Short and Sweet
The R10 is a great Personal Launch monitor for those on a budget looking to get more data about their swing. Its compact size and simple setup allow it to be a great companion for a range session or Indoor hitting environment.
Who is it for?
Garmin has had a foothold on the golf tech space for some time and this is their next step into having a device inside nearly all categories. From handheld GPS to Smartwatches to rangefinders and club trackers, Garmin has a product (or 10) for you. Like most of Garmin’s devices, the R10 is set out to be a device for any golfer looking to improve. The aim is to give the average golfer the chance to understand more about their swing and use the data that is collected to either improve and get better or use the simulation to enjoy the game virtually.
What is it trying to accomplish & how?
The R10 is designed to help give numerical data points to golfers on their swing to help them understand. The R10 uses an internal radar to measure Club Speed, Ball Speed, Launch Angle, Launch Direction, and Spin (Outdoor or With RCT Balls). This gives the ability to calculate other parameters to give a better idea of what the swing and ball are doing at impact. The internal radar (like Trackman) allows the device to measure the ball and club at and after impact. I believe radar technology is the optimal technology for outdoor use due to its ability to measure the ball for longer, but since the R10 only needs 8ft of ball flight this is capable of indoor use as well.
Pro
- Size – With a carrying case being only slightly larger than a Range finder it should fit into nearly any Large Bag pocket. Also once set up its small enough that you can forget its there, I have accidentally kicked the unit across the floor more times than I care to admit.
- Price – Starting at $599 this device is right in the mark of budget-conscious buyer. This gets you the core device and accessories plus the range functionality. Garmin has a few additional integrations if you want a more course simulation that has their own costs but I’ll hit on that more a little later.Indoor & Outdoor use – With the device’s compact size, battery capacity, and internal radar this is clearly set up for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Ease of Use – The R10 is extremely quick and easy to set up. Its compact size allows you to set it up anywhere and with just a Bluetooth connection should be able to get going in one to 2 minutes.
Cons
- Cartoonish UI – This may be a personal preference but the graphics of Garmin’s app are cartoonish. So, you’re always going to be in the mindset of playing a game vs playing golf. This can be overcome or enhanced by some of the External software integrations.
- RCT Balls – If you intend to use this for indoor use it is recommended to buy Titleist RCT Balls for better spin accuracy, this comes at a $60 premium for a dozen.Interference – Being a radar device it is focused on trying to measure movement based on reflections it sends out and that are reflected back to the device. If there are objects in view that have similar reflective properties, especially those that are moving can cause some confusion with misreads or inability to read shots. I personally didn’t have any issues with this but is a common concern if your setup is in a garage with highly reflective surfaces.
- Being a budget device accuracy is what unfortunately is where costs need to come from. You can’t sell a $600 device with a high precision $2,000+ radar/camera. It doesn’t quite compete with higher price points devices but you’re likely looking at $3k+ to get a significant improvement. I believe this device gives the average consumer a significant improvement on their own basic guesses on a particular shot.
Features
This Garmin device has a lot of great functionality and Garmin also seems to be working to improve their own product as well as enable areas for others to improve their products. With the 20 metrics to track view (5 of which are directly measured) and having a visual of your shot path to see how those metrics actually impact your shot. Since the R10 is capturing so much data about your swing and visuals it was a no brainer to allow for course simulation as well. Since Garmin has already well positioned themselves with an abundance of GPS tracking for their other devices, they have been able to use this data to allow you to play 42k courses across the globe. If Garmin has measured it, you can play it, if you have an upcoming trip to a new course play it get an idea of course strategy and general expectation of what you are getting yourself into.
As mentioned before Garmin has put a focus on making sure their customers have a positive experience. Since launch Garmin has refined their algorithms several times to deliver accurate numbers, worked to integrate the RCT ball for more accurate spin, and with integrated support for TruGolf E6, Awesome Golf, The Golf Club 2019, & Creative Golf 3D. This allows them to deliver the raw data to these software’s and let them control visualization, games, and simulation to your heart’s content. I want to call out E6 and Awesome golf as 2 great options to enhance your experience. E6 offers a great on course experience with very realistic and enjoyable courses. Awesome golf has some great ways to gamify your practice and has been toted as having a better algorithm for calculating distance.
Bottom Line
I have been using this Garmin R10 for a year and a half with countless range sessions, rounds in E6, and indoor Training sessions. This device has allowed me to better understand my swing tendencies and allows me to see how different changes affect each area of the shot. As a father of 2 little ones, who lives in a climate that limits golf to less than 9 months a year, the desire to practice and play golf in my home for as much or little time as my schedule can afford, all at a reasonable price was too good to pass up. If you are looking for a solid Launch Monitor under $2000 this should be on your list.