Is the GCQuad Really Worth It? Lessons From 10 Sim Clubs
Note: This post focuses primarily on high-end indoor monitors—specifically those that qualify for use in Neighborhood National clubs. We occasionally reference other units for comparison, especially for readers who are earlier in their search.
The GCQuad is the king of indoor launch monitors—and if I had to do it again, I’d buy something different.
That’s not a hot take—it’s just more informed.
Trackman might want a word here, especially as it catches up with camera-based indoor tech. But for camera systems, the GCQuad has long ruled the landscape. It’s incredible. For indoor, camera-based launch monitors, it’s been the gold standard for years. You absolutely get what you pay for.
But after living with it, building around it, and helping launch what’s about to be 11 shared sim clubs with nearly 200 members, I’ve got a much clearer view of what really matters—to me, and to others.
When I started, I had no idea where to begin. I couldn’t install an overhead unit due to ceiling height, and I figured: if I’m doing this, I want the best. I saw what the best players in the world were using, and the GCQuad felt like the obvious choice.
A victim of marketing? Maybe. But at the time, it felt rational. With so many options and so little real knowledge, I defaulted to the far end of the spectrum.
Now, a few years in, I know a whole lot more—and if I could go back and start from scratch, I’d save the money and go with the Bushnell Launch Pro (or its twin, the Foresight GC3).
How I Think About It Now: Three Main Buckets
1. Accuracy Differences
With high-end simulators, everything is accurate. (Learn what defines high-end here.) The GCQuad might be a 10. The BLP and GC3? There’s plenty of actually data-backed side-by-side reviews on YouTube, my experiential assessment, they’re a 9.6. Close enough that you won’t notice a difference, unless you’re a pro, and then I’d even doubt it.
2. Data Differences
This is where the GCQuad earns its premium. It captures advanced club metrics.
The BLP/GC3 captures the same ball data, along with path, speed, and angle of attack for the club. The Quad adds face angle, closure rate, impact location, and more. If you're deep into numbers, club fitting, or swing instruction, there’s added value. But for most golfers? Even serious ones? In my experience, you won’t use it much.
I’ve got it. My son and I have used it for hundreds of sessions. We dug into club details early on—mainly because they were there. In the past year, we haven’t used anything we wouldn’t get with the Launch Pro.
3. Value to Members
This part is specific to us, but I think it’s broadly applicable: most of our members don’t care about the extra data.
I won’t say we’ve never missed out on someone looking for more advanced metrics than the BLP provides—but they’re the rare exception. What I can say is we’ve never lost a customer because of the data after they join.
Reality—now through literally hundreds of conversations—is that the overwhelming majority of people have no idea what the data even is. They just know everything feels right based on where the ball goes. That feeling might vary some, depending on their skill level. Generally though, across all skill levels, they mainly want something easy, accurate, and consistent.
The GCQuad is all of those things… but so are other units, for a lot less money.
Most have never heard of the leading simulator brands—Trackman the occasional exception. They just want something that works. And we know what works—because we run clubs with Foresight, Bushnell, Uneekor, and Trackman. Across the board, our member satisfaction and retention are nearly identical. 92% of members stay month after month. 97% would recommend NN to a friend.
If you're building a personal sim or a community space like NN, get the Quad if you want it for you. But if you think it’ll attract more people or justify higher pricing, I’d suggest you instead think about putting that extra $10,000 towards your mat, enclosure, PC and projector, or other club fun instead.
Why I’d Pick Bushnell Launch Pro
- $3,499 upfront (with club data) + $499/year for full data + sim access — compared to the GC3’s $7K with no annual subscription
- Same accuracy—widely regarded as the best in the industry—just fewer club analytics
- Extremely easy to use—and consistently so, which matters
- Vetted by pros and experts for years
For my priorities—accuracy first, then ease of use and cost—the BLP hits the sweet spot.
(Note: The prices listed reflect legacy pricing, which you’ll still see in many places. Bushnell and Foresight recently re-launched the BLP/GC3 line with new configurations and pricing. I’ve included a simple summary below, but none of it changes the main takeaway – other than I’d technically be going with the GC3S going forward.)
Bushnell / Foresight 2025 Rebrand: The LPi, GC3S, and GC3
Bushnell and Foresight recently re-launched their lineup:
- Bushnell LPi – $2,799 + $499/year. Same hardware as before, but they’ve lowered the price by removing the display screen and battery. It’s now geared for indoor use only—where you’ll always have a monitor or projected screen, and you’re fine with it needing to stay plugged in.
- GC3S – $3,799. Effectively the same as the prior BLP—screen and battery included vs. the LPi, plus the same $499/year subscription.
- GC3 – $6,900. Same as before, no subscription required.
A little more to digest with the added option, but ultimately a bit cleaner to understand (I think)—and nice that they introduced a lower-priced version too.
If I were to do it again, I’d go GC3S. We don’t take our Quad to the range or course often, but it is something we occasionally do.
What About Overhead Units?
If you’ve got the ceiling height and space (at least 9' tall and 15’ wide), overhead units can work. They’re ideal for commercial spaces specifically since they’re up out of the way and don’t need to be moved or realigned.
If I were going overhead, I’d go Uneekor for my money—it’s hard to beat their price-to-performance ratio and strong reputation. Here are a few of their options:
- EYE XR ($6,999) – Brand new as of this writing. No stickers required for club data, part of a growing trend. These newer units commonly rely on AI and inferred calculations rather than measured markers. Some will argue it’s less accurate—but if I had to bet, it’s already very good (with a few quirks) and will only improve.
- EYE XO ($7,200) – We’ve got these in No. 4, and they’re fantastic. A trusted workhorse in the sim world, at home and in commercial spaces.
- EYE XO2 ($11,000) – Similar to the XO, but with a larger hitting area. It’s been out a while and is a favorite as well.
Both Foresight and Trackman have overhead units as well—both at a notably higher price tag, and both with a stellar reputation.
And the Budget / Mid-Tier Units?
There’s a huge middle of the market filled with options that are budget-friendly to borderline high-end. We don’t use them in NN clubs, but they’re worth mentioning—because for the dollar, they’re generally fantastic. A few common ones:
- Garmin R10 (~$599) – Radar-based, better outdoors
- Rapsodo MLM2PRO (~$699–$999) – Dual camera + radar hybrid, better outdoors
- SkyTrak+ (~$2,495) – SkyTrak’s latest, great inside
- Uneekor EYE MINI (~$4,500) – Well-loved, great inside, with a built-in swing camera
All are great. Others too. The definition of high-end is often subjective—we draw a conservative line to avoid any debate over which monitors are part of NN. More detail on that here if you’re curious.
Pro Tip: What I’d Do Today
The GCQuad is amazing. I’ve got no regrets about buying it. But with everything I’ve learned—about the data, the cost, and real-world usage—I wouldn’t do it again.
If I were starting fresh, I’d put my money into what was the BLP and is now the GC3S, and build around that. It’s a great balance of high-end performance and relative cost—so long as the cost works for you.
Just getting started? It’s a great time to be shopping. There’s no shortage of solid options—and no single “perfect” answer. It really just depends on what matters most to you.
Always glad to help sort through the chaos, regardless of your interest in The National. Reach out anytime to talk.
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