The Bushnell Launch Pro and GC3 Launch Monitors are built on the same technology and provide similar data and features. However, the Launch Pro costs $4,500 more. Software and subscription packages differentiate both products. GC3 pays off for long-term users; Launch Pro is comparatively cheaper if you need the unit for short-term purposes.
Vista Outdoors, the parent company of Bushnell, acquired Foresight Sports in the fall of 2021. Not long after the acquisition, Bushnell rolled out their first launch monitor, the Launch Pro, just around the time Foresight Sports announced the GC3 Launch Monitor, an upgrade from the GC2.
Looking beyond the minimal color accents, you’ll realize these two units are identical, especially in terms of data offerings, features, and integrations. I have observed that many golfers who want to decide between these two are usually more concerned with the value differences than the design differences.
In this article, I will walk you through the details of these two units. I’ll show you my experience using both. In the end, you should have gathered enough information to help you decide which is worth your investment between Bushnell Launch Pro and GC3.
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Using The Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor
The GC3 is an all-inclusive package requiring no subscriptions. Foresight Sports GC3 costs $7,500. It comes with FSX 2020 Golf simulator software. The FSX Performance App features a 3D Driving range and fancy data analysis views.
You can even enjoy enhanced graphics with Foresight Sports’ new FX Play.
The GC3 measures launch angle, side angle, ball speed, total spin, carry, sidepin, and spin axis. But for the club data, it measures speed, smash factor, club path, and angle of attack.
However, the GC3 has a 7″ x 10″ hitting zone. Also, the FSX software packages compatible with the GC3 allow for an outstanding indoor experience.
Using The Bushnell Launch Pro
All the offerings of the GC3 are available in the Bushnell Launch Pro, but you can’t access them without a subscription.
The only thing that doesn’t require a subscription is the unit’s own on-screen numeric data display. To get the full potential of Launch Pro, you need to subscribe to one of three different annual plans: Silver, Gold, or Unlimited.
Without one of the two upper subscription options, you won’t get simulation and will lose a few data points like Club Path and Attack Angle.
The Size and Space
The Foresight Sports GC3 and Bushnell Launch Pro are 6″ x 12″ x 5″. Apart from similar dimensions, they also have the same minimum recommended space of 7’W x 7’H x 10’D when hitting indoors.
So if you have a small space in your house for hitting balls, any of these units will not fail you in that area.
Accuracy of The Camera
It’s difficult to pinpoint any area of difference between the Launch Pro and GC3 when it comes to the camera model. Both units use trioscopic technology to track your ball and swing properties.
I expected the accuracy readings to be within 1–2% of the GC Quad, which is reasonable as far as launch monitors go in today’s industry.
Software Integration
Interestingly, both products work on Foresight Sports software. It’s no surprise because even looking at the Bushnell launch monitor, you can spot the Foresight Sports logo.
So you can expect an equal level of performance in both units’ software integration and compatibility since Bushnell Launch Pro is a Foresight Sports Product.
I Enjoy the Simulator Mode on My Gaming PC
If you settle on the Launch Pro, one overlooked way to get the whole simulation experience is to use a gaming PC. I could get limited data using an iPad with a Bluetooth connection, but things got better with the simulator mode for gaming PCs.
According to Foresight Sports, users will get more experience using a PC or laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and a sound-quality graphics card.
You should get a powerful PC if you genuinely want that Foresight Sports Launch Monitor (both products fall into this category) simulation experience.
So Which One Is Better Value for Money?
The only way I could accurately compare the functionality and value of GC3 and Launch Pro was to subscribe to the Gold annual plan, which is $799 per year.
So, when you use Bushnell Launch Pro for the first few years at this annual rate, it is considerably more cost-effective than GC3, which costs a $7,499 one-time payment.
But when you use the Launch Pro for over seven years, you’ll realize you spent more on it than if you’d purchased the GC3 one-off.
So it’s an egg and omelet situation because you only enjoy value for money from the GC3 in the long run. So if you plan to keep your launch monitor for many years, I strongly recommend the GC3.
But the Bushnell Launch Pro subscription plan pays off if you’re going through a training phase and need a temporary launch monitor to track your progress. It’s also a better option if you don’t need simulation (the basic subscription plan).
Think about it: At the rate of $99 per year for a basic subscription to Launch Pro, it will take you 45 years to reach the one-off costs of the GC3. However, there was no simulation.
My Final Opinion
Both the Bushnell Launch Pro and GC3 are high-grade monitors. I can recommend either in a heartbeat, especially when the budget isn’t part of the contract. One isn’t more accurate than the other.
From a data and technical accuracy point of view, these two units are equivalent. With the Gold subscription on the Launch Pro, I enjoyed the same data and feature offerings as the GC3.
The indecisiveness about which one to go for mostly depends on the purchase model. The best way to choose between these two is to determine how long you plan on seriously using the launch monitor.
Still, the price point is too high for the average golfer. Still, it’s a step in the right direction to have personal launch monitors with super-tiered accuracy. It’s a significant drop from GCQuad and even GC2 with HMT (Head measurement technology).
Would Flightscope or Trackman soon create units to compete in this price range? Time will tell.
