I've spent 6 months with this pro-level launch monitor — here's why it's the best for serious golfers

Golf is a game that requires one key thing if you want to get better: dedication.

You need to be dedicated to practicing. You need to be dedicated to spending money on equipment to help you play better, such as the best golf gloves.

Combining the two, it helps to be willing to spend money on a good launch monitor to track your performance data. That's where the Foresight GC3 or GC3S comes in as my recommendation (they're all technically the same hardware but with different payment options). You'll have a hard time finding a launch monitor that works better at the range, on the course or in a full simulator.

I hear you exclaiming that you're not willing to spend $3,799 or $6,999 on a launch monitor. And I get it, it's not going to be the right purchase for everyone. But for golfers who are serious about taking their game to another level, it's an investment that's worth considering.

2 models, 2 pricing structures

Before we jump into why I love the GC3, GC3S and LPI, I want to quickly explain the pricing model behind the three, as it's a little confusing.

The GC3 is the model you can just buy without worrying about subscriptions. It's $6,999, so it's by far the most expensive. But it doesn't come with any required strings. It works indoors and outdoors, making it your simulator launch monitor and best friend at the driving range.

The GC3S retains the Foresight branding, but switches the color to blue. It costs $3,799 and requires a $499 per year subscription to connect to the software. You can use the on-screen data without the subscription, and the first year is included. If the initial investment for the GC3 is too much, this could be a viable option.

Both come with a Laser Rangefinder that lets you use the Link Enabled technology, which we'll get to shortly.

Data, data and more data

Both launch monitors provide all kinds of data for both the ball and the club. Data is the key to improving at golf, and the more data points you have, the more you can tweak and make improvements to your swing. Here's the type of ball data you can track with the Foresight GC3:

• Launch Angle
• Side Angle
• Ball Speed
• Total Spin
• Carry
• Side Spin/Spin Axis

And if you use the included club stickers, you can also see the following club data:

• Club Head Speed
• Smash Factor
• Club Path
• Angle of Attack

It's not just the quantity of data that matters, though. Having lots of data points means nothing if the data isn't accurate. Thankfully, with the Foresight GC3, the data is generally regarded as among the most accurate offered in the entire golf industry.

If you watch many of the top golf YouTube personalities, they use Foresight launch monitors as the standard by which they test other simulators and monitors. Sure, a lot of them use the QuadMAX or GCQuad for the extra data points, but unless you have $20,000 to spend, I'd lean towards sacrificing an extra camera (the Quad models have four while the GC3 has three) to save a ton of cash.

It's a full simulator, too

Launch monitors are great for getting the data you need to improve your game, but what if you want to take it to the next level and actually play golf with your device?

The Foresight GC3 is perfect for that. I use it with my indoor simulator enclosure from Carl's Place (which does a great job in its own right), and I've never had to go to the range or simulator facility again.

You can use Foresight's software or my personal favorite golf sim software, GSPro. It also links with E6 and other popular golf simulator apps, so you can get the same experience you know and love (unless that experience is Trackman, you can run its software with Foresight).

It'll last a long time

I've been to the Foresight headquarters and seen what goes into making these launch monitors. The tests the company does to ensure that you're spending your thousands of dollars on a launch monitor.

They're designed to last for years, potentially even decades. The company puts them through the proverbial wringer to ensure that if you happen to shank a ball into it (a feat that's hard to do when it's beside you, but I won't judge), it'll handle it and keep providing the data and simulation you need.

Helps on the course

There are very few launch monitors that can help you on the course without requiring you to bring the entire kit with you. But Foresight has figured out a way. Thanks to the Bushnell rangefinder that comes with the GC3 and the Link Enabled tech, you can get your club distances and recommendations right in the rangefinder (and Bushnell app).

It really is the future of rangefinder technolgy. It's so good, in fact, that I said it feels like cheating when I first tried it. The ability to know carry distances for your clubs at any moment on the golf course is perhaps the most useful bit of information you can have, whether you're a high-handicap player like me or a +5 handicap (okay, most +5 handicaps probably know their distances like the back of their hands, but you get the point).

I know it's expensive, but...

I'm not going to argue that the Foresight GC3 is for everyone. It's not. A lot of golfers (maybe even most golfers) will scoff at the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a launch monitor/golf simulator.

But for the small percentage of golfers who want to take their golf game to another level, both from a skill and fun perspective and those who have the disposable income, you can't do better than a GC3 or GC3S at this price point.

It's expensive, but ultimately, it's the real deal in terms of data, versatility and everything else you could ever want from a high-end, professional launch monitor.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best golf shoes in 2025: tried and tested
• I ditched my boring golf bag for a customizable one — here’s why I’ll never go back
• I tried Golf VX’s immersive simulator — it’s the closest I’ve felt to real golf