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The ProTee VX, unveiled in December 2022, is the middle model in ProTee United’s first launch monitor lineup.
A ceiling-mounted launch monitor, the ProTee VX packs advanced technology and high accuracy into a simple, sleek design for home use or any other indoor application. With the VX, ProTee sought to provide a breadth of data parameters and rich feature set at a more affordable price than other launch monitors.
In this ProTee VX 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 shot visualization features, and its golf simulation capabilities.
How does the ProTee VX perform? How does it compare to other ceiling-mounted launch monitors like the Uneekor QED and EYE XO? Who is it best suited for?
Here’s what I’m going to be covering in the review:
- What is the ProTee VX?
- Setting Up The ProTee VX
- Parameters & Accuracy
- Software & Simulation
- Pricing
- Where To Buy The ProTee VX Online
- Final Verdict
Ready to try the ProTee VX 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 ProTee VX?
The ProTee VX is an overhead (ceiling-mounted) launch monitor that uses Vision and A.I. technology as part of a dual high-speed camera setup.
Developed by ProTee United, a Dutch indoor golf company founded in 2001, the ProTee VX is marked by a simple setup, nearly instant shot measurement and analysis, a configurable hitting zone, and seamless left and right-handed use.
Your data is measured and displayed within a second of hitting your shot thanks to A.I. and machine learning technology. An easy mounting and calibration system means you can have the unit set up and ready to go in just a few minutes.
For data viewing and analysis, the ProTee VX launch monitor comes with the ProTee Labs software. This software includes a practice range and allows you to:
- view all your data in an easy-to-read format after each shot
- customize the display panels to suit your preferences
- view animations and club impact videos for each shot
- see visuals and illustrations of the position of the clubhead at impact
In addition to the default software, the ProTee VX is also usable with many third-party solutions. It integrates seamlessly with ProTee’s own TGC 2019 software and is compatible with E6 CONNECT, GSPro, Creative Golf, and ProTee Play.
Setting Up The ProTee VX
Setting up the ProTee VX is surprisingly simple and straightforward given it’s a ceiling installation. The two important requirements to keep in mind are the following:
- The unit should be installed 9-10 feet above the ground.
- The unit should be positioned 40-43 inches in front of the hitting area.
There are no requirements when it comes to the distance between the unit and the impact screen.
Once you figure out where the unit is going to sit, take the mounting bracket and orient it parallel so that the arrow is pointing towards the impact screen. Ensure that the mount is aligned as straight as possible.
Then, attach the mount to the ceiling using the four included screws. There are screw holes in the mount for this purpose.
Depending on the material or structure of your ceiling (for example, drywall), you may need to use the included plugs to secure the installation. Plugs should not be necessary if screwing into joists or studs.
Now, slide the launch monitor unit into place. With the back of the unit facing the impact screen, slide the attachment pieces through the curved openings on the side of the mount until the index plunger clicks into place.
Then, do the following:
- Connect the power cable to a power outlet
- Connect one end of the included 10m/32′ Ethernet cable to the unit and one end to the USB to Ethernet adapter.
- Connect the USB to Ethernet adapter to a USB 3.0 port on your computer.
- Turn on the unit by pressing the red switch on the back of the unit.
All that remains now is to get the ProTee Labs software set up. Download the software onto your computer using the link provided to you and activate the software.
Once you connect the VX unit to the software in the settings, you’ll need to go through a calibration process which includes defining your hitting zone.
Once that’s done, the software will show you the status of the unit in the top-right corner, letting you know when the unit has detected a ball and is ready to take a shot.
This section gives you a concise summary of the setup process. For more details, consult ProTee’s official setup guide.
Parameters & Accuracy
Parameters
The ProTee VX provides a very extensive data set. Ball parameters measured are:
- ball speed
- back spin
- side spin
- total spin
- spin axis
- launch direction
- launch angle
The club data measured is:
- club speed
- swing path
- club face angle
- club face to path
- club lie angle
- attack angle
- dynamic loft
- vertical & horizontal impact point
An interesting thing to note about the ProTee VX is that it’s able to measure club data without any club stickers or markings. It achieves this through artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology that detects the club being used as well as the clubface, which, in effect, puts “virtual stickers” on the face so the high-speed cameras can measure the data.
From the above parameters, the ProTee VX derives the following data within the software:
- flight path
- carry distance
- total distance
- apex height
- offline
- air time
- descent angle
- run
Accuracy
The million-dollar question is: just how accurate is the ProTee VX?
I’ll preface this by saying I was able to do a direct comparison test between the ProTee VX and the Foresight Sports GC3, a portable launch monitor.
In addition, I’m very familiar with what my numbers should be on the Uneekor EYE XO, a ceiling-mounted launch monitor, and I took this into account when getting data from the VX. It is generally accepted that the accuracy of the EYE XO is very close to the GCQuad which is considered the gold standard of launch monitor accuracy.
The accuracy of the VX is excellent from what I’ve seen. The data is typically within 1-2% of the GC3’s readings and is right around what I would expect to get from the EYE XO. Accuracy and performance is great throughout the bag, from driver to putter.
There are two caveats, however. The first is that there seems to be a little more variance in the club data than the ball data. I don’t know if this is due to the A.I. that eliminates the need for club stickers, but I wouldn’t be surprised as you can’t expect this kind of technology to be perfectly reliable. I particularly had a bit of trouble with club path.
The second is that I found that the VX consistently underreports backspin, whether with irons or woods. The difference is only around 100 RPMs on average, but it is there nonetheless.
All things considered, do I think the ProTee VX is as accurate as the EYE XO? It’s close, but if I had to give a concrete answer, I would say that the EYE XO may have a slight edge overall. Still, the accuracy of the VX is comparable to the top launch monitors on the market, so you’re getting serious performance here.
Software & Simulation
The ProTee VX is usable with the ProTee Labs software.
It’s also compatible with third-party simulation software The Golf Club 2019, E6 CONNECT, GSPro, ProTee Play, and Creative Golf, with more expected to be added over time.
Let’s take a look at each of them:
ProTee Labs
The ProTee VX comes out of the box with the in-house ProTee Labs software. This software is straightforward and easy to grasp, but at the same time, it’s very useful for game improvement.
The main feature of ProTee Labs is a virtual driving range. After each shot, you can view all of your metrics at a glance and see the traced ball flight. Twenty parameters are displayed on the bottom, and each tile can be customized to display whatever metric you want.
ProTee Labs has four tabs you can access:
- Video: watch a slow-motion closeup of your club impacting the ball, taken by the high-speed camera overhead. The clip can be paused, fast-forwarded and rewound.
- Range: view the driving range with traced ball flight and metrics at the bottom.
- Swing: view a top-down visualization of your club path, a club path side view, and an animated illustration of your ball spinning with relevant metrics displayed.
- Summary: view diagrams for impact side, front and top views, top and side grid maps, and the club impact video all in one place.
I’m very impressed with the quality of the slow-motion replay, which I daresay is a little better than the replay from the Uneekor EYE XO. It’s good enough that you can clearly see the disturbance of the turf underneath, giving you further insight into how well you hit the shot.
This software is well-organized and very easy to use, but right now it’s pretty bare-bones in terms of features. At the time of writing, there is only functionality at the individual shot level with no shot history or session analysis.
The Golf Club 2019
The Golf Club 2019 (PC only) originally released as a video game and was ported to golf simulators by ProTee United via their GSX software.
Best known for its massive course selection, it has plenty of features along with great graphics, sound and lighting.
TGC 2019 offers a selection of over 170,000 courses, many of which are user-designed. With the software, you can:
- play online (with strangers, friends or family) and compete in live worldwide tournaments
- play rounds solo or play multiplayer locally
- access the TGC library of over 170,000 courses
- do range, chipping or putting practice
Play formats include stroke play, match play, stableford, four ball, skins, and alternate shot. TGC has a cool feature that allows up to four players in a multiplayer setting to hit their shots at the same time.
You can also design your own course with a few clicks. A special editor allows you to customize everything in detail from the theme to the terrain and layout.
E6 CONNECT
E6 CONNECT is top-tier golf simulation software known for its quality and diverse range of features. With the ProTee VX, 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 for the software.
GSPro
Many consider GSPro to be 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 300 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.
ProTee Play
While ProTee Play offers a driving range and typical modes like long drive and closest to the pin, its main draw is its large selection of fun, unconventional, kid-friendly games. These include:
- Lonely Desert Range: practice your swing in the desert and avoid hitting wild camels.
- Zombie Golf: kill zombies to stay alive.
- Pub Darts: hit a dartboard as close to the center as possible.
- Demolition Range: hit targets for points and set records on leaderboards.
- Soccer Golf Kids: beat the goalkeeper and score as many goals as possible.
At least 20 different games are available for play. Additional games can be purchased at extra cost.
What’s nice about ProTee Play is that not only does it support resolutions up to 4K UHD, but it’s played through your web browser in the cloud. The software has been designed to work well with interactive touchscreens and digital displays.
As an extra layer of fun and engagement, you can track your performance on online leaderboards and compete with other players from around the world.
ProTee Play can be a fantastic choice for users looking for fun, kid-friendly minigames at an affordable cost.
Creative Golf
Creative Golf is a software that is focused not so much on realism (although the graphics are good), but more on family-friendly entertainment.
The base version of Creative Golf contains 15 reproduced golf courses from around the world. For extra cost, you can get over 130 additional courses to play.
The modes of Creative Golf are:
- Practice: Practice on a driving range or chip and putt on a course of your choice.
- Course Play: Choose the course, game type (stroke, match play, etc.), number of players, and play a full round of golf.
- Challenges: Participate in competitions locally (with friends or family) including closest-to-the-pin and long drive.
- Mini Games: Play fairy tale golf (altered environment, larger holes, etc.), mini golf (putting), and demolition golf (hit windows of old buildings).
- Online Game: Play a game type and course of your choice with anyone in the world. A Discord community is available to join.
- Tournaments: Join tournaments listed on the tournament server and compete with players around the world.
For people that don’t need the high-fidelity experience that E6 CONNECT or GSPro offers, Creative Golf can be an excellent alternative.
Pricing
The ProTee VX launch monitor costs $6500. ProTee calls this an “introductory price”, but it’s not known when or if the price will change.
Included with the purchase is a VX unit, calibration board, USB to Ethernet adapter, 10m/32′ network cable, power cord, and screws/plugs for mounting.
One of the nice things about the VX is that there are no subscriptions or packages that unlock extra features. The pricing model is very simple; aside from third-party software which is purchased separately, you get everything with the main purchase, including all metrics and full functionality in ProTee Labs.
Here are the current prices (may vary and are subject to change) associated with the third-party software options that are compatible with the ProTee VX:
- The Golf Club 2019: $950
- E6 CONNECT: $300/year (basic) or $600/year (expanded) or $2500 one time
- GSPro: $250/year or $550+$250/year for the Lifetime add-on
- ProTee Play: $141/year or $377 one time
- Creative Golf: $240/year or $600 one time
Software may offer various add-ons such as premium courses for E6 CONNECT, which would come at additional cost.
For third-party software, I recommend either TGC 2019 or GSPro as they both give you great value and have pretty much any feature you could ever want.
Where To Buy The ProTee VX Online
If you’re looking online, the best places I would recommend to buy the ProTee VX are The Indoor Golf Shop, Carl’s Place, or Rain or Shine Golf.
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.
Because the VX is a overhead launch monitor that requires a connected PC for running software, you will normally need a golf simulator studio setup to go along with it. You can browse some of the best projectors, impact screens, enclosures and hitting mats for that, or check out something like Carl’s ProTee VX Package.
Final Thoughts
Based on everything I’ve seen, the ProTee VX is a game-changer in the overhead launch monitor space that is poised to give the Uneekor QED and EYE XO serious competition.
This launch monitor pretty much has it all. It measures a large number of ball and club metrics, it’s very fast, it’s highly accurate, it’s easy to set up, it allows for seamless right and left-handed play, and it integrates with excellent software. Plus, it doesn’t require marked balls or club stickers to measure any data parameters.
If that wasn’t enough, the VX has a larger hitting area that almost matches that of the EYE XO2, and it’s configurable.
That’s not to say that the VX outclasses the EYE XO, because it doesn’t. For some parameters, particularly club metrics, the EYE XO seems to have an edge in reliability. Moreover, while the EYE XO can be fitted with a protective case for peace of mind, the VX does not have one.
One notable shortcoming of the ProTee VX is that while the included ProTee Labs software works well, it has limited functionality that currently only allows for analysis at the individual shot level. ProTee is currently working on significant updates to the software that will add sessions and bring the features more in line with Uneekor View.
The fact that the VX is at least 35% less expensive than the EYE XO is pretty remarkable considering how comparable the two devices are. I reckon Uneekor stands to lose a lot of business for their overhead launch monitors unless they respond in some way.
Thanks for reading my ProTee VX review. Are you interested in the VX? Have you tried it already? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
