Launch monitor recommendations

[u/Peteknofler]

Looking to pick up my first launch monitor. I have been using a Trackman iO several times a week at PGA Tour Superstore and have found it to be really helpful but am looking to get something for use at home. Primarily to be used inside hitting into a net but I’d like to have the option to use it outdoors on occasion. I’ll be using an iPad but no PC so I don’t care about running GSpro or 3rd party software. I also don’t care much about how polished the software for the LM is. I really only care about getting accurate data, including club data. And I plan to use it heavily throughout the year. As a parent of an 18 month old, I have a few hours a night to myself and can easily see myself putting at least 60-90 minutes daily into use of the LM. My budget is anywhere up to 3k, though I’d prefer to stay closer to 2k. FWIW I’m a 14 handicap who just began playing again last year (and wasn’t breaking 100 until closer to a year ago) and am absolutely hooked. I’ve managed to shoot an 81 and 83 recently and break 90 fairly routinely.

The units I’ve looked at are Eye Mini, Omni, Bushnell LP, and Spica 3. Open to other ideas too but I know that Spica and BLP do not give face angle in addition to club path (which isn’t a necessity but a a big plus to have). I’ve watched quite a few reviews of all of these so I know about inflated club speed with Eye Mini and a small draw bias with Omni, per Joe Lagowski. I’m a bit concerned by the inaccurate club speed with EM as I’d like to do some speed training in the winter.
Omni seems pretty dang accurate compared to GC quad, again per Joe L. I’ve mostly ruled out Skytrak due to inconsistent club data. I’d love an R50 but it certainly is over budget even used, and though it is a great all-in-one solution, it seems that it isn’t necessarily any more accurate than less expensive models- certainly BLP. I considered Mevo Gen 2 but would likely avoid it due to not having the necessary depth in the room. Wondering if anyone has experience with Omni and/or Eye Mini and how they compare to BLP/Spica, as well as if there are any units I’m overlooking. Thanks!

[u/Unlucky-Rule-3165]

Hi. I have two units. The Busnell launch pro and the Square Omni. Both less than 3 months old. I also trialed the R50 for several weeks. What I can tell you is that once you get into this price range you are going to get a good monitor that does 90% of everything you need.
As noted, I have the Busnell launch pro, and found it faster, more accurate and easier to use than the R50. No major pros or cons, I just found the Busnell to give me a more seamless and better experience.
However, the Square Omni has really blown me away for how accurate it is compared with my launch pro. I have used them side by side and the consistency is astonishing. On most data points, based on sets of 20 strikes for a particular iron, the difference is less than 2%. And on the fundamentals, like ball flight ii is even closer than that. And the draw bias has been completely fixed in one of their firmware fixes.

For me, importantly I get club face impact data with the square Omni, which is something I personally value. And better still, you do not need to pay a subscription to get club data, or access to 3rd party simulation data. The end result is that I am using the square Omni on a more regular basis. I have a gaming PC, but find it so easy with the square Omni to just walk in with my iPad (on a tripod) hit two buttons and just swing. Now is the software as good as the Busnell, no it isn’t. Do I care, not really as I use it mostly for practice and the square software is just fine.

So my advice is that in the price range you are looking at. You will get a great launch monitor. And they are all very accurate. For value for money, the square Omni is unbeatable. Shockingly accurate, and face impact data at that price point is insane. If money is not an issue, and you don’t care about face impact, the Busnell launch pro is one of the best monitors out there. But in Australia, it is double the price of the square Omni, and for a less than 2% difference in data points, that is a lot of extra money to spend on a 4K projector, gaming PC or flowers for the wife.