I Tested the Garmin R50 Data Accuracy & Got SHOCKING Results!

[@hcpgolf]

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[@fandorm]

When the spin numbers are in italics on Trackman, which they are often in the video, it means that the numbers aren’t measured. They are estimated. In those cases, and most other cases, especially since you seem to not use RCT balls, I wouldn’t trust TM spin numbers (even though it is expensive)

[@goplaygolf1606]

This! On an indoor basis, it doesn't matter that the trackman costs over $20,000. It simply isn't as accurate as an optical unit. If he was using a Trackman IO, completely different story.

[@timterman]

I really appreciate the effort that went into this video! Comparison tests lose their value though when the test setup is flawed. Not using RCT balls makes the “control” data from the Trackman less reliable, so fundamentally we no longer know which is right. Would love to see this test run back. (If you do, be careful to compare the same data points such as club path to club path, not face to path.)

[@clw22580]

agree he also needs a GC4/Hawk because of the differences of WHERE speed is measured on radar vs photo monitors GC4 and Trackman rarely completely agree and NOONE questions the accuracy of those two monitors

[@kourt2469]

Yeah and also trackman is horrible at picking up gear effect indoors. When I hit that slight high toe that you know is drawing or even hooking and you look up and trackman shows a huge block right where camera monitors like foresight can capture the ball data very accurately and you see the proper flight. Trackman is amazing outdoors, not great indoors especially when you have high swing speed

[@hozelrocketgolf]

The biggest discrepancies were spin access and club data. Seeing as the Trackman was indoors and not using RCT balls this is a hard metric to compare. As for the club data, I would think the Garmin is more accurate as it is actually measured using the club dots, and not calculated by an algorithm ?

[@rlbjr]

You need to use RCT balls for Trackman indoors. Trackman will only estimate spin with non-RCT balls indoors. That can effect other #'s that rely on the spin #.

[@hcpgolf]

They were 👍🏼⛳️

[@rlbjr]

@@hcpgolfA lot of spin #'s were in italics which means the spin was estimated. Maybe some interference with Trackmans radar?

[@hcpgolf]

Ye potentially some interference!

[@hcpgolf]

I stand corrected - they were indeed regular prov1 balls and not RCT! More than likely the reason why the spin numbers are in italic and not interference. My apologies 👍🏼⛳️

[@Wildest_Wahoo]

@@hcpgolf - retest coming soon?

[@danielkohler3458]

@5:48 I wonder if you caught a bit of the hozel. That'd explain the face to path being left but the spin axis being right. I think I trust the camera system more in this scenario without the RCT balls but who knows.

[@mistenkt]

Yea.. I think I’ll wait for someone to do a proper comparison. Don’t feel this one did it justice. The r50 is quite clearly not aimed correctly ( it’s off to the left). You are comparing it indoors to a trackman which isn’t ideal. GCQ would be a better comparison there. Or take it outside with the trackman. You keep mixing up what the numbers actually mean. (Attack angle). Since it’s multiple times it makes me think you don’t actually know what you are talking about.

[@3o1Golf]

when it comes to spin axis im going to trust the garmin mor then the TM, i know many club manufacturers that dont agree with the TM data and are switching to foresight products. it would be nice to see the path also when you do this :) awsome video as always!

[@hcpgolf]

Thanks mate 👍🏼 I believe radar aren’t always the most accurate indoors. There was one shot where the spin axis was a bit crazy on the Garmin it seemed. On the whole I was pretty impressed with it tbf

[@DoctorRalphBugelmein]

The attack angle isn’t “to the left” the - means it’s down not up Mitch 😂

[@hcpgolf]

Haha I realised this when I was editing it mate 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@DoctorRalphBugelmein]

Your probably getting it mixed up with swing path I bet 🤣

[@DoctorRalphBugelmein]

@ easy mistake to make to be fair 🤣

[@hcpgolf]

Probably because I was saying it so often with the other club data metrics 🤣

[@arpdog]

Fantastic video! I just watched your Home Tee Hero review and it was impressive. What are your thoughts on putting with the R50? That's the one area I've seen a lot of videos complaining about speed accuracy and issues with GSPro putting.

[@TioVar2023]

Thanks for the test. Everybody is complaining about RTC golf balls, but any chance you could test against the GCQuad? The RTC balls won’t fix the club data inaccuracies. The Quad has a pretty big hitting window, I hope both monitors could be tested simultaneously.

[@PeterGoudie]

Great comparison, well done Mitch

[@hcpgolf]

Thanks Pete, great to hear from you! I was talking about you the other day actually 🙂 where have your videos gone?!

[@PeterGoudie]

@ haha hopefully nothing bad! Have just emailed you mate

[@neilw4881]

Another good review. The more interesting comparisons, if you are using a launch monitor with GS Pro or similar, is the actual finish locations of the ball. Ie: the off line distances. With those discrepancies in club data it would/could mean the difference between being in the middle half of the fairway and being OB, water or trees etc. The last thing we need to be trying to do is make the game even more difficult than it already is 👍

[@bendagley5402]

This was the test i wanted to see, the misreads are abit worrying I expected the data to be perfect given the cost and effort they have put into this!

[@hcpgolf]

I didn’t think it was too bad - is it just the club data you’re disappointed with?

[@arsmadrifut8931]

@@hcpgolf isnt club data the most important?

[@bendagley5402]

@@hcpgolf mainly the 7 irons you hit early on although it seemed to get better with the SW and driver , the spin axis being well off resulting in the different shot shapes would be worrying when playing sim golf or even practicing! I’ve done this test against my GC2 and the data compared to trackman was virtually 99% right on everything so not sure it would be worth the upgrade for me

[@SP_99999]

Being tested not with rct ball and seeing all spin number on TrackMan in italic mean that the value is estimated not measured. Also not sure if r50 was properly aligned, in video it seems quite not perpendicular to the screen.

[@bam14bam]

@@arsmadrifut8931 I have been pondering this very thing. In theory...don't you know what happened to the club by the ball flight? With the impact camera...you can confirm what happened at impact which is pretty amazing. So, I guess...no ball data is the most important I think.

[@jamesheeney7451]

Hey bud. Great vid. All camera based systems will show swing speed 2 to 3 mph faster than TM. Similarly when TM spin is italics it's calculated not actual. Which explains some delta issues. Otherwise damn comparable for the price. Thanks

[@TJVGolf]

Indoors I’ll take optical based all day long. Curious about the R50 against the Quad but it’s tough to do side by side with optical as the infrared typically interferes with each other.

[@derrikwillett4081]

I don't trust trackman indoors but great video

[@hcpgolf]

Thank you mate 🙌🏼⛳️

[@grahamwilson2748]

Nice one Mitch pal I’ve ordered one from GSS⛳️

[@hcpgolf]

Enjoy mate 🙌🏼 I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! ⛳️

[@clw22580]

FYI - there is a difference between WHERE the club speed is measured on radar/trackman vs photo R50/GC4 those speed numbers are roughly inline with what you would see on a GC4 vs Trackman - Ian Fraser talks about the difference between the speed measurements frequently on his TXG/Club Champion channel

[@carlostabarbara1854]

Would love to see a test vs GCQuad. Against a Trackman without RCT balls, I’m a little wary of the results.

[@rucalopin1856]

i was worried i would regret my recent skytrak plus purchase but after that i am very very happy with the skytrak. Even if the trackman indoors is not that good of a choice for this, the club data should be 100% spot on with the trackman and honestly it was a bit worrying how off the garmin was. You dont see this on a bushnell or a gc3 or even ST+

[@jdog8701]

He misspoke multiple times and didn't use rct balls which trackman needs indoors. Both of these he has stated in replies to other comments, this video is now kinda pointless

[@tommiev975]

Great video again Mitch. You refer to cheaper LM’s showing bigger discrepancies, however, in this indoor test, I believe TM (radar) might be less accurate. Multiple tests have shown photometric GC Quad to be more accurate (lower standard deviations) on club head delivery and spin axis measurements. Mishits (toe,heel, high and low face) less accurate on TM. Club head speed will always be a bit higher on a photometric device. Also always differences on AoA as TM measures the geometrical center point of the club head, and the Quad the front of the face. Long explanation (apologies) but R50 data seem to confirm earlier tests with GC QUad, so, impressed with the R50 test, especially in this launch version. Just what I needed to pull the trigger on this one. 🎉

[@hcpgolf]

Thanks mate - it’s all very technical isn’t it! Thanks for the info 🙌🏼⛳️

[@tommiev975]

@@hcpgolfAppreciate your in-depth reviews … hope your efforts translate in more subscribers. Great channel and very spontaneous, casual style. 💪👏🏻

[@hcpgolf]

Thanks mate 🙌🏼⛳️

[@dylanchasse6721]

Any chance you could do a comparison video with the Square vs. Trackman? Or possibly Square vs. R50? Love the videos/content. Thanks!

[@hcpgolf]

I might be able to get one done next week - not 100% sure but I’ll try 👍🏼

[@dylanchasse6721]

@ that would be awesome. I’m not sure if there’s been a software update on the Square since your last video on it but either way, it would be super helpful to see a direct comparison of the Square against one of the most reliable/accurate launch monitors in the industry. Would probably need to use the square balls though I would imagine? Thanks again for all your content you put out

[@salahlah23]

Seems like the issues can be solved with software updates

[@tobiaspapa8466]

Feel like the camera system would be more accurate than calculating the numbers. Overall nice comparison.

[@phild3892]

He isn’t using RCT balls indoors here. The trackman is off

[@ludvigaldrin]

So interesting. This what everybody thinking of, how do it compare. Would be interesting seeing your data without the sticker. Will it even try or just show no data? Is the sticker just plastic or some metal in it?

[@hcpgolf]

The R50 doesn’t show club data if there’s no metallic sticker on the club

[@ekchuahstudios9066]

To my way of thinking the $5,000 Garmin is very accurate, the $25,000 Trackman is not as accurate. I'll take the R50 thank you very much.

[@tommiev975]

Spot on ! Indoors, GC Quad and 14:17 R50 will be more accurate, even with RCT balls.

[@robertacierno2803]

You keep referencing the negative attack angle as “to the left.” It’s not left, negative means down. Which is excellent with an iron.

[@hcpgolf]

I know 🤦🏻‍♂️ I realised this when I was going over the edit of the video! 🤣

[@relisys]

As an American, while seeing it's size relative to your body for the first time and hearing you say "Four and a half thousand pound device", I had a serious LOL moment. Thanks for that, however unintentional.

[@9krpmracing]

Looking at the Garmin face and path data Vs actual ball flight properly I would be curious of Garmin's description of their club path and face angle. If their description is the same as Trackman or Foresight then those numbers are a bit worrying. I hope that the released version will be better.

[@KevinsCoffee]

Damn that Garmin r50 weights a lot!

[@hcpgolf]

😂😂

[@justinstephenson9360]

I would expect all but the cheapest launch monitors to be very accurate on ball speed. Whether it is a doppler radar or a camera system this is a directly measured data point. Any launch monitor which cannot get that right is a toy not a serious device. Club head speed will vary between launch monitors depending on how it is measured and from what point on the club. So if a launch monitor measured the speed based on the centre of the club and another monitor measures it based on the toe of the club there will always be a difference - both could be equally accurate. TBH I am rarely concerned with club head speed. As others have pointed out the back spin numbers on many of the shots were estimated by Trackman and measured by the R50. At this stage there is no way of knowing which is more accurate, although I prefered measured data over calculated data. Spin rate differences can explain differences in carry distances. Spin rate is a problem for most launch monitors. My local indoor centre uses GolfZon monitors, the really expensive versions, and with higher lofted irons and wedges the spin rate is a random number generator. Face angle, path and angle of attack are the critical data points for me in club data - looks like the R50 needs a little bit of work there but that should be a software update in a few months

[@hcpgolf]

Great info, thank you 🙌🏼⛳️

[@mr.celebre6533]

Can you please please make this video with the SkyTrak plus against the trackman? Nobody has compared SkyTrak club data to a higher price launch monitor and I am really interested I think others would be as well.

[@pedroc6823]

There was a recent firm ware for R50, can’t remember if it was an additional feature or to reduce errors???

[@G.Dean100]

Feels like there is a good amount of delay from shot to what is being shown?

[@hcpgolf]

How do you mean, Trackman delay?

[@rodmarshallpga4571]

Yes, that is the Trackman being projected onto the screen.

[@crash2net]

Anyone know what shoes he's wearing? Great video. Thank you

[@tommeyers6449]

The R50 does not seem to be perpendicular to the swing arc (looking from behind, it appears to be pointing to the left). May be just the camera angle.

[@9krpmracing]

If that is the case when you align it more right, the left shot would read even more left.... so the diff with the trackman would have been worse not better. I wonder if there is a calibration method with the r50. Not bad data for a first release but aint Foresight territory yet. Very promising though. Now would be interesting if Garmin purchases Foresight and these 2 units make baby 😂

[@andrewcarey3153]

​@@9krpmracingthere is. They show it in another video. Put a club down in the direction and two balls along side it and it'll pick them up to calibrate

[@deanzenoni2204]

I was ready to pull the trigger on buying a Garmin R50 until I seen this video and the huge discrepancies on the club data, is it really that far off? I read the comments about the RCT balls not being used but do not see how that would affect the discrepancies in club data?

[@tommiev975]

Comments are on the lower reliability data by Trackman, especially if no RCT balls are used… photometric much more reliable indoors.

[@brendanlawlor2253]

Great video, only one out there but so misleading Be great to get RCT comparisons GC3 or Quad comparisons I’d love to see Gspro with it to see what lag is like I’d love to see how to control GSPro works with it, do you use the screen or is it compatible with spring box

[@hysellplay]

Do you have to plug the physical USB-C into your computer to use GS Pro? Or can it communicate to the computer solely over the local Wi-fi network? I understand that I'll still have to run an HDMI cable from my PC to the projector, but would be nice to not also have to buy and run a super-long USB-C cable.

[@ARCS1989]

Pc for GSPro

[@supervelous]

soley over wifi. i have an R50

[@xavierperez9725]

Trackman is not reading your spin on the wedge. Italics means it’s estimated.

[@Lucozade885]

With things like this, you can put 2 trackman next to each other and they will still me slightly different.

[@mboynicholls]

Why don't you use rct indoors... At this speed tman. Should pick it up and give you solid numbers instead of italics... However, the garmin does seem to match the data. Just would like to see the bold numbers instead of italic guesstimates

[@dubbs1923]

Trackman IO would be more ideal. Club speed and face angle will never be the same as the they are using different technology measurements. This needs to be called out in the video from the very beginning.

[@hcpgolf]

I could have used the iO for the test as well - why do you think it would be more ideal?

[@3o1Golf]

@@hcpgolf probsbly since its also camerabsed :)

[@dubbs1923]

@@hcpgolfif you don’t know why, you shouldn’t make a comparison video.

[@rayyou7032]

The test should really be outdoors with a trackman. Radar based has a hard time indoors.

[@waynelee5905]

Do you need to align the R50 using a reflective alignment stick similar to how you align the GC3?

[@hcpgolf]

No, you use two golf balls to align the launch monitor 👍🏼

[@ItsTyra2014]

R10 vs R50 next test?

[@glennwatson3313]

This is clearly the way to go right now if you have $5,000.00.

[@StickyPickle-w4i]

I think the biggest prob here is you are automatically assuming the Trakman is correct. Many of the spin rates on Trak were Italisized which means a “guess”. I feel for your shotshapes the Garmin was actually more accurate with the numbers. I also have experienced many issues with “bad/incorrect” data from Trak, such as 110 mph club speed with driver, not from this guy, 104-105 on my best days. The better test would be the GCQuad, the real gold standard vs Trak and see those numbers. Imo those numbers might shock you. Obviously im not a Trakman fan. I think for the money, quite frankly, they’re junk. Right now i would buy in order Uneekor EYE XO2 EYE XO CGQuad Uneekor QED Trakman Hard for me ro trust Trakman when i know my clubs very very well and Traks numbers are rarely what i do and see on other sims and on the course.

[@clevited]

Thanks for doing this. Unfortunately though, trackman is one of the worst systems to test this against indoors. They can be all over the place with shot shape accuracy and that is from experience. Also, a lot of these lower end devices fail to be reasonably accurate at higher speeds. Not your fault but I do hope someone that is in the tour speed range does a video at some point.

[@ARCS1989]

So the club data isn’t very good. Which means you are best going with a GC3 for this pricing bracket.

[@GolfBusters]

LETS GOOOOOOOO

[@petegalindez9961]

Two questions: 1. Seems the Trackman is not getting spin accurately a bunch of times (in italics), and 2. Why do you keep referring to attack angle as “left”? As for club data, it seemed off by the same factor…so, could be just alignment of the units. You don’t mention whether they were both identically calibrated…and because Trackman was calculating the spin, it was calculating distance and left to right based on that estimated spin, so could be a case of the Trackman was less accurate…Almost impossible to tell without comparing them outdoors in the same way with no wind…All that said, I would buy the R50 all day long even if these were legit differences.

[@oliverkaubisch2203]

Why don’t u test it against the real flight path on the range?

[@hcpgolf]

I’d love too but time was limited - I’ll look into doing that next time I have an opportunity to use the launch monitor

[@Tubezilla]

Thankfully I held out from ordering the R50. The accuracy is not there for a 5000 euro unit.

[@ElieAnquetil]

Club path vs club to path it’s not the same data.

[@muehlemannfilms]

Someone who mentions aoa to the left or right is obviously not very familiar with club data….. Radar systems do a lot of calculating and guessing instead of really measuring. Video units its ALL measured.

[@craigseaver8062]

Im going to trust the numbers of the camera system a little more than the radar unit. IDC if the radar unit costs 4X as much. Youre still just relying on the accuracy of the math.

[@PIMarine7252]

I wouldn't consider a 3 camera photometric unit costing $5,000 a budget launch monitor and it appeared the shot shape was off on several shots that you called the direction on immediately after hitting it. I'm thinking too many discrepancies at this moment. The R50 needs some tweaking via firmware updates. I'll stick with my ST+ but do not see this as "fantastically accurate" as you said. Just my opinion.

[@nbargolf]

Couple of those 7 iron shots were way off in direction.

[@bmos212]

Face to path is the difference in degrees between the direction of the path and where the face is at impact. So your not referring to in the correct manor. Trackman has a Face to path tile. Just saying.

[@beforebefore]

I could hardly hear the audio of this video

[@warrenber]

The miss hits always tell the story. Too many differences for my liking.

[@SiHodgy]

Why didn’t you look at the club face photo to see which one was correct

[@LeeBILODEAU-d7t]

Holy crap bud your a young man start swinging that driver. Let er eat and quit coming over the top. You should easily be 110mph swing speed

[@TheIslandExpat]

The nvisage smokes the Garmin.

[@ForeParfection]

Haven’t even started watching and still can’t believe we’re comparing apples to oranges. Why don’t we take a state of the art photo based system and place it against a photo based system..? All these devices are great! They’re all pretty dang accurate. There’s no “this is the best deal!” They all cost around the same for the same features. Some à la carte some slap you with it all. What’s your space like (have room Doppler or photo… don’t have room photo) ok now let’s figure out your budget… all these devices are going to be within a yard or two of carry. You’re welcome if I saved you 20 minutes.

[@stevevinck4452]

this data is really not usable . The differences are so big that something must be wrong . Thx for trying but please redo the tests . Thx for the effort really appreciated

[@adamjb8165]

This test doesn’t work without RCT balls. You need to throw out this test and try again properly.

[@MLesp]

Now we are talking about! This is the mother of all F$%# reviews! Great Job!!

[@JaySimmons-n9t]

Basically, the R10 is better than the R50. Overpriced doorstop.

[@Spikesbluecollargolf]

Mitch about what I expected, sketchy ball flight and reads. Not that impressive to me. If it would play gspro and e6 without computer, I could see $3000 to $3500. I see a lot of returns will be happening, we shall see. For $5000 it needed to be overhead!

[@joesmith6972]

For $5,000, it better be very accurate.

[@coldzero1214]

Definitely not impressed for that price. I’ll stick with Foresight

[@rotnam]

This test was botched. No rct balls. Indoors, R50 not align. I will wait a real test.

[@DriveFarGolf]

@@rotnam looking at all the comments about the errors I agree. If it were me I would delete the video, but clicks and views are what it's all about.