were shopping for one of these things, you were left with a simple decision: drop some serious coin to get something really good or go the budget route and just accept that the data you were getting was dubious at best.
That all changed in 2021 when Garmin released the Approach R10. Finally, there was a golf launch monitor for under $1,000 capable of producing really accurate data and that could be used as a simulator.
Then, competition arrived. The Rapsodo MLM2PRO and Swing Caddie SC4 quickly challenged Garmin’s stranglehold on the affordable launch monitor market.
Now, the game has changed yet again with the introduction of the Square Golf Launch Monitor and the SC4’s upgraded version, the SC4 Pro. Suddenly, we’ve got even more choices.
It’s great to have options, but with so much information out there, it can be overwhelming.
In this updated comparison, I’ll settle the Square Golf vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO vs Swing Caddie SC4 Pro vs Garmin Approach R10 debate using 10 different categories and a scoring scale of 0 through 5.
Pay close attention to the categories that apply most to your individual priorities and use cases. By the end, you’ll know which is the best golf launch monitor under $1,000 for you.
Let’s dive in!
Golf Launch Monitor and Simulator Price
Garmin Approach R10: $599.99
Swing Caddie SC4 Pro: $599.99
Rapsodo MLM2PRO: $699.99
Square Golf: $699.99
Garmin = 4; Rapsodo = 3; Swing Caddie = 5; Square = 5
Compared to the rest of the golf launch monitor market, all these devices are incredible bargains, offering reliable accuracy and simulator compatibility for under $1,000.
The Square Golf Launch Monitor earns the highest mark because it delivers a photometric device at a price point previously unheard of, and there are no subscription fees. And its pay-as-you-go simulator model is a game changer for cost-conscious users.
The Swing Caddie SC4 Pro also scores a 5 for its no-subscription model and excellent feature set at just $599.99.
The Garmin Approach R10 remains a strong value at $599.99, but its subscription fees for premium features bring its score down slightly compared to the no-subscription options.
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO offers fantastic features but comes in at $699.99—higher than the SC4 Pro and Garmin. While the new Lifetime Membership option eliminates ongoing fees, it costs an additional $499, which holds the MLM2PRO score down.
First Impressions Upon Unboxing
Garmin = 4; Rapsodo = 5; Swing Caddie = 4; Square = 5
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO remains the standout for presentation, with its sleek carrying case and polished build quality. I’m not sure what it says about me that I talk about golf tech using terms like “sex appeal,” but my first impression of the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is that it’s just, well, sexy. It looks and feels high quality, classy, and sophisticated right out of the box.
The Square Golf Launch Monitor likewise makes a big-time first impression thanks to the inclusion of a first-of-its kind Swing Stick, which we’ll get into below. Opening a Square is totally different than opening any other golf launch monitor I’ve tried.
The Swing Caddie SC4 Pro shares the same minimalist approach as its predecessor, but its improved app and spin metrics make it a more exciting package as soon as you turn it on.
The Garmin R10 is no slouch. The first thing that jumps out is how tiny the device itself is, literally just the size of a deck of cards. But the large carrying case remains bulky and overkill, knocking its score slightly.
Ease of Setup
Garmin = 4; Rapsodo = 4; Swing Caddie = 5; Square = 5
The Square Golf and Swing Caddie SC4 Pro shine here in a big-time way. To put it simply, it doesn’t get any easier to set up a golf launch monitor than with these two products. In the case of both, you’ll be recording shot data within about a minute of powering up the device.
With the SC4 Pro’s built-in display, you don’t even need to connect to the app to get data. It’s literally as simple as turning on the launch monitor, going through the easy alignment, and firing shots.
While the Square Golf does require interaction with the app, they make it so, so simple. For a device that doesn’t include a built-in screen, it’s as easy as any golf launch monitor I’ve tested.
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO and Garmin R10 are also straightforward but the app connectivity and alignment processes are just a tiny bit more fussy; enough to knock them each down a peg.
Portability
Garmin = 3; Rapsodo = 4; Swing Caddie = 2; Square = 3
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO includes, with the purchase of the launch monitor, an awesome, sleek, perfectly designed carrying case. Along with the FlightScope Mevo+ and Full Swing KIT cases, it’s my favorite case of any golf launch monitor. Everything fits just right and the case itself fits easily into pretty much any golf bag. The only reason I didn’t give the Rapsodo a 5 here is because once you pull it out of the case, it’s a bit tall, bulky, and slightly awkward.
The Garmin Approach R10 device is tiny. That is, until you put it into its also-included-with-purchase carrying case. It’s amazing to me that Garmin designed a case that’s like 10 times bigger than the launch monitor it’s protecting. It just feels like overkill, and it makes transporting this thing much more difficult than it should be.
The Square Golf Launch Monitor is compact and light but, well, there’s no carrying case. The reason it doesn’t get dinged any further here is because it’s not really meant to be transported. As an indoor-only golf launch monitor, this is one that you’re probably going to leave in a fixed location. As we’ll see, it already gets penalized severely in the “Outdoor Use” section.
The SC4 Pro remains unchanged from its predecessor in terms of portability because, yet again, there’s no carrying case included. If you want one, you’ve got to pay an extra $50. Ugh!
Golf Launch Monitor Data
Garmin = 4; Rapsodo = 5; Swing Caddie = 4; Square = 4.5
When it comes to data delivery, it’s incredible what you can get nowadays for under $1,000.
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO uses two cameras and Doppler radar technology to deliver:
- Carry Distance
- Total Distance
- Side Carry
- Club Speed
- Smash Factor
- Launch Direction
- Launch Angle
- Spin Rate
- Descent Angle
- Spin Axis
- Apex
- Shot Type
That’s an incredible amount of information. Of course, all that data only really matters if it’s accurate. And in my testing, the MLM2PRO was extremely accurate. It stood up quite well even in comparison to the mighty Foresight Sports GC3. I’m not saying it’s as good a launch monitor as that, but for its price, accuracy with the Rapsodo is impressive.
The Garmin Approach R10 offers pretty much the same impressive range of data and accuracy. However, whereas the Rapsodo directly reads seven data metrics, the Approach R10 is only directly measuring ball speed, club speed, launch angle, and launch direction. The rest is calculated based on an algorithm.
The new SC4 Pro is a considerable data upgrade from the previous SC4 model. You now get four metrics not available in the original model, which brings the SC4 Pro data point offerings to:
- Carry Distance
- Total Distance
- Swing Speed
- Ball Speed
- Smash Factor
- Apex
- Launch Angle
- Launch Direction
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Sidespin
- Backspin
- Dispersion
The new Square Golf Launch Monitor is right up there with the MLM2PRO in terms of incredibly impressive accuracy. I tested it against the nearly-30-times-more-expensive Foresight GC Hawk, and the Square more than held its own. To now have an optical (or photometric) golf launch monitor for under $1,000 that is this accurate is a total game-changer. Plus, it includes ball and club data right out of the box. But I had to deduct a half point here because of the missing clubhead speed and smash factor metrics.
Here’s what you get out of the box with the Square:
- Ball Speed
- Launch Direction
- Launch Angle
- Backspin
- Sidespin
- Apex
- Carry Distance
- Run Out
- Total Distance
- Club Path
- Angle of Attack
- Dynamic Loft
- Face to Target
Outdoor Golf Launch Monitor Use
Garmin = 5; Rapsodo = 5; Swing Caddie = 5; Square = 0
The Approach R10, MLM2PRO, and SC4 Pro all perform exceptionally well outdoors at the driving range. In the case of each, hitting off of both natural turf and mats is an option, which I think is critical for using a golf launch monitor outdoors. It’s one of my biggest concerns with the SkyTrak+, which limits you to only hitting off of mats.
As discussed earlier, the SC4 Pro is especially perfect for quick range sessions because you don’t even have to bother fussing with pairing the device to an app. You can just start hitting shots and seeing your data on the built-in display.
I can’t find much to complain about for outdoor use with the Garmin Approach R10 or Rapsodo MLM2PRO. Yes, the bulkiness of the R10’s case is a bummer, but it’s not a deal-breaker. The bottom line is that both of these launch monitors are so simple to set up, so reliable, and so accurate that they easily win a 5 in this category.
Then there’s the Square Golf Launch Monitor. With its camera-and-infrared-sensors, it’s not able to operate accurately in direct sunlight. In fact, it is not recommended for outdoor use at all. So, no choice but to give it a 0 in this category.
Indoor Use
Garmin = 3; Rapsodo = 3; Swing Caddie = 3; Square = 5
Here is where the Square rebounds quite nicely. With its photometric design (the first in the sub-$1,000 GLM class), it excels in limited spaces and pretty much dominates in indoor settings.
I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally have an affordable optical golf launch monitor. This is the technology that is much better suited for indoor use than its radar counterpart. Finally, we’ve got something that allows for a great indoor sim studio setup but that doesn’t require you to spend thousands of dollars.
In the case of the Garmin, Rapsodo, and Swing Caddie, all of them need to be set up several feet behind the golf ball. That means more room depth than a lot of people have. And even when set up properly, these golf launch monitors still often struggle with consistent indoor accuracy. Doppler radar needs to see a long distance of ball flight to really provide perfect data readouts, and that’s just not an option indoors.
Golf Launch Monitor Features
Garmin = 3; Rapsodo = 5; Swing Caddie = 5; Square = 5
With the Square being the first-of-its-kind affordable photometric golf launch monitor plus its pay-as-you-go- simulator pricing, GSPro compatibility for no extra connection fee, and short-game performance, it is an absolute standout that’s easily deserving of the highest mark in this category.
But what makes it even better is the inclusion of the Swing Stick, another first-of-its-kind feature. The Swing Stick is a compact, 27-inch golf-club-like device with a proper golf club grip that allows you to use any of the Square’s functions—virtual driving range, closest-to-the-pin targets, putting practice, virtual golf courses—without having to use an actual golf club or hit an actual ball. That means you need basically no room at all to have a lot of golf simulator fun
I’m in love with the Swing Caddie SC4 Pro’s built-in screen. I just think it’s such a cool feature for a golf launch monitor that’s less than $1,000. When you just want to check your numbers quickly before heading out for a round, this is the perfect product. It also includes a lightweight remote control, so that you don’t even have to bend over to tell the device you’re switching clubs. Super cool!
The Rapsodo’s dual-camera system is likewise an outstanding feature. One camera allows you to review your full swing while the other gives you a close-up view of your clubface impacting the golf ball.
Yes, you can pair a phone or tablet camera to the Garmin app and get swing video with the R10, but it’s a pain to have to set up your camera or tablet to perfectly capture video.
I do really like the included phone mount with the R10, which allows you to clip your phone to something like your golf bag so that you can more easily look at your data and ball flight when in session. But that’s not a strong enough feature to earn it a higher score here.
Golf Simulator Use
Garmin = 4; Rapsodo = 4; Swing Caddie = 2; Square = 5
The Square Golf Launch Monitor revolutionizes simulator functionality with a flexible, pay-as-you-go model that eliminates costly subscriptions. Each hole costs just one credit, and the device includes 1,000 credits—equivalent to more than 55 rounds of golf. Additional credits are affordable, starting at $0.02 each. On top of that, the proprietary Square sim software is actually really good with surprisingly vivid graphics and course detail.
Fully compatible with GSPro and E6 Connect, the Square provides seamless access without extra fees. That’s right, no extra connection fee just to use your golf launch monitor with those popular simulator software options. That’s a big deal!
The Square also excels in short-game precision, including putting, which makes for a much better simulator experience than with competing affordable launch monitors where only auto-putt is available.
Plus, the innovative Swing Stick allows for simulator use without hitting real golf balls. This unique combination of affordability, flexibility, and advanced simulation options makes Square a standout for budget-conscious golfers who want a top-level sim experience.
The Garmin Approach R10 is compatible with GSPro, E6 Connect, Awesome Golf, the Golf Club 2019, and Creative Golf 3D. That’s a tremendously versatile lineup of software compatibility that gives you access to a huge variety of simulated courses, ranges, and other games. And with the purchase of an R10, you get five free E6 courses.
The Rapsodo MLM2PRO is compatible with GSPro, E6 Connect, and Awesome Golf, and you likewise get five free E6 courses. However, to play simulator golf with the MLM2PRO, you need to purchase the premium subscription, which we’ll talk more about below.
Another really cool thing about both the Rapsodo and the Garmin is that each gives you access to video-game-like, animated simulated golf. While that style of sim isn’t nearly as realistic as with the courses and games you get through third-party software options, you do get access to pretty much every golf course in the world. It’s called Home Tee Hero on the R10 and Rapsodo Courses on the MLM2PRO. Both are really fun to play.
The Swing Caddie SC4 Pro is only compatible with E6 Connect. That’s a great option, for sure, but having just one software package from which to choose makes the SC4 Pro the least flexible of the affordable golf simulator choices. That said, the new Pro version does at least include five E6 courses with purchase, as opposed to just one course with the previous SC4 model.
Subscriptions
Garmin = 3; Rapsodo = 4; Swing Caddie = 5; Square = 5
The Square and Swing Caddie SC4 Pro don’t include any subscriptions! Hallelujah! Easy 5 for each of them in this category.
Rapsodo now offers a Premium Lifetime Membership for the MLM2PRO, allowing users to pay a one-time fee of $499 for lifetime access to its advanced features, including golf simulator use. Benefits include 30,000 courses, virtual ranges, 13 data metrics, and performance tools. This updated model is a big improvement overall from the previous MLM2PRO subscription fee of $199 annually.
With the Garmin Approach R10, you’re going to pay $99 a year or $9.99 monthly for all of that product’s coolest features, including things like Home Tee Hero and green contour data.
Adding Up the Scores: Which Is the Best Golf Launch Monitor Under $1,000?
At long last, we have a winner. The final tally from our 10 categories:
Square Golf Launch Monitor: 42.5
Rapsodo MLM2PRO: 42
Things have changed considerably since we last ranked the best golf launch monitors under $1,000 a year ago. Back then, the MLM2PRO took the top honors, and the Swing Caddie SC4 was dead last.
Now, the Square Golf Launch Monitor is my new favorite affordable option. It just does so many things so well and at such a fair price.
However, the Square is an indoor-only unit. Just think of how well it would have done in this comparison if it hadn’t taken a 0 in the Outdoor Use category! But that means that if you’re looking for a golf launch monitor that you can take out to the driving range, I still like the MLM2PRO best.
The Swing Caddie SC4 Pro is a huge improvement over the previous SC4 model. Enough so that it actually leapfrogged the Garmin Approach R10.
But let’s be real: Garmin is Garmin. If you want to buy from a trusted brand (not to mention the ones who started the whole affordable golf launch monitor craze), Garmin is still your safest bet.
The updated takeaway is that we’ve now got four really solid options for golf launch monitors under $1,000. And you should now know which one is the best one for you. So, what are you waiting for?!
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.