Is This The Best Value Portable Launch Monitor Of The Year? I'm On The Fence
Sam De'Ath tests the Square Golf Omni Launch Monitor and decides whether it's good value or whether you're better off looking elsewhere
The Square Golf Omni is a game-changer for the home simulator market, offering a portable launch monitor at a fraction of the cost of its premium competitors. While the software is a little basic and the lack of a travel case is frustrating, the instant feedback and ability to practice and play courses through it make it a win for golfers wanting a more affordable launch monitor.
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Indoor and outdoor functionality
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No subscription fees required
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Comparable data indoors to models far more expensive
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Built-in screen is too low to read comfortably
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No travel case included
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As someone who tests a lot of golf technology and regularly uses launch monitors during practice, I’m always on the lookout for products that enhance by experience at an affordable price.
When the original Square Golf launch monitor arrived on the scene, it turned heads with its affordability, but it was limited to indoor use and lacked some premium data metrics. The Omni launch monitor has been designed addressing those shortcomings in mind.
Square Golf Omni Launch Monitor
Coming to market at just £1,599.99, this second-generation unit promises tour-level accuracy thanks to a quad-camera infrared tracking system, as well as seamless indoor-and-outdoor versatility, ideal for those wanting an at-home simulator experience while still wanting real-time feedback when at the driving range.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it to see if it truly is the best value launch monitor on the market.
Out of the box, the Omni comes with a folding tripod stand, a removable lithium-ion battery that lasts for around six hours at a time, a short alignment stick for calibration, and the reflective stickers you need for your clubface and shafts in order to track club data.
The reflective stickers you put on the club to track club data with the Square Golf Omni Launch Monitor
The technology packed into this relatively compact launch monitor surprised me. It means you don't need specially-marked balls to get accurate data indoors, or worry about having enough room behind the ball that many radar-based launch monitors require.
It captures pretty much all of the key metrics you would need, including ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, spin axis, carry distance, clubhead speed, smash factor, face angle and attack angle.
I tested the Omni extensively, splitting my time between my indoor simulator setup and outdoors at the driving range. I compared the ball flight data against my Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor, which I use for all of my testing, and indoors, the numbers were nearly identical.
The numbers compared to the Foresight Sports GC3 launch Monitor were fairly comparable indoors
I had absolutely no issues with questionable reads or shots not getting picked up, however, outdoors it did struggle a little. It may have been direct sunlight affecting the cameras, but I saw significant discrepancies in the data, and at times with the long irons, the device produced numbers up to 20 yards short of the distance I would usually see that ball travel.
One of the headline features of the Omni is its built-in LCD screen, which displays six core ball metrics immediately after impact. In theory, this should allow for practice sessions without having to sync up the monitor to your phone or tablet, however, in practice, I ran into a bit of a physical hurdle.
The metrics on the screen are very small and make it hard to see from a standing position
If not using a tablet or phone, I found the screen on the monitor too low, and it was annoying having to crouch down to read the data after every single swing. It’s a minor gripe, but something to keep in mind if you prefer to practice entirely device-free or even have trouble constantly bending down.
Another thing that bugged me, and was more apparent when leaving the studio where I did my indoor testing, was the fact that there was no travel case included. Therefore, unless you were transporting the device in the box - which would be inconvenient - then you would simply have to carry the device by hand or put it in your golf bag, where it would be at risk of damage.
The tripod sole creates a fairly sturdy base
The Omni launch monitor comes with 1,000 free credits for Square Golf’s app. It is free to download and is split into distinct practice areas - a traditional Driving Range (complete with day and night environments), a Data Mode for when you're purely using the monitor to work on your yardages or specific launch conditions, as well as closest-to-the-pin challenges.
There's also a highly customizable Putting Practice setup, which allows you to practice putting and simulate greens quicker than you are putting on, using the screen on your tablet or mobile. Most impressively, the Game Mode lets you tee it up on 22 different virtual 3D courses with up to four players - in my opinion, the best feature if you can set this up at home.
The software is functional but definitely the weakest part of the overall package, but fear not, as the launch monitor can be integrated with third-party apps like GSPro, E6 Connect, and Awesome Golf, which are far more advanced and user-friendly.
Sam De'Ath testing the Square Golf Omni Launch Monitor
Overall, my time spent with the Square Golf Omni left me impressed, yet wishing a little more thought had gone into the practicalities. At £1,599, you certainly can’t argue with the affordability compared to some of its premium competitors. However, I would likely only recommend this launch monitor to those who will solely use it indoors.
