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The Square Golf is a powerful budget launch monitor that provides state-of-the-art virtual practice and golf simulation in indoor environments.
The system measures an array of ball and club parameters and is the only launch monitor in its price range to directly measure club path.
In this Square Golf launch monitor review, I’ll take an in-depth look at the launch monitor. I’ll look not only at how well it measures ball and swing data, but also at its usability and simulation capabilities.
How does the Square Golf perform? How does it compare to other systems on the market today? Is it worth getting if you’re looking for a budget golf simulation experience?
Here’s what I’m going to be covering in the review:
- What is the Square Golf?
- Setting Up The Square Golf
- Parameters & Accuracy
- Features & Simulation
- Pricing & Plans
- Where To Buy The Square Golf Online
- Final Thoughts
Ready to try the Square Golf 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 Square Golf?
The Square Golf is a camera-based launch monitor. It uses a high-speed camera with machine vision technology to track various club and ball data parameters and provide accurate shot analysis.
This device sits directly in front of the golfer, similar to other camera-based launch monitors like the SkyTrak+. It’s intended for indoor use only and should not be put in direct sunlight.
While the 19cm x 7cm x 7cm Square Golf can be used with real clubs (I recommend this whenever possible), it comes with a swing stick which can optionally be used for quick, convenient practice sessions, or when playing with friends.
Included marked balls and club tape allow the device to measure spin and club path, respectively.
This launch monitor comes bundled with comprehensive simulator software that offers course play, practice, a data mode, and a closest-to-the-pin challenge. All features except for course play are accessible for free, while pay-as-you-go credits are used in order to play holes.
1000 free welcome credits are included with a purchase of the Square Golf. One credit is consumed for every hole played.
Setting Up The Square Golf
The Square Golf launch monitor comes with a battery, power cable, remote control, club marker, and swing stick. Three patterned golf balls are also included.
To turn the device on or off, press and hold the power button for two seconds.
Before starting, it’s recommended to install either the Square Golf app for Android/iOS or the Square Golf PC software.
The hitting zone is 15cm x 15cm, but the positioning of the launch monitor depends on whether you’re using real clubs or the swing stick. See the illustration below:
- when using real clubs, the launch monitor is placed 23cm to the left and 42cm in front of the midpoint of the hitting zone
- when using the swing stick, the launch monitor is placed 42cm in front but with no lateral deviation (perpendicular to the hitting zone)
The launch monitor should be placed on a flat surface, level with the golf ball.
Once the LED light on the top of the unit turns green, you can hit your shot.
Additional Notes
- avoid exposing the Square Golf to direct sunlight, as this can interfere with tracking
- the default target line is parallel to the front cover of the launch monitor, but this can be changed using an alignment stick and the alignment function in the Square Golf app
- applying a club marker to the shaft of your club (20cm from the ground when the club is resting upright) will enable club path and angle of attack measurement
- when using the swing stick, the result of the shot is calculated based on the path of the stick and the angle of the stick head
- using a patterned ball will allow for direct measurement of backspin and sidespin
- the removeable Lithium-ion battery lasts up to 8 hours on a full charge
- the Square Golf can be easily and conveniently connected to a mobile device or PC via Bluetooth
For more detailed setup instructions, information, and tips, see the Square Golf user manual.
Parameters & Accuracy
Data Parameters
The Square Golf launch monitor provides data on the following parameters:
- Ball Data: carry distance, total distance, run, ball speed, launch direction, launch angle, backspin, sidespin, apex
- Club Data: swing path, angle of attack, face angle, dynamic loft
Face angle and dynamic loft can only be directly measured when using the swing stick. Aside from that, whether a data point is directly measured or estimated depends on whether you’re using a patterned ball or club marker, as specified in this table:
Accuracy
Overall, based on my personal testing with the Square Golf, the accuracy is great for a budget $700 unit, although, unsurprisingly, it’s not quite as accurate or reliable in its readings as upper-tier systems like the Uneekor EYE MINI or Foresight Sports GC3.
I find spin numbers, in particular, to be more inconsistent than the other data points that are provided, even when a patterned ball is used. Firmware updates have addressed this to an extent, but I still find spin readings to be the biggest weakness of this system.
Apart from spin, everything else seems fairly spot on—indoor accuracy seems better than the Garmin Approach R10 but not quite as good as the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.
Mis-reads and no-reads can happen occasionally, but this is certainly not a deal-breaker.
Features & Simulation
Square Golf App
In-house simulation software is provided for the Square Golf, available for iOS, Android and PC. It offers:
- Practice Ranges: instant shot feedback in a realistic driving range environment; shot tracers with multiple camera angles; full set of data points displayed after every shot
- Putting Practice: provides detailed feedback on putts of any length (distance, direction, speed, etc.); putt simulation with dynamic camera views; green speed adjustment
- Data Mode: focuses solely on your shot data (club marker needed for club data); illustrations are provide to help you visualize many of the parameters
- Course Play: play alone or with up to four players on 15+ fictional but realistic golf courses; you can customize tee positions, green speeds, and more
- Closest To The Pin: try to hit your shot as close to the pin as possible; can hit short pitches or long approach shots; different distance mode options; receive a range of data metrics after each shot
This is a really great app. While there are no online features (third-party options are needed for that), the software will be more than sufficient for the majority of Square Golf users.
Third-Party Solutions
Beyond the in-house app, the Square Golf launch monitor officially supports golf simulation with third-party solutions E6 CONNECT, E6 APEX, GSPro, and Awesome Golf.
E6 CONNECT
E6 CONNECT is top-tier golf simulation software known for its quality and diverse range of features.
The full version of E6 CONNECT for PC will give you access to the full gamut of features including:
- a full driving range and practice area
- full course play
- 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
With an Expanded Subscription to E6 CONNECT, you get over 68 additional courses to play (100+ total).
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.
GSPro
In most golfing communities today, the general consensus is that GSPro is the best third-party software to use with launch monitors.
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)
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 Square Golf.
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 four fictional courses in varied environments.
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 & Plans
The Square Golf launch monitor costs $699 USD.
The purchase comes with a swing stick, a remote control with Li-ion battery, three Square Golf dotted balls, a USB-C cable, and 1000 welcome credits to play over 55 rounds.
Credits can be purchase separately, with 1000 credits currently priced at $20.
Here are the current prices (subject to change) associated with the third-party software options that are compatible with the Square Golf:
- E6 CONNECT: $300/year (basic) or $600/year (expanded) or $2500 one time
- E6 APEX: $150/year (Improve) or $300/year (Play) or $450/year (Enjoy)
- GSPro: $250/year
- Awesome Golf: $14.99/month or $159.99/year or $349.99 one time
Generally speaking, I recommend golfers grab GSPro with the Square Golf (and with most other launch monitors that support it). This is amazing software that is currently in its third version.
Where To Buy The Square Golf Online
If you’re looking online, some of the best places I would recommend to order the Square Golf launch monitor are:
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.
With the Square Golf, you’ll also most likely want a quality indoor simulator setup with components such as nets, hitting mats, impact screens, enclosures and projectors. One great example is the Square Golf SIG10 Studio.
Final Thoughts
The Square Golf launch monitor is unusual in that it’s a high speed camera-based system, unlike most other sub-$1000 budget systems that are radar-based.
As a consequence, the Square has a natural advantage when it comes to indoor space requirements, with no extra room depth needed.
Plus, many consider the Square to be more accurate than comparable launch monitors in its price range. The device can directly measure club path and does an excellent job with pitches, chips, and putts—something you typically only see with high-end systems.
When you throw in plentiful software choices, a simple setup, and ease of use, it’s easy to see why the Square Golf has proven to be an extremely popular launch monitor for affordable indoor simulation.
Thanks for reading my Square Golf launch monitor review. Are you interested in the Square Golf? Have you tried it already? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
