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Announced in late 2024, the Approach R50 is Garmin’s first ultra-premium launch monitor.
This portable system boasts innovations that can’t be found in any other launch monitor that came before it. It does everything you would expect a high-end launch monitor to do, but it also contains a built-in computer that runs simulation software and analytics within the unit itself, eliminating the need for PCs and mobile devices.
In this Garmin Approach R50 review, I’ll take a comprehensive look at the launch monitor. I’ll look at how well it measures ball and swing data, its usability and various features, and its analytics and golf simulation capabilities.
How does the R50 perform? How does it compare to other portable launch monitors like the Foresight Sports GC3 and Uneekor EYE MINI? Who is it best suited for?
Here’s what I’m going to be covering in the review:
- What is the Approach R50?
- Setting Up The Approach R50
- Parameters & Accuracy
- Features & Software
- Third-Party Integrations
- Pricing
- Where To Buy The R50 Online
- Final Thoughts
Ready to try the Approach R50 right now? Click the button below or scroll down to the bottom of my review to see my final verdict!
Note: In the majority of cases, launch monitors tested on Golfstead are acquired temporarily and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on personal experience and research. Although the author makes every effort to ensure proper setup of the device and do direct comparisons with other launch monitors when possible, there are many variables that can affect data readings and performance. Therefore, exact results with a particular launch monitor may differ from person to person.
What is the Approach R50?
Developed by sports technology company Garmin, the Approach R50 is a high-end portable launch monitor and Garmin’s most powerful launch monitor offering yet. It consists of three high-speed cameras, similar to the triscopic Foresight Sports GC3, which capture high-speed impact videos and measure at least 15 different ball and club data points.
Arguably the standout feature of the R50 is its 10-inch colour touchscreen display, which we consider to be the best on-board display we’ve ever seen on a launch monitor.
This display is not only used to read your data after every shot, but it’s also part of a built-in computer that runs Garmin’s simulation and analytics software within the unit itself. In an industry first, this means no PCs, iPhones, iPads, or Android devices are needed to enjoy golf simulation at home or at the range.
With the easy-to-set-up R50, you have two systems working together to produce an all-inclusive experience: one is the launch monitor tracking that measures your shot data, and the other is the computer that runs the simulation software.
There’s more, though. While you can, of course, use a projector with the R50, a unique feature allows you to output different views on the projector display and launch monitor display at the same time. For example, you might display Home Tee Hero course play on the projector view while viewing your shot data and slow-motion impact videos on the R50’s display.
Within Garmin’s integrated software, you can practice on the range, analyze your data, play your choice of over 43,000 courses in an enhanced version of Home Tee Hero, or connect third-party solutions that include E6 CONNECT/APEX, GSPro, and Awesome Golf.
Setting Up The Approach R50
When you first turn the R50 on (the Power button is on the bottom left corner of the display panel), you’ll be asked to select a language, connect to a wireless network, and set up a Garmin account if you don’t have one already.
We recommend plugging in the power cable and AC adapter to charge the unit whenever you have access to a power outlet. This way, the R50 will not have to draw from its battery charge.
Note: A Garmin Golf membership, which is required to access Home Tee Hero courses on the R50, can be purchased through your profile settings.
Setup is very simple and straightforward. As a camera-based launch monitor, the R50 should be placed approximately 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) to the side of the tee location, facing the ball.
The R50 should be as level with the hitting zone as possible, although you can get away with placing it on an uneven surface because it has an auto-leveling system that corrects for that.
Through the R50’s display, you can get a live visual of what the hitting zone is and whether your ball is currently in that zone. The size and shape of the hitting zone will depend on whether or not club data is enabled.
With the R50 turned on and properly positioned, and with a mode selected in the software, all that remains is to wait for the status LED light at the bottom of the unit to turn solid green, after which you can take your shot.
Additional Notes
- the battery life of the R50 is four hours
- pulling down the cable door at the back of the unit reveals the connection ports
- the USB-C port is used to update the R50 via Garmin Express on a PC
- the A/V HDMI port is used to feed the R50 to an external display
- although the default target alignment is 0 degrees, you can adjust this to suit your preferences using the Target Alignment tool
- a club sticker must be applied to the top-center of the club face in order to get club data
- the R50 should be kept out of environments with extreme temperatures
- you can clean the unit by wiping it with a damp cloth
- the battery should be charged to at least 50% before long-term storage
- situations where direct sunlight is hitting the front of the unit or your club face can result in inaccurate data
For more information on the Approach R50, its setup, how to apply the club stickers, and more, consult the owner’s manual. If you need help with usage at any point, reach out to Garmin support.
Parameters & Accuracy
Parameters
The Approach R50 currently measures the following club and ball data points:
| Ball Data | Club Data |
|---|---|
| Ball speed | Club speed |
| Launch angle | Club face angle |
| Launch direction | Angle of attack |
| Spin rate (backspin) | Smash factor |
| Spin axis (sidespin) | |
| Apex height | |
| Carry distance | |
| Total distance | |
| Deviation distance |
Accuracy
To prevent any potential interference or setup issues, I compared the performance and accuracy of the Approach R50 with the FlightScope Mevo+ and Full Swing KIT, which are radar-based launch monitors that sit behind the tee location.
I’m very pleased with the results. Ball speed, club speed and launch are pretty spot-on, and my spin numbers were scarily close to those on the KIT — less than 100 RPMs on average.
I found the biggest discrepancies to be in the metrics that are measured in degrees, like spin axis and face to path. I’m not particularly surprised by this, since the way the launch monitors are set up can have a major influence on it.
Whether it’s the Uneekor EYE MINI, EYE XO, Bushnell Launch Pro, Foresight Sports GC3, KIT, or some other advanced launch monitor, all indications from my own experience and that of other users suggests that the accuracy of the R50 is in the same ballpark, typically within 2% of their measurements.
I don’t really see any weaknesses in any part of the R50’s data set; both ball and club data looks to be very strong, from the driver all the way to the putter. I am well-acquainted with what my numbers should be, and I find that the R50 captures it extremely well.
Features & Software
At the core of the Approach R50 is Garmin’s built-in simulator software, which is what you’ll see on the display when you power up the device.
The options in the main menu are currently Practice, Play, and Connect. Let’s dive into each of them:
Practice
The Practice mode currently has four range options: Distance Range, Crooked Creek, Green Valley, and Palm Island. You are taken to a virtual driving range where you can hit shots and view all the data and analytics that the R50 has to offer.
Before each practice session, you can select the tracking mode (ball or club data). You can also specify relative humidity, elevation, wind and temperature, or match it to your local course conditions, in order to get accurate carry distances.
Once you select your club (your bag can be configured via the Garmin Golf app), you can start hitting shots and getting data.
On the left side of the default view, you’ll see a list of all the shots you’ve hit during the session with a particular club. You can change the displayed metric to whatever you want, but tapping on a shot will bring up all its data.
Depending on the view you’ve selected, you can also see things like the 3D trajectory of your shot, slow-motion impact video (pictured above), ball impact metrics with club graphs, data fields with averages, and a top-down map perspective.
Play
The Play mode currently has two options: Home Tee Hero and Weekly Tournaments. An active Garmin Golf Membership is required to access both.
With weekly tournaments, you compete against other Garmin users around the world on different courses each week. Putting is disabled in this mode, you can play a tournament as many times as you want, and your scores are posted to a global leaderboard.
In Home Tee Hero, you can select from over 43,000 courses in the Garmin database, with options to connect to a local course near you, a recently played course, or a downloaded course.
You can add up to four players in course play, select your desired tee box, adjust ball flight conditions (same as in practice mode), and adjust round settings such as green speeds and gimme distances.
Flyovers are provided as you advance to each hole, and you can see the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green at a glance. You can do things like select a target landing area of your choosing, view data parameter tiles, mirror the R50 display to an external display, or customize the view of each display based on your preferences.
Connect
In the Connect mode, you can connect various third-party simulator software that is compatible with the R50. At the time of writing, E6 APEX, E6 CONNECT, GSPro, and Awesome Golf can officially integrate with the system.
Once you select an app, you just need to follow the on-screen instructions to set up your chosen solution.
It’s important to note that only the Garmin software (practice mode and Home Tee Hero courses) can run within the R50 unit itself. Third-party solutions still need to be run through separate devices, namely PCs and mobile devices. For example, GSPro will require a separate PC, while Awesome Golf may run on iOS or Android devices.
Third-Party Integrations
Currently, the Approach R50 launch monitor officially supports third-party golf simulation with E6 APEX, E6 CONNECT, GSPro, and Awesome Golf.
E6 APEX
APEX is the latest iteration of TruGolf’s E6 software. This next-generation solution succeeds the tried-and-true E6 CONNECT with significantly improved graphics.
E6 APEX places more emphasis on game improvement and data analysis than E6 CONNECT does. While course play is now available with over 30,000 courses at 4K resolution, the software is limited to solo play and local multiplayer and lacks online play at the moment.
Courses on E6 APEX are rendered using vertical LiDAR data and GPS mapping. Its main features include:
- Practice: choose from a wide variety of ranges and get detailed feedback and data on each shot
- Course Play: play a course of your choosing alone or with other players locally
- Challenges: quick minigames (putting, approach, scrambling, etc.) for game improvement
- Bag Mapping: identify your average distances and dispersion patterns for every club in your bag
- Club Fitting: detailed session analytics designed for club fitters
The software has other cool features too, such as access to special video tips from golf instructors, with more being added over time. The software is offered in several subscription packages that unlock more of these features.
I think E6 APEX is excellent software and a clear step up from E6 CONNECT. If it ever gets online play, it will safely be able to replace E6 CONNECT to become TruGolf’s software of choice.
E6 CONNECT
TruGolf’s E6 CONNECT is known for its quality and diverse range of features. With the R50, you can purchase the full PC version and get:
- a full driving range and practice area
- tournament play and online events
- an array of multiplayer formats
- flexible gameplay settings (mulligans, wind, weather, etc.)
- minigames including Long Drive and Closest To The Pin
A Basic subscription to E6 CONNECT provides access to P2P gameplay and a library of content that changes on a periodic basis. With an Expanded Subscription to E6 CONNECT, you get over 68 additional courses to play (90+ total) and access to all content that has ever been released.
GSPro
In most golfing communities today, the general consensus is that GSPro is the best third-party software to use for golf simulators.
Designed to be ultra-realistic with advanced ball physics and 4K graphics, what makes GSPro unique is its integration with the Open Platform Course Designer (OPCD), which allows anyone, regardless of skillset, to create courses that can be played by members of the GSPro community.
In addition, GSPro integrates with Simulator Golf Tour (SGT), a service that allows players to participate in virtual golf tours with weekly tournaments. You can even compete in the PGA Tour schedule.
Aside from the large community that is constantly building new courses (well over 1000 are currently available) and playing in tournaments, GSPro offers:
- lifelike 4K graphics built with the Unity engine
- an OpenAPI interface
- a driving range and on-course practice
- full course play (with flyovers)
In my view, GSPro isn’t as suitable for tech-challenged golfers as other software, although you can keep yourself very busy with the practice and local play modes without getting involved in the community stuff.
Awesome Golf
Awesome Golf is a software that has a distinct cartoon art style and is heavily focused on fun and entertainment with friends, family and children. It’s also one of the most affordable third-party solutions for the R50.
Awesome Golf has four main modes:
- Range: informative practice sessions and an in-depth analysis of every shot.
- Challenges: closest to the pin, long drive, target golf, and skills challenge.
- Shootouts: kid-friendly minigames including Super Splash and Boat Blast.
- Virtual Golf: full course play at fictional courses Spring Park Hills and Island Beach.
The software also comes with a community app that allows you to register yourself as a user, get access to in-depth stats from your sessions, and participate in leaderboards for challenges & shootouts.
Awesome Golf doesn’t recreate real-life courses but it’s packed with fun simulation features that will keep you busy for hours on end. The software is currently available for PC, iOS and Android, and licenses are multi-platform.
Pricing
The base price of the Approach R50 launch monitor is $4999.99. This includes a carrying case, power cord, AC adapter, documentation, and 250 club stickers.
With this purchase, you can access the practice ranges and third-party connector in the Garmin software. To access Home Tee Hero course play, you’ll need a Garmin Golf Membership which costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year, although a 30-day free trial may be available.
Here are the current prices (subject to change) associated with the third-party software options that are compatible with the R50:
- E6 APEX: $150/year, $300/year or $450/year depending on package
- E6 CONNECT: $300/year (basic) or $600/year (expanded)
- Awesome Golf: $14.99/month or $159.99/year or $349.99 one time
- GSPro: $250/year
I generally recommend golfers hook up GSPro at the very least, but any of these software can be excellent choices depending on the features and experience you’re looking for.
Where To Buy The R50 Online
If you’re looking online, some of the best places I would recommend to order the Garmin Approach R50 are The Indoor Golf Shop, Carl’s Place, and PlayBetter.
You can choose any of these sellers based on your preferences. They all have excellent support teams that will help you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Another thing that’s worth considering if you plan to use the R50 indoors is a good simulator setup with components such as nets, hitting mats, impact screens, enclosures and projectors. A great example is the R50 SIG10 studio.
The buttons below all open in new tabs, so go ahead and click on all of them to compare.
Final Thoughts
The Garmin Approach R50 is truly unique in that it’s the first launch monitor to offer onboard golf simulation without any separate devices needed. Notwithstanding that, it’s a very high-quality system that’s fast, easy to use, highly accurate, and compatible with the best third-party software.
Garmin’s software is great right now, but I expect it to get even better over time with updates, particularly when it comes to analytics. The capability for a multi-view output on the R50 and external display is also a brilliant addition.
Will the unique nature of the R50 spearhead a shift in the industry in which launch monitors come with not just tracking, but also built-in computers for running simulation software? Some people think so, but I have my doubts that it will become the new norm.
It’s certainly an awesome thing to have, but not everyone will need it. Some already have a separate PC or mobile device to use for software, and moreover, only Garmin’s software can be run on the unit itself, not third-party options.
There is something to be said about a launch monitor being lean, like we see with the EYE MINI or GC3. Having a device without onboard simulation isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It’s worth noting that the very large, high-quality colour touchscreen and onboard simulator make the R50 large and rather heavy. Although the carrying case is really nice, the R50 is certainly not something you’ll be able to just stuff in your golf bag.
Having said all this, I think the R50 is very affordable considering all that it offers, and unlike systems like the GC3, Launch Pro, and EYE MINI, it doesn’t appear that you need to pay for a third-party connector, which is fantastic.
Thanks for reading my Garmin Approach R50 review. Are you interested in the R50? Have you tried it already? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
