PRGR Launch Monitor Vs Garmin G80 Vs Swing Caddie SC200
Gone are the days of having to spend thousands of dollars on an accurate launch monitor. The market is now crowded with quality and affordable golf launch monitors.
This is both a bad and a good thing. It’s good because casual players now have more affordable options and its bad because it can be hard to sift through all the products to find the one that suits you the most.
The PRGR Launch Monitor is a budget option with surprisingly good performance, the Garmin is a first attempt at GPS/Launch Monitor from market leaders Garmin and the Skycaddie SC200 is an innovative device from a disruptive company in Skycaddie with an attractive price.
So today’s review is dedicated to helping the casual golfer find the perfect affordable launch monitor by going through these products in greater detail and seeing which one comes out on top.
Key Features Of The PRGR
The main draw of the PRGR launch monitor is it’s “set it and forget it” ease of use. As long as you set this device at a proper distance from you and the ball, you will get very accurate readings.
This is a Doppler radar that can be used indoors and outdoors.
The PRGR tracks your swing speed, ball speed, carry distance, total distance and smash factor.
There are settings for all clubs too. And unlike other launch monitors, there is no internet connection required, no downloads needed and minimal hassle.
You just load it with the included batteries, turn it on and you’re pretty much ready to go.
Plus, the PRGR can also give you club head speed on practice shots. The PRGR also keeps record of 500 of your last swings.
Key Features Of The Garmin Approach G80
It’s important to note that this is the only launch monitor that we tested that also functions as a golf GPS. It’s a hybrid device that can be very handy to have on the course or the driving range.
As a launch monitor, the Approach G80 allows you to track ball speed, club head speed, swing tempo, smash factor, and it estimates ball distance using radar technology.
You can also play 41,000 virtual courses while you practice with the integrated launch monitor software.
And of course the Garmin Approach G80 functions as a golf GPS device.
So you get data on the distance to the pin, distance to the middle, center and back of the green, hazard information and full maps of courses all around the world – all in a handheld, touchscreen device.
Key Features Of The Swing Caddie SC200
The Swing Caddie SC200 also uses Doppler radar to track your shots and give you readings on metrics such as carry distance, swing speed, ball speed and smash factor.
You also get a reading on the loft angle of each of your shots.
There is a designation for each of your clubs which could be a hassle since you have to switch clubs on the device manually.
But with the SC200, it’s not a hassle. That’s because the SC200 can be controlled via remote.
The measuring range of the SC200 is between 30 and 320 yards so you get pretty good coverage.
But the coolest thing about the SC200 is the barometric pressure sensor.
This feature accounts for barometric pressure and adjusts data accordingly for all your shots.
Price Comparison
The Garmin Approach G80 is easily the most expensive launch monitor we tested. It clocks in between $500 and $550 depending on where you get it.
Then you have the Swing Caddie SC200 which can usually be procured at about $400.
The most affordable launch monitor on our list is the PRGR which you can get for just around $200 at most retail sites.
Accuracy Comparison
Now on to the important stuff. How accurate was each launch monitor? Here is a breakdown of our findings. Please note that we were testing readings against a SkyTrak launch monitor.
PRGR Launch Monitor
The PRGR was the biggest surprise given how affordable it was.
It was surprisingly accurate indoors which is rare for radar monitors because they don’t have enough room indoors to get accurate readings. But the PRGR performed admirably.
It was most accurate tracking ball speeds of our shorter irons. Where it suffered a bit was with tracking carry distance and ball speed of our drivers.
Garmin G80
The Garmin G80 was reasonably accurate outdoors. The only hitch was that you have to hit the ball square for it to give a really accurate reading.
But once you did, the readings were spot on. We used a laser when testing the G80 outdoors and on accurate strikes, the G80 was accurate within 2 yards.
Club head speed was probably the least accurate metric while ball speed was where it shined the most.
SkyCaddie SC200 Launch Monitor
The SC200 was the most accurate launch monitor to use outdoors.
It was accurate within 2 yards for distance and the data matched well with our Skytrak on metrics like smash factor and ball speed.
Indoors it suffered quite a bit as did the G80.
But we would use this launch monitor outdoors any day of the week.
Performance Comparison
The PRGR was easiest to use both indoors and out.
It gave great indoor readings and as long as you placed it about 5 feet behind you on the course or driving range, you were going to get good readings.
The only problem is that you have to bend down to change clubs and modes.
The SC200 shined in the ease of use department with the remote.
The G80’s touchscreen made it smoother to navigate, but there were too many options to toggle through because of the GPS functionality.
G80 Pros & Cons
Pros:
- GPS device
- Color display
- Comes with carrying case
- Touchscreen
- Fairly accurate
- Compact design
Cons:
- Not accurate indoors
- Have to hit balls accurately to get good readings
- Missed some iron shots
- Expensive
Overall Score: 94/100
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SC200 Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Remote control
- Accurate outdoors
- Launch angle data
- Audible readings feature
- Pocket-sized
- Stores last 100 swings
Cons:
- Voice readings aren’t instant
- Have to use real balls for indoor use
- Limited number of loft angles
- Less accurate on drives
Overall Score: 90/100
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PRGR Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Easy to set up
- Includes protective case
- Good battery life
- Accurate indoors
- Holds data for 500 swings
Cons:
- No remote
- Screen is hard to read in direct sunlight
- Smash factor readings aren’t very accurate
- Not very compact
Overall Score: 94/100
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Last Words
Overall, we thing the SC200 is the best overall launch monitor. It had great outdoor readings, reasonable indoor readings and the convenience of use just couldn’t be beat.
That being said, The PRGR was great indoors and outdoors and is an excellent option for anybody on a budget
The Garmin G80 is handy to have as a GPS device, but the dual-functionality comes at the cost of launch monitor accuracy and ease of use. This is the first attempt at a device like this from Garmin and is an exceptional device.
Best Overall device that we recommend is the Garmin G80.
Overall Score: 94/100
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Hi, I am Matthew, a mid handicap golfer who likes to play as much as possible. I love trying out new gear and this blog is where you can find all the gear I have tested over the years!
