Garmin Approach R50 vs Foresight GC3/Bushnell Launch Pro Comparison: A Three-Camera Golf Launch Monitor Shootout

The world is about to take serious notice of the Garmin Approach R50. It’s that rare, innovative game-changing product.

But before there was ever an R50, the Foresight Sports GC3 and then its sister product the Bushnell Launch Pro grabbed the same sort of headlines. They were major industry disruptors, bringing pro-level data accuracy and unmatched convenience to an affordable price point. 

So now what?

Are we just to assume that newer is better and run out and buy the Garmin Approach R50?

Or does the GC3/Launch Pro still hold its own in this increasingly competitive race to the top of the prosumer golf launch monitor mountain?

Well what if the answers were all, yes?

Because, after many hours using each of these devices, that’s kind of where I’m landing. But it’s more nuanced than that. To me, deciding which one is best comes down to what kind of golfer you are and which features you value most.

So, what better way to get to the bottom of it all than with a good old-fashioned Garmin Approach R50 vs Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro comparison post. You know the drill. Ten categories. A 0 through 5 scoring scale. Except in this case, I don’t advise a winner-take-all mindset. I think it’s more important that you pay attention to the specific strengths and weaknesses that align with how you plan to use a golf launch monitor and simulator.

Let the games begin!

First, Untangling the Foresight GC3/Bushnell Launch Pro Confusion 

Before we get to the shootout, a quick primer on how the Foresight Sports GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro differ. I’ll make this quick.

The GC3 and the Launch Pro are the exact same golf launch monitor. The difference is in the pricing and subscription models, which I’ll call out in this post when appropriate. But otherwise, I’m going to treat the Foresight GC3 and the Bushnell Launch Pro as the same for this comparison.

In 2021, Bushnell’s parent company, Vista Outdoor, bought Foresight Sports. At that point, Foresight was already selling the GC3, and like I said it was a major breakthrough product. But rather than leaving things as they were, Bushnell decided to re-brand the GC3 as the Bushnell Launch Pro, all while continuing to sell the GC3.

The key differences between the two are that with the GC3, you get everything with the purchase price. No subscriptions. It costs more out of the box, but then you’re done. With the Launch Pro, you essentially pay as you go, ponying up a fee each year. So, less money up front but more money if you own the unit long enough.

Alright, back to the action.

Golf Launch Monitor and Simulator Price

Garmin Approach R50 = 4; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 4

Appropriately, we start with a tie.

Each of these golf launch monitors represents great value when you consider all that they can do. I can’t quite go to the top-level mark of a 5 for any of them only because the asking price might be a tad rich for some people. But, on the whole, these are good buys.

For $4,999.99, the Garmin Approach R50 gives you a gorgeous 10-inch full-color display, built-in golf simulator capabilities and all the ball and club data you could possibly need, all delivered with outstanding accuracy. It’s a hell of a good deal. 

With the Bushnell Launch Pro and Foresight Sports GC3, you’ve got the option to only pay for the data you want or need.

The Launch Pro ball data only device sells for $2,129.99, with the ball and club data model going for $3,629.99. Then you’ve got a $499 per year subscription if you want to use the Launch Pro to play simulator golf.

With the Foresight GC3, you pay $5,999 for the ball data only unit or $6,999.99 for the ball and club data option. But in either case, you get golf simulator capabilities right out of the box, including 25 sim golf courses with purchase. And there is no ongoing subscription fee. With the GC3, it’s a one-time purchase.

While it’s incredibly impressive that the R50 gives you ball and club data for $4,999.99, a device like the GC3 includes lifetime access to Foresight’s FSX simulator software, which is possibly the very best software on the market. So, it’s difficult to assign the best value in this category. To me, these products represent multiple great options for the money.

First Impressions Upon Unboxing

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 5 

 

If the scoring scale went higher than a 5, I’d still give the Garmin Approach R50 the max score. It makes an incredible impression upon unboxing.

The R50’s 10-inch color screen is just a total jaw-dropper. We’ve never seen anything like it on a golf launch monitor. Once you power it up and see the 800 x 1280 pixels display, you’ll be hooked immediately. It is very, very impressive.

But the R50 is also massive, especially compared to something like the GC3/Launch Pro. The R50 is 17 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 7 inches deep. For some, that’s going to feel a little too big. For others, bigger will definitely be better.

The Foresight Sports GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro are each 12 inches tall, 6 inches wide, and 5 inches deep, which is considerably smaller than the R50. That more manageable size does make a favorable first impression, especially when you realize that the three high-speed camera systems in the GC3 and Launch Pro are capable of reading data every bit as accurately as the R50.

The GC3/Launch Pro both look very durable right out of the box. Compared to the R50, they look like products built to last longer. But, while the built-in screen on the GC3/Launch Pro is nice, it’s not nearly as impressive looking as what’s on the Garmin Approach R50.

Approach R50 vs GC3/BLP Setup Process

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 5

 

 

Yet another tie. And that’s because it doesn’t get any easier than hitting golf shots with either the R50 or the GC3/Launch Pro. In either case, all you’ve got to do is set the launch monitor down, turn it on, and start your practice session.

Thanks to the built-in displays on each of these golf launch monitors, you don’t need anything more than the device itself to get shot data.

But that’s where the similarities end.

The R50 takes things a step further by giving you the option to play simulator golf right on the device’s screen. With the GC3/Launch Pro, to play sim golf, you’ll have to interface with a computer. The R50 is the first-ever golf launch monitor that has sim software built right into the golf launch monitor, making it a totally self-contained golf launch monitor and simulator all in one.

Also, with the R50, if you want a bigger screen experience, you can plug the R50 directly into a projector or TV using just an HDMI cable. With other products, including the GC3/Launch Pro, you’ll have to connect to a computer and then the projector or television.

This is another case where the R50 score could go even higher than the allotted max score for this category. But I can’t knock the GC3/Launch Pro any lower because you can still use it to get accurate shot data within seconds of beginning a practice session.

Garmin R50 vs Foresight GC3/Bushnell Launch Pro Portability

Garmin Approach R50 = 3; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 4

The challenge with the Garmin R50 when it comes to portability is its size. For as fast as you can be up and running thanks to everything being built into the device, it’s just a little too large to be considered really easy to transport.

That said, the R50 does come with a carrying case. And it’s quite nice—very well padded and contoured to perfectly protect the device. It even includes a shoulder strap. But, like the R50 itself, the carrying case is huge. Bringing this thing out to the driving range feels like you’re hauling a large suitcase.

Because the Foresight GC3/Bushnell Launch Pro is that much smaller, it’s that much easier to carry on the go. But my complaint is that it does not come with a carrying case. Big miss in my opinion.

Both the R50 and the GC3/Launch Pro do include a built-in handle on the device itself. In fact, the design of the R50 handle looks to me to be directly inspired by the design of the GC3/Launch Pro. In any case, it’s a plus for each of these products.

Garmin R50 vs Foresight Sports Golf Launch Monitor Data

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 4

There are a number of factors that make the Garmin Approach R50 such a statement product. But one of the key differentiators is how much data is included right out of the box. In essence, it’s all of the ball and club data you could ever need, all included in the purchase price.

That means:

Ball Data:

• Ball Speed
• Launch Angle
• Launch Direction
• Spin Rate
• Spin Axis
• Sidespin
• Smash Factor
• Total Distance
• Carry Distance (in both yards and degrees)
• Total Deviation (in both yards and degrees)
• Apex Height

Club Data:

• Clubhead Speed
• Path Angle
• Angle of Attack
• Face Angle
• Face to Path

The Launch Pro and GC3 are both available as a ball-data-only option or a ball-and-club-data model.

With the Ball Data model, you get:

• Carry Distance
• Ball Speed
• Total Spin
• Horizontal Launch Angle
• Vertical Launch Angle
• Back Spin
• Side Spin
• Spin Tilt Axis
• Barometer

The Ball and Club Data model adds:

• Clubhead Speed
• Club Path
• Angle of Attack
• Smash Factor

The best thing about each of these golf launch monitors—whether it’s the R50, the GC3, or the Launch Pro—is the accuracy. These are extremely reliable golf launch monitors. Foresight’s products are trusted by the top tour players around the world. And that’s because of their accuracy. And in my testing, the R50 was likewise spot-on accurate.

Outdoor Golf Launch Monitor Use

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 5 

It’s the built-in screen that wins the highest points for each of these golf launch monitors. The fact that you can hit shots and get usable numbers using nothing more than the device itself makes these products undeniably the best options for using in any environment.

There’s also the fact that each of these golf launch monitors can read shots hit off of natural grass. That’s a big advantage over a competitor like the SkyTrak+.

The R50 takes things a step further by allowing you to play actual simulator golf on the go via its built-in Home Tee Hero software. But that does require a subscription.

The GC3/Launch Pro has the advantage of being more portable. But, unlike with the R50, you will need to connect to a computer if you want to play simulator golf. So, for that side of things, the R50 is the more versatile option.

R50 vs GC3/Launch Pro Indoor Use

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 5

Each of these golf launch monitors reads shots from the side of the golf ball using three high-speed cameras.

And because they are positioned to the side rather than behind the ball, to use them indoors, you only need enough space to be able to swing a golf club without damaging your surroundings.

The flip side of that is that if you wanted to play simulator golf with both righties and lefties at the same time, you’d have to move the R50, or GC3, or Launch Pro back and forth when you switched between players.

Once again, the R50 presents a huge advantage because of its versatility. Having everything built right into the device itself truly allows for golf anywhere, anytime.

But one thing that I greatly prefer with the GC3/Launch Pro is that, when you want to get club data, the fiducials (clubface stickers) required for the GC3/Launch Pro are much, much smaller than what you need to get reliable information with the R50.

Switching back to advantages for the R50, the ability to connect directly to a projector or TV via a single HDMI cable is amazing. Again, it means that the R50 can truly be up and running in pretty much any setting in a matter of seconds.

Standout Features

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 5

Man, am I a sucker for a built-in screen on a golf launch monitor. It’s such an amazing feature that it alone is enough for me to give any of these devices a 5.

Granted, the Garmin Approach R50 takes things several steps further by adding size and color to that built-in screen. The 10-inch, full-color display is a thing of absolute beauty. And you can organize the display to see whatever information you want, including with a splitscreen option.

And then when you consider how much you can do on that built-in R50 touchscreen, including everything up to playing actual rounds of simulator golf, it’s, well, very, very impressive.

To whatever extent it can be considered a “feature,” I do really appreciate the more discreet, smaller-sized fiducials needed to get club data with the Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro. The huge-by-comparison stickers needed for the R50 are a bit of a drag.

Beyond the screen and stickers, the R50 is a definite standout for additional features like automatic impact videos recorded with each shot. Also, the ability to store data on the device itself is extremely cool. And finally, that option to connect to a projector or TV with nothing more than an HDMI cable is pretty darn sweet.

Golf Simulator Use

Garmin Approach R50 = 5; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 4 

It’s the fact that you can play simulator golf right on the device itself that wins this category for the R50. That feature alone makes this product totally unique.

However, if you’re going for the absolute best golf simulator experience, then the edge switches over to the GC3/Launch Pro, and specifically, in my opinion the Foresight GC3. Foreight’s FSX software, especially the FSX Play version, is the most lifelike, realistic, detail-rich golf simulator experience available. The fact that you get 25 FSX courses right out of the box and with no ongoing subscriptions makes the GC3 a stand out. Plus, with the GC3, you get Awesome Golf included, which is an excellent not-often-discussed bonus.

Really, the Launch Pro is kind of holding back the GC3 in this category. Because the Launch Pro includes a $499 annual subscription just to even be able to play simulator golf, prevents it from getting the highest score here. And because we’re treating the Launch Pro and GC3 as one and the same for this comparison, the GC3 kind of gets screwed in this category.

Garmin significantly improved the Home Tee Hero software with the R50. Compared to a device like the Garmin Approach R10, Home Tee Hero on the R50 includes much better graphics, details, and mapping. But it’s still a far cry from the realism of something like FSX Play. And you do still need to pay a subscription to use Home Tee Hero.

One thing that is great about the R50 is that it’s quite versatile when it comes to third-party simulator software. That means GSPro, E6 Connect, E6 Apex, and Awesome Golf. Those are great options even though they will include additional third-party software costs.

Annual Subscriptions

Garmin Approach R50 = 4; Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro = 3

Thanks to the built-in display on each of these golf launch monitors, you can use any of them without having to pay any kind of subscription. That’s a huge plus for the right kind of consumer.

The problem with the Launch Pro is that the $499 annual subscription required if you want to use the device to play simulator golf is pretty steep. And the trouble with the GC3 is that you’d have to own it for several years to make it a better buy than owning the Launch Pro and paying the annual subscription cost.

With the R50, all you’d have to do is pay $99 per year or $9.99 per month for Home Tee Hero. After that, you’d be able to play simulator golf with nothing more than the R50 itself. That’s a pretty sweet deal. No, Home Tee Hero is not nearly as good as the FSX software included with the GC3, but the R50’s lower purchase price offsets that point in my opinion.

Garmin Approach R50 vs Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro: Which of These Golf Launch Monitor Heavyweights Wins the Title Fight?

Adding up the scores in each of our 10 categories, we get a final result of:

Garmin Approach R50: 46

Foresight Sports GC3/Bushnell Launch Pro: 44

The Garmin Approach R50 is the latest and greatest. It is a truly innovative product that has the advantage here of being newer.

But let me tell you something: The folks at Foresight Sports are unbelievably committed to quality and innovation. I promise you from personal insight and knowledge, that they are constantly working on ideas that are going to continue to push the envelope.

In the meantime, their GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro (which are manufactured in the Foresight facility) products are more than holding their own even though they are now a few years old. Foresight is the company that established the benchmark that everyone, including Garmin, is chasing.

Here’s how I see it. If you want what is undeniably the most exciting product on the market right now, one that includes an all-in-one golf launch monitor and simulator option and that can be used anywhere at any time, it’s the Garmin Approach R50.

But if your objective is to achieve the very best, most lifelike golf simulator experience, all while still enjoying the utmost in golf launch monitor accuracy, and you hate annual subscriptions, the easy choice is the Foresight Sports GC3. To get that FSX software right out of the box without subscriptions is the perfect solution for the right user.

And then there’s the Bushnell Launch Pro. I think this is the right device for the golfer who’s not totally sure if they are all-in on the golf launch monitor/simulator experience. The Launch Pro’s lower initial purchase price allows you to get up and running for less money up front.

One thing is for certain: If these are the golf launch monitors you’re choosing between, you’re ahead of the game. There’s no way for you to come out of this without an amazing product.

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.