A New Challenger Approaches in the Launch Monitor Space

Don’t look now but Garmin is making a big push to become a legitimate contender in the personal launch monitor space with the release of the new Garmin Approach R50.

The skinny

• $4,999 retail
• 10-inch color touchscreen with on-board simulation capabilites
• 43,000+ preloaded courses
• 15 ball and club data points
• 3 high-speed cameras for precision measurement

More in depth

Unlike the budget-friendly Approach R10 that captivated golfers a few years back with its sub-$600 price point, the Approach R50 is targeted more at the serious player who prioritizes accuracy above all else.

At $4,999, it sits squarely between top competitors like the Foresight GC3, Uneekor Eye Mini and the Full Swing KIT.

So what, if anything, does the Garmin Approach R50 have that the competition doesn’t? A built-in color touchscreen with simulation is the big selling point here.

What does that mean, exactly? While other launch monitors offer simulation, they must be connected to external displays, monitors or televisions to work. The Garmin Approach R50 boasts a 10-inch touchscreen so you can play a virtual round of golf directly on the device; no need for exterior connections.

Of course, if you’d like to project the screen onto something bigger, you can make use of the HDMI port.

That’s not the only thing that the Approach R50 has going for it.

The Approach R50 also has three cameras on board for utmost accuracy. This setup is similar to what you’d find on the competition. It’s the same number as the Foresight GC3 (3 stands for three cameras) and one more camera than what comes on the Uneekor Eye Mini.

With its three cameras, the Garmin Approach R50 can be used indoors and outdoors to collect 15 different club and ball data points including ball speed, launch angle, face to path, spin rate, spin axis and more.

It also captures slow-motion swing video so you can review that wretched swing! (Sorry, I’m just projecting a bit.)

With four hours of standalone battery life and 43,000 preloaded virtual courses, the Approach R50 positions itself as a powerful, portable practice tool for the discerning golfer.

Learn more about the Garmin Approach R50 at Garmin.