What Do I Need To Run a Bushnell Launch Pro Golf Launch Monitor?

Understanding the Launch Pro System Requirements

The Bushnell Launch Pro is a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde-type device.

On the one hand, you don’t need anything more than the golf launch monitor itself to get accurate, reliable, useful ball and club data. The device’s built-in screen means you can get your numbers without having to interface with a phone or computer.

On the other hand, to use the Launch Pro as a golf simulator, you need a fairly robust gaming computer to run the advanced golf simulator software.

See what I mean? This thing is like a transformer. You can use it anytime, anywhere, and it’s perfect for on-the-go. Or you can lock it down with a full-blown indoor golf simulator setup, where the simulator software’s realistic, vivid golf course graphics come to life.

This versatility is one of the things that makes the Bushnell launch Pro both one of the best portable golf simulators and one of the best indoor golf simulators. In other words, it’s an excellent option for pretty much every golf simulator use case.

But that versatility can also be a bit confusing. Let’s get everything straight once and for all and help you understand exactly what you need to operate your Bushnell Launch Pro.

What Are the Bushnell Launch Pro System Requirements? 

As noted, you can use a Bushnell Launch Pro with nothing more than the Launch Pro itself. You don’t even need to pay for an annual subscription. We’ll cover that option below in just a couple of minutes.

First, let’s attack the part of owning a Launch Pro that causes the most confusion. And that is understanding what you need to use a Bushnell Launch Pro as a golf simulator. It’s one thing to get ball and club data information. It’s a whole ‘nother matter to play real, lifelike simulator golf. And to do that with a Bushnell Launch Pro does require a subscription and some computing power.

The first thing to understand is that to use your Launch Pro as a golf simulator, you’ll need to purchase the Gold Software package. That costs $499 per year. But it gives you access to the Foresight Sports FSX Play golf simulator package.

With the Gold Software and the FSX Play sim package, you’ll get:

• 25 simulated golf courses
• The ability to save data
• Online game play and contests
• 3D ball flight
• Much more

So, if you purchase the Gold Software package and are ready to use your Bushnell Launch Pro and the Foresight Sports software as a golf simulator, here are the minimum spec system requirements:

• Operating System: 64 Bit Windows 10 or greater
• Not supported: iOS, Linux
• Processor: 7th Gen or greater Intel i5, i7, and i9 processors
• Not recommended: AMD CPU
• Memory/RAM: 8 GB system memory
• Recommended: 16GB+ for Swing Camera/Swing Catalyst use
• Video Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or greater
• Recommended for quality/optimal performance: GeForce RTX 3070ti/3080/3090
• Not supported: Nvidia Quadro, AMD CPU

The Gold Software package also unlocks your ability to use the Launch Pro with third-party simulator software providers like GSPro, Creative Golf, and Swing Catalyst, though additional fees and separate system requirements may apply.

Awesome Golf, another golf simulator software package, is included with your Gold subscription and introduces the option to play simulator golf using your Launch Pro and an iOS device. 

But what if you’re not interested in playing simulator golf? What if you just want to use your Bushnell Launch Pro as a golf launch monitor?

Built-in Screen Means Golf Data Anywhere, Anytime

A lot of people buy the Bushnell Launch Pro just to get their golf data. After all, there is no golf launch monitor near this price point that’s as accurate as the Launch Pro. It is an excellent game-improvement tool and is very popular among better players, teachers, and clubfitters.

If you don’t intend to use your Launch Pro to play simulator golf, you won’t have to worry about paying an annual subscription, and you won’t have to worry about linking the Launch Pro to a computer or mobile device.

However, without the subscription or accompanying computer, you won’t have the option to store shot data. Instead, you’ll get all of the information on the Launch Pro’s built-in display after each shot. But that information will be lost once you hit the next shot.

Because of the built-in screen, unmatched accuracy, impressive list of data metrics, and ease-of-transport, the Bushnell Launch Pro is an outstanding portable golf launch monitor option suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

FSX Pro: Your Only Option for Using the Launch Pro With an iPad

There is an option for using your Bushnell Launch Pro that’s in between just the simple on-screen data and your full-blown simulator setup. FSX Pro, which is included with the Gold subscription, is software that gives you enhanced information and analysis to accompany the shot data.

This is a super popular feature with teaching pros or anyone very serious about studying their golf swing. FSX Pro gives you things like 3D views of your shot dispersion and apex, the ability to customize your data tiles for more focused viewing, side view and overview angles, session storage and organization tools, analysis, and much more.

But the other big thing about FSX Pro is that you can run this software using either a PC or an iPad. With the PC, the specs are the same as for FSX Play and FSX 2020.

FSX Pro iPad is optimized for iPads with 3GB RAM, which include:

• iPad
• 7th Gen (2019)
• 8th Gen (2020)
• 9th Gen (2021)
• 10th Gen (2022)
• iPad Air 
• 3rd Gen (2019)
• 4th Gen (2022)
• 5th Gen (2022)
• iPad Mini
• 5th Gen (2019)
• 6th Gen (2021)
• iPad Pro 
• 1st Gen (2016) (size: 12.9" / 11.0" )
• 2nd Gen (2017) (size: 12.9" / 10.5")
• 3rd Gen (2018) (size: 12.9" / 11.0")
• 4th Gen (2020) (size: 11.0")

PLEASE NOTE: FSX Pro is the only software option you can use with an iPad. You cannot run FSX Play, FSX 2020, or any third-party simulation software through an iPad with the Launch Pro. 

What Do I Need To Run a Bushnell Launch Pro Golf Launch Monitor?

You could use your Launch Pro in your sim studio with the Gold subscription, simulator software, and gaming computer to access all of the best golf simulator features.

And you could then use that same Launch Pro to go out to the driving range and get some quick numbers during a practice session.

Again, the Launch Pro’s versatility is one of its strongest features. Very few competing products are as equally strong both indoors and outdoors.

So, whether you want the best golf simulator and are ready to buy or build the gaming computer required to run the software, or you just want the best golf launch monitor that can give you reliable data wherever and whenever you have an opportunity to practice, the Bushnell Launch Pro is an outstanding option.

Need to know how much space you’ll need to use a Bushnell Launch Pro indoors? Check out our Launch Pro space requirements post.

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.