The Garmin Approach R50 is a launch monitor and golf simulator in one unit: three high-speed cameras and a 10 in touchscreen in a case that sits beside the ball, with Garmin's Home Tee Hero course play built in and an HDMI port for a TV or projector. It is $4,999.99 at Shop Indoor Golf. This page gives what comes with it, where it goes in the room, what the Garmin Golf membership costs, how it connects to GSPro and what GSV found in its tests. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has filmed the R50 since January 2026: the unboxing, driver on GSPro, chipping and putting, and nine holes of Home Tee Hero.
Quick buy: Garmin Approach R50
- Garmin Approach R505% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
Buying through GSV's links and codes helps support the channel: GSV earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you still get every saving available.
Check your room in the GSV Sim Builder
- $4,999.99At Shop Indoor Golf on October 8
- 10 inColor touchscreen on the unit
- 1 ft 6 inTo the side of the tee, by Garmin's manual
- $99.99A year for Home Tee Hero course play, or $9.99 a month
- 0Marked balls needed
- 17 ftRoom depth with no caution, 14 ft wide, in the GSV Sim Builder
Garmin R50 price and what comes with it
The R50 was $4,999.99 at Shop Indoor Golf on October 8, 2026, before tax and shipping. In the box: the R50, a carrying case, the AC adapter and power cord, and 250 club tracking stickers.
| Spec | Garmin Approach R50 |
|---|---|
| Price | $4,999.99 |
| Cameras | Three high-speed cameras |
| Screen | 10 in color touchscreen |
| Size | 16.5 x 10.6 x 7.5 in |
| Weight | 9 lb |
| Battery | Up to 4 hours |
| Ports | USB-C and HDMI |
| Data | Over 15 ball and club metrics |
| Use | Indoors and outdoors |
Specs are Shop Indoor Golf's R50 page on October 8, 2026. GSV's unboxing adds two things: a built-in barometer, so you can practice at your own elevation, and impact video of the strike.
What GSV found in its R50 tests
GSV's R50 videos cover the unboxing and setup, driver on GSPro with club data, chipping and putting on both Home Tee Hero and GSPro, nine holes of Pebble Beach in Home Tee Hero, and TruGolf's Apex software with the R50. The driver video looks at ball flight, distance, spin axis and consistency on GSPro:
The short game video, made after Garmin's firmware updates, starts in Home Tee Hero with chips from 23 and 9 yards and putting on an 11 stimp green, then moves to GSPro for chipping, 9-yard chips, short and long putts, 1.6 mph putts to test the low-speed threshold and a 55 ft lag putt:
How much room an R50 needs
Garmin's manual puts the R50 about 1 ft 6 in to the side of the tee, facing it, at about the height of the tee. It compensates for an uneven floor, so it does not need leveling. Beside the ball, it adds no depth to the room: the swing behind the golfer and the ball flight set that.
For a 5 ft 9 in golfer in a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling, the GSV Sim Builder lays out an R50 with no caution in a room 17 ft deep, and with cautions down to 14 ft 4 in. Lower the ceiling and the swing clears with no caution down to 8 ft 11 in. Narrow the room and one golfer fits down to 10 ft wide, with the tee off center. Put your own room in the GSV Sim Builder.
Stickers, balls and lighting
- Stickers: not needed for ball data. For club data, one round sticker goes on the top middle of the club face. 250 come in the box.
- Balls: any golf ball. Garmin suggests turning the logo or text on the ball toward the unit, but it is not required.
- Lighting: the R50 uses infrared, so only very harsh, bright light on the ball causes trouble.
Those are GSV's answers from its own R50 videos.
The Garmin Golf membership and GSPro
Home Tee Hero, Garmin's course play with 43,000+ courses, runs on the R50's own screen. Garmin says an active Garmin Golf membership is needed for it. Garmin's Garmin Golf app lists the membership at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and the membership also opens Garmin's other premium golf features. GSV played nine holes of Pebble Beach in Home Tee Hero on the R50:
For GSPro, the R50 has an official connection over its built-in Wi-Fi, and GSPro runs on a Windows gaming PC. GSPro is separate paid software, $250 a year from GSPro. Shop Indoor Golf also lists E6 Connect and Awesome Golf for the R50.
| What you want | Per year | R50 plus year one |
|---|---|---|
| Range and data on the unit | $0 | $4,999.99 |
| Home Tee Hero courses (membership) | $99.99 | $5,099.98 |
| GSPro (license, PC not counted) | $250 | $5,249.99 |
| Both | $349.99 | $5,349.98 |
Garmin R50 vs R10
| Approach R50 | Approach R10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,999.99 | $599.99 |
| How it reads | Three high-speed cameras | Doppler radar |
| Where it goes | 1 ft 6 in beside the tee | 6 to 8 ft behind the tee |
| Screen | 10 in touchscreen, HDMI out | Phone or tablet |
| Battery | Up to 4 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 9 lb | 148 g |
The R10 is $4,500 less and fits in a pocket, but as a radar it sits 6 to 8 ft behind the ball and needs at least 8 ft of ball flight, and it runs from a phone or tablet. The Garmin golf simulator page sets the two side by side, and GSV's Mevo Gen 2 vs Garmin R50 compares the R50 with FlightScope's unit. Garmin R50 vs Bushnell Launch Pro sets it beside the other camera unit at its level.
Where to buy a Garmin R50
GSV sends Garmin buyers to Shop Indoor Golf, which sells the R50 on its own and in Garmin simulator packages. GSV's code GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order there: at GSV's own checkout on October 9, 2026 it took an R50 from $4,999.99 to $4,750.00. On the R10 at its $599.99 list price, 5% comes to $570.00. The Garmin discount code page has the steps and the terms.
Garmin R50 at Shop Indoor Golf
- Garmin Approach R505% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
Will it fit? Check the Garmin R50 fits your room in the free GSV Sim Builder, in 3D.
More GSV videos on the Garmin R50
Games for the R50 and R10.
Golfisimo games
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Planning a room around a Garmin R50? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure you have the right fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages to put together yourself, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
Garmin R50 questions
How much is the Garmin R50?
$4,999.99 at Shop Indoor Golf on October 8, 2026, before tax and shipping, with a carrying case, the power adapter and 250 club tracking stickers. Home Tee Hero course play needs a Garmin Golf membership on top, $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
Does the Garmin R50 require a subscription?
For Home Tee Hero course play, yes: Garmin says an active Garmin Golf membership is needed. Garmin lists it at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
Do you need stickers on the club with the Garmin R50?
Not for ball data. For club data, one round sticker goes on the top middle of the club face, and 250 come in the box.
Does the Garmin R50 need marked balls or special lighting?
No marked balls: any golf ball works, and Garmin suggests turning the logo toward the unit. The R50 uses infrared, so lighting only matters if a very harsh, bright light falls on the ball.
Can the Garmin R50 run GSPro?
Yes, through its official GSPro connection over the built-in Wi-Fi, with GSPro on a Windows gaming PC. GSPro is separate paid software, $250 a year from GSPro.
How much room does a Garmin R50 need?
Garmin puts it about 1 ft 6 in to the side of the tee, facing it, so it adds no depth. In a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling, the GSV Sim Builder lays it out for a 5 ft 9 in golfer with no caution in a room 17 ft deep, and with cautions down to 14 ft 4 in.
Is there a Garmin discount code?
Yes. GSV's code is GSV5OFF: 5% off a first order at Shop Indoor Golf, one use. At GSV's own checkout on October 9, 2026 it took an R50 from $4,999.99 to $4,750.00. On the R10 at its $599.99 list price, 5% comes to $570.00.
Is there free help planning a Garmin R50 room?
Yes. Jay offers a free consultation with GSV's partner master builders, hand-picked by Jay, who get on a call quickly and make sure everything fits. They offer package deals, DIY packages, full installation and more. Use the free consultation button on this page.
More Garmin on GSV
- Garmin golf simulator: R50 and R10
- Mevo Gen 2 vs Garmin R50
- TruGolf Apex with the Garmin R50
- Garmin discount code: 5% off with GSV5OFF
- GSV Sim Builder: check your room in 3D
All GSV posts on this (4)
Build the rest of your sim
- Enclosure and screen$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
- Carl's Place enclosure5% off, code sent by emailShopGet the code
- Hitting mat$20 off at Shop Indoor Golf. GSV5OFF is more on a first order over $400Shop
- Projector5% off at Shop Indoor Golf. First-time buyersShop
- Simulator computerSurfThing: $100 off applied automatically, no codeShop
- TouchscreenGSV code for TouchscreenGuruShop
- Complete package$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf. GSV5OFF is more on a first order over $5,000Shop
GSV earns a small commission on these links, at no extra cost to you. Shop Indoor Golf takes one code per order.