Pretty good but exceptional value
June 10, 2021
Last fall, I bought some shoes from RBG at a great price, and they started sending me promo emails. I saw this SC300 in one of them, and it put a bug in my ear. When Black Friday came around (Nov 2020), I purchased one on sale plus a coupon for a great final price. After 8 months of usage, I honestly don't know why I waited so long to buy a launch monitor. I thought it was only for the rich, but RGB makes it very affordable. The SC300 is a fantastic range companion that provides two crucial metrics (among others) for every golf shot: carry and smash factor. Carry is obviously crucial, but the smash factor has really helped me understand the impact of good and bad hits, especially for the shorter irons where accuracy is paramount. I also monitor my swing speed, especially for the longer clubs, and it's helped me gain an average of 20 yards on my drives. I've even hit several drives over 300 and drove a short par 4 a few months ago, which hasn't happened since I was a teenager. I've always tried to be a smooth swinger (100mph for a driver), and I've let my swing speed flutter as I've aged, and this has helped me understand that I can swing harder and still be in control (now up to 110mph with similar accuracy). I've spent 30 years feeling my way through golf, and this has really opened my eyes on how to be more consistent. As for the function of the product itself, the best feature is the immediate LCD readout. I looked at competitors, and they all require you to use a phone. When I'm on the range, I don't want my phone out. The audio readout for carry is also great so you don't have to keep looking back at the unit, and I've actually been approached by several people at the driving range asking about the device. The distances are consistent with my range finder, so I feel confident about the metrics. Despite how much I love the product, I'll now be a bit nit picky so you know what you're getting into. 1) For my driver, it sometimes doesn't register a good hit with good lighting conditions at close range (3 feet back). This happens maybe 1 out of 5 hits. It doesn't appear to be the case for any irons or woods, though it will occasionally miss a hit with those as well. 2) The app will not work on my Android phone. It crashes as soon as it opens. 3) I have (nice forged) 10 year old irons, and the lofts do not go high enough for two irons. 4) I've read that the launch angle and apex are not that accurate, but I never look at it anyway, so I wouldn't let that deter you. Overall, these two minor shortcomings do not bother me because of the immediate readout and general accuracy, which is why it presents an exceptional value. It's not perfect, but if you're on the fence, have the money, and are looking to improve your game in a very functional way, I highly recommend this product over several of the more expensive phone-only competitors. PS - I bought a cheap case for this on Amazon. Search for "B0797XW48X".
ProsImmediate audial and visual feedback, general accuracy
ConsMisses the occasional hit, app crashes on my android phone, missing lofts for my irons, launch angle/apex inaccuracy