Bushnell Launch Pro Data – What Data does Bushnell Launch Pro Measure?

The Bushnell Launch Pro is a new launch monitor that brings the build quality and accuracy of Foresight to a more affordable section of the market. But what data does the Bushnell Launch Pro measure? Bushnell Launch Pro data and subscription tiers will be explained in detail in this article.

The Bushnell Launch Pro measures 11 data parameters, with 5 more being modeled by software. The 16 data points are split into ball flight data, club data, and shot data. Some of the data is available with the unit out of the box, and some require a subscription and access to FSX software.

How does the Bushnell Launch Pro work?

The Bushnell Launch Pro works using three cameras (called Triscopic technology) that work together to take numerous images of the golf ball and golf club before, during, and after impact.

The Launch Pro only needs a view of the impact zone (and a little before and after it) unlike competitor radar-based units.

Three cameras theoretically lead to enhanced accuracy over lower-priced camera units with fewer cameras such as Skytrak. Note also that Foresight’s market-leading camera-based launch monitor the GC Quad uses four cameras.

How do the Bushnell Launch Pro subscription and Level system work?

You buy the Bushnell Launch Pro on its own and then choose a subscription tier. This pricing method is used to bring the technology of the related Foresight GC3 to a more affordable section of the market.

At the time of writing, the Bushnell Launch Pro costs $3,999. Then you choose between a basic package (costing $249 per year with the first year free), silver package ($499 per year) or the gold package ($799 per year and a 30 day free trial is included).

Note that the pricing structure for the Bushnell Launch Pro has recently changed, with an increase in the cost of the base unit, and altered costs for the subscription tiers, with further alterations in the features offered in each option.

Now, more of the differences in subscription tiers actually relate to features unlocked within the FSX software programs and the ability to play simulated golf, rather than the data points measured by the launch monitor.

You can also choose to ‘unlock’ the gold subscription tier features for life, which essentially turns the Bushnell Launch Pro into a Foresight GC3, for an additional $3,499. The addition of the base price and unlocking price equates to approximately the same cost for a new GC3.

Note at the time of writing (August 2022), the Bushnell Launch Pro will only work in the US, and is region locked to not work in other countries. I’m not sure why this is the case and hope that it will become available to golfers in other countries soon.

What ball flight data does Bushnell Launch Pro measure?

The Bushnell Launch Pro measures the following ball data:

• Ball Speed
• Total Spin
• Back Spin
• Side Spin / Spin Axis
• Vertical Launch Angle
• Horizontal Launch Angle (Push/Pull)

What club data does Bushnell Launch Pro measure?

The Bushnell Launch Pro measures the following club data:

• Clubhead Speed *
• Club Path *
• Angle of Attack *
• Smash Factor

* You will need to use club face stickers in order to achieve accurate results on these data parameters.

What shot data does the Bushnell Launch Pro measure?

The Bushnell Launch Pro will display carry distance on the screen and without a subscription. You can also gain the ability to see total distance, run distance, distance offline, and peak height when you use the Launch Pro alongside software such as FSX 2020 or FSX Play.

Bushnell Launch Pro Data by Subscription Tier

Bushnell Launch Pro Data vs Foresight GC3 Data

The full-featured Bushnell Launch Pro measures the same ball and club data as the Foresight GC3, including 11 measured parameters and at least 5 modeled shot characteristics.

Once you’ve fully unlocked the Bushnell Launch Pro with a lifetime subscription to the gold tier package, the unit becomes akin to the GC3 in all but branding and casing.

Bushnell Launch Pro Launch Data in Detail

Ball Speed

Bushnell Launch Pro records ball speed, which is a measure of the speed at the moment the ball clears your clubface. Golf Ball Speed is determined by how much energy is imparted to the ball by the club, the efficiency of the strike, the characteristics of the equipment and ball, launch angles, spin, and more.

This parameter closely relates to how far the ball will carry in the air, though it is not the only variable in calculating carry distance.

Whilst there are multiple levels of complexity to these numbers, simply aiming for a higher ball speed should equate, in general, to longer drives and greater distance.

Back Spin and Total Spin

Back Spin is a measure of the speed of the golf ball’s spin in a front-to-back direction as it leaves the club face. An optimal back spin for a driver is likely to be around 2500rpm, whereas sand wedge shots may show around 10,000 rpm.

Back spin is closely related to several other parameters including launch angle and distance. The Bushnell Launch Pro will give a total Spin reading straight out of the box, and then will split this into back spin, side spin and spin axis once you sign up to a subscription tier.

Once you get a handle on spin rate, you will start to gain a much higher level of control over your shots and be able to judge their length and height much more easily.

Side Spin and Spin Axis

Bushnell Launch Pro also measures side spin, which refers to how much the golf ball is spinning in a horizontal direction. This defines how much the ball will curve off a straight line, giving you a draw or fade shot shape. In reality, the ball is really only spinning in one direction, a combination of backward and sideways.

Some launch monitors describe spin by a spin rate and a ‘spin axis’ to better describe this. Whilst the spin rate is of course the speed of rotation, the spin axis describes the overall direction of the spin (a combination of backspin and sidespin).

Push/Pull & Horizontal Launch Angle

Horizontal Launch Angle describes how far the golf ball lands away from the target line, and it is also known by several other names, such as side angle, lateral landing, distance offline, and Azimuth.

Horizontal Launch Angle is termed ‘push/pull’ on FSX 2020 and on Bushnell Launch Pro.

The ball could either travel in a straight line (a push or a pull) to this point, or it could draw or fade.

Vertical Launch Angle

Bushnell Launch Pro measures vertical launch angle which is a measure of the angle of the ball’s take-off relative to the slope of the ground. Launch angle is a measure of the trajectory of your shot and controlling this can elevate your skill level greatly.

An optimal launch angle is one of the big contributors to how far your ball can travel, too high and it will go up quickly, spin too much and come straight back down, too low and the ball will fall before it can reach its full potential.

If the ground is sloping down and you hit up, this will have a higher launch angle than an identical shot played on flat ground.

You should find that your launch angle is always a slightly lower number than the measure of the dynamic loft.

Elite golfers will be able to consistently hit chosen distances and doing so means controlling the trajectory of their shots, along with spin and direction.

Club Speed

Clubhead speed is available on Bushnell Launch Pro and is the speed of the golf club at the moment before impact with the ball. Your club speed is another critical factor in determining the total distance that your golf ball will travel.

The faster the club is traveling prior to the impact with the ball, the faster the ball is going to go assuming that the ball is struck efficiently.

You can have a high clubhead speed but a really inefficient strike if you don’t hit the ball with the center of the clubface, or have a poor club path or an open or closed clubface. We cover these parameters later on in this post.

Smash Factor

Smash factor tells you how efficient your ball striking is. You get a measure of how efficiently you are imparting energy to the ball. Analyzing your smash factor numbers can tell you how efficient your strike is converting clubhead speed to ball speed.

The Bushnell Launch Pro displays both ball speed and clubhead speed so will give you readings for smash factor too.

Club Path

Club path simply refers to the direction of the movement of the clubhead at the moment of impact with the golf ball. A perfectly straight shot would result from an in-to-square-to-in club path, with the clubface being square at the point of impact.

“In to out”, at least for a right-handed golfer, is the movement to the right at the moment of impact and results in a positive club path. “Out to in”, again for a right-handed golfer, offers a negative club path and indicates a movement inwards to the left.

The image below illustrates how the path of the club can interact with the target line. You can work on a in to out club path on your journey to hitting a nice little draw. Alternatively the out to in club path can result in a power fade.

Angle of Attack

The angle of attack describes whether the club is traveling in an upwards or downwards direction relative to the ground, as it approaches the golf ball. The angle of attack can be positive or negative. Using this data parameter in your Bushnell Launch Pro practice can help you optimize your ball striking.

A positive attack angle shows you’re hitting upwards as you strike the ball, like many golfers do with their driver when the ball is teed up. A negative attack angle shows you’re hitting downwards towards the ball, like is normal with irons and wedges.

Angle of attack can also simply be called Attack Angle.

Carry Distance

The onboard software on the Bushnell Launch Pro models your shot based on the data recorded, and you will be provided with a carry distance and a total distance. Whilst the Launch Pro doesn’t report run distance itself, the amount the ball runs is the difference between the two numbers.

Lower shots with less backspin will roll more, so the difference between carry and total distance will increase. This information may be given in numerical form depending on the simulation software you choose to run.

What launch data does the Bushnell Launch Pro not measure?

The Bushnell Launch Pro (in a similar manner to the GC3) does not measure the following data points (amongst others):

• Face Angle
• Impact Point
• Face to Path
• Face to Target
• Curve
• Dynamic Loft
• Closure Rate

This is partly to keep both launch monitors separate from the Foresight flagship GC Quad. You can learn more about the GC Quad data here.

Can you putt on the Bushnell Launch Pro?

You can putt using the Bushnell Launch Pro, on a level comparable with other launch monitors in golf simulators. However, there is no advanced putting analysis suite. You’d need to consider a much higher-priced GC Quad for this high-end feature.

There will be an initial learning curve to putting on a launch monitor, with many setup factors coming into play. You may find my putting on Skytrak article helpful if you struggle.

Does the Bushnell Launch Pro require marked golf balls, dots or stickers?

Bushnell recommends you use premium golf balls with the Launch Pro, and you do not need to add metallic dots or other marks to the golf ball. They recommend against range balls, balls with scuffs and damage, and also colored balls.

Like the vast majority of launch monitors, you will need to add a couple of club stickers to the club face in order for the Launch Pro to read club data such as club path effectively. You can find instructions on this here.

Bushnell Launch Pro Simulation Software Compatibility

The following golf simulation software programs are compatible with the Bushnell Launch Pro:

• FSX 2020, FSX Play and FSX Pro

Golfers have been able to play GS Pro through their Bushnell Launch Pro, though this is not an official integration and it seems you need a Gold subscription for this to be possible.

You will need to set this up using a community-based interface that takes advantage of GS Pro’s open API. Take a look at the GS Pro Discord for instructions, the process will is better defined when the GC3 and GS Pro link is discussed.

Note that E6 Connect is not yet supported by the Bushnell Launch Pro, but I expect this to be temporary. E6 Connect is compatible with the vast majority of launch monitors, including other Foresight models, so I would be very surprised if integration with the GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro does not come through soon.

The versions of FSX 2020, FSX Play and FSX Pro are modified, with fewer features, for lower tiers (basic and silver) of subscription.

You do however need to buy at least the Silver subscription tier in order to use simulation software programs and play simulated golf.

Bushnell Launch Pro Data – Summary

The Bushnell Launch Pro is a very viable option for golfers who want a camera-based launch monitor that offers the same technology and accuracy associated with the Foresight brand but at a more affordable price.

With the Bushnell Launch Pro, you get 11 launch parameters with at least 5 further data points modeled within the software.

The data offering is a little more intricate than for other launch monitors based on the varying subscription tiers and software packages, though the recent change in pricing structure has made things more uniform.

The Bushnell Launch Pro offers great value as it can get you going with highly accurate golf simulation on quality Foresight software at a very reasonable price.