Whether you’re taking it to the range to put data behind your practice or you want to build a simulator at home, where you buy your golf launch monitor matters more than you might think. It dictates what you pay and the support you get before, during, and after the sale.

We’ll help you find the best place to buy a launch monitor. There are really only four online retailers worth shopping with, and one of them is better than the rest. You’ll get some tips on choosing the right launch monitor as well. 

Key Takeaways

• Indoor Golf Outlet is the best place to buy a launch monitor with the widest selection, the lowest prices, and world-class customer service.
• Carl’s Place, PlayBetter, and The Indoor Golf Shop are all decent options as well.
• You might be able to find launch monitors locally if you live in a bigger city.
• Some manufacturers sell direct to consumer, but this limits your options quite a bit.

Best Place to Buy a Launch Monitor: Ranking the Top 6 Launch Monitor Retailers

There are honestly tons of places you can buy a launch monitor online. That’s what makes it tricky - narrowing it down to the right retailer. Most manufacturers offer the same products, and the vast majority of authorized retailers have the same pricing.

So what does it really come down to? The best place to buy a launch monitor is where you’re going to get guidance on which specific brand and model best suits your needs. That’s what separates the best from the rest. It’s why Indoor Golf Outlet is the #1 choice on our list. 

1. Indoor Golf Outlet

Indoor Golf Outlet carries more launch monitor brands than any other retailer on this list, whether you’re eyeing a Uneekor launch monitor or a Foresight launch monitor. Other brands you’ll gain access to include Bushnell, Garmin, SkyTrak, FlightScope, Trackman, and even more niche brands like Square, Blue Tees, and VTrack.

It’s the brand-agnostic approach Indoor Golf Outlet takes that makes them the best place to buy a launch monitor online. You can reach out and get actual help from an expert who knows these models inside and out - and they’re not incentivized to push one launch monitor more than the next. You’re the priority. Not profit. 

Indoor Golf Outlet offers full-fledged golf simulator design, too. That means you can get one-on-one support picking a launch monitor knowing it’ll work for your space, ceiling height, and intended use. You’ll be able to complete your purchase in one place since Indoor Golf Outlet also has enclosures, screens, projectors, mats, and more. 

Price matching, hassle-free financing, and a really cool affiliate program. What more could you ask for in a launch monitor retailer? 

2. Carl’s Place

This is one of the first companies that pops up when you search for launch monitors online. Honestly, Carl’s Place shows up for anything golf-related. It’s a complete superstore. 

The company started making custom screens in Wisconsin before it expanded into a one-stop shop for golf simulators. Today, you’ll find everything from launch monitors to impact screens, enclosures, and more all under one digital roof.

As far as launch monitors go, Carl’s Place carries all the big names - Uneekor, Foresight, Trackman, Garmin, and FlightScope. Solid, but maybe not as deep as Indoor Golf Outlet or some of the other retailers.

What earns this company the #2 spot on our list is the Build Your Own customizer tool, coupled with more personalized plans for room planning. You can spec an entire simulator and get layout recommendations tailored to your space. 

But this is obviously not a selling point if you’re looking for a portable launch monitor so you can train smarter on the range, though. Carl’s Place won’t be the best place to buy a launch monitor in that case. 

3. PlayBetter

What started as a blog eventually became one of the best places to get a launch monitor online. PlayBetter has a pretty impressive catalog of launch monitors from Garmin, SkyTrak, Rapsodo, Square Golf, and Shot Scope. 

The company also has some great bundle packages if you’re building a simulator space and want to take the guesswork out of it. You get a launch monitor paired with the right screen and enclosure. There’s a quick, intuitive quiz to help you narrow it down if you don’t know where to start.

PlayBetter is worth a closer look if you’re in the market for a portable or mid-range launch monitor. Maybe not the right pick for an overhead model, though. The collection is just a bit thinner than other brands on this list, like Indoor Golf Outlet or The Indoor Golf Shop. 

4. The Indoor Golf Shop

The Indoor Golf Shop calls itself “America's Golf Simulator Experts,” so it should come as no surprise they’ve earned a spot on this list of the best places to buy launch monitors online. 

This Texas-based retailer sells launch monitors, complete simulator packages, and their in-house SIG Pro line of enclosures and hitting mats. Actually, they’re not even known as much for their launch monitor collection. It’s the SIG Pro products that people mostly associate with The Indoor Golf Shop. These enclosures, screens, and mats are so popular that even other retailers (such as Indoor Golf Outlet) carry them!

The flip side of that is that any brand that stocks its own private label line of products is probably not giving you the most authentic insights when you ask for recommendations. You should take any product suggestions with a grain of salt. 

5. Local Retailers

Not everyone reading along will have access to this option. But bigger cities usually have at least one of a PGA Superstore, Golf Galaxy, or even independent brick-and-mortar stores that sell launch monitors. 

Probably not the best place to buy a launch monitor if you have to drive more than 30-45 minutes out of your way. But if you’re the type of person who won’t make a big purchase without trying the product first, you may be able to hit shots on a launch monitor you like at one of these stores. 

The limitation comes down to selection. Local stores are not going to have the same range as an online retailer. Most of what you’ll have access to on the showroom is going to be lower-end portable launch monitors, too. 

The people who work at these stores are typically generalists, too. They may not be equipped to walk you through the nuanced differences between, say, the Uneekor EYE XO vs XO2 or the Bushnell Launch Pro vs GC3. Support can be hit or miss. 

6. Direct From Manufacturer

Some manufacturers sell their launch monitors directly to consumers. Not all, but Foresight, Garmin, or Uneekor are a few that come to mind. You’ll get the most detailed product specs and firmware insights straight from the brand. They know their products better than anyone, after all!

The drawback is a manufacturer obviously only sells its own products. So you’re not going to get side-by-side comparisons with other launch monitors. And if you do, they’re inherently biased. You won’t get any sort of bundle pricing with the other components you need for a simulator, either. This is rarely the best place to buy a launch monitor. 

Which Launch Monitor Should You Buy?

Figuring out where to buy a golf launch monitor is step one. Then you have to decide which model makes the most sense for you. Here are some things to consider as you narrow it down.

Portable vs Overhead Models

The first thing you’ll want to do is decide between a portable and overhead launch monitor. This comes down to where and how you plan on using it. Obviously, a ground-based model can move from your indoor simulator space to the range. But it takes up more room inside.

On the other hand, an overhead launch monitor goes on the ceiling and frees up more room in your simulator but it stays put. It’s used for one purpose only. 

What’s Your Budget?

You have to determine what you’re willing to spend, because that will narrow your options down pretty quickly. You can pay anywhere from $600 to over $15,000, depending on what you buy. 

A Garmin launch monitor or Rapsodo is a good entry point for a portable, ground-based unit. These can cost under $1,000. Foresight and Bushnell launch monitors sit in a solid middle ground - $1,500 to $5,000. Trackman obviously sits at the top end of the spectrum.

Other Features That Matter

Not every launch monitor works with every simulator platform, so think about software compatibility if you plan on using the launch monitor to play your favorite courses. This is part of why you need to find the best place to buy a launch monitor. They’ll help you work through it. 

The data you can track matters as well. You want maximum club and ball insights, so look deeper into what a launch monitor actually measures. How it measures it is just as important - radar and camera work differently indoors vs outdoors.

The point is, there’s a lot to consider. But a good launch monitor retailer takes all the stress and uncertainty out of it, so you can feel confident in your purchase. 

Final Words on Where to Buy a Launch Monitor

The best place to buy a launch monitor is where you feel supported. Not just where you’ll find the best selection, or the lowest prices. This stuff gets really complex, so take your time to weigh your options and shop with a brand that puts you first. It makes getting your hands on the best golf launch monitor so much easier!