This Is the Coolest Golf Product of 2024

The Garmin Approach R50 is here, and it’s glorious.

We’re in the process of testing the Approach R50 head to head against the best personal launch monitors out there. Those results are coming soon. In the meantime, I’ve spent more time than I care to admit playing around with the Garmin Approach R50. Here’s why I’m so excited about it.

1. The user experience is second to none

Whether you notice it or not, most launch monitors have a terrible user experience. Often, these “enterprise” systems feature clunky software and a million hoops to jump through to get the device up and running.

Not the Garmin Approach R50. Within seconds, the device is up and running. The 10 seconds it takes to connect to your home Wifi signal is all it takes to start beating balls and capturing data.

No extra software or bloatware; no hoops to jump through. Just data capture.

2. No extras required

After spending upwards of one, two or even four thousand dollars on a launch monitor, the last thing you want to do is spend even more to make it useful. Unless you’ve been stashing a projector and have an extra television on hand, you’ll have to shell out more money to really bring the simulation capabilities of your launch monitor to life.

Not the Garmin Approach R50. Thanks to its built-in color touchscreen, you can play over 42,000 courses on the device itself. No cables, no projectors (although, if you want to play on a bigger screen, that’s still an option).

3. Three is a magic number

The past Garmin launch monitor (R10) struggled at times with accuracy. The Doppler-based system, for whatever reason, just struggled to live up to the big boys.

Not the Garmin Approach R50. It has three cameras for accurate data capture (ball and club data). In initial testing, it seems pretty darn close to devices that cost three or four times more.

4. It’s the best choice for the masses

Whether you’re an average golfer looking to know your numbers and have a little fun, an avid golfer whose season’s been cut short by winter weather or a seasoned vet with a dialed-in swing, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the Garmin Approach R50.

For the average golfer, it provides actionable data in an easy-to-digest package so you can take your range game to the course. For the avid golfer, it provides accurate metrics and the ability to play nearly any course, anywhere, anytime. And for the seasoned vet who knows what they’re doing, it (seemingly) has what it takes to hang out with the biggest names in launch monitor lore.

Looking for a cheaper option? The Garmin Approach R10 is on sale for $499

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