Launch monitors explained: what your money actually buys

A launch monitor measures what happens at impact and just after: how fast the ball leaves (ball speed), how far it carries, and — on better units — how it spins. Two technologies dominate. Radar (Doppler) tracks the ball through the air and is brilliant outdoors with room to fly shots; photometric units use high-speed cameras to read the ball and club at impact and shine indoors in tight spaces. Many newer devices blend both.

The numbers worth caring about, in order: carry distance (for gapping your bag), ball speed and clubhead speed (for tracking whether a change adds power), then spin and launch angle (for dialling flight and, eventually, fitting). Cheaper units nail the first group reliably; spin and full club data are where you pay more for precision.

Budget tiers, simply: entry devices give you trustworthy distance and speed for practice and gapping. The value all-rounders add app-based simulator play and on-course tracking. Step up and you get cameras, video and more convincing sims. At the top, photometric units deliver the accuracy a serious garage simulator or club-fitting setup needs.

Where to jump in depends on the dream. If you just want honest practice data, start at the entry tier — it's transformative for the money. If 'play Pebble in my garage all winter' is the goal, budget for the mid or premium tier and a proper hitting space. Don't overbuy precision you won't use; don't underbuy if you genuinely want simulator golf.