Market guide
Camera or radar for your space
How room depth, portability, lighting, and the hitting area shape the right launch-monitor technologyThe room usually narrows the market before price or brand does. A monitor that is excellent on a range can be awkward in a short garage, while a camera unit that reads impact in a compact area may need to move when left- and right-handed players share the bay.
The measurement window
Radar follows flight. Cameras study impact
Behind-the-ball radar can observe more of the ball's flight outdoors. Camera-based units work from a much smaller measurement area around impact, then model the rest of the flight. Hybrid systems such as Mevo Gen2 and ST MAX blur this division, so the useful question is where the device sits and what it needs in your actual room.
- Short indoor depth
- A floor-based camera unit beside the ball often fits where a behind-the-ball radar unit does not have enough flight to observe.
- Outdoor practice
- Radar is naturally suited to following a full shot outdoors. Camera units can still work outside, but placement and lighting requirements vary.
- Permanent bay
- A ceiling-mounted unit clears the floor and can make switching between right- and left-handed golfers easier, but it gives up portability.
What to measure at home
Start with the swing area, not the device footprint
Ceiling height and room width determine whether every intended player can swing safely. Screen distance, room depth, and the monitor's position come after that. Manufacturer minimums are a starting point, while a comfortable swing often needs more space than the sensor itself requires.
- Ceiling
- Use the tallest player and longest club you expect in the room. A practice swing is more useful than a generic minimum.
- Width
- Measure for the golfer's stance and club arc. Add room when both handednesses need to play without moving equipment.
- Depth
- Separate ball-to-screen distance from the space a radar unit needs behind the ball. Mevo Gen2 specifies seven to nine feet behind the tee and at least eight feet of limited ball flight.
The honest shortlist
Technology is one constraint among several
Measured spin, club data, putting, impact video, software compatibility, and ongoing cost can matter more than the sensor label. Compare those fields only after the room has ruled out the systems that do not fit.
- Ball and club markers
- Some systems ask for reflective club stickers or radar-optimized balls to improve particular measurements.
- Lighting
- Camera systems differ in their tolerance for sunlight, flicker, shadows, and dark simulator rooms.
- Setup routine
- A portable unit can save a dedicated room, but only if alignment and connection are simple enough that you will actually move it.
Evidence used
First-party sources behind this guide
- 01What is a golf launch monitorTrackman · checked August 13, 2026Open source
- 02How to build a golf simulator in 2026Trackman · checked August 13, 2026Open source
- 03Approach R50 specificationsGarmin · checked August 13, 2026Open source
- 04Mevo Gen2 product and space requirementsFlightScope · checked August 13, 2026Open source
- 05ST MAX product specificationsSKYTRAK · checked August 13, 2026Open source