Bushnell Launch Pro Device with Foresight

[radiman]

9 hours ago, karstens_ghost said:

One of these guys will figure out that people want to **play** golf at home.

 

Snobs will say that it's not really golf, but neither is golf with a PS4 controller and a lot of people do that.

 

There's a lot of winter & lockdown golf people would like to play, and there's a premium in it. It has to be accurate enough, yes. People have been going to their big box stores and hitting demos against a GC2 for quite a while. They make purchasing decisions based on that. Is it Trackman? No. It's not, but it's clearly pretty good.

 

What people don't want is to buy a thing, set it up for x-thousand dollars, and then get bored with a range setting. They can do that at golftec, or whatever. What people crave is longevity for this sort of thing. Think of all the people that go to TopGolf… why? It's just a fancy range… but it's a game. People love a game.

 

So hopefully someone out there understands that this isn't a Trackman or Quad or X3. They understand it's a level down, and that level down has interest in better players or newer players that want to practice more than just plugging away at a screen. That's the device that will win out.

 

Seriously… for me, you tell me which one of these new ones I can connect to a PS5, and that's the one I buy. It isn't going to be minutia face-to-path stuff. That's for instructors. I need the flight to be accurate, and not calculated based on punching in which club I'm using. The rest… well, the rest doesn't matter much.

Man, connecting this to a PS5 would be so cool if you could play PGA2K or something. 

[Dan13]

28 minutes ago, radiman said:

For me, I would go this route over Mevo+ or any other device under the $3k price point.  Mainly, Winter is super long here.  I want absolutely rock solid feedback if I am hitting a ball into a screen or net.  I made the mistake a few years ago of trusting the numbers I was seeing in a simulator that didn't have accurate ball info.  Took forever for me to fix my swing in the spring.  I have been following the R10 thread and no surprise the numbers a lot of people are seeing is super suspect.  But, my goal is swing building not simulation.  So, while accurate club data would be nice, I would still opt for something like this with very accurate ball data and no club data over something that isn't all that accurate in either category.  

This could very likely be their model at $3k - which would be a bummer for those not in the sim crowd that want some good club data.

[radiman]

2 minutes ago, Dan13 said:

This could very likely be their model at $3k - which would be a bummer for those not in the sim crowd that want some good club data.

Oh, don't get me wrong.  I would love if this thing provided good accurately measured club data.  But, I am guessing, as others have stated, they probably aren't going to cannibalize their GCQuad sales with an entry level LM.  And, in this price range I think it would be difficult to find anything that would offer Foresight level accuracy on ball data and give you accurate club data to boot.  

[mikewohlwend]

14 hours ago, Dan13 said:

If Launch Pro only offered ball speed, club speed, spin, launch angle (horizontal and vertical) and carry and kept the rest of the data hidden, how big would the market for this be? That is the only data mentioned in their marketing to date. Without paying extra for simulation software, $3k seems like a lot even if the data is more accurate then anything else out there in the $500 - $3k range.  That doesn't add up to me.  Mevo plus, even with its relative short falls, becomes pretty attractive at $2k.  Or wait until full kit comes out and get club path and face for only $1k more.  Unless, to Steve989's point, this is targeted primarily at the sim crowd at apprx. $5-6k at which point you get access to limited club data through the software with improved accuracy over the mevo plus sim experience.

 

I know for me personally, I don't quite have enough room for a radar based unit.  So for another $1000 if this thing is better than the Skytrak.  I will be buying one.

[RGlaze978]

If they don't provide some club data, this will be a massive failure. 

[WallysWorld]

1 hour ago, radiman said:

Oh, don't get me wrong.  I would love if this thing provided good accurately measured club data.  But, I am guessing, as others have stated, they probably aren't going to cannibalize their GCQuad sales with an entry level LM.  And, in this price range I think it would be difficult to find anything that would offer Foresight level accuracy on ball data and give you accurate club data to boot.  

1st of all this LM was designed and built by Foresight and uses the same exact technology as the GC2 and GCQuad, so there is no debate about accuracy here. They are only using Bushnell as a distribution channel to the mass retail shops and most likely uses their connections for chip parts. This is part of the reason for the partnership. 

 

Your second comment about taking away business from GCQuad is also not valid. The GCQuad has a ton of more features than just club data. Putting analysis,  Wifi/Ethernet connectivity, Removable lithium battery are just a few to name here. The club analysis in the GCQuad is a lot more than just AOA, Club path and swing path - so again this will not take business away from GCQuad. 

 

What this will provide is measured accurate data with additional data parameters that others are using algorithms to provide. 

[radiman]

8 minutes ago, WallysWorld said:

1st of all this LM was designed and built by Foresight and uses the same exact technology as the GC2 and GCQuad, so there is no debate about accuracy here. They are only using Bushnell as a distribution channel to the mass retail shops and most likely uses their connections for chip parts. This is part of the reason for the partnership. 

 

Your second comment about taking away business from GCQuad is also not valid. The GCQuad has a ton of more features than just club data. Putting analysis,  Wifi/Ethernet connectivity, Removable lithium battery are just a few to name here. The club analysis in the GCQuad is a lot more than just AOA, Club path and swing path - so again this will not take business away from GCQuad. 

 

What this will provide is measured accurate data with additional data parameters that others are using algorithms to provide. 

I never argued against the accuracy of this unit.  I am well aware of Foresights place in the LM business.  As I mentioned before, even if it were just ball data.  Being as accurate if not more so than a GC2 plants this unit firmly in my crosshairs.  If there is additional club data then all the better.  My argument is that this unit is likely well worth the $3k price tag even if it is essentially just an updated GC2.  

[JohnKHawk]

11 hours ago, radiman said:

Oh, don't get me wrong.  I would love if this thing provided good accurately measured club data.  But, I am guessing, as others have stated, they probably aren't going to cannibalize their GCQuad sales with an entry level LM.  And, in this price range I think it would be difficult to find anything that would offer Foresight level accuracy on ball data and give you accurate club data to boot.  

I think it's only a matter of time before another competitor will bring something out that will cut into Foresight's sales. Maybe their trying to get ahead of the potential competition. There's only so many GC Quads they are gonna sell. For most recreational golfers the price for the GC Quad is out of reach. The last few years has proven there is a huge secondary market that will spend less than half of what high end launch monitors cost. I believe it will offer ball & club data just not to the extent of the GC Quad. The Bushnell unit will be more or less GC Quad lite.

 

I wonder when Trackman will get into the lower end consumer market.

[jimmies78]

Maybe part of the problem here is the the incumbents are stuck trying to keep the high prices of their top unit 'valid' when the fact may be that you can now potentially build a similarly capable device ( as the GCQuad ) for less than half the cost due to technology advances and camera costs coming down

 

They are stuck between a rock and a hard place...but eventually someone will step in that space and take away the sales from GCQuad/TM if they do not adjust their business plan

[D1as]

In Europe it will be called GC3

 

https://foresightsports.eu/homepage-v2/

 

 

[wolfyand1]

wow. athey pulled the page it seems now. interesting..

[karstens_ghost]

So it's Bushnell in the US?

 

That's going to be very interesting...

[Frankensteins Monster]

4 hours ago, D1as said:

In Europe it will be called GC3

 

https://foresightsports.eu/homepage-v2/

 

 

$7000+ for the full package, guaranteed. This is a GC2 replacement and is basically a GC2 with updated, modernized technology and no need for an HMT. 

[Rory4Pres]

holy crap.  This thread is killing me.  One day people are talking $1-3k and I'm planning on buying.  The next day people are talking $5-7k plus and I'm not buying.  

 

Oh the drama.  

 

All I'm going to say is if it winds up being $6k plus, everyone that was willing to shell out $1500-3500 needs to write Skytrak and tell them to get their Sh*t together.

[WallysWorld]

13 minutes ago, Rory4Pres said:

holy crap.  This thread is killing me.  One day people are talking $1-3k and I'm planning on buying.  The next day people are talking $5-7k plus and I'm not buying.  

 

Oh the drama.  

 

All I'm going to say is if it winds up being $6k plus, everyone that was willing to shell out $1500-3500 needs to write Skytrak and tell them to get their Sh*t together.

Who ever is saying its in the $2K or less range is dreaming. This is a mid market LM.  

[WallysWorld]

8 hours ago, jimmies78 said:

Maybe part of the problem here is the the incumbents are stuck trying to keep the high prices of their top unit 'valid' when the fact may be that you can now potentially build a similarly capable device ( as the GCQuad ) for less than half the cost due to technology advances and camera costs coming down

 

They are stuck between a rock and a hard place...but eventually someone will step in that space and take away the sales from GCQuad/TM if they do not adjust their business plan

Uneekor has entered the chat. I have to say, they provide the most bang for the buck but only drawback is that it's ceiling mounted. There are some rumors that Uneekor is looking into the portable launch monitor. 

[Rory4Pres]

7 minutes ago, WallysWorld said:

Who ever is saying its in the $2K or less range is dreaming. This is a mid market LM.  

makes me wonder if the GC3 will be a mid range and the bushnell pro launch will be a slightly lower range between mevo+ and gc3.

[radiman]

2 minutes ago, WallysWorld said:

Uneekor has entered the chat. I have to say, they provide the most bang for the buck but only drawback is that it's ceiling mounted. There are some rumors that Uneekor is looking into the portable launch monitor. 

Man, the whole Uneekor concept is great.  And for what you get for the $$ is impressive.  Our club got a couple last year.  I do really like that video of impact from above.  But, that thing hates my guts with a driver in my hand haha.  Measuring like 400rpm backspin for me.  Our pro mentioned something about dots for the balls but said they weren't able to get them.  

[Rory4Pres]

7 minutes ago, radiman said:

Man, the whole Uneekor concept is great.  And for what you get for the $$ is impressive.  Our club got a couple last year.  I do really like that video of impact from above.  But, that thing hates my guts with a driver in my hand haha.  Measuring like 400rpm backspin for me.  Our pro mentioned something about dots for the balls but said they weren't able to get them.  

I was just going to say their website says certain readings/specs require stickers.

[radiman]

Also, probably means nothing.  But interestingly enough, if you change the URL on Foresight's site to reflect the GC3 you get an access denied message.

 

So, it tells me that page exists just not available publicly.  Where if you type in something that obviously doesn't exist you get a 404 error.

 

[WallysWorld]

9 minutes ago, Rory4Pres said:

makes me wonder if the GC3 will be a mid range and the bushnell pro launch will be a slightly lower range between mevo+ and gc3.

Anything is possible but that would make things so confusing if you have units that look exactly the same but you get lower range if it's purchased from Bushnell, not through Foresight. I could see a lot of confusion with those buyers who buy off the shelf just like those who don't get fit and purchase a driver based on reviews. 

 

My original thought was this lm was always intended to be a mid market item. However they were going to release it with ball club data using 2 cameras, just like GC4, but can add "club data" in which it would use the 3rd camera to track the club. To me that would keep things more consistent but I just don't see this unit in same space as ST/Mevo +. I see this as a step up from those two units. 

[WallysWorld]

8 minutes ago, Rory4Pres said:

I was just going to say their website says certain readings/specs require stickers.

club data requires stickers- the same concept is GC4

[Cactus Jack]

It looks like GC2 has been removed from their site. As such, Launch Pro/GC3 appears be a direct replacement. Based on GC2/HMT cost, I think it's all but certain the new unit will be $5K-10K, which hopefully includes club data software. Who knows, but I'm certainly excited for more info.  

[goudok]

8 minutes ago, Cactus Jack said:

It looks like GC2 has been removed from their site. As such, Launch Pro/GC3 appears be a direct replacement. Based on GC2/HMT cost, I think it's all but certain the new unit will be $5K-10K, which hopefully includes club data software. Who knows, but I'm certainly excited for more info.  

5-10K is a huge difference.  Granted $5K is still a lot of money for nearly everyone 10K is nearly unreachable for anyone outside the golf industry who really needs one.  As many others have said $3k is the optimal price, however the more common sense I use it does not look like it will be cheaper than 5K.  I hope I am wrong.  

[jcrews5508]

If pricing is in the GC2 level, skytrac is surely happy. Those huge customer losses just vanished in the wind. They will continue to own the camera based lm market for the average golfer. 
 

Also kind of makes bushnell’s marketing campaign look kind of silly saying Pro level data for everyone.

[Cactus Jack]

10 minutes ago, goudok said:

5-10K is a huge difference.  Granted $5K is still a lot of money for nearly everyone 10K is nearly unreachable for anyone outside the golf industry who really needs one.  As many others have said $3k is the optimal price, however the more common sense I use it does not look like it will be cheaper than 5K.  I hope I am wrong.  

 

I agree. My thought leading the range is the potential software costs mentioned previously in the thread. Also, the GC3 name combined with GC2 disappearing from the website makes me think it will be expensive.

 

A quick review of sold units on eBay show used GC2s and HMT units individually sell for $3K+, with a couple units with current asking prices of $10K plus. It's possible due to partnering with Bushnell and economies of scale the cost will be lower, but I don't see this being in $3K range all in.  

[Indygolf21]

1 hour ago, radiman said:

Man, the whole Uneekor concept is great.  And for what you get for the $$ is impressive.  Our club got a couple last year.  I do really like that video of impact from above.  But, that thing hates my guts with a driver in my hand haha.  Measuring like 400rpm backspin for me.  Our pro mentioned something about dots for the balls but said they weren't able to get them.  

It depends what you want the monitor for. If you’re wanting to have something to play simulated rounds at home, I suppose it’s great (I think simulated rounds are lame). But for people who want a highly accurate, easy to use practice device for indoors at home and on the range, the mounting aspect makes it a no-go. 
 

This launch pro/GC3 has the potential to be everything us practice addicts have been hoping for. 

[radiman]

1 minute ago, Indygolf21 said:

It depends what you want the monitor for. If you’re wanting to have something to play simulated rounds at home, I suppose it’s great (I think simulated rounds are lame). But for people who want a highly accurate, easy to use practice device for indoors at home and on the range, the mounting aspect makes it a no-go. 
 

This launch pro/GC3 has the potential to be everything us practice addicts have been hoping for. 

For sure.  My buddy was seeing numbers that were more realistic to what he'd see on course.  But it was pretty much a non starter after seeing the results I had.  I don't see myself spending that kind of money for something so inaccurate.  This launch pro is pretty much right up my alley I think.  

[WallysWorld]

3 minutes ago, Indygolf21 said:

It depends what you want the monitor for. If you’re wanting to have something to play simulated rounds at home, I suppose it’s great (I think simulated rounds are lame). But for people who want a highly accurate, easy to use practice device for indoors at home and on the range, the mounting aspect makes it a no-go. 
 

This launch pro/GC3 has the potential to be everything us practice addicts have been hoping for. 

The only drawback is it's mounted, so you can't bring it outdoors but the EYEXO is as good as the GCQuad and you can also use external cameras to review one's swing. Go on the golf simulator forum and you'll see a ton of people who love their EYEXO and some club fitters have even switched to this device. Is it for everyone? No, but it sure checks a lot of the marks for those wanting accuracy and club data. 

 

[Indygolf21]

16 minutes ago, jcrews5508 said:

If pricing is in the GC2 level, skytrac is surely happy. Those huge customer losses just vanished in the wind. They will continue to own the camera based lm market for the average golfer. 
 

Also kind of makes bushnell’s marketing campaign look kind of silly saying Pro level data for everyone.

Foresight has a far superior product in the GC2 (and surely the GC3) and they can and should charge a premium for it. I don’t know why they’d want to compete with Skytrak; if you haven’t bought one yet, you’re probably not going to buy a comparable device, and there’s a big enough unserved market right now among the serious player who values dead on accurate practice data and wants a superior portable monitor (and with club data).