Swing Caddie SC400 Honest Review – Are BUDGET Launch Monitors WORTH IT?

Video Overview: Use Code SC4100 for a $100 discount here: Swing Caddie SC4 Simulator + Launch Monitor – Rotary Swing

The video outlines a comprehensive evaluation of a budget-friendly launch monitor compared to the expensive $24,000 Trackman system. The author tests the accuracy of a $500 Swing Caddy SC 400 launch monitor by hitting golf shots with an eight iron and measures distances and clubhead speeds. Initial tests reveal that the distances measured by the monitor are quite close to the actual distances, suggesting that the device provides a high level of accuracy for a fraction of the cost of high-end models.

In subsequent testing, the author tries different shots to see if the monitor consistently offers accurate readings. The monitor appears to deliver reliable data as long as the input—the actual golf shot—is executed well. This implies that the performance of budget monitors can approach that of more expensive systems, provided the user ensures quality input data.

The author reflects on the broader reliability of launch monitors, noting that even top-tier systems like the Trackman can give erroneous data if the shot is hit poorly or under less-than-ideal conditions. They emphasize that all launch monitors, regardless of price, depend heavily on the quality of the shot to provide accurate data. This narrative encourages golfers to consider more affordable options if they can accept slight compromises on precision, particularly for practice and non-professional use.

Full Video Transcript:

So you’ve been wanting a launch monitor, but you don’t exactly want to put a second mortgage on your house to buy a $24,000 Trackman, plus the thousands of dollars in subscription fees. Are there any budget launch monitors that are actually accurate, that are worth your money? Today we’re going to test one out and see just how accurate it is. I’ve got an eight iron here. A flag at 178 yards. I’ve got this set to the eight iron. This is a Swing Caddy SC 400. We’re going to see just how accurate it is. This is using range balls. So of course they’re not going to fly the same as a normal, proper ball, but we’re going to be able to put this to the test and see for real whether or not these are worth your money.

174 yards. All right. That flew about there. This is showing 174.9. That flew about 178 yards. So close. About three yards off. That’s pretty darn good for a launch monitor. That is 99% off the price of the Trackman. Let’s hit a few more. Should go about the same distance as the last. 182 yards. 182 is. This is what was reporting. I hit that about 180 yards. That’s pretty darn close. There’s no wind right now, too, so we should be getting pretty accurate numbers. Clubhead speed showing 99.7, 182 total. We’re in the ballpark there. Let’s try a few more.

181 yards. 181 went about that distance. This seems pretty darn close. I’m going to hit one a little bit lower and see if that changes the number. So my launch angle has been showing 26.6 degrees. I’m going to bring this one down and see how accurate that part of it is. 171 yards. 171. 23 degree launch angle. It’s pretty good. It’s showing really, really good numbers. Let’s try one more eight iron at this flag. Normal shot, 182 yards. 182. And it went about 182. So so far, at least with an eight iron, these numbers, if you can see them, are pretty much spot on. I’ve had a Trackman, a FlightScope, zlocity, every single GC Quad. I’ve had every single launch monitor on the planet. But for $500, that’s as accurate as you’re gonna get. That is right on the money. Let’s hit a couple drivers.

I’m gonna do this really quick while the range is clear because our range is only 310 yards today. So I gotta do it while there’s nobody down there or I’ll get yelled at again, so we can sit a couple of drivers. I’ve switched the device to driver, and let’s see what it shows here. 350 yards, so 121 swing speed, 175 ball speed, 350 carry. And that’s off the back of the range. Why I had to wait to hit it. So we hit a couple more while the range is still clear. But those are stock numbers for me. If I’m on a track, man, I’m going to be in the low to mid 120s, depending on how hard I’m stepping on it. So we’re pretty darn accurate here.

Again, you’re talking about a $550 launch monitor, so you can save yourself $25,000 if this thing is accurate. And that’s always been my biggest thing is a lot of times these little budget things are almost like toys or gimmicks. They’re not really worth practicing with. This I’ve been testing for over a month now, so I know what it’s going to do. I know how accurate it is. And so far it’s been wildly consistent as long as you give it good data.

And that’s the key. If I hit a squirrelly one, I’m going to get squirrely data. If I hit it proper, I get really proper data. But when you give this thing really squirrely numbers, if you hit a really weird shot, like if you hit one low on the face, high on the face, way off the heel, way off the toe, whatever, then the numbers tend to be pretty wild. But here’s the truth again, I’ve used every single launch monitor under the sun for the past 20 years. I throw out data with all of them, every single one, including the $24,000 Trackman.

Especially when you’re hitting outdoors, you’re hitting irons, you’re taking deep divots, you can lose a lot of data. It can confuse the ground, the divot with the ball, and so on. So I used to throw out one or two out of every five back in the day with a Trackman. So you’re going to, you need to understand that with any launch monitor, the data is only as good as it can interpret it. And so when you hit a bad shot, you’re gonna get bad data a lot of times. So now let’s hit one more decent one, and let’s just see how consistent it’ll be with good data.

With a good swing, good shot.

329 yards, so 329.9 carry. Now, again, I’m at altitude, I’m at 5900ft, so it’s about eight to 10% more carry. Distance than what you’d have at sea level. So 330 yard carry is going to be about 300 yards, give or take a little bit of carry at sea level. That was 118 club head speed.

And one more, just to make sure that we’ve got real good data. And again, these are lot. These are crappy range balls. No offense to our club, but they’re old Callaway crap balls. So they definitely fly about 810 percent shorter than a good ball. Another good 1340 yards, 340 yard carry. So, so far, with any club in the bag, I’ve been able to find really good numbers, really good data, as long as I give it good data.

And what I mean by that is, again, if I hit it way off the bottom of the face or what have you, the numbers are really squirrely. They’re squirrely on all launch monitors. But if you want to have a launch monitor, you can actually track your progress. See swing speed increases. Ball speed increases. See launch angle condition changes. As you’re working on your swing. And you don’t want to spend $25,000, this is the way to go, because not only is it consistent when you give it consistent data, but the big thing is, for many of you, it’s also an at-home golf swing simulator.

That’s right. It comes with a golf course included with it, so you can actually play golf at home. You can buy additional golf courses if you want, but there’s no subscription fees for the one that comes with it. So you pay this one-time device fee, which is $550. And for all rotary swing members. If you’re watching this video right now, there’s a link in the description. With a coupon code, you can actually save another $100. So $450, and you can have a launch monitor that is very accurate.

And it’s, you know, again, give it good data, you’re gonna get good data back. But the thing is, it’s 99% cheaper than all the launch monitors out there today that are high-end launch monitors. Is it 99% less accurate? Nope, not even close. I’m not saying I’m gonna go do a club fitting with it and trust every single number. Precisely. That’s not realistic. But is it? Are you getting 97% of accuracy for 99% off? Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty realistic.

After a month of testing, I trust these numbers. I’ve taken it out on the golf course using real balls. I’ve hit real shots with it over and over and over again. And the numbers are consistent when you hit it proper. So save your money on high-end launch monitor devices. Buy something that you can use that you’re going to get consistent data with so that you can see relative increases in swing speed, even if it’s one or 2 miles off per hour from a Trackman or what have you.

What you want is relative speed. So you see if you’re swinging at 100 miles an hour today and tomorrow you’re at 102. As long as you’re using the same device, you know that you’re increasing, you’re getting consistent information. And that’s what really matters is the relative progress that you’re making. And you need to measure your swing speed, you need to measure your ball speed. You need to know what you’re actually doing with that golf ball, what’s really happening with it, and know how you’re improving.

And you need a device to track that. You can’t just do it by eye. So the thing is, these devices have always been so expensive. Now, for $500 or $450 if you use the coupon code, you can have something that you can rely on that will give you good data and you can start knowing for sure if you’re improving, start measuring and stop guessing.