The Garmin Approach R50 and the Bushnell Launch Pro are the two camera launch monitors most often weighed for a home simulator in the middle of the market. Both sit on the floor beside the ball, read it with three high-speed cameras, need no marked balls, and run GSPro. They part on what comes in the box and what each costs to run: the R50 is a whole simulator in one unit, with its own 10 in screen and Garmin's course play built in, and the Launch Pro is the Foresight GC3's hardware for less, with Foresight's software in yearly plans. Here they are side by side: price, the yearly plans, GSPro, what each reads, the room, and which to buy. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has filmed the R50 since January 2026 and the Launch Pro and GC3 since their first look in 2021.
GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order of either at Shop Indoor Golf: at a GSV checkout on October 9, 2026 it took an R50 to $4,750.00.
Garmin R50 and Bushnell Launch Pro
- 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.
- Bushnell Launch Pro5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Will it fit? See each in your room in the free GSV Sim Builder, in 3D: Garmin R50, Launch Pro.
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The short answer
- Garmin R50: for a simulator with no PC to start. Home Tee Hero's 43,000+ courses play on its own screen or a projector, for $99.99 a year, and GSPro needs nothing more from Garmin.
- Bushnell Launch Pro: for the lower price and Foresight's cameras. Club data, courses and GSPro come with Foresight+ plans, and the simulator runs on a PC or the Foresight app.
R50 vs Launch Pro side by side
| Garmin Approach R50 | Bushnell Launch Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,999.99 | $2,999.99 |
| How it reads | Three high-speed cameras | Three infrared cameras, the GC3's |
| Where it goes | 1 ft 6 in to the side of the tee | About 2 ft from the hitting area |
| Screen | 10 in touchscreen, HDMI out | 3 x 2 in touchscreen |
| Course play | Home Tee Hero on the unit, Garmin Golf $99.99 a year | Foresight Course Pass, $295 or $595 a year with Silver or Gold |
| Club data | With one sticker on the face, no plan needed | With one dot sticker and Foresight+ Silver, $199 a year |
| GSPro | Over Wi-Fi; GSPro $250 a year | Needs Foresight+ Gold, $599 a year, plus GSPro |
| Battery | Up to 4 hours | 5 to 7 hours |
| Weight | 9 lb | 5 lb |
From GSV's Garmin R50 review and Bushnell Launch Pro pages, which read Garmin's, Bushnell's, Foresight's and GSPro's figures in October 2026. Launch Pro units bought from September 18, 2026 come with Foresight+.
What each costs in the first year
| What you want | Garmin R50 | Bushnell Launch Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Ball data only | $4,999.99 | $2,999.99 |
| Club data | $4,999.99 | $3,198.99, with Silver |
| Courses | $5,099.98, with Garmin Golf | $3,493.99, with Silver and Course Pass |
| GSPro | $5,249.99 | $3,848.99, with Gold and GSPro |
At list prices, before codes, tax and the PC GSPro needs. The Launch Pro costs less in the first year at every level; after it, the R50's software costs $99.99 a year for courses or $250 for GSPro, and the Launch Pro's $494 for Silver and Course Pass or $849 for Gold and GSPro. On GSPro the R50's total falls below the Launch Pro's in the fourth year.
A simulator in the box, or a launch monitor
The R50 is big for a launch monitor, 9 lb, because its 10 in screen and the computer that runs Home Tee Hero are built in. Plug a projector into its HDMI port and it is a simulator with no PC: range, practice and 43,000+ courses with the Garmin Golf membership. Jay played nine holes of Pebble Beach on it that way.
The Launch Pro is a 5 lb launch monitor with a small screen for the range. In a simulator it sends its shots to Foresight Premier on a PC or the Foresight app, or to other software with Gold. Jay has said since 2021 that it is the same hardware as the Foresight GC3, which Foresight lists at $6,999 with club data included.
What each reads
- Garmin R50: ball speed, launch angle, launch direction, spin rate, spin axis and apex height with any ball, and club speed, club path, angle of attack and face angle with one sticker on the top middle of the face. A barometer is built in, and 250 stickers come in the box.
- Bushnell Launch Pro: the GC3's ball data, and club speed, smash factor, club path and angle of attack from one dot sticker, with Silver or Gold. Its hitting area is 7 x 10 in, by Bushnell.
What Jay found with each
- R50, 2026: the unboxing and setup in the GSV studio, driver on GSPro with club data, chipping and putting on Home Tee Hero and GSPro after Garmin's firmware updates, and nine holes of Home Tee Hero at Pebble Beach. Setup ran on the unit's touchscreen over Wi-Fi, with no computer.
- Launch Pro and GC3, since 2021: the first look, the 2023 changes to price and plans, and the GC3 connected to GSPro over USB, which Jay found solid and easy.
The room each needs
Both sit beside the ball, so neither adds depth to the room. In the GSV Sim Builder, for a 5 ft 9 in golfer in a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling, each fits a room from 14 ft 4 in deep and from 17 ft with nothing to watch, and a driver swing clears an 8 ft 11 in ceiling. The Launch Pro sits across the ball from the golfer, so it moves to the other side for a left-handed golfer. Check your own room in the room size checker.
Which to buy
- You should buy the R50 if you want to play courses without a PC, or GSPro with nothing more to pay the maker.
- You should buy the Launch Pro if you want the lowest price into a camera launch monitor, Foresight's software, and a unit light enough for the range.
The Garmin R50 review and the Bushnell Launch Pro subscription page go deeper on each, the GC3 and Launch Pro guide sets the Launch Pro beside the GC3, and Mevo Gen 2 vs Garmin R50 compares the R50 with a radar unit.
Garmin R50, Bushnell Launch Pro and Foresight GC3
- 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.
- Bushnell Launch Pro5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Foresight GC35% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Still deciding? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure the room, the screen and the software fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
Garmin R50 vs Launch Pro questions
Is the Garmin R50 better than the Bushnell Launch Pro?
For a simulator with no PC, the R50: its own 10 in screen and HDMI out play Home Tee Hero's 43,000+ courses for $99.99 a year. For the lowest price into a camera launch monitor, the Launch Pro, $2,999.99 against $4,999.99, with Foresight's software in yearly plans.
Does the Bushnell Launch Pro need a subscription?
Not for ball data. Club data needs Foresight+ Silver, $199 a year, courses a Course Pass, $295 or $595 a year with Silver or Gold, and GSPro needs Gold, $599 a year, plus GSPro's own $250 a year, for units bought from September 18, 2026.
Does the Garmin R50 need a subscription?
Not from Garmin for the range or data. Home Tee Hero course play needs the Garmin Golf membership, $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and GSPro is GSPro's own $250 a year, with nothing more to pay Garmin.
Which is cheaper with GSPro, the R50 or the Launch Pro?
The Launch Pro in the first year: $3,848.99 with Gold and GSPro against $5,249.99 for the R50 and GSPro. After that the Launch Pro's software is $849 a year and the R50's $250, so the R50 costs less in total from the fourth year.
How much room do the R50 and the Launch Pro need?
The same in the GSV Sim Builder: for a 5 ft 9 in golfer in a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling, each fits from 14 ft 4 in deep and from 17 ft with nothing to watch, and a driver clears an 8 ft 11 in ceiling. Both sit beside the ball.
Are the Bushnell Launch Pro and the Foresight GC3 the same?
Jay has said since 2021 that they are the same hardware. Foresight lists the GC3 at $6,999 with club data included; the Launch Pro is $2,999.99 with club data in Foresight+ Silver.
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
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- 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
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